As you approach menopause, changes in your reproductive hormone levels 
can lead to irregular periods.
 

At first, your periods might start coming closer together. Later on, the cycle length might increase, with periods spaced farther apart. During this time you may also notice changes to the flow. This process can take several years until your periods eventually stop completely.
 

It can be helpful to track your cycle to help you spot patterns and make it easier to share details with your healthcare provider if necessary. And if you are finding irregular periods are affecting your daily life, don’t worry, your healthcare provider is there to help.

Affect about 80% of women in Europe
 

A hot flush is a sudden burst of warmth that is usually most intense over your face, neck, and chest. It typically lasts 1–5 minutes and can interrupt daily activities or cause sleep disturbances.
 

Hot flushes vary in intensity and can include:

• Mild: feeling warm without sweating
• Moderate: sweating and warmth
• Severe: excessive warmth and sweating that forces you to stop your daily activities

The impact of VMS on individuals’ quality of life(QOL) can be significant. Women with moderate-to-severe VMS may experience sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, that may impact the ability to work and carry out day-to-day activities.
 

If they’re untreated, hot flushes can even affect health measures such as cardiovascular disease risk factors.
 

Find out more about what causes hot flushes and what hot flushes feel like.

Affect about 69% of women in Europe
 

Sleep disturbances are common, especially during perimenopause, and can impact performance throughout the day.
 

Sleep can be affected by hormonal changes in different ways:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Waking up earlier than expected
• Not getting enough sleep
• Not getting enough high-quality sleep

Menopause-associated sleep disturbances can have a broad impact, both physically and mentally. They are linked to:

• Depression
• Cardiovascular disease
• Increased body weight

They can negatively affect alertness, mental health, learning and memory.
 

Menopause-associated sleep disturbances also make it harder to enjoy life, 
and to focus and be productive at work.
 

Find out more about how menopause can affect your sleep.

Affect up to 56% of women in Europe
 

These can include new or increased anxiety, irritability, depression, brain fog or low mood. New or worsening mood symptoms can be especially common during the perimenopause stage, and can make it hard to focus on work and other tasks.
 

You aren’t alone if you are struggling with your mood. This can be important to seek help for, as untreated depression can make it hard to carry out daily activities and can lead to a drop in quality of life.
 

Find out more about the psychological impact of menopause.

Affects up to 44% of women in Europe
 

Vaginal dryness is common during menopause due to falling oestrogen levels.
You may experience an itching or burning sensation, find sex painful and/or have a reduced sex drive (loss of libido).
 

As well as causing pain during sex, vaginal dryness can make it uncomfortable to sit, stand, exercise, pee or work. Vaginal dryness can affect everyday life, whether women are sexually active or not, and can have a big impact on quality of life.
 

These kinds of changes to the body can also have an emotional impact.
They can be difficult to accept and can lead to a loss in self-confidence and sexual confidence.
 

Find out more about how menopause can impact your sex drive.

Affects up to 43% of women in Europe
 

As your oestrogen levels fall, you may need to pee more frequently, experience recurrent bladder infections or have difficulty controlling your bladder (incontinence).
 

Incontinence during menopause can have a big impact on wellbeing.
Many women report feelings of embarrassment, anxiety, and social isolation related to the condition.
 

These psychological effects can lead to reduced self-esteem and reluctance to engage in social or physical activities. Some women may avoid exercise, travel, or even intimate relationships due to fears of incontinence, which can impact overall well-being and lifestyle.