Identifying and Easing Pre Menopause
Most of us tend to think of menopause as something that happens to older women, but not many of us realize that symptoms of pre menopause can occur as early as our thirties. The pre menopause experience is extremely varied between different women, with some experiencing it sooner, some later, and some never at all.
You aren't considered to be post-menopausal until one year after your last menstrual period, but who is to say when menopause actually begins? The best way to judge that is by paying attention to your symptoms and to the signals that your body is sending you.
Symptoms are Similar to Menopause Symptoms
The most common symptoms of pre menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, changes in sexual appetite, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and dry skin. Some of these pre menopause symptoms are similar to pregnancy symptoms, so if you begin experiencing them in your early 30s it is easy to mistake the two. However, if your periods start becoming irregular or change in any significant way, this is a good indication that you are experiencing pre menopause.
Unexplained weight gain - especially around the middle - and forgetfulness are two more little-known but very common pre menopause symptoms. Many women experience these symptoms at this time in their lives, but they either ignore them or simply chalk them up to getting older. In fact, they are largely due to the fluctuation and decrease in reproductive hormones in the body.
So far, pre menopause may sound a little scary. While it's not the most fun a girl can have in her 30s, pre menopause is certainly no reason to stay at home and hide in bed. If your symptoms are troublesome, there are ways to ease them.
One pre menopause treatment that has been receiving a lot of attention in recent years is the addition of soy protein to your diet. Soy protein may mimic the effects of estrogen in women's bodies, decreasing the symptoms of pre menopause.
There are many herbal treatments available over the counter to treat early symptoms of menopause. These may contain soy, black cohosh, and any number of other herbal remedies that are believed to help menopause symptoms. You should definitely consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter herbal remedies.
One of the simplest ways to control the symptoms of pre menopause is with diet and exercise. Your body is a magnificent machine that will respond dramatically when you treat it really well, such as with a healthy and balanced diet. Adding a comprehensive exercise program that includes weight training will help your body regulate its functions and prevent against the bone and muscle loss that is so common during menopause. You may even help to take off those few extra pounds around your middle that most women put on in the early stages of menopause.
