Dealing With the Not So Subtle Signs of Early Menopause

Many women enter the early stage of menopause, known as perimenopause with only subtle hints that their body is changing. Often referred to as puberty in reverse, menopause is the period in a woman's life at which the ovaries quit function, bringing an end to the reproductive stage in their life. This change does not occur overnight. With some women the change can drag out over as much as 10 years, although the average is four years.

Every woman experiences different symptoms and each of the symptoms can vary in duration, frequency and intensity. Fortunately, some of the symptoms may be light and often go unnoticed. However, there are going to be the not so subtle signs of early menopause that will demand attention. Some of the most common symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, and loss of libido, may not be as intense in some women, but in others, they will not be ignored.

Upwards of 75-percent of women in the early stages of menopause suffer from hot flashes and reddened face and profuse sweating. Such experiences demand some type of action be taken. Night sweats are essentially hot flashes that occur while sleeping and they can cause the woman to wake up drenched in sweat as well as cause a disruption in sleep. Those who might believe their symptoms are severe may want to talk to their spouse and other household members.

Loss of libido and vaginal dryness, other more common complaints, may only be an issue when it comes to a relationship. However, fatigue can be one of the not so subtle signs of early menopause that is difficult to ignore. Many women climb out of bed in the morning feeling as though they just ran a marathon. They have no energy to get up, to go to work, or to take care of household responsibilities. Many believe that waking up feeling tired, coupled with night sweats, and may be a sign of a sleep disorder. But these not so subtle signs of early menopause cannot be ignored.

Another of the not so subtle signs of early menopause might be mood swings along with irritability. It is not usually recognized as such, except during periods of the woman feeling almost normal between sessions. Again, it may take input from a loved one to recognize these symptoms for what they are.

Panic disorder, depression and anxiety may be readily apparent, but they may not be recognized by a doctor as some of the not so subtle signs of early menopause. While menopause typically is apparent between the ages of 45 and 55, premenopause has been known to begin at the age of 35 and last until the age of 65.

There are also some physical not so subtle signs of early menopause such as tenderness in the breasts, migraine headaches and aching joints. Pain relievers may provide some pain relief, but there are other problems. Tingling in the extremities, muscle tension and digestive problems may also be present during early menopause.