Menopause expert: The 7 perimenopause symptoms you really weren’t expecting

Hot flushes, brain fog, aching joints… we’ve all heard about (and likely experienced!) the familiar issues that perimenopause can cause.

But crashing the car and imaginary crawling insects are just a few of the more bizarre symptoms you may have been experiencing thanks to hormonal shifts in the body. 

According to a recent survey more than 50 per cent of women can experience 10 different symptoms during menopause, many of which you would never have expected.

Shona Wilkinson, Lead Nutritionist at ethical supplement and nutrition brand DR.VEGAN, says, “While there are many common symptoms of menopause, there are still a few that tend to catch people off guard. 

“When most people think of these symptoms they think of hot flushes, mood swings or trouble sleeping. Lifestyle changes and various supplements, such as DR.VEGAN’s MenoFriend formula can help ease these issues. Beyond common symptoms, however, there is a series of lesser-known and often unusual symptoms worth being aware of.

Have you noticed any strange symptoms lately and questioned why you were feeling that way? Here Shona reveals seven more unusual issues that may indicate you are going through peri-menopause.

Formication (aka, feeling like insects are crawling on or under your skin)

Have you ever settled down on the couch to watch a movie and started itching for no reason? If this unsettling sensation happens regularly it might not be down to your washing powder.  “1 in 5 women will experience this bizarre symptom of menopause, during which they feel as though insects are crawling either on or under their skin,” says Shona. “Though unsettling, this is simply what’s known as a tactile hallucination, which is a physical sensation with no physical cause. It can get pretty annoying, especially given that it can bring about both a mild and severe itch!”

Burning tongue

What is going on inside your mouth can also be a sign you are going through perimenopause.

“As oestrogen levels decline, pain-sensitive nerve endings around taste buds may become overactive giving rise to a burning or tingling sensation in the tongue. This is often accompanied by dryness, soreness, tingling or a consistent metallic taste.

Altered spatial awareness 

After years of being careful drivers, many women over 40 have noticed they are getting in more scrapes and crashes as they drive their car around town. It isn’t just being clumsy, it could be down to your hormones.

“Many women describe a change in their spatial awareness during menopause – difficulty judging depth, bumping into things, and misjudging distances seems to become much more common,” says Shona. “When combined with dry, irritated eyes and reduced concentration, everyday tasks like stepping off curbs or navigating cluttered spaces may also become unexpectedly tricky.”

Body odour

Waking up with a strange smell and realised it’s you?! You are not alone. “Hot flushes and night sweats can cause a change in odour, particularly when the sweat caused by these symptoms comes into contact with bacteria on the skin,” says Shona. “A change in vaginal mucus as a result of lower oestrogen levels can also alter the balance of friendly microbes in this area – this can alter the consistency, volume and smell of any discharge, leading to a potential change in smell.”

Just to add insult to injury, “Women’s susceptibility to infections like thrush can also increase during menopause, which can introduce additional odour changes.” 

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sounds that aren’t actually present, usually a ringing, whooshing or clicking sound. And it can get worse during the peri-menopause. “Research suggests that 20% of women experience tinnitus during menopause, with severity ranging from a mild annoyance to a profound disturbance,” says Shona.

Electric shocks

“These mild-to-severe jolts of pain often precede or accompany a hot flush,” says Shona. “They can feel like a shock of electricity passing through the body and are thought to be down to neurons misfiring in the nervous system as a result of hormonal change.”

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Gum disease

As well as feeling like your tongue has been burnt off, fluctuation of hormones can affect the condition of your gums.

“A drop in oestrogen levels can result in a dry mouth, meaning there’s less saliva to wash away the bacteria in the mouth – which can lead to problems of gum disease and tooth decay,” says Shona. “This can affect lots of women both during and after the menopause, with most sufferers struggling with bleeding gums primarily.”

While menopause is a natural stage of life, its symptoms can be far more varied and surprising than many expect. Understanding these lesser-known effects can help women better recognise what’s happening in their bodies and seek the right support.

How many have you experienced? Let us know in the comments below.