Early Menopause Symptoms - How to Recognize and Deal With Them

Menopause is an inevitable event in every woman's life. For most women, changes do not start to occur until they reach at least forty. However, medical studies indicate that for approximately one percent of women, the early menopause symptoms can manifest at a much younger age, even as early as the mid-twenties.

Most women think of menopause as coming at the end of their youth and marking the winter, or at least autumn phase of life. What happens, then, if menopause comes into a woman's life in her twenties? What happens if you start experiencing symptoms of aging that you thought were still years or decades away? If this is happening to you, you might experience grief due to the unexpected change and your perceived lost youth, or feel that you have been unfairly cursed by a burden of symptoms that your peers aren't yet having to face. You may also be afraid that something serious might be wrong with your body.

Understanding what is happening and taking responsibility for your body are important steps to coming out on top of the situation. Various factors can play a contributory role to the development of early menopause. Some of these include cancer treatments, autoimmune disorders, family history of early menopause, and ovarian dysfunction. If you suspect that you are experiencing early menopause symptoms, then you should consult your doctor to rule out any treatable conditions.

What are some of the early menopausal symptoms you might expect? In general, menopause marks the end of the reproductive years, and the most obvious sign is the cessation of the monthly menstrual cycle. Hot flashes are another hallmark symptom. However an occasional missed or light period or a little hot flash here and there might not be actual early menopause symptoms. If the symptoms start occurring regularly and occurring together then you most likely have cause for concern. Night sweats and inexplicable mood swings combined with hot flashes and lighter or skipped periods definitely warrant a further medical evaluation.

Once you realize that you are experiencing early menopause symptoms, you do need to take action. A medical professional can give you a better understanding of what you, and your body, are going through and help direct you toward treatment and accurate educational resources. Educate yourself and those around you! Dealing with menopause in the prime of your life can be devastating if you try to handle it alone. But getting the right care and educating yourself and loved ones about the early onset of menopause will make things easier and help you come through the journey triumphantly.