Hormones can sound complicated.
Fortunately, you do not need a medical textbook to understand the basic principle behind menopause.
The body contains a network of glands and chemical messengers that continually communicate with one another.
Among these are the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries.
During the reproductive years, these systems work together to regulate the menstrual cycle and the production of hormones including oestrogen and progesterone.
As menopause approaches, ovarian function changes and hormone levels fluctuate before eventually settling into a different pattern.
Why can symptoms seem so unpredictable?
The body likes balance.
When hormone patterns are changing, that balance can temporarily become more difficult to maintain.
This helps explain why menopausal symptoms can seem to come and go.
One week may be relatively easy; the next may bring disturbed sleep, flushes or changes in mood.
And because hormones influence many systems within the body, the effects are not confined to periods stopping.
Temperature regulation
Hot flushes and night sweats are among the most familiar menopausal symptoms.
Changes in reproductive hormones can affect the brain’s temperature-regulating mechanisms, so relatively small changes in body temperature may trigger a much bigger response than before.
The result can be an intense sensation of heat, sweating and sometimes a racing heartbeat.
Sleep, energy and mood
Poor sleep can have knock-on effects throughout the following day.
When you repeatedly wake because of night sweats or general sleep disruption, tiredness can affect:
concentration
resilience
mood
appetite
motivation
It is therefore useful to think of menopausal symptoms as interconnected rather than separate problems.
Sexual comfort
Reduced oestrogen after menopause can also affect the tissues of the vagina and vulva.
Some women experience:
dryness
reduced natural lubrication
discomfort
changes in sensitivity