Early Menopause Symptoms and Ways to Cope with It

Menopause is dreaded by all women not because it is the phase of life that marks the end of the fertility era of a woman, but because it brings so much upheaval both mentally and physically. The early menopause symptoms include hot flushes, wild and unexplained mood swings and irregular periods, heavy or scant bleeding and night sweats among others.

Recognizing the Onset of Menopause

As with all the physical developments in a human body, menopause too has a particular set time for setting in. Menopause usually starts around 45 to 50 years and hence the early menopause symptoms will be manifested around this age. Similar to the onset of puberty, the onset of menopause can be pretty confusing and distressing to those who are not prepared for it. Hence, the key to handling menopause is to know what it is about.

The Early Menopause Symptoms

Among the first signs is the irregularity of the menstrual circle. What was once coming once in a month will not manifest itself two and three times a month. In some cases it will altogether stop for 3-4 months and then start again like nothing happened. This occurs usually at 45-47 years of age, though it has been seen to happen as late as 50 years of age in some cases.

Understanding Depression

The early menopause or pre-menopause period is characterized by unpredictable and unexplained mood swings. Medically it is explained by the depletion of estrogen in the blood, since the ovaries are shutting down. This is why; it is recommended that women who have acute depression attacks take HRT or hormone replacement therapy to counteract it. However, it is important to take this medication only under medical supervision as hormones can play havoc with the body if the right balance is not achieved.

Attacking Early Menopause in the Way That's Right for You

While some women prefer a medical treatment to help alleviate their early menopause symptoms, a trip to the pharmacy is not every woman's idea of a cure. There certainly are alternatives which can help, though their effectiveness can vary from person to person and may take some experimentation.

The first step should always be education. Understanding the various options that are available, and what each can offer you will allow you to begin to narrow the field. Sources of information can include your own doctor, your library card, and of course the Internet.

Many doctors will not be open to non-medical alternatives, but many are opening their eyes to what is available and how effective they can be. If your doctor is inflexible and will not help you explore an option that you may be more comfortable with, then your first step may be looking for a new doctor.

You want to make sure that in moving forward with whatever treatment you decide on, that you do have a trained medical professional who is willing to help you. There is simply too much conflicting information out there (particularly on the Internet) for you to be going it alone!