What Are The Worst Menopause Symptoms?

What are the worst menopause symptoms? We’ll take you through the weirdest and not-always-so wonderful symptoms you might encounter.
Right. Let’s get down to business: what are the worst menopause symptoms?

You’ve heard the rumors: hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings — is there anything else you that could possibly be in store?

And of all these symptoms, which are the most fierce?

We’ve got you.

In this article: 📝

Menopause is a natural biological process that everyone experiences differently.

For some, it’s a relatively smooth journey with mild symptoms.

For others, the effects can last years and years and feel devastating.

As forewarned is definitely forearmed, let’s look at some of the weirdest and worst menopause you might experience.

Can menopause make you feel horrible?

We’re sorry to say, but for some people, yes.

Menopause can make you feel horrible.

But the good news?

There’s a massively supportive menopause community here at Peanut, connecting with and encouraging each other through this transformative life phase.

Knowing other people are dealing with similar things can really, really help.

Even though everyone’s experience and exact symptoms are unique, never feel you have to suffer alone and in silence.

With that in mind, here’s some of what you might experience.

Hot flashes are the most common menopause symptom, experienced by over 75% of women.

They’re usually accompanied by things like night sweats and shivery chills after.

That’s certainly not it, though. Other potential symptoms include:

• Anxiety and depression
  
• Body odor
  
• Decreased breast fullness
  
• Decreased sex drive
  
• Dental problems and gum disease
  
• Dry mouth
  
• Dry skin
  
• Extreme fatigue
  
• Forgetfulness and brain fog
  
• Hair loss
  
• Headaches and migraines
  
• Heavy or irregular periods
  
• Insomnia and sleep problems
  
• Itchy skin
  
• Metallic tastes
  
• Joint pain
  
• Mood changes
  
• Painful sex
  
• Changes to your metabolism
  
• Sore breasts
  
• Vaginal dryness

You might get some, all, or none of these.

One symptom could feel completely debilitating for some.

Others might just experience milder effects.

So basically, there’s no “right” experience when it comes to menopause.

If any of these symptoms make you feel horrible and affect your daily life, reach out to your healthcare provider.

This is not something you just have to struggle through.

What are the worst menopause symptoms?

Many women in the early part of menopause say insomnia and lack of sleep are their biggest challenges.

Forgetfulness and brain fog can also be majorly frustrating when it comes to work and everyday tasks.

Add hot flashes, night sweats, and irregular, heavy periods into the mix — and you’ve got the often-reported culprits.

The “worst” symptoms will be different for everyone, though.

If you’re really struggling with super heavy, painful, and irregular periods, then yes — this is a major issue.

If you’ve enjoyed an active sex life and suddenly are faced with low libido, painful sex, and irritability, this can be super challenging.

Focus on what’s affecting you the most, and use this as a basis for discussions with your doctor.

There are plenty of ways they can help, including hormone treatments and [anti-depressants](https://www.uptodate.com/contents/non-estrogen-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms-beyond-the-basics/print.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation have also shown a lot of promise.

And simple lifestyle modifications like dressing in layers and sleeping with an ice pack under your pillow can help with hot flashes and night sweats.

What are some weird symptoms of menopause?

From ringing in the ears to sensations of crawling skin and electric shocks, here are a few unusual menopause symptoms to look out for:

Formication

Never heard of it?

You’re not alone!

It’s a reasonably common sensory hallucination (possibly caused by lower estrogen levels) that makes you feel like small insects are crawling over your skin.

It can be a mild or severely painful itch.

Burning tongue

As the name suggests, it can make your tongue — or even the roof of the mouth and lips — feel sore and scalded.

Doctors believe it’s caused by nerve cells surrounding the taste buds that activate because of lowered estrogen.

Tinnitus

Can’t shake clicking, ringing, or whooshing sounds in your ears?

Well, you might be suffering from menopausal tinnitus.

This condition is likely linked to changing hormones and can cause anything from mild irritation to a profound disturbance.

Unfortunately, in-depth research is pretty scarce.

Electric Shocks

Ouch! These jolts of pain can occur before hot flashes.

Or at completely random times.

Fun.

They feel like electricity passing through your body and are probably caused by misfired neurons in the nervous system

And yep, hormonal variations are likely to blame here too.

Like other menopause issues, if any of these symptoms persist, it’s worth getting them checked out.

Do menopause symptoms get worse at the end?

Menopause symptoms tend to start out slowly and gradually increase as perimenopause progresses.

After you hit menopause — defined as twelve months after your last period — things often improve as hormone levels steady out and your body gets used to its “new normal.”

As with all things menopause, this can be different for everybody.
Some women might find symptoms arrive out of nowhere and completely wipe them out.

You know your body best.

Try to key into what specifically is feeling worse for you.

For instance, have joint pains gotten worse?

Are hot flashes more frequent?

Are anxiety and insomnia making everyday tasks feel impossible?

Use this to guide your chats with health professionals so they can give tailored advice for your unique experience.

What are the 3 main health complications that can occur with menopause?

Unfortunately, there are a few health challenges as your body and hormone levels change.

Our health risks also naturally increase with age.

Here are three health complications to watch out for:

1. Heart disease

According to the American Heart Association, there’s a noticeable increase in coronary heart disease during the menopause transition.

Why?

Estrogen has all sorts of effects on our cardiovascular systems.

It supports blood flow, keeps our blood pressure down, and positively impacts cholesterol.

Once estrogen decreases, these benefits decrease too.

When coupled with rises in blood pressure, heart problems can affect people who’ve struggled with bad hot flashes.

To lower your risk, try following a heart-healthy lifestyle and tracking your blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels.

And, of course, all under the supervision of your doctor.

2. Osteoporosis

Women are more than four times as likely as men to develop osteoporosis, a condition where bones weaken and fracture more easily.

During menopause, bone loss is rapid as the estrogen protecting our bones drops.

As soon as you notice irregular periods and/or other menopause symptoms, chat with your doctor about supporting your bone health.

Exercise, a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and stopping smoking all help.

3. Urinary issues

Both UTIs (urinary tract infections) and issues with incontinence are common after menopause.

As decreases in estrogen cause vaginal tissue to become thinner and drier, this makes it easier for bacteria to grow.

Equally, the tissues of the bladder thin and weaken alongside something called “pelvic relaxation” which happens as we get older.

Kegel exercises and peeing as often as possible can help.

But definitely chat to your doctor if these problems persist.

While every woman has a different experience of menopause, it’s always good to know what’s potentially in store.

That way, we can feel more confident discussing what’s happening with our bodies, knowing we aren’t alone — and asking for help.