Recognizing Early Menopause Symptoms
The first symptoms 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.
If you normally experience pre-menstrual symptoms like cramps and mood swings, chances are that these symptoms will worsen as time gets closer to menopause. Other early signs of menopause include irregular periods, tenderness of the breasts, sleeping problems and fatigue. In terms of sex, your libido may decrease and there may be some pain during sex due to vaginal dryness.
Urinary problems may also be early signs of menopause but should always be checked out by a doctor to re-affirm the cause. Frequent need to urinate, development of a urinary tract infection and even leakage of urine when sneezing, coughing or exercising can also be attributed to perimenopause.
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.}
Tags: early signs of menopause, first symptoms of menopause, menopause
This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 9:43 am and is filed under pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.