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What are the symptoms of menopause?

  • Writer: Abigail Acquaviva
    Abigail Acquaviva
  • Jul 14
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jul 17

Menopause symptoms are more than hot flushes. In fact many women don’t experience hot flushes. Some feel constantly cold and are confused by the 'hot flush' expectation. Heat may manifest day or night, with or without sweat. There are extreme flushes called 'bone steaming' in Chinese Medicine because it feels like the bones are boiling.


Leafless tree in a desert with a clould-less sky

After a hot flush, a feeling of deep cold can appear because this is what is called 'empty heat'. It's not the heat of fighting an infection or digestive issue but due to natural process of kidney decline we all experience with age. In fact hot flushes, if they are experienced at all, are often not even the first symptom. Usually it's brain fog, memory issues and an unusual exhaustion. In the same way teenagers like to sleep and early pregnancy can be really tiring, the change of hormonal makeup in the body during perimenopause takes some time to process and settle down. Some women experience teenage spots and smelly body odour again as well as tiredness associated with teen years.


My first symptom was palpitations. Not having ever had a panic attack before in my life I didn't know what was happening. It was during the first lockdown in 2020, my poor daughter came home from school to me saying, "I don't want to panic you, but could you google if I should call an ambulance?". A&E was like a war zone at the time and I didn't want to add to the pressure. My husband and I always switch off our phones when working, so my poor frightened daughter was alone in her task.We decided it was a panic attack and I called 101 (the non emergency NHS helpline in the UK) for confirmation, followed by my GP. They arranged an ECG, which records heart electrical activity for health. I got the all clear within a week, but no one looked at my notes, connected I was 49 and so likely to be entering the menopause. It took Davina MaCall's ground breaking Channel 4 show before I connected the dots and realised this was my first menopause symptom.

 

I took HRT for around 5 months before I realised my endometriosis pain was back. Hormonal treatments have never suited me and I surrounded myself with good support to come off it for good.

 

Not even my (male) acupuncturist noticed I was having menopause symptoms, so I dedicated my dissertation to recording women's voices (which is different to accepted medical symptom lists). I found that the research has increased significantly since 2020 along with the change in narrative around women's health.

 

But most of that research is workplace based i.e. how do women's working patterns change, what symptoms affect their work performance. Which is disappointing because women's health is far wider than their workplace persona. They may be mothers, carers, creatives, s3xual beings, social and spiritual. All of these are important considerations in wellbeing and health.

 

In my study of UK research, which I compared with symptoms experienced by Chinese women, I found the following were the most common symptoms.*

 

  1. Hot flushes

  2. Insomnia

  3. Brain fog, difficulty focusing & memory issues

  4. Mood changes, anxiety & depression

  5. Urinary incontinence

  6. Vaginal dryness

  7. Fatigue

  8. Joint pain

  9. Breast tenderness

  10. Palpitations

  11. Dizziness

  12. Pins & needles

  13. Skin crawling sensation

  14. Tearfulness

  15. Feelings of panic

  16. Cold night sweat

  17. S3xual dysfunction

  18. Frequent urination & pain with urination

  19. Severe headaches

  20. Reduced muscle mass

  21. Dry skin & broken hair

 

This is not exhaustive, it's the list that arose in the research. In clinic, I see a different picture emerge. Women have different priorities and manifestations of symptom profiles. Often there are digestive issues, bloating, weight gain that won't shift and mild blood deficiency. My job is to listen and evaluate what will support you best in your life.

 

If you are:

 

  • experiencing any of these symptoms

  • would like personal advice on how to go hormone free

  • get additional support with your symptoms while taking HRT

 

get in touch. Chinese Medicine is there for you, whatever you choose and it is my passion to help you during this transition.





If you want the rest of this series, join my mailing list to get new posts as they are published. * Data based on:


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