The most famous menopausal symptoms, hot flashes, can be categorized with other vasomotor symptoms. In addition to hot flashes, a woman may experience sweats, chills, flushes, dizziness or wooziness, or palpitations. All of these symptoms are related to the constriction of blood vessels. Women may experience sleep disruptions. These disruptions can take many forms, including insomnia, trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or multiple awakenings during the night.
Many women notice genital, urinary, and sexual symptoms.
Vaginal dryness and less elastic tissues are common occurrences. Painful sexual intercourse may result. A decline in sex drive and a requirement for more stimulation to reach orgasm are also very common. Incontinence and prolapse of organs are among the most severe symptoms experienced in relation to these other, less severe, symptoms. Sometimes menopause may seem like a period of extended PMS, at least in terms of emotional symptoms.