5 "Weird" Menopause Symptoms

October might conjure images of witches, goblins and even ghosts. You probably don’t believe in any of that, but what if you still feel haunted?

If you’re a woman between 45 and 55, those spooky feelings might not be a haunting presence, but the more unusual symptoms of menopause.

But before we get into some of the more spooky issues, it’s important to define the condition. Menopause is defined as going 12 consecutive months without having a period.

And while battling menopause may make you feel alone in the dark sometimes, nothing could be further from the truth. Annually, 1.3 million American women are in some phase of “the change.”

People often experience common symptoms during menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and brain fog. However, it’s estimated that there are more than 30 potential symptoms. Here are five “weird” ones you might encounter:

• Anxiety or panic attacks. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 51% of women experience anxiety, panic attacks and nervousness during the menopause transition. That’s because changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone can affect your body’s ability to regulate mood.
• Electric shock-like sensations. It might sound strange, but studies estimate 25% of women experience paresthesias—or tingling, prickling, pins and needles or electric shock-like sensations—during menopause. The discomfort can range from mild to severe, often manifesting as jolts of pain in the arms, hands, legs and feet. This is because a decline in estrogen can impact nerve function and circulation.
• Itchiness or “crawling” skin. If you’ve said menopause makes your skin crawl, you’re not exaggerating. Studies suggest that as many as 64% of menopausal women have experienced itchy skin. That’s because as estrogen decreases, so does oil and collagen production, leading to drier skin. In fact, women’s skin loses approximately 30% of its collagen in the first five years of “the transition.”
• Nightmares and other sleep problems. Up to 60% of women going through “the change” say they experience sleep disturbances. So, if you’re waking up feeling like a zombie, it may be because you're having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to hot flashes, night sweats, restless leg syndrome or even vivid nightmares. That’s because declining hormone levels can affect temperature regulation, mood and sleep-wake cycles.
• Stiff, creaky bones. An AARP survey found that 32% of menopausal women have joint or muscle pain. Even people who’ve never experienced a musculoskeletal injury may battle aches, stiffness and swelling due to hormonal fluctuations. That’s because estrogen reduces inflammation, helps maintain fluid levels and protects bones, but menopause, unfortunately, means a drop in estrogen.

Just remember, you don’t have to let menopause haunt you. Your doctor can help you manage your symptoms, which may “ghost you” as soon as menopause is over.

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