These symptoms include vasomotor symptoms, decreased hormone levels, and increased risk for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, forgetfulness, osteoporosis, anxiety, depression, and vaginal symptoms. The most common menopause symptom is vasomotor symptoms; these can range from hot flashes to sweats lasting throughout the day. Vasomotor symptoms are associated with increases in depression and anxiety. (Roush, 2012) Hot flashes result from a decrease in the body’s estrogen levels, which signals the hypothalamus in the brain to dilate blood vessels in the skin to cause heat to disperse. (Chism, 2014) Body deregulation tends to intensify at night; this deregulation leads to night sweats that may interfere with normal sleeping patterns. This causes insomnia with the patient that already has altered sleep patterns due to aging or health issues. (Chism, …show more content…
These risks include the vaginal mucosal losing elasticity, loss of cervical gland function resulting in dryness and itching/burning, and a decrease in vaginal pH. The vaginal issues can lead to dyspareunia causing depression and anxiety in relationships, further causing the woman to feel inadequate. In addition, women enduring menopause is more likely to experience prolapse of reproductive and urinary tract organs, due to general loss of pelvic tone and support. (Davidson, London, & Ladewig,