Introduction
Menopause is a natural change in a woman’s life that comes with big hormone shifts. Knowing about these changes can help you feel more in control as you go through menopause. This article explains the main hormone changes during menopause, what they do to your body, and why they cause common menopause symptoms.
1. The Main Hormones in Menopause
Menopause happens because of changes in three key hormones:
- Estrogen: This is the main female hormone. It’s important for periods, strong bones, a healthy heart, and thinking clearly. During menopause, estrogen levels go up and down at first, then drop a lot and stay low. Estradiol is the main type of estrogen before menopause.
- Progesterone: This hormone is made after eggs are released from the ovaries. It’s important for periods and pregnancy. Like estrogen, progesterone levels also go down during menopause and stay low.
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): This hormone is made in the brain. FSH tells the ovaries to make estrogen and release eggs. When estrogen drops, the brain makes more FSH to try to get the ovaries to work harder. This is why FSH levels are high during and after menopause.
2. How Hormone Levels Change During Menopause
- Perimenopause (The Change Before Menopause): This can last for many years. Estrogen and progesterone levels change up and down a lot. Periods become irregular, and you might start to have symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and mood swings. FSH levels might start to rise but can also change a lot.
- Menopause (No More Periods): Menopause is when you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. Estrogen and progesterone levels are low and stay low. FSH levels stay high.
- Postmenopause (After Menopause): In the years after menopause, hormone levels stay low and steady. Menopause symptoms might get better for some, but others still have symptoms because of the hormone changes.
3. How Hormone Changes Affect Your Body
The big hormone changes in menopause can cause many symptoms, both physical and emotional:
- Period Changes: Changing estrogen and progesterone in perimenopause cause periods to become different. They might be longer, shorter, heavier, or lighter.
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Lower estrogen affects the brain’s temperature control, leading to hot flashes (sudden heat) and night sweats (hot flashes at night).
- Sleep Problems: Hormone changes, especially lower estrogen and progesterone, can mess with sleep, causing trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Mood Swings: Estrogen and progesterone affect brain chemicals. Changes in these hormones can lead to mood swings, feeling anxious or easily upset, and even feeling down or depressed.
- Vaginal Dryness and Peeing Problems: Lower estrogen can make vaginal tissues thinner and drier, which can be uncomfortable during sex. It can also cause a sudden urge to pee and more bladder infections.
- Less Interest in Sex: Lower estrogen and testosterone can reduce sex drive.
- Bone Loss: Estrogen helps protect bones. Lower estrogen levels can lead to bone loss, making bones weaker and easier to break (osteoporosis).
- Cholesterol Changes: Lower estrogen can change cholesterol levels, possibly raising “bad” cholesterol and lowering “good” cholesterol. This can increase the risk of heart problems.
- Weight Gain and Slower Metabolism: Hormone changes, along with getting older and lifestyle, can slow down metabolism and make it easier to gain weight, especially around the belly.
- Skin and Hair Changes: Lower estrogen can make skin less stretchy and drier, leading to dry and thin skin. Hair can also become thinner and drier.
4. How to Know if Hormones Are Changing
For most women, menopause is diagnosed based on age, symptoms, and period history. Hormone tests are usually not needed if you are healthy and having typical symptoms. But, hormone tests (blood tests for FSH and estradiol) might be used:
- To check for perimenopause in younger women (under 45) with irregular periods and symptoms.
- To find out why you have irregular bleeding or other symptoms that could be from something else.
- To see if menopause is causing symptoms after a hysterectomy.
5. How to Manage Hormone Changes
You can manage hormone changes in menopause with lifestyle changes and treatments.
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Healthy Eating: Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and calcium.
- Regular Exercise: Get regular exercise, including strength training, cardio, and stretching, to help with weight, mood, and bones.
- Stress Relief: Practice ways to reduce stress like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing.
- Good Sleep Habits: Go to bed and wake up around the same time each day. Have a relaxing bedtime routine and make sure your bedroom is comfortable for sleep.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): HRT can help with many menopause symptoms by replacing estrogen and sometimes progesterone. HRT comes in pills, patches, gels, and creams. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of HRT to see if it’s right for you.
- Non-Hormone Treatments: There are also medicines and therapies that are not hormones that can help with specific menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness. These include some antidepressants, gabapentin, vaginal lubricants, and pelvic floor therapy.
6. When to See a Doctor
See your doctor if you have:
- Menopause symptoms that are bothering you a lot and affecting your life.
- Unusual bleeding from the vagina after menopause.
- Symptoms of feeling very sad or anxious.
- Worries about your bones or heart health.
7. Key Points to Remember
- Menopause means big hormone changes, mainly lower estrogen and progesterone and higher FSH.
- These hormone changes cause many menopause symptoms that affect your body, emotions, and sex life.
- Menopause is usually diagnosed by symptoms and period history, but hormone tests are sometimes used.
- Managing hormone changes involves lifestyle changes, HRT, and other treatments, depending on what you need and prefer.
- It’s important to talk to a doctor for advice and help during menopause.