Some symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, urinary incontinence and other urinary issues, bothersome vaginal changes and bone loss. Most women begin to experience the symptoms of menopause between the ages of 48 and 55, according to eMedicineHealth.
Hot flashes are one the most prominent symptoms of menopause, notes eMedicineHealth. According to some studies, as many as 75 percent of women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes cause a feeling of warmth that spreads throughout the body and lasts seconds or minutes. Heart palpitations, flushed skin and perspiration often accompany hot flashes. Hot flashes and their effects often result in insomnia among menopausal women. During menopause, hot flashes can occur for up to five years or longer, with some women reporting hot flashes for 15 years.
Bone loss is common during the years leading up to menopause, which is known as perimenopause, advises eMedicineHealth. Bone loss occurs at a rate of up to 0.13 percent per year after age 30 but is around 3 percent during perimenopause. This leads to osteoporosis and an increase in bone fractures.
Other symptoms of menopause include increases in LDL and total cholesterol levels, thinning of the skin and changes to the shape of the breasts, notes eMedicineHealth. Many women gain weight during menopause, possibly because of hormonal changes.
