It's a mystery why many women ignore the opportunity to understand the symptoms of menopause before they have an impact on their lives.

Research indicates one of the best ways to combat menopause symptoms is to actually understand what they are and the effects they can have on a woman's body and lifestyle. Instead of waiting for them to arrive, a well prepared woman is also likely to be mentally stronger when dealing with them.

Hot Flashes

Let's take a look at some of the more common symptoms of menopause with hot flashes being at the top of the list. Hot flashes will affect at least three out of every four women and can have a dramatic effect on a woman's lifestyle.

It's not so much the hot flash itself but the associated symptoms which can play havoc with a person's day-to-day living. Here's a shortlist:

- insomnia
- mood swings
- irritability
- nausea
- headaches
- night sweats

The above symptoms are all related in some way to hot flashes. Mood swings can result from insomnia and lack of sleep which in turn, can be a result of night sweats or nausea.

During the peri-menopausal stage, irregular menstrual periods will be at play while many women will see blood spotting in between periods during this time.

Urinary tract issues may also be a problem. Infections could set in which makes passing urine a painful experience. Sex drive can also diminish significantly and this could be attributed in part to vaginal dryness. The thought of having sex becomes a turn-off simply because it's usually a painful experience.

Osteoporosis

One of the more serious complications facing menopausal women is bone loss. During the first 30 years, a woman will reach peak bone density which will then begin to diminish at an almost unnoticeable rate.

However, during peri-menopause, this rate can jump to an alarming rate, in some cases, up to 3-4% per year and while there isn't a pain factor to worry about during this time, left unchecked, osteoporosis will become a major issue in just a few short years.

The symptoms of menopause are as a result of the changes in a woman's estrogen and progesterone levels. It's a natural phase in her life yet for some, the changes can occur rapidly. The symptoms you experience are just the body's way of reacting to these changes. There is help available and your doctor's surgery is a great place to start.