HOT FLUSHES, night sweats, sleep disturbances and mood swings? Welcome to the menopause. HFG expert and GP Dawn Harper says these are among the most common complaints she hears from women of a certain age visiting her surgery.
A recent survey confirms Dawn’s day-to-day observations. The most common symptoms among women experiencing menopausal problems are hot flushes (40%), night sweats(17%), insomnia (16%), vaginal dryness (13%), mood disorders (12%) and weight gain (12%). Symptoms last, on average, two years, but for some they can last for over five. They also vary from woman to woman in type and extent, severely affecting quality of life for some.