3 Lesser-Known Menopause Symptoms

Most of us are familiar with the common menopause symptoms — hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes and slowing metabolism. But there are other lesser-known menopause symptoms we may experience as our ovaries produce waning supplies of progesterone and estrogen, including insomnia, a metallic taste in your mouth, and body odor. Read on for tips on how to deal with them.

Insomnia

According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 61% of menopausal women have problems sleeping. These difficulties are significant since they can lead to other issues such as daytime drowsiness.

Insomnia in menopausal women is most often brought about by hot flashes. Dropping estrogen levels meddle with the temperature control mechanism in the brain, causing the body to overheat.

Many women believe it’s the hot flash that wakes them up, but research shows women wake up just before the hot flash occurs. Once awake, it’s difficult to get back to sleep.

But insomnia due to hot flashes isn’t the only reason women lose sleep. Many who do not experience hot flashes say they have more trouble sleeping or sleep less than they did before menopause. The loss of estrogen and progesterone can trigger sleep apnea, a disorder that causes brief breathing interruptions during sleep. Those interruptions can rouse you from deep sleep or wake you up outright. Women also report losing sleep from anxiety and depression, which can develop during menopause.

If you are experiencing sleep interruption due to menopause you might try the following tricks:

• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
• Wear loose clothing to bed and opt for natural fibers, like cotton.
• Avoid illuminated screens, including television and electronic devices, before bed.
• Limit your fluid intake a couple of hours before going to bed to reduce the need to urinate in the middle of the night.
• Keep the bedroom cool and dark.
• Exercise regularly but not right before sleep.
• Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
• Resist naps during the day, which can prevent you from sleeping well at night.
• Talk to your doctor about prescription medications that can help you sleep.

Metallic Taste

Hormone imbalance can also affect your taste buds, altering the flavor of foods and leaving a metallic taste in your mouth. Dry mouth is partly to blame for this unpleasant experience.

While there aren’t any treatments that can remove the metallic taste, you can take steps that leave your mouth feeling fresher.

• Practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash daily. You can also gently brush your tongue to get rid of lingering metal tastes.
• Chew sugar-free gum to encourage the production and movement of saliva.
• Keep your mouth moist by sipping water throughout the day.
• Quit smoking and other tobacco use.
• Limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine and sodas.
• Cut back on sugar.
• Reduce fatty and spicy foods and other ingredients that might lead to acid reflux.

Body Odor

Hot flashes, no matter when they occur, can give rise to another embarrassing problem — body odor. The sweat itself is not responsible, but an unpleasant odor can result when it mixes with the naturally occurring bacteria on your skin.

Eating a healthy diet and practicing stress reduction techniques can help prevent overheating.

Additional steps you can take:

• Keep your skin clean by bathing daily with antibacterial soap.
• Shave your armpits regularly, so sweat evaporates quickly and has less time to interact with bacteria.
• Use a combination of antiperspirant/deodorant.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing made of cotton or moisture-wicking fabric (i.e., fabric that can pull moisture away from your skin). This goes for undergarments, as well.
• Find ways to reduce your stress levels since stress can activate sweat glands.

Vaginal smell can also change after menopause. A changing odor “down there” is not just unpleasant; it can signify a potential problem.

Reduced levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause the vaginal walls to thin, causing dryness and lowered glucose levels. pH levels rise, making you more prone to vaginal infections and inflammation.

Here are a few steps you can take to minimize vaginal odor.

• Regularly wash your outer genital area with a mild, unscented soap.
• Avoid douching, which is unhealthy for your vagina’s bacteria levels.
• Take a probiotic to help balance your body’s bacterial ecosystem.
• Talk to your health care provider about a vaginal cream that can help stop the thinning of tissue and increase lubrication.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed for these often uncomfortable and sometimes disruptive menopause symptoms, but it’s not for everyone.

HRT is usually a combination of estrogen and progestin, though sometimes estrogen is taken alone. Estrogen can treat hot flashes and low bone density. Progesterone is taken with estrogen when a woman has not had a hysterectomy to prevent the effects of unopposed estrogen. Vaginal estrogen can be used for vaginal dryness related to low estrogen state of menopause without the potential risks of systemic HRT.

The adverse side effects of taking both hormones include irregular bleeding, headaches, bloating, and breast swelling and pain. If you are thinking about HRT, speak to your health care provider about any risk factors you may have and whether it is a good choice for you.

Our grandmothers called menopause “The Change” for good reason — it alters so much of our physical being — but that doesn’t mean those changes have to reduce the quality of life. If you’re dealing with menopausal symptoms, be sure to speak to your doctor about the best ways to alleviate them and minimize any disruption they cause.

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