Hot flushes

There it is again, that hot wave ... It comes out of nowhere, it floods your upper body, neck and face in ascending and descending spurts, and sweat breaks out all over your body. It stays like this for a few minutes, then the hot flush disappears as quickly as it came. At the beginning of the menopause, many women experience the most severe outbreaks of sweating, after which these attacks slowly decrease. Within one day, there can be two to three, in rare cases even up to 20 or 30 hot flushes. The cause is probably the falling estrogen level - as a result, the temperature center in the brain works inaccurately. However, this has not yet been fully researched. What exactly helps varies from woman to woman. But the general rule is that coffee and alcohol also lower oestrogen levels, so consumption should be reduced. Exercise strengthens the heart, blood pressure, circulation - and also the temperature regulator in the brain. Alternating showers and saunas also have this effect. If the flying heat comes at night, a cool bedroom (16 to 18 degrees) and cotton or silk bed linen will help. A ready-to-hand glass of cold water can cool you down. If the hot flushes interfere too much with your life, your doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy.

Sleep disorders

Sleep disorders are often a direct result of hot flushes: You wake up at night drenched in sweat and can't get back to sleep. The hormones are also a cause: the falling oestrogen levels disrupt the messenger substances that are important for falling asleep and staying asleep. However, researchers have discovered that sleep is always piecemeal anyway: we wake up up to 28 times a night - and fall asleep again after three minutes, which we forget in the morning. If these three minutes are exceeded, then we have missed the time to fall asleep again without any problems. Sleep disorders are not only caused by hormones, the psyche is also involved: The menopause is usually a time of upheaval - for example, because the children are moving out. Relaxation techniques such as autogenic training or Jacobsen relaxation can help. Extra tips: You should eat your last meal three hours before going to bed and massage your feet and lower legs one hour beforehand.

Urinary tract infections

Oestrogen also plays a role in bladder problems. This is because when the level of this sex hormone drops, the mucous membrane in the urethra becomes thinner and more sensitive. At the same time, the urethral muscle loses strength and tension. This can ultimately even lead to a weak bladder. In addition, many small mini-pockets can form in the urethra, in which bacteria can colonize and multiply. The pH value in the blood also changes frequently during the menopause, making you more susceptible to urinary tract infections. Experts recommend drinking a lot, 1.5 to two liters of water or spritzer a day. This flushes out the bacteria. Also good: cranberry juice or water with lemon. This prevents the bacteria from settling. A tea made from bearberry (pharmacy) has an antibacterial effect and helps to get rid of the pathogens quickly. If the cystitis becomes chronic, you should see a doctor.

Depressive moods

Your mood also goes on a rollercoaster at the same time as your hormones. Despondency and causeless sadness can be the result of falling hormone levels. Around one in ten women experience mood swings, depressive moods or even depression during the menopause. Studies have shown that these mood swings are most pronounced shortly before the ovaries finally stop producing oestrogen. This is because the hormone also controls the release of serotonin, the happiness messenger that ensures mental balance and a good mood. If there is little oestrogen in the body, the serotonin balance also drops. However, a hormone deficiency is not always the cause of moodiness - the psyche also plays a major role here. Some women find it stressful that their fertility ends with the menopause and a new phase of life begins. The doctor should find out the exact cause of the depressive mood before prescribing hormone therapy. In some cases, psychotherapy is the right approach, in other cases, hormone therapy may be the best option. St. John's wort can also help to lighten the mood.