Recognizing Early Menopause Symptoms
If you begin to experience hot flashes and mood swings before you hit the ripe old age of forty, menopause may not be the first thing that comes to your mind. However, one in every 100 women will experience early menopause symptoms that can hit as the result of a number of different factors. Early menopause is defined as menopause that occurs in a woman before the age of forty. There are a number of early menopause symptoms that you may have to grapple with if you do indeed find yourself in this situation. However, there are also a number of methods to treat early menopause symptoms so that they do not completely disrupt your life.
Causes of Early Menopause
There are a number of reasons why menopause might begin prior to the age of forty. One is genetics, meaning that if your mother or grandmother experienced early menopause symptoms, there is a greater likelihood that you will as well. Another cause of early menopause is the necessity for a hysterectomy. Once the ovaries are removed, menopause will commence. Finally, if a woman has had chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer, these treatments can also be the culprit in early menopause. If you have any of these risk factors, and you begin to experience early menopause symptoms, you can visit your doctor to find out if you are indeed beginning the menopause process.
Symptoms of Early Menopause
Most of the early menopause symptoms are similar to what women experience during regular menopause, and can include hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Other early menopause symptoms might be headaches, a reduced sex drive, depression and difficulty sleeping. You might also find that you are irritable or have to visit the restroom more frequently. Fatigue and forgetfulness are also signs of early menopause. Vaginal dryness is a common concern, which can contribute to the loss of libido. While all of these early menopause symptoms may seem uncomfortable, they are only temporary in nature and many can be treated effectively using simple remedies.
For example, you can increase your exercise and improve your diet to help with some of your early menopause symptoms, like irritability and fatigue. You can also use an over the counter lubricant to help combat the vaginal dryness. If depression becomes a big issue, your doctor can prescribe medication that will help you to deal with this symptom as well. While early menopause may seem like a huge hurdle to get over in your life, there are many options available to you to help you deal with your early menopause symptoms and offer you a higher quality of life.
