Menopause is an inevitable part of being a woman, and for most, it happens between the ages of 45-55.
However, some people experience menopause earlier than this. Because early menopause is rare, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. This means women are living with adverse symptoms and being given no explanation on how to feel better.
Luckily there are some key signs and symptoms of early menopause that you can learn about. If you’re experiencing these changes, it’s time to visit a doctor to get your hormone levels checked.
Read on to find out the early signs of menopause.
Irregular Periods
One of the first indicators of early menopause is changes to your menstrual cycle. Look out for any of these irregularities that may indicate menopause symptoms:
- Spotting
- Extended time between bleeds
- Prolonged bleeds
- Heavy bleeding
These symptoms may indicate something other than menopause, but either way, if you’re experiencing changes, it’s best to get it checked out.
Vaginal Dryness and Libido Changes
One of the unfortunate menopause facts is that it often affects your sex life; you may notice changes in libido and new vaginal dryness.
If there’s no other lifestyle explanation for these changes, it may be an indicator of early menopause.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
One of the most well-known menopause signs is the fluctuations in body temperature. As estrogen decreases, the hypothalamus (temperature regulator in the brain) becomes more sensitive; this leads to these hot flashes and sweats.
However, there may be other reasons for these changes; make sure to get your thyroid checked before jumping to conclusions.
Mood Swings
Another sign of early menopause is the irrational mood swings you experience. Again, this is due to changing levels of estrogen in your body.
It can be challenging to deal with unexplained mood changes, but you can get support from your doctor. Additionally, this guide to menopause supplements can educate you about your options.
Insomnia
Unfortunately, it isn’t just night sweats you have to worry about. Getting to sleep in the first place can also be difficult. Don’t ignore seemingly random insomnia because it could be due to an estrogen deficiency.
However, this can be treated with hormone replacement therapy, melatonin supplements, or sleeping tablets in extreme cases.
Loss of Bladder Control
Finally, have you noticed small surprising leaks? Unless you’ve had a recent baby, this isn’t a symptom you should overlook.
Your doctor can help determine whether this is due to early menopause or something else. However, it can never hurt to practice regular Kegels!
The Signs and Symptoms of Early Menopause Explained
Are you experiencing the signs and symptoms of early menopause? If so, there’s no need to worry. Now you know why you have these symptoms, you can visit the doctor to rule out or confirm your suspicions, and begin treatment if necessary.
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