During this segment of Weird Ass Wednesday, I’ll be talking about 3 weird, but very real, symptoms of menopause. My hope is to let other meno ladies know you are not alone, and you are NOT crazy.

Everyone has heard about hot flashes and night sweats, but there are so many menopause symptoms that rarely get talked about. If you’ve ever experienced them, you might think you’re either going crazy or dying. What follows are the weirdest one I’ve been lucky enough (ha!) to experience:

1. Heightened sense of smell: To put it bluntly, I can smell a fart from a mile away! Heck, I even smell things my family swears they can’t, leading me to believe it’s ME that I’m smelling. I ask them and they confirm that I smell just fine. I often go looking for doggy messes that aren’t there. Phantom dog turds and all, this is a very real symptom of menopause due to the fluctuations of estrogen. Very reminiscent of pregnancy but since menopause hasn’t been normalized in our culture, it’s not widely known. But it is very very real. 
2. Itchy skin: Do you ever feel like something is crawling on you or like your whole body itches? This was one of the earliest signs for me that I was going through perimenopause. Once I started on HRT (estrogen and progesterone), it lessened greatly. Other remedies that curb the creepy crawlies for me are following each shower with a moisturizing lotion or oil like Palmer’s Coconut Oil; taking an antihistamine at bedtime (my itching seems to peak during sleep); and using an antihistamine cream and ectoine on my intimate area (try Vag of Honor by Stripes).
3. Sudden faintness: This was one of the scariest symptoms I experienced. Feeling dizzy during menopause is a common complaint, and while it can be unsettling, it’s often a normal side effect of the hormonal changes your body is experiencing. Fluctuations in estrogen can affect blood pressure regulation and blood sugar levels, both of which can contribute to feelings of lightheadedness. Additionally, hot flashes, a hallmark symptom of menopause, can cause temporary drops in blood pressure, leading to dizziness. If the dizziness is severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms like chest pain or fainting, it’s important to see a doctor. However, for many women, occasional dizziness during menopause is a temporary inconvenience that can be managed with lifestyle adjustments.

Stay tuned in the future for more weird ass symptoms of menopause!

Disclaimer: I use the words “menopause” and “perimenopause” interchangeably even though the two stages of menopause, the cessation of menses, are technically called “perimenopause” and “postmenopause”.

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