The hormone estrogen plays a major role in the different signs of menopause that a woman will experience when going through this stage of life. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries and is known to affect over 300 different organs, tissues and bodily functions. When we hit menapause, the levels of estrogen our body produces decrease dramatically. This ultimately means that no two women will likely experience the exact same symptoms of menopause. Some of the more common and important ones are:

You May See An Increase in Bad Cholesterol Levels

Simply put, there are two main types of cholesterol in the body; good and bad. Before menopause is reached women have more good cholesterol than bad which means that the detrimental effects of bad cholesterol are counteracted by the high levels of good. Studies have shown however that during the pre-menopause phase women tend to lose their high quantities of good cholesterol and the protective benefits that it affords. This means that the levels of bad cholesterol are allowed to rise and the risk of heart disease increases, especially if a female is overweight or if they have other heart disease risk factors.

Estrogen and its Impact on Heart Disease.

Many research studies have shown that estrogen plays a vital role in keeping our blood vessels elastic and flexible - meaning it helps to keep our blood flowing at optimum rates. But a reduction in estrogen can lead to hardening of the blood vessels, which can in turn lead to risks of increased blood pressure and even heart disease.

Hot Flashes Could Be On Their Way

Hot flashes are generally caused by the change in levels of estrogen. Studies estimate that about 75 percent of menopausal women experience hot flashes. A hot flash starts with a small rise in body temperature. This causes the blood vessels near the skin's surface of the chest, neck and face to dilate which releases this excess heat through the skin. A simple enough bodily function but not necessarily a pleasant one.

Breasts May Become Larger and More Firm

As the menopause progresses the glandular tissue of the breasts i.e. the tissue that produces milk, is gradually replaced by either connective tissue, which makes the breast firmer, or by fatty deposits which can give the breast an increased size. While some women may think this is a blessing, other women who already have large breasts see it as a burden and if it is severe it can cause additional problems such as back and lower neck ache.

Possibility of Incontinence

Estrogen is also known to help tone and stimulate the bladder and urinary tract. As estrogen levels decline, this can lead to urinary urgency or even loss of bladder control. I know this sounds bad, but it's easily counteracted and is nothing to worry about. Simple daily exercises that help tone the pelvic area and/or natural remedies for menopause can solve the problem if it occurs.

Risk of Osteoporosis and Loss of Bone Density

Before the menopause women lose bone density at a rate of around 1% per year however after the menopause this increases to 2-4% per year which means that post-menopausal women are much more prone to bone fractures and osteoporosis. HRT can slow down the rate of loss however the risk of broken bones still remains higher than it was before the menopause began.