Early Menopause Signs and Symptoms

More often than not, the idea of a woman going through menopause (also known as “The Big Change”) conjures up images of a late-middle aged women experiencing “hot flashes” and mood swings. Not every woman goes through menopause at the same age; Some women experience early menopause. Signs and symptoms can be varied, so knowing what to expect can help allay any fears of a more serious underlying condition when these present themselves.

Early and premature menopause can affect women from age 15 to 45, and these two terms should not be used synonymously. Generally speaking, if menopause occurs before the age of 40 it is considered premature; before the age of 45 it is early onset. Research has come a long way in recent years, and symptoms that were once foreign to doctors are now being properly diagnosed. This is clearing up reasons for infertility and other menopause symptoms.

Early menopause signs and symptoms are the same as those of natural menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia and general muscle and joint pain are usually accompanied by a headache. Women tend to put on more weight during menopause, especially around the abdomen, and this can be directly related to water retention. Women experiencing early and premature menopause can expect to ride the Merry-Go-Round of emotions ranging from depression and anxiety to pregnancy-like cravings and even absentmindedness. Most of these symptoms are caused by the rapid loss in levels of estrogen that the body stops producing during menopause.

Many times, early and premature menopause is the result of a surgery or illness. This makes the symptoms even more acute. The radical removal of the uterus during a hysterectomy instantly cuts off estrogen to the body. For a woman who has been experiencing healthy menstrual cycles for most of her life, this cold turkey approach to estrogen removal can result in “estrogen crash.” 90 percent of women experiencing estrogen crash report prolonged suffering of these symptoms for periods lasting several, even as many as eight years.

While there is no real treatment for menopause, there are options to consider with your ObGyn. Estrogen replacement therapy is a relatively new way to alleviate many of the severe symptoms. Most importantly, knowing early menopause signs and symptoms can often mean getting the right treatment before having to suffer years of hormone withdrawal.