You’re probably familiar with some of the more common side effects of menopause, like hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, and mood swings, but there are several surprising side effects of menopause you might not be prepared for. 

As estrogen production decreases, you may notice changes in your hair and skin, sleep, and even bathroom habits.  These symptoms are common, but there are ways to treat them. In this post, we’ll cover some more side effects of menopause, including why urinary incontinence happens, and what you can do about it.

What is Menopause?

Menopause marks the natural end of your reproductive years and is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Most women enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with 51 being the average in the U.S.

Leading up to menopause, a stage called perimenopause, your hormones fluctuate significantly. Estrogen and progesterone, two key reproductive hormones, gradually decline, and that shift affects everything from your mood and metabolism to your pelvic floor and bladder. But it’s not just these two hormones. As estrogen declines, so do levels of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins—the chemicals that control your mood, sleep, appetite, temperature regulation, and even focus.

Do All Women Struggle With Menopause?

We recently came across an article from our partners at Pink Moon, who specialize in non-hormonal menopause relief. They share a powerful insight: 1 in 5 women breeze through menopause without symptoms, while others face significant struggles from insomnia to bladder leaks.

Why the huge difference?

It often comes down to how each woman’s brain-body connection adapts to the hormonal transition. Some women have systems that rebalance smoothly. For others, the brain becomes more sensitive to the shifting signals, especially in areas that regulate sleep, temperature, and mood.

Unexpected Symptoms You Might Notice

• Brain Fog and Insomnia

  Estrogen fluctuations are to blame if you’re having trouble staying focused, memory issues, or experiencing insomnia.

• Thinning Hair

  You may notice that you’re shedding more hair than usual as you enter perimenopause and approach menopause.  Talk to your dermatologist about options to help.

• Dry Eyes, Skin, Hair, and Nails

  Estrogen helps maintain moisture levels in the body. During menopause, you might experience dry, itchy eyes, skin, hair, and brittle nails.

• Urinary Incontinence

  Weak pelvic floor muscles and changes in vaginal tissue can lead to urinary incontinence.  You may especially notice leaking when you sneeze, laugh, cough, or exercise.  There are options for treating menopause incontinence.