The 34 symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, irregular periods, mood changes, and more.
Menopause refers to the stage of a female’s life during which their period stops. It typically occurs around the age of
The years leading up to menopause are called the menopausal transition, or perimenopause. This stage can also come with symptoms, which may last for several years — sometimes up to 14 years.
This article will look at the 34 symptoms of menopause and what may help.

Menopause and perimenopause can cause a range of symptoms, including the following.
1. Hot flashes
Hot flashes are among the
2. Night sweats
Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Scientists are not sure why they occur, but it appears that falling estrogen levels can affect the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature.
Learn how to cope with hot flashes and night sweats here.
3. Irregular periods
Throughout the menopausal transition, it is normal to have irregular or missed periods. Eventually, a female will stop having periods entirely.
Learn how perimenopause affects periods here.
4. Mood changes
Mood changes are unpredictable shifts in mood that are not related to life events. They can cause someone to feel suddenly sad, weepy, or angry. Mood changes
Learn more about the causes and treatments of mood changes during menopause here.
5. Breast soreness
Breast tenderness is another common symptom of menopause, though its frequency tends to decrease in the later stages.
Learn more about menopause and sore breasts here.
6. Decreased libido
Menopause also
However, it can also be a secondary result of the other symptoms of menopause, such as mood changes, or a side effect of a medication.
Learn more about menopause and libido here.
7. Vaginal dryness
As female sex hormones ensure that there is a good circulation of blood around the vagina, a lack of them
Learn more about vaginal dryness here.
8. Headaches
Someone entering menopause may experience
However, unlike during a normal menstrual cycle, hormone levels during perimenopause can fluctuate more unpredictably.
Learn more about migraine and menopause here.
9. Tingling extremities
During menopause, some females experience tingling in the hands, feet, arms, and legs. This symptom is the result of hormone fluctuations affecting the central nervous system and typically only lasts for a few minutes at a time.
10. Burning mouth
A burning mouth is another potential symptom of menopause and
The mucus hormones in the mouth have sex hormone receptors, which decrease with a decline in estrogen. This can contribute to pain and discomfort.
Learn more about burning mouth syndrome here.
11. Changes in taste
12. Fatigue
Fatigue can be a distressing and
13. Bloating
Females can experience bloating during menopause for a number of reasons. They may experience water retention, gassiness, or slower digestion as a result of stress. If they change their eating habits around this time, they may also experience bloating.
Learn more about menopause bloating here.
14. Other digestive changes
Female sex hormones
15. Joint pain
Estrogen helps decrease inflammation and keep the joints lubricated. As a result, some females experience
Estrogen is responsible for regulating fluid levels throughout the body, so when the body becomes low in this hormone, females are more prone to joint aches or menopausal arthritis.
16. Muscle tension and aches
Females going through perimenopause or menopause can also experience muscle tension or aches. This is due to the same factors as menopausal joint pain.
17. Electric shock sensations
Females can experience sensations that resemble electric shocks during perimenopause and menopause. It is not clear what causes this, but it may be the result of changing hormone levels in the nervous system.
18. Itchiness
Because estrogen is related to collagen production and skin hydration, a decline in this hormone can lead to increased itchiness or dryness, both around the vulva and elsewhere on the body.
Get tips for managing itching during menopause here.
19. Sleep disturbance
A female’s sleep can become lighter or disrupted for many reasons during menopause. They may wake frequently due to night sweats, wake up earlier, or find it difficult to get to sleep.
20. Difficulty concentrating
A decline in estrogen can sometimes cause mental fogginess or difficulty concentrating. Hot flashes and sleep issues may also be contributing factors.
21. Memory lapses
As with concentration and focus, menopause can also affect memory. Again, this could be a direct result of lower estrogen levels or compromised sleep.
22. Thinning hair
During menopause,
23. Brittle nails
During or after menopause, the body
24. Weight gain
Females can gain weight due to a
Get tips for maintaining a moderate weight during menopause here.
25. Stress incontinence
Stress incontinence refers to a frequent or sudden urge to urinate. Some people also refer to it as an “overactive bladder.” This symptom
26. Dizzy spells
The hormonal changes that take place during menopause affect insulin production, which can make it difficult for the body to maintain blood sugar stability. This is the main reason that some females experience dizzy spells during perimenopause and menopause.
Learn more about menopause and dizziness here.
27. Allergies
28. Osteoporosis
During perimenopause, a decline in estrogen can also result in a loss of bone density. In severe cases, this
29. Irregular heartbeat
Some females may experience an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, during or after menopause. It is always best to discuss symptoms relating to the heart with a doctor.
30. Body odor
Hot flashes and night sweats can result in an increase in body odor during menopause. If a female often feels stressed or anxious, they may also notice that they are sweating more.
31. Irritability
Either due to hormonal fluctuations or the impact of other menopause symptoms, females going through this change may find that they feel irritable. Stress or a lack of sleep may also contribute to this.
32. Depression
For some females, hormonal imbalances may trigger depression. However, in this case, depression is often situational and may not be long term. A lack of sleep and stress can contribute to this.
In some cases, menopause may trigger depression or low mood because of the change it signifies in a female’s life. Any significant life change can play a role in depression, even if the change is a positive one.
33. Anxiety
Anxiety is another mood-related symptom that some females experience during menopause. It may worsen at night or only occur intermittently as hormone levels fluctuate.
As with menopause-related depression, this anxiety may be situational and improve once hormones level out.
Learn more about the link between menopause and anxiety here.
34. Panic disorder
In some cases, females may experience panic attacks during menopause. When these attacks occur unexpectedly or suddenly, they can indicate panic disorder. This may happen due to hormonal changes or the fear of feeling anxious itself.
Most females do not experience all 34 of these symptoms during menopause. However, hot flashes alone can be enough to cause significant disruption in their life.
There are several treatments that females can try to reduce discomfort, including:
- hormone replacement therapy, which temporarily replaces hormones such as estrogen
- vaginal estrogen, which can improve lubrication and prevent dryness
- antidepressants, which can reduce mood-related symptoms and improve hot flashes
There are also several lifestyle changes and self-care practices that can help alleviate symptoms, such as:
- avoiding alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine, as these can
make hot flashes worse - stopping smoking
- dressing in layers so that it is easier to cool down when a hot flash occurs
- carrying gentle cleansing wipes to freshen up while on the go
- getting regular exercise, which can help with weight maintenance, stress relief, and mood
- learning relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or mindfulness
- psychotherapy, which can provide a place to talk about the effects of menopause
Learn more about natural remedies for managing menopause symptoms here.
If a female is experiencing new or unexplained symptoms, they should speak with a doctor. Other health conditions can cause the symptoms associated with menopause, so it is important to rule these out.
Females should also consider speaking with a doctor if their menopause symptoms are causing distress or disruption to their life. If they are struggling to sleep, finding it difficult to work, or experiencing severe mood changes, there are treatments that can help.
The 34 symptoms of menopause is a list of common symptoms that many females report. Among the most common are hot flashes, mood changes, fatigue, and irregular periods. However, everyone experiences menopause differently.
It is important that doctors rule out other potential explanations for these symptoms, as menopause is not the only factor that could cause them.