Symptoms and disorders

The hormonal changes of the menopause have an impact on the whole female body. This often leads to a variety of disorders. The first signs generally appear between the ages of 45 and 55. Their nature and extent vary according to the phase of menopause and from woman to woman, with almost all women experiencing menstrual cycle disorders at menopause.

Hormones are the main cause of menopause's defining changes. Hormones change radically until they are reorganized at the end of the climacteric period (menopause).

During the menopause - particularly in the first two phases - the body increasingly slows down the production of its own estrogen. Some ovulations do not occur, and egg maturation is often insufficient. At the same time, menstruation becomes more irregular or sometimes disappears. Eventually, ovarian activity is completely exhausted and ovulation no longer occurs. This is the end of the fertile period.

Typical symptoms of estrogen deficiency include

• menstrual cycle disorders
• breakthrough bleeding
• hot flushes
• sleep disorders
• mood swings
• dry mucous membranes
• loss of libido

During the menopause, progesterone levels fall earlier than estrogen levels. Premenopausal cycle disorders are therefore often linked to an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. Signs of progesterone deficiency include

• longer or shorter cycles
• heavy periods
• breast tension
• mood swings
• sleep disorders

Cycle disturbances and irregular bleeding are the harbingers of the menopause. These are generally the first signs of menopause. In addition to the changes and symptoms associated with menstruation and the menstrual cycle, the following signs or disorders are generally typical of the menopause:

• sleep disorders
• weight gain
• heart palpitations
• vaginal dryness
• bladder weakness
• loss of libido
• joint pain
• hair and skin problems

Because of the sometimes subtle physical differences, or the greater personal differences in terms of experiences, situations and attitudes to life, a different form of therapy is useful for each woman.

Among the various therapeutic possibilities are acupuncture, homeopathy or phytotherapy (herbal therapy). For other women, these applications remain ineffective, and only hormonal treatment or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using gels, creams, patches, suppositories or tablets can reduce cycle or menopausal disorders. In hormone replacement therapy, the missing hormones are returned to the body, preferably in the form of bio-identical hormones, to restore the balance.