I think it’s safe to say that the most commonly talked about menopausal symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, and low libido. But did you know there are some very unusual or weird and less talked about symptoms? Some of which people close to me and I have experienced.

They will probably blow your mind, but here you go:

Cold flashes or flushes

Yes. You’ve heard of hot flashes. But cold flushes are the exact opposite. The body feels you guessed, cold. Fluctuating hormones confuse the body’s internal thermostat, and it has a hard time regulating hot and cold.

Formication

This one may give you creeps because it’s a type of tactile hallucination. People have the feeling of imaginary insects or spiders crawling on the skin. This might occur because estrogen plays a role in collagen production, and the declining levels lead to dryness and possibly the feeling of insects crawling on the skin.

Altered spatial awareness

My mom experienced this and we had no idea what the hell was going on with her. It showed up while she was driving, and since she didn’t talk to us about her menopause journey, we didn’t made the connection until much later, after the experience. This altered state occurs due to the perception of depth of vision, which can alter your concentration and cause you to become more accident prone.

Gum disease

Estrogen again. It’s always estrogen. As it declines, the mouth can become dry, which decreases saliva and the number of bacteria to wash away or remove bacteria. This can lead to a build-up of bacteria, gum disease, and tooth decay.

Burning mouth

It happens and is a burning sensation in the roof of the mouth or the tongue and lips. Not much is known about this one. But it’s a real thing. Theory is that the nerve which causes pain in the mouth becomes sensitized due to decreasing estrogen.

Tinnitus

This is a ringing sensation in the ear that some people experience. Our ears have estrogen receptors. So it’s believed that the change in estrogen levels contribute to the ringing.

Electric shock sensation

I can attest to this one myself. It’s happened a few times. And of course, the first time I experienced it, I wondered, WTF is that? Essentially, you feel an electric shock in some part of the body. I’ve felt it in my arms, legs and feet. Another case of hormonal changes but not enough is known. However, it’s believed to be caused by neurons that misfire.

Vertigo/dizziness

It’s not clearly understood, but there are several theories as to why women experience vertigo/dizziness. Fluctuating hormone levels can affect insulin and blood sugar levels, causing dizziness. In addition, fatigue, migraines, hot flashes, and even aging are possible reasons.

Changes in body odor

Hot flashes and night sweats can cause changes in body odor as the bacteria interacts with the sweat. Decreasing estrogen may also cause infections like bacterial vaginosis and or yeast and changes in the smell of mucus secretion. Keep in mind, the odor may not be noticeable to anyone else because during menopause some women have a heightened sense of smell.

Don’t forget to check in with your primary care partner. Let them know what you’re experiencing. Some might tell you there’s no way menopause causes these symptoms. But humor them and share. Hey, you never know.

Have you or anyone you know experienced any of these unusual symptoms? Share in the comments below.