Identifying Early Menopause Symptoms

Have you been thinking that menopause is the only thing you are going to go through as you get older? Unfortunately, that is not the case. Long before you have your very last period, you will start recognizing early menopause symptoms. This is not perimenopause, which leads up to the so called "change of life."

For the most part, you will enter this phase by the time you reach your mid forties. It can last anywhere from two years to six years but that is just the median. You may go through early menopause for a far shorter amount of time, or a longer one.

Early menopause occurs before perimenopause, which is also known as pre menopause. Whether you do or do not is all  about age. Women can begin going through perimenopause during your forties – and really, the age tends to be 47 or so. Therefore, if you start experiencing menopausal related symptoms earlier than that are often going through early menopause.

There are a number of symptoms which can alert you to this phase of your life. As with most aspects of menopause, the best sign is related to the way you menstruate. If your periods start becoming erratic before pre menopause, then it could be a sign of early menopause, or premature menopause. However, it could also indicate such things as premature ovarian failure, so you should see your doctor if you start menstruating irregularly.

Actually, early menopause shares a lot of its symptoms with perimenopause and menopause itself. Hot flashes are a common occurrence, for example. Your skin can get as much as eight degrees hotter during a hot flash. Your pulse beats  faster, you sweat more copiously, and you flush brightly. There are vitamins, supplements, and even HRT available to help with these. You can also try to relax; stay away from stressful situations; wear comfortable clothes; exercise; reduce your consumption of spicy food, caffeine, and alcohol; try to keep cool at night; and press cool compresses or cold water on your face and the pressure points on your wrist when you get one.

As the level of estrogen in your body decreases, you can also begin to feel vaginal dryness. This can be extremely unpleasant at best, and painful at worst. This is the point where women start feeling completely disinterested in sex. You may also start to experience trouble controlling your bladder. This problem is completely normal, albeit embarrassing.

Other symptoms include but are not limited to: heart palpitations; insomnia; gaining weight; skin appears dryer and thinner; headaches; frequent nausea and upset stomach; tenderness around the breasts; aching joints and sore muscles; loss or thinning of hair; appearance of facial hair; changing body odor; increased bloating; and feelings of itchy or irritated skin. There are many emotional symptoms as well. You may be more irritable, more prone to mood swings, and less interested in sex or intimacy. Feelings of anxiety are common, as are feelings of discombobulation and a lack of concentration. You may experience lapses in memory, you may feel indifferent to the events around you, and depression is not uncommon.

There are ways to combat the symptoms of early menopause. Many of them can be done naturally, just by changes in your behavior. There are also medical remedies. Just make sure you keep your doctor informed.