Common Menopause Symptoms

The first symptoms of menopause can be so subtle that they may go undetected for quite a long time. Often, early menopause symptoms such as mild changes in a woman’s period just aren’t all that noticeable.

And even more often, until a woman begins to have irregular periods or night sweats and hot flashes, she won’t be aware that she’s having any menopause symptoms at all.

Sometimes the first symptoms of menopause are not really menopause symptoms at all; they may simply be premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that have a tendency to get worse as a woman gets older.

Also, Thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism have symptoms that closely resemble those of menopause and are treated as such. This can cause a woman who has thyroid problems a great deal of unnecessary suffering because she often gets the wrong treatment, or sometimes, none at all.

That’s why it’s important for a woman to know the symptoms of menopause and at what age they’re likely to appear. A woman will most commonly begin to have the first symptoms of menopause when she’s in her early 40s, with 41-45 being the average.

First Signs and Symptoms of Menopause.

Symptoms such as

• fatigue,
• depression,
• restlessness,
• sleeplessness and
• sensitivity to heat and cold can begin before a woman reaches her 40s and may signal the beginning phase of menopause; it is advisable to consult a physician to confirm.

When diagnosing menopause a doctor may want to have some lab work done to determine the level of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) that is produced by the pituitary gland. The physician is also likely to have the blood tested to check the level of the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) as well to be sure that a woman is not suffering from a thyroid condition rather than menopause.

Even with these tests, a woman may be in menopause and be experiencing the first symptoms. That’s because many women don’t test positive for menopausal symptoms until they are actually in menopause, which is defined as when the period has stopped for a year. Before that, a woman is considered to be in perimenopause.

Confused? Relax. It really isn’t all that difficult to know if you’re experiencing the first symptoms of menopause. As many doctors have been known to say, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Irregular periods are the earliest symptom of menopause, with mood swings and hot flashes coming next.

And while there are a few women that won’t have hot flashes, 85% of all women will have them. So if you’re feeling a bit different, having some changes in your menstrual cycle, and an occasional hot flash or night sweat, you can be 99% sure you have entered that great phase of life called “the change.”

Physical Examination.

Even if your first menopause symptoms are mild it is recommended that you see your doctor for a complete physical examination including a pap smear and a mammogram, both of which should be repeated annually. Many doctors who suspect their patients are in the early stages of menopause will also recommend a bone density test to check for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is when the bones become thin and brittle. Menopausal women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis, and if the bone density scan shows that bone thinning has already begun, doctors may recommend calcium supplements.

Ultimately, the best way to determine if you’re experiencing the first symptoms of menopause is to have a complete physical to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms you may be having. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to take the necessary course of action.

Herbal Remedy for Menopause Symptoms.

If you are dealing with the first symptoms of menopause and want to reduce their impact in a natural way you should consider an herbal formula that contains all the key natural substances that target such symptoms.

We have found an effective, high-quality natural supplement that offers a comprehensive blend of herbal extracts and botanicals that help reduce hot flashes, sleeplessness, and fatigue, among other symptoms.

It’s called Balanced Femme and has been formulated by scientists that have decades of experience in natural medicine.

Like learning more about the main ingredients that may help you through menopause with less aggravation for a balanced emotional life, full of energy, wellbeing, and happiness?

May balance and ease be yours,

More on symptoms of menopause on our menopause natural remedy page