Menopause is marked by a woman’s menstrual cycle stopping and the end of her childbearing years. Menopause does not come on suddenly. Most women go through hormone and menstrual cycle fluctuations for a few years. This time period is often called the perimenopausal stage. For some women, symptoms can be mild and bearable, but for others, symptoms can be severe and affect the quality of life.
Below are examples of some early symptoms of menopause. If you experience any of them, talk to your doctor about treatment options to reduce or eliminate symptoms and make your transition to the next stage of life as comfortable as possible.
Irregular Periods
Changes in your period is an early symptom of menopause. Depending on what your normal cycle is like, you may notice irregularities, such as less or more bleeding than usual, longer or shorter duration of your period, and less frequent periods. Such issues may not be consistent. You may go a while without an irregularity, only for it to resurface months later.
Hot Flashes
A hot flash is a feeling of heat in your upper body, which causes red patches to appear on your face, neck, and back. It also causes excessive sweating as your body tries to cool itself. Hot flashes usually last for a few minutes only. Afterward, you may feel a coolness or dampness. Hot flashes often occur at night and can cause you to repeatedly wake up from sleep.
Vaginal Dryness
Another early symptom of menopause is vaginal dryness. As estrogen levels begin to dip during early menopause, it can affect vaginal lubrication and make sexual intercourse painful. This can also cause you to lose interest in sex.
Irritability
Perhaps one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause is irritability. Mood changes in menopausal women are caused by estrogen and progesterone reduction. The body will often switch between producing too much or too little hormones, causing frequent fluctuations, which leads to mood swings.
Weight Gain
Changes in weight is another early symptom of menopause. You may notice weight gain in your abdominal area and find it more difficult to lose fat. A combination of many factors, not just hormonal fluctuations, cause weight gain during early menopause. Women often need to make changes to nutrition, diet, and lifestyle in response to changing needs at this time.
The early symptoms of menopause can severely impact your life. The changes are not purely physical, as many women also feel anxious as they approach menopause. Having the help and support of a doctor at this time can change your entire experience of menopause. There are now therapies used to address hormone imbalances in women.
Early Menopause Symptom Relief in Denton and Frisco, Texas
At DFW Anti-Aging and Wellness Centers, we can optimize your health and well-being by addressing hormonal imbalances and helping you manage symptoms. Our goal is to help you sail through menopause and reclaim your energy and passion for life with our wellness services.
To request a consultation with our health and wellness specialists, call our office at (469) 389-5251 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment. We look forward to serving you in our Denton or Frisco clinic.
