Signs of Early MenopauseSigns of Early Menopause Signs of early menopause occurs menopause occurs during a woman's thirties and early forties. It can occur naturally, or it can start because of surgical removal of the ovaries. If you are undergoing early menopause for reasons other than surgery, your doctor may refer to it as premature ovarian failure or POF. Most doctors will tell you that premature menopause should be treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy because if a woman loses her normal estrogen supply at such a young age she may be at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis or heart disease. Estrogen protects your bones and heart and without it you are at risk. Hormone Replacement Therapy has a bad name because of all the serious side effects associated with it. Recently, the types and dosages have been changed to lower this risk. However, most doctors still recommend being on it for the right reasons only, and for the shortest time recommended. Your doctor may recommend for you to be on hormone replacement therapy until you are of normal menopausal age (51). As always, you'll need to talk with your physician about your unique risks and benefits. Signs of Early Menopause? If you are less than forty-years-old and you present with signs of early menopause symptoms such as moodiness, breast tenderness, hair loss, itchy skin, depression, abnormal bleeding, memory problems, changes in libido, vaginal changes, urinary problems, migraine headaches, hot flashes, night sweats, thinner and dryer skin, brittle nails, weight gain (especially around the mid section) etc. your doctor will likely not suspect you are in early menopause because early menopause is rare. The signs of early menopause are essentially the same as normal menopause. Many women mistake early menopause for PMS. The best way to tell if it is early menopause rather than PMS is to know when the symptoms are occurring. Do they occur just before your period, or do they occur throughout the month?
You know your body the best and therefore it is up to you to pursue your diagnosis. You will need to educate yourself, ask the right questions, and keep a menstrual journal. In your journal you will want to document when your period starts, how long it lasts, any spotting you may experience, and the length of time in between your periods. If the length of time between your periods fluctuates by more that seven days for several weeks in a row, you may be in early menopause. Also, document any symptoms you may be experiencing, and the day of month you are experiencing them. Blood Work to detect early menopause If your doctor suspects early menopause, he/she may suggest you have some blood work done to check your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels. Your FSH levels will be higher than normal if your ovaries aren’t working properly. You will need to have at least two tests done at approximately three or four days after your period (may be difficult to tell when this is, if your periods have stopped for longer periods) to determine if indeed your FSH levels are out of whack (FSH levels may be normal at certain times and abnormal at other times). Other conditions that may mimic early menopause The normal functioning of your ovaries can be interrupted for a number of different reasons. Sometimes this is only temporary and sometimes it can be permanent. Chemotherapy, radiation, some hormonal treatments and some medications such as tamoxifen can cause (usually) temporary menopause-like-symptoms. Once treatment ends, your menstrual periods will be restored. Extreme stress can also temporarily cause your menstrual periods to fluctuate or to temporarily stop. Extreme exercise can cause your menstrual periods to fluctuate or to temporarily stop. Excessive dieting can have the same effect. Causes of Early Menopause Certain conditions may bring on early menopause, or you may be genetically wired that way. If one or more of your sisters or your mother experienced early menopause, you are more likely to have the same issues. Some factors have been known to cause early menopause, and sometimes there is no known reason. The important thing is not to blame yourself in anyway, and instead, do what you can to protect your bones and heart with diet, exercise and possibly hormone treatments prescribed by your doctor. You will need to discuss your risks and benefits with your doctor. • Your Genes. The risk If you are younger than thirty-five and you have early menopause, you are at a greater risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. This is because your body hasn’t had the benefit of the normal exposure to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Herbs, diet, vitamins, exercise and lifestyle habits will help, but you will likely also need proper medical attention.
|
Keep a menstrual journal
