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.
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