Getting to Know the Early Signs of Menopause

Menopause is a natural process of permanent stoppage of women’s menstrual cycle. It happens gradually and the transition period can last up to 10 years until a woman enters menopause. The average age for menopause in the United States is 51. If menopause occurs before the age of 40, it is called premature menopause. When women enter menopause, they are no longer able to get pregnant. Early signs of menopause can occur before the age of 45. Normally, these symptoms are developed over time.

Some women experience early signs and symptoms of menopause because of excessive medication. Studies suggest that menopause is considered complete when there is no history of menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months. Signs of menopause occur when ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones naturally. In premenopausal times the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall to the minimum level. Normally, age affects the ovaries’ functions but in some cases, it is due to some diseases like Turner syndrome, autoimmune disease, tuberculosis, malaria, and mumps. Moreover, early signs of menopause also appear due to genetic reasons. The risk of developing early signs depends on the age, medical procedures, and the organs receiving severe therapies like chemo and radiotherapy.

What are the Symptoms of Early Menopause?

Menopause does not occur overnight. It can begin in a woman’s early to mid-40s and there are variations in the severity of the symptoms among women. For normal healthy women, menopause is identified when they do not experience the menstrual cycle for a whole year. Early menopausal symptoms show a discrepancy according to the life-long medical history. In some cases, it slows down the metabolism which in turn affects your BMI. Metabolic disorder and insomnia are potential menopause symptoms. Weight abnormality is one of the earliest symptoms of menopause. Studies suggest that almost 5% of women go through early menopause naturally. Moreover, there are some risk factors such as pelvic radiation, smoking, infecundity, and genetic reasons which may increase the likelihood of facing early menopause symptoms.

Early signs of menopause start to appear in the years prior to menopause. This is referred to as premenopausal time. The main symptom of early menopause is the irregularity of menstrual periods. Studies reveal that symptoms continue to appear 4 years from the last period. Menstrual periods are disturbed 2 or 3 weeks and sometimes the gap extends over a whole year. According to some recent studies, about 8 in every 10 women have early symptoms in addition to the common menopause symptoms. Common symptoms of menopause include:

• Irregular periods
• Hot flushes
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Vaginal dryness
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Osteoporosis
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anger
• Urinary tract infection

What is the Earliest Age for Menopause?

Menopause is a reproductive stage in women’s life when menstrual cycles are concluded and it marks the end of women’s reproductive years. Normally, women reach menopause in their 50s. However, the earliest age of menopause is when it occurs before the age of 40. It is called premature menopause. If early signs of menopause occur between the ages of 40 to 45 years it is called “early menopause”.

How is Premature Menopause Detected?

Mostly physical examination is done to identify premature menopause. Blood is drawn to check other possibilities of delayed menses such as pregnancy or thyroid diseases. Estrogen levels are measured through tests. Low estrogen level is an indication of ovaries dysfunction and a possible symptom of premature menopause. Estradiol levels below 30 are a major indication of premature menopause. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are also measured through blood tests. The production of estrogen is inversely related to measuring FSH in our body. If estrogen levels are lower, FSH levels are increased. FSH levels of more than 40 are a symptom of premature menopause. The takeaway on FSH is that healthy follicles being stimulated by normal estrogen levels don’t need higher levels of FSH but when follicles are unable to be stimulated FSH tries harder and harder to do the job. So the higher the FSH the more apparent it is that menopause is getting closer.

What Causes Premature Menopause?

Hormonal balance has great importance in keeping us healthy. It makes sure the proper functionality of the organs. If estrogen level is disturbed due to any reason, it directly impacts the female reproductive system. Low levels of estradiol indicate that ovaries are not functioning properly. High levels of estradiol can prevent ovulation as well. It is a delicate seesaw. This may cause premature menopause. Furthermore, due to other health conditions, some women undergo pelvic radio or chemotherapy which also increases the chances of premature menopause. Family history with diseases such as lupus, autoimmune disorder, or arthritis may also cause premature menopause.

Safe Menopause Relief

Menopause is completely a natural process in which female reproductive hormone production is stopped. In menopause, monthly menstrual cycles are concluded and women are no more able to conceive. When women reach menopause, many complications arise during the transition period and after reaching menopause. Hence, most of the menopause home remedies and therapies are focused on managing symptoms and keeping them from getting worse. Products like Menobalance cream, Menopause Complex, and PhytoEstrogenPro cream are also very helpful in managing the symptoms of menopause.

Most women tend to be inclined more towards natural remedies instead of opting for conventional and modern medical procedures for menopause relief. These therapies are dedicated to manage and help with chronic conditions. Many hormonal therapies and herbal products are available which may help to ease the menopause symptoms. Natural remedies are preferred mostly due to fewer risk factors and side effects.

Estrogen Therapy

Estrogen balance is vital to maintain reproductive health in the female body. Menopause leads to many complications which have an impact on emotional and mental health. In menopause, because estrogen levels are disturbed so estrogen therapy is believed to have interesting effects on menopause symptoms. Some recent studies revealed that estrogen therapy may help in menopausal symptom relief.

Natural Herbal Therapy

Natural remedies for menopause are preferred by many women experiencing early signs of menopause or premature menopause. Natural herbal menopause relief is relatively safe to use and have fewer side effects therefore a wide range of natural herbs are consumed to manage premature menopause symptoms. Natural herbs such maca, red clover, black cohosh and evening primrose oil are the most known for their positive effects. It is recommended to use such herbs with proper consultation from health experts regarding your medical history. Results from some recent studies have indicated interesting impacts of red clover on female health and symptoms management.

Before anything is done to correct hormone balance, know that you have an imbalance. ZRT at home saliva hormone tests are the ideal way to get answers, in a non-invasive way, in the privacy of your own home. You’ll even get advice and suggestions from trusted doctors, right in your inbox.