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Early Menopause: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Effects

If you suspect that you may be undergoing menopause early then you could be one of the many women who experience early menopause across the country. In the United States, 51 is the average age that women experience natural menopause. However, in some cases, health issues such as illnesses, genetics and/or a medical procedure can cause women to experience early menopause.

Symptoms Of Early Menopause

Women who undergo premature menopause will typically experience menopause early symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of a natural menopause. These early menopause signs will include changes in the woman's menstrual period. Instead of experiencing regular monthly periods, many women will start missing their periods for a month or more. The period may also be heavier or lighter than usual.

Early menopause symptoms also include hot flashes. A hot flash occurs when a woman's body temperature reaches a high level, especially in the upper body. This leads to heavy perspiration and can make it very difficult for the woman to sleep well at night. This nightly perspiration is also called night sweats. Early signs of menopause such as these are the result of a premature ovarian failure that does not produce the sufficient amount of estrogen.

There are also other common symptoms that are associated with menopause early and natural menopause. These symptoms include vaginal dryness, mild depression, mild insomnia, irritability, mood swings, irritable bladder, dry skin and reduced sexual drive. If you are one of the women undergoing these symptoms of early menopause then you might want to visit your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Women who are more prone to undergoing menopause early are those who have sought out cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, those who have failed to conceive for over a year, those who have a family history of autoimmune disorder and those who have had women in their family experience menopause early.

Diagnosis and Effects From Having Menopause Early

To diagnose premature menopause, your doctor will perform a blood test and a physical exam that will eliminate other conditions such as thyroid disease and pregnancy. Your doctor will also perform an exam to test your hormone levels. Low estrogen levels are a definite sign that you could be undergoing premature menopause.

Once you have been diagnosed and it is established that you are experiencing menopause early, it’s natural to worry about the consequences that premature menopause can have on your health.

Aside from the symptoms mentioned above, early menopause can also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Low estrogen levels are also associated with increased risk of periodontal disease, colon cancer, ovarian cancer and tooth loss.

Unfortunately, women undergoing menopause early are more prone to menopausal health dangers than women who experience natural menopause. Early menopause can be particularly devastating to women who are still planning to become pregnant.

Options For Early Menopause Signs

If you are one of the many women undergoing premature menopause, there are many available menopause treatments that can give you comfort from your symptoms. Early menopause is basically an irreversible condition, but some treatment options can help you deal with the symptoms better. The options range from dietary supplements to hormone replacement therapy.

No matter what treatment you are considering, be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with your doctor.

The previous article is on Menopause Treatment.

Other wiki resources: menopause symptoms, symptoms of menopause, signs of menopause, early menopause symptoms, pre menopause symptoms, health and menopause