Signs and Symptoms of Early Menopause
The word menopause comes from two Greek words meaning “month” and “to end.” Once it is translated it means “the end of monthlies.” For most women this does not happen until between the ages of 50 and 60 and is called perimenopause. However, it is possible to experience premature menopause or early menopause. Women who experience menopausal symptoms over the age of 40 but under the age of 50 are considered to be in early menopause. Women under the age of 40 experiencing menopausal conditions are considered to be in premature menopause. Either one of these two age ranges may struggle with the fact that they may no longer be able to reproduce due to the changes their bodies are making.
There are many different signs and symptoms of early menopause but just because you may experience some of these does not necessarily mean that you are menopausal.
Things may affect your monthly cycle such as:
- Medications
- Your diet
- Stress
Women under the age of 50 should evaluate what is going on in their lives before deciding that they may be menopausal. Also, it is a good idea to speak with your doctor to help determine exactly what is going on within your reproductive system.
Menopause means that your body is beginning to slow the process responding to the hormonal signs to ovulate. The slowing or stopping of your monthly cycle is one of the most predominant signs of early menopause. Other premature menopause symptoms may include leg cramps, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and even non-clinical depression.
For many women who suffer from premature or early menopause there in no reason that the doctors can find. This is a particularly hard situation for women who may have just decided that they would like to start having babies. It is highly recommended for women under the age of 40 that are experiencing premature menopause to not only visit your regular doctor, but to seek some sort of professional help in counseling as well to deal with the emotional aspect of this situation. By recognizing early signs menopause will not get the best of you and you can get adequate treatment.
There are several different ways to deal with the medical side of premature and early menopause. One of the most common treatments among doctors is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Many doctors like to start this therapy as soon as the first few signs of early menopause begin. It is important to discuss with your doctor the individual health risks as they vary from woman to woman.
An alternative to HRT may be to try a hormonal cream called Hot Flash Freedom. It is necessary to maintain adequate levels of the steroid hormones that your body naturally produces and this is a cream that is formulated to support stress and balance sex hormones.