Menopause can be a time when we experience new and sometimes strange things happening with our bodies.  There are at least 34 symptoms of menopause, and over the course of your journey, you may experience some symptoms that you are not aware of. If you do, it’s good to know you are not alone.  The following are 5 lesser-known symptoms that women search for on Gennev.com:

Cold Flashes – The opposite extreme of hot flashes, you may feel chilled, start shivering or experience a bone-deep cold that makes it hard to warmup up from. Cold flashes usually pass within a few minutes and are likely caused by fluctuating hormones. As estrogen levels drop, the hypothalamus–the part of your brain responsible for regulating your body temperature–gets overly sensitive, and therefore temperature regulation can be unstable. Learn what to do about cold flashes.

Electric Shock Sensations- Described as sensations of zaps, shock or tingling in one area or all over your body, electric shock sensations (or ESS) are generally harmless and short-lived. Why this happens isn’t exactly clear, but these zaps could be related to aging, or possibly fluctuating hormones. Estrogen works with your central nervous system to send messages along nerves to the brain. When your hormones start to go haywire, signals may get crossed, amplified, short-circuited, or otherwise distorted, causing the sensations to occur.  Learn more about electric shock sensations.

Facial Hair – Is coarse, darker hair showing up on your upper lip, chin, or jaw line?  Why now? Estrogen keeps hair finer, softer, and lighter, where coarser, darker, and thicker hair is the result of testosterone. In perimenopause estrogen diminishes, but women’s testosterone levels may not. The higher ratio of testosterone to estrogen can cause these annoying outcroppings of male-like hairs to sprout. Find out how to get rid of unwanted facial hair.

Itchy Skin – You may have noticed your skin is drier, and you may feel itchy more often, no matter what the seasonal weather may be.  One of estrogen’s many responsibilities is to trigger the body’s production of collagen and body oils, which keeps your skin moist and supports your body in retaining its natural moisture. As estrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause, so does your body’s moisture, resulting in dry, itchy skin, irritation, small bumps, even a rash. Learn how to relieve the itch.

Body Odor – Have you noticed your body smells differently? Does the deodorant or anti-perspirant you've used for years no longer work as well? While these changes may not be pleasant, they are normal as hormone levels shift. You may simply be sweating more with hot flashes and night sweats. And high levels of anxiety or stress can lead to perspiration as well. Sweat itself is odorless, but when it combines with bacteria on your skin things start to get stinky. Learn how to feel fresher.

Hormonal shifts throughout menopause can prompt a lot of changes in your body.  To be sure what you are experiencing is related to menopause, consult your physician or schedule an appointment with one of Gennev’s menopause specialists.   

We can help you with uncommon symptoms of menopause

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The information on the Gennev site is never meant to replace the care of a qualified medical professional.  Hormonal shifts throughout menopause can prompt a lot of changes in your body, and simply assuming something is “just menopause” can leave you vulnerable to other possible causes. Always consult with your physician or schedule an appointment with one of Gennev's telemedicine doctors before beginning any new treatment or therapy.

About Gennev

Gennev offers a modern approach to women’s health and wellness for the second half of life.  With telehealth services in all 50 states, our team consists of OB/GYNs, Naturopathic Doctors and Registered Dietitians that double as health coaches.  Treatment options include prescription medications, natural solutions and supplement recommendations, along with lifestyle behaviors for symptom relief.