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By: Sheramy Tsai
At 53, Rida Rafiq’s journey through menopause was complex, marred by a misdiagnosis of severe acid reflux. She began suffering from episodes of burning sensations that spread from her abdomen to her neck and arms, accompanied by weight loss, anxiety, and depression. Despite numerous medical interventions, including endoscopies and emergency care, relief remained elusive until a hormonal test revealed the true culprit—menopause.
Ms. Rafiq’s ordeal, shared with The Epoch Times, underlines a broader issue: “I was sure it was my hormones, but my doctor wasn’t convinced. I was so helpless and miserable,” she recalls. Her story is a reminder of the complexities surrounding menopause, spotlighting the difficulties women often encounter in being accurately diagnosed for non-traditional symptoms.
Menstruation’s End: A New Phase Begins
For many women, the thought of ending their monthly menstrual cycle seems like a welcome respite. Picture it—no more searching for a tampon or pad, waving goodbye to cramps, and bidding farewell to the infamous PMS (premenstrual syndrome) mood swings. It’s a vision of liberation—but the reality of menopause is often far more complex.
“Menopause isn’t just the cessation of periods. It’s a significant biological shift,” Dr. Holly Thacker, menopause expert and professor at Cleveland Clinic, told The Epoch Times. While it might mean the end of menstruation, it’s the beginning of something else—a phase where the body redefines itself in the absence of the reproductive hormones it’s relied on for so long. “You never go through it—you just enter it,” she shared.
Menopause and its precursor, perimenopause, mark significant shifts in a woman’s body, characterized by the ovaries’ reduced production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are crucial not only for reproduction but also for overall health.
Dr. Wen Shen, director of the menopause consultation service at Johns Hopkins, emphasizes the extensive impact of estrogen on various bodily systems, including cardiovascular, skeletal, immune, gastrointestinal, and neurological functions.
“During menopause, the reduced production of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries isn’t just about reproductive changes. It’s a whole-body experience. Estrogen’s decline can significantly affect everything from our heart health to brain function,” Dr. Shen told The Epoch Times.
A Spectrum of Symptoms
Navigating menopause can be a unique experience for every woman. For most, the telltale signs begin in perimenopause, the phase leading up to menopause. Within four to five years of entering menopause, around 80 percent of women notice their symptoms become mild or disappear-however, about 20 percent experience symptoms for a decade or more.
Vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances are the most prevalent symptoms of menopause, impacting up to three-quarters of women. These particular symptoms frequently lead women to seek medical advice, and they typically persist for an average of 7.4 years.
Beyond hot flashes, close to two-thirds of women report genitourinary syndrome of menopause, which affects the vaginal area and urinary system. Other common symptoms include heart palpitations, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and breast tenderness.
The psychological impacts are just as varied, including irritability, mood swings, and a decrease in self-confidence. It’s a complex mix that underscores why menopause is more than just the end of a menstrual cycle—it’s a significant change affecting various aspects of health and well-being.
11 Lesser Known Symptoms of Menopause
- 1. Sensation of Crawling Bugs on Skin
Menopause might make your skin crawl, quite literally for some. In one study, more than 10 percent of women reported experiencing formication during menopause—a peculiar sensation that feels like ants or bugs crawling on or under the skin.
Menopause often brings significant changes in skin health, with 64 percent of women reporting skin changes during this time. A decline in estrogen production means less sebum, the skin’s natural oil, resulting in increased dryness and itchiness. Consequently, skin becomes more fragile, loses elasticity, and grows more sensitive during menopause.
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) affects up to a third of menopausal women, manifesting as a persistent burn on the tongue, lips, or throughout the mouth. This condition often occurs without any visible oral health problems.
Doctors typically diagnose BMS after ruling out other conditions. Ongoing research suggests that deficiencies in key vitamins such as B12, D, iron, and folic acid may be contributing factors.
Menopause sometimes introduces other oral health issues. Changes in taste, such as a bitter or metallic flavor, are common, along with increased gum sensitivity and dental discomfort.
- Hair Loss (and Gain)
Finding hair on your “chinny chin chin?” You’re not alone. Menopause can increase hair growth in unexpected areas, a condition known as hirsutism. This includes hair growth on the chin, upper lip, chest, back, and abdomen. The cause of this is a relative increase in androgens, or male hormones, during this life stage.
While hair may grow in unexpected places, it may thin in others. Research shows that up to half of menopausal women experience hair thinning, a condition medically called female pattern hair loss. Lowered estrogen levels may also lead to hair loss on the legs, arms, and pubic area.
- Electric Shock Sensations
Feeling zapped? Menopause might be to blame. Some women undergoing menopause report experiencing electric shock sensations in their bodies. These sudden, sharp zaps, primarily felt in the head or extremities, are thought to be connected to the hormonal rollercoaster that is menopause. These shock sensations may either accompany a hot flash or occur independently.
“These are part of the vasomotor phenomenon that affects the central and peripheral nervous system. Some women have skin hypersensitivity and don’t like to be touched. Others describe electric-like shocks before flashing,” explains Dr. Thacker.
- Aches and Pains
Research indicates that up to 71 percent of women post-menopause suffer from muscle aches and joint pain, often misidentified as a sign of aging. This discomfort is linked to declining estrogen levels, which have a protective role in joint health and bone density. Lower estrogen can lead to swollen, painful joints and an increased risk of osteoporosis, characterized by weakened, brittle bones.
Additionally, fluctuations in estrogen can exacerbate joint inflammation, often resulting in osteoarthritis. Given the complexity of these conditions, experts advise menopausal women to seek medical guidance for tailored treatment options.
- Changes in Body Odor
As menopause approaches, many women experience a subtle yet noticeable change in body odor. This shift is partly due to altered olfactory senses during perimenopause, making one’s own scent seem more intense.
More notably, increased sweating from hot flashes and night sweats can intensify underarm odor by promoting bacterial growth. The hormonal changes of menopause, especially reduced estrogen and increased testosterone, also affect sweat production and its composition, further altering body odor.
- Phantom Periods
As if the menopausal journey wasn’t perplexing enough, many women encounter what are known as “phantom periods.” Imagine the usual suspects of a menstrual cycle—abdominal cramps, fatigue, breast tenderness—but without any actual bleeding.
This occurrence is tied to the erratic hormonal fluctuations during menopause. Even though the menstrual cycle ceases, the body still reacts to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone, often mimicking premenstrual symptoms.
