Early Menopause

Early menopause is defined as menopause that occurs earlier than normal. Typically, menopause is only existent after a woman has been without a period for at least a year. This doesn’t usually happen until around the age of 50, but in some women, even women as early as their 30s, this will happen much sooner. When this occurs, the woman is experiencing early menopause. Early menopause symptoms are the same as symptoms of menopause, but they happen at an earlier time. The early signs of menopause include hot flashes, acne, weight gain, night sweats, mood swings and irritability.

There are a variety of early menopause causes, including some surgeries. The most common surgery-induced early menopause is a hysterectomy involving removal of the ovaries. When this happens, the early menopause is instant, and the signs of early menopause will be apparent right off the bat. With other types of early menopause, however, the early menopause signs and symptoms will occur more slowly, often over a period of years. Such cases where the symptoms of early menopause occur more slowly might be when a woman has had a tubal ligation that later leads to early onset menopause. Certain types of illnesses might also induce early symptoms of menopause, and depression medications can cause early onset of menopause.

It is important to understand that there is a difference between seeing early sings of menopause and actually experiencing early menopause. Perimenopause, the period of time in which a woman’s body is preparing for menopause, takes years, and the symptoms will show up and last for years before menopause sets in. With early menopause, the cycle is actually complete at a much earlier time than normal. What are the symptoms for early menopause? This includes hot flashes and irregular periods, as well as PMS-like symptoms. Adverse effects of early menopause can be experienced, and hair loss due to early menopause is not uncommon.

If you aren’t sure whether your symptoms are early menopause, perimenopause, pregnancy or something else, you can easily talk with your doctor about it. There are also many websites where you can find information about early menopause, and you can even find an early menopause quiz that will help you determine if what you are facing is indeed early menopause. If so, you should meet with your doctor to have tests done to further determine whether you are in the throes of early menopause.