Your Guide to Pre-Menopause Symptoms

For most women, the symptoms of menopause will begin to appear about the time a woman nears the age of 50. However, for women that begin the process of menopause prior to age 40, the condition is known as pre menopause. Pre-menopause can occur for a number of reasons, including chemotherapy, autoimmune disorders like lupus, or a hysterectomy. On top of the more common signs of menopause, pre-menopause symptoms bring a host of concerns, including the loss of fertility and the increased risk of conditions like osteoporosis at a much younger age. While there is no way to reverse pre menopause symptoms, it is important to see your doctor if you suspect that this is happening to you. Your doctor can run tests to determine for sure if you are experiencing pre menopause symptoms, and offer you advice, support and treatment to deal with it.

Signs of the “Change”

There are a number of pre-menopause symptoms that you might experience, but one of the most common is a change to your regular monthly cycle. You may see periods that are heavier or lighter than usual, or the usual 28 day span may get lengthened or shortened. If you experience heavy periods with clotting or spotting in between periods or after intercourse, you should see your doctor, since these are not typical pre-menopause symptoms. You might also experience your first hot flashes, which can be pre-menopause symptoms when they occur early on. Other symptoms might be vaginal dryness, a decrease in your libido, breast tenderness or bladder issues.

Just as women that go through menopause at the average age, women experiencing pre-menopause symptoms will find that most of these complaints are the result of a drop in estrogen levels. Unfortunately, this hormonal drop can also raise the risk of other health conditions like osteoporosis, periodontal disease and some cancers like ovarian and colon cancer. Because of these risk factors, you will need to work closely with your doctor to alleviate some of these risks through regular health screenings and possible nutritional supplementation. 

pre menopause symptoms can be scary for many women to experience, but your doctor can help you to manage the more uncomfortable symptoms and prepare you for what lies ahead. Keeping your pre-menopause symptoms in check will be the first step on the road to better health after menopause.

For more information visit Natural Menopause Treatment as well as Natural Remedies for Menopause