Healthy Now

The first signs of menopause also known as perimenopause can occur as long as ten years before the actual onset of full blown menopause. Basically, women in their late 30s up through the 40s can start the perimenopause cycle which is basically the reduction of the production of estrogen. Once the ovaries stop releasing eggs, then a women is in full blown menopause and will experience a full onset of symptoms, those early signs of menopause you may experience for years leading up to the actual event.

Perhaps one of the most significant early signs of menopause is the hot flashes which can cause you to sweat
at night or even during the day when everyone else is comfortable or even cold. These hot flashes may or may not be accompanied by red blotchy skin, flushed skin or even a prickly kind of heat.

Hot flashes, one of the first signs of menopause, are also the most joked about of all the symptoms of this biological change. As many as seventy-five to eighty percent of all women experience this uncomfortable feeling which can last as short as thirty seconds or as long at thirty minutes or more. The average time for a hot flash moment is about five to ten minutes for these first signs of menopause. These hot flashes can be a warm flushing sensation on your face and upper body or it can present themselves as red blotchy skin.

Another aspect to early menopause symptoms is that women may be given to extreme changes in moods and there may also is a general loss of interest in sex, and depression is also another possible sign. Also, there will be changes to the growth of your hair and its quality may also change, while it will also is noticed that the vagina begins to dry up and you would also suffer from the problem of retaining your water.

Irregular periods, of course, are also early signs of menopause as well. However, because perimenopause can last years, whenever you start exhibiting signs of irregularity, you should be examined by a doctor to rule out other health issues like tumors, fibroids, cancer and more. There are many things that can cause irregular periods and should not be the “end all to end all” signals of menopause.

Among the treatments possible for early menopause symptoms are hormone replacement therapy or HRT and some over-the-counter as well as prescription medications, muscle relaxants, prescription pain relievers and also medications that are anti-inflammatory. However, if you do not wish to be affected by side effects, you would be well advised to consider herbal supplements that are an option that more and more women are opting for.

Less frequent early menopause symptoms include headaches due to these hormonal changes as well as problems with memory. Even aching in the joints and muscles can be considered part of the menopausal arsenal of symptoms. If you are not quite at that stage in life to be experiencing those first signs of menopause, get ready for it. You may not develop all of them but chances are that there will be some that have your name on them.

For most women, the symptoms of menopause will begin to appear about the time a woman nears the age of 50. However, for women that begin the process of menopause prior to age 40, the condition is known as pre menopause. Pre-menopause can occur for a number of reasons, including chemotherapy, autoimmune disorders like lupus, or a hysterectomy. On top of the more common signs of menopause, pre-menopause symptoms bring a host of concerns, including the loss of fertility and the increased risk of conditions like osteoporosis at a much younger age. While there is no way to reverse pre menopause symptoms, it is important to see your doctor if you suspect that this is happening to you. Your doctor can run tests to determine for sure if you are experiencing pre menopause symptoms, and offer you advice, support and treatment to deal with it.

Signs of the “Change”

There are a number of early menopause symptoms that you might experience, but one of the most common is a change to your regular monthly cycle. You may see periods that are heavier or lighter than usual, or the usual 28 day span may get lengthened or shortened. If you experience heavy periods with clotting or spotting in between periods or after intercourse, you should see your doctor, since these are not typical pre-menopause symptoms. You might also experience your first hot flashes, which can be pre-menopause symptoms when they occur early on. Other symptoms might be vaginal dryness, a decrease in your libido, breast tenderness or bladder issues.

Just as women that go through menopause at the average age, women experiencing pre-menopause symptoms will find that most of these complaints are the result of a drop in estrogen levels. Unfortunately, this hormonal drop can also raise the risk of other health conditions like osteoporosis, periodontal disease and some cancers like ovarian and colon cancer. Because of these risk factors, you will need to work closely with your doctor to alleviate some of these risks through regular health screenings and possible nutritional supplementation.

Treating Symptoms

Since first symptoms of menopause can be quite uncomfortable for some women, there are options in dealing with them. First, make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids, which means at least eight glasses of water every day. You can also give up the habits that are not good for your body like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. It is also a good idea to begin taking a daily vitamin supplement once you begin experiencing pre-menopause symptoms, to help balance the estrogen loss. Make sure that your supplement has an adequate amount of calcium; check with your doctor as to the proper amount for you. By taking care of yourself during this time, you will be able to manage your pre-menopause symptoms effectively.