Is This A Sign Of Menopause?

Often the first sign of menopause is so slight that a woman can overlook it entirely. Too, many times, the first signs can occur before a woman thinks she's old enough for symptoms. It doesn't help that there are many signs and that they vary a great deal from woman to woman.

Perhaps the most common first sign of is a change in a woman's periods. Periods may become heavier or lighter and not really be all the noticeable or problematic. In fact, the change may be so slight that she isn't really even aware of a change at all. This first sign of onset can happen as early as a woman's mid-thirties, which is much earlier than many women expect. That's because many women have the idea that it just happens, periods stop, without knowing that menopause actually occurs over many years.

Another early sign is when a woman's periods become irregular. No longer can a woman count on having her period every 28 days--even if she's on the pill. She may start having periods every three weeks or every six weeks. The time lapses between periods may be even shorter or longer, depending on the individual woman. Periods will generally start occurring every few months then until they stop altogether. The average age for periods to actually stop is 51 and it will have been a year since her period.

There are many other signs. One early one for many women is they begin to have night sweats. At first this sign may be mild and infrequent and not really affect the quality of sleep a woman gets. However, as it progresses, night sweats can become severe and as frequent as four or five a night, which can cause a woman to become severely sleep deprived. Hot flashes are another sign, as are vaginal dryness, frequent urination, mood swings, depression and anxiety.

There's no reason to rush to the doctor at the first sign of onset, although a woman should certainly mention any early signs she may be experiencing when she goes for her yearly pap smear. If the syptoms are severe and interfere with a woman's daily living, they may warrant some type of treatment. Before beginning any treatment, even a natural one, a woman should see her doctor immediately. With so many excellent treatments available today, fortunately menopause is no longer something to be suffered through and endured without help.

Also read our article about Menopause Health Issues