A common concern among women approaching menopause is the question of whether symptoms will come and go over the years. The answer is yes; menopause symptoms can indeed fluctuate in intensity and even disappear completely for some women. This is because the decline in oestrogen levels, the primary female hormone, is not a sudden event but rather a gradual process.
What menopause symptoms often fluctuate, and why?
Common menopause symptoms that often fluctuate are night sweats, body aches, fatigue, and even periods. Several factors can influence the fluctuating nature of menopause symptoms. These include:
- Hormonal changes: As women progress through menopause, their oestrogen levels continue to decline. However, the rate of decline is not constant, leading to variations in symptom severity. The fluctuation in your hormone levels plays a significant role. Generally, an improvement in mood corresponds to increased oestrogen levels, while a decline in oestrogen levels tends to coincide with feeling less well.
- Stress: Stress can exacerbate menopausal symptoms, causing them to become more noticeable or even worse.
- Lifestyle: Lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise and sleep patterns, can also play a role in symptom fluctuations. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help manage symptoms and improve overall wellbeing.
- Dehydration: Not being hydrated enough could worsen symptoms such as night sweats.
Can your period restart after menopause?
In most cases, once a woman has reached menopause, her periods cease permanently. However, there are instances where bleeding can occur after menopause. Periods can fluctuate for about 2–3 years before they finally cease. This can be caused by:
- Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal fluctuations, even after menopause, can occasionally lead to vaginal bleeding.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as uterine fibroids, polyps or endometrial hyperplasia, can cause bleeding after menopause.
- Cancer: In rare cases, postmenopausal bleeding can be a sign of uterine cancer or endometrial cancer.
Understand your menopause symptoms better with DocHQ’s Menopause and MenoBalance Health Checks
To better understand your hormone levels and how they may be affecting your symptoms, you may also want to consider taking our at-home Menopause or MenoBalance Health Checks.
DocHQ’s MenoBalance Check provides a detailed analysis of your hormone balance, helping you better understand and manage fluctuations in your symptoms. It’s designed for those who are experiencing mood swings, fatigue, or simply seeking a comprehensive understanding of their hormone levels.DocHQ’s Menopause Check will give you a clear answer about whether you may be approaching or have reached menopause by screening follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, which rise as you get closer to menopause.
