1. The Symptoms of Early Menopause
Early menopause symptoms vary from one individual to another, both in frequency and intensity. Common early menopause symptoms include irregular periods, night sweats, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, headaches, breast tenderness, dizziness, hair and skin changes and weight gain. Emotional symptoms include irritability, memory lapses, mood swings and less interest in sex.
2. Start a Chart
The first thing to do if you suspect you're going into early menopause is to chart your symptoms. Keep track of the frequency, duration and strength of your symptoms for a few weeks. If you still feel like you're heading into early menopause, contact your care provider. Your care provider will conduct a hormone test to see if you're actually in early menopause or if there's something else going on. Sometimes the signs of early menopause are the signs of other conditions, including cancer.
3. Change Your Lifestyle
Often treating the symptoms of early menopause, including hot flashes and the emotional symptoms of irritability, reduced interest in sex and mood swings is as easy as a lifestyle change. A great way to start coping with early menopause symptoms is to cut stress from your life. Cut back on your work hours, start saying no to projects and take more time for you. Learn yoga or meditation to reduce your stress levels.
4. Consider Hormone Replace Therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy is exactly what it sounds like, you're replacing the hormones you're losing, which should minimize your early menopause symptoms. However, there are many different kinds of HRT on the market, including pills that you ingest and patches that deliver a steady stream of hormones. Some HRTs are milder than others, and others have higher risk factors. Many women end up trying several different kinds of HRT before they find the one that works for them. Speak to your care provider for more information.
5. Treat Early Menopause with Natural Treatments
Natural treatments for menopause vary greatly. Popular choices include soy and flaxseed. Soy offers many health benefits apart from treating menopause symptoms, including calcium, iron, folic acid and omega-3 fats. Studies have shown soy may reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Flaxseed is also high in omega-3 fats, which may help with premenopausal symptoms, such as breast tenderness, heavy periods and cramping. Herbal treatments such as red clover, black cohosh, evening primrose oil and chasteberry also may help with premenopausal symptoms, though results with these herbs vary greatly. Before taking any natural treatments, make sure you talk to your care provider.
