Early Menopause Signs - Causes And Treatments

It is widely held that the average age of women beginning menopause is approximately 35 to 55 years of age. Menopause is the end of a woman's monthly periods and the ability to become pregnant in the natural way. It is a progressive process that actually begins anywhere from 2 to 10 years before the last regular menstruation.

If a woman has not had her period for one full year, she is considered to be in menopause. It is recommended that if you begin missing periods that you contact your physician first to rule out any possible illness that might be the cause and also to determine if you might be pregnant. There are other early menopause signs. There are possible causes that may trigger it and thankfully there are treatments as well.

Early Menopause Signs (symptoms)

Early menopause signs will likely include more than one of the following symptoms.
Hot flashes and night sweats can cause a flushing of the skin and sweating. At night, you may wake up feeling hot and your clothes and bedding might be dampened with sweat.
Many women tend to get up and try to cool down but when they return to bed the dampness may make it feel too cold.

Vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, breast sensitivity, and irregular periods also may occur at some time during menopause, early or not. Weight gain, mood swings, depression, and anxiety may occur as your body experiences fluctuating hormone levels.

Incontinence could be a problem for some women. Fatigue and lack of energy have also been reported. Your hair quality could change and your skin may show signs of aging. As has already been stated, if you have reason to suspect you might be beginning menopause, seek medical attention to rule out anything more serious or pregnancy, the signs of which are similar to early menopause signs.

Causes

Autoimmune disorders may be connected to early menopause. They can attack your female organs and prevent the body from making the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are necessary for healthy functioning of the reproductive system.

Women have two x chromosomes. One is active and the other is inactive. Fragile X syndrome indicates a defect in the inactive X chromosome. This defect can trigger premature menopause.

The medications that are used in chemotherapy and radiation treatments may cause early menopause. The ovaries can be damaged with these treatments. This is not usually reversible damage. Other surgical procedures may cause ovarian damage as well.

A total hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries. This is also an abrupt reduction or cessation of hormone production which may also trigger early menopause signs. The removal of both ovaries (an oopherectomy) may also trigger early menopause.

Treatments

HRT-hormone replacement therapy is often used to treat menopausal symptoms. They are very effective in reducing many symptoms of menopause. The unfortunate fact is that they can come with some very serious side effects including heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. If you are like most women, you will want to side step these side effects if at all possible.

If you are not suffering greatly with symptoms, all that might be needed is a few life style changes. A reduction of alcohol intake and quitting smoking may help reduce the symptoms. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help to raise your energy levels and may even increase your sex drive. Be open with your partner, especially during this time about what you might be looking for during intimacy.

Accepting yourself and the changes that come with aging may help to relieve some of the anxiety and depression that accompany menopause. Taking care of yourself is imperative. Seek the help of loved ones or friends particularly if you are greatly fatigued or depressed. Anti-depressants may also be temporarily prescribed to ease depression and anxiety.

The use of natural treatments including herbal supplements is an ever increasingly popular choice of many women. They are safer and have few if any side effects. Herbal supplements should use only standardized herbal extracts and be made according to pharmaceutical grade standards and undergone extensive testing of the ingredients.

Conclusion

Early menopause signs such as hot flashes, night sweat (night hot flashes) and fatigue among others may have a basis in illnesses, surgery including the partial or complete removal of reproductive organs, defects in the inactive X chromosome. Some medications (chemotherapy and radiation treatments) may cause ovarian damage and thus early menopause. It is recommended that you get regular health check-ups and follow your physician's recommendations; this will help to keep you as healthy as possible for as long as possible.