Early Menopause Symptoms

The early menopause symptoms that most women going through menopause experience are relatively mild and not life altering.

Previously we talked about some of the first major symptoms of menopause. But there are many other more minor early menopause symptoms as well.

Vaginal dryness - for various reasons, this can really affect women at any age, but most women entering menopause will experience dryness of the vagina - and usually it will be without warning.  This can, of course, affect the enjoyment of sex with your partner, but fortunately there are many creams and other lubricating products on the market to help alleviate this problem. In fact, if you suddenly begin to experience pain during intercourse, where there was not before, it may only be a symptom that your vagina is drying.

Irregular periods - one of the most common early symptoms of menopause approaching is irregular periods. There is usually no distinct pattern of when your period may occur. It may come later than usual, it may come earlier, or it may alternate. There  may be a longer stretch of time between periods or shorter. The key thing is that it, if you period span has always been thirty days apart, and then suddenly it's changing - it may be a sign that menopause is approaching.

Bone loss or Osteoporosis - this is a potentially serious symptom. There are normally no signs associated with bone loss so the best way to recognize it is by a bone density test performed by your physician. If your physical exam shows that you have experienced bone loss, it is also a possible sign that you may be entering menopause. A long period of time of low hormone levels, which would be the case at the beginning of menopause, will frequently result in bone loss.

High blood pressure - if your latest physical exam shows that you suddenly have high blood pressure or hypertension, and your dietary habits have not changed, and you're not experiencing emotional stress or anxiety, you may be going through early menopause. Blood pressure typically increases once a woman enters her menopause period. It may not increase to high blood pressure levels, but it will almost certainly increase. Many clinical trials over the years have indicated a powerful link between the hormones that a woman's body produces pre-menopause and her body's ability to help maintain normal blood pressure. Once menopause is reached, and her body is no longer producing those hormones, the protection is no longer there.

There are also more subtle changes of early menopause such as patches of itchy skin, more facial hair and a change in body odor.  Other subtle symptoms include dry mouth, hair loss, bloating, and insomnia.

More serious symptoms include headaches, tingling skin, and bladder control problems.  Some women also get dizziness who have never had problems with lightheadedness before.

Although the changes mentioned above are minor changes, they are important enough to mention to your gynecologist or health care specialist when you see her. It's always prudent to mention any noticeable changes in your vagina area simply as a preventative care measure.

First Symptoms of Menopause
Once a woman reaches her forties, it helps to be aware of some of the first symptoms of menopause just to avoid panicking when her behaviour and body functions begin to change.

Herbs for Menopause
Want to treat menopause symptoms? Here are the top 4 herbs for menopause used by women in the U.S. today.