The First Signs of Menopause: What They Are and How to Deal With Them

Menopause is the stage in a woman's life where her menstrual cycle ceases and she is therefore no longer able to have children. The experience of menopause is one that varies greatly from one woman to another, and although menopause is a normal event in life, one that is characterized by hormonal changes, it often comes with its share of problems.

First Signs of Menopause

It is the first signs of menopause which usually notify a woman of the changes that she is going to begin experiencing. One of the first signs of menopause that most women experience is that of irregular periods. They may become less regular, lighter, or they may stop altogether.

Hot flashes are another of the most common symptoms of menopause, and these are the body's way of cooling itself off. Hot flashes are very common during menopause, and your face and neck will suddenly feel hot and flushed, and you will feel heat radiating through the upper part of your body.

These hot flashes can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more, and often do not disappear entirely until years after menopause.

Another of the first signs of menopause is a serious decrease in libido. Often women will find that they are not only not interested in having sex anymore, but often not even attracted to their partner. This can be a very hard situation to deal with, not only for you but for your loved ones as well, which is why it is so important that you make them aware of what you are going through and that this is absolutely normal.

The last of the first signs of menopause to be discussed here involves mood swings. Some women find themselves more moody and irritable immediately before and during menopause, and they may even become depressed. When there is a case of depression as well as fluctuating hormone levels the combination can be dangerous, so especially if you are suffering from depression during menopause you need to get yourself checked out.

Although there is really no way to prevent any of these menopausal symptoms, there are things that you can do to get relief from them and make them less intense and less frequent. Menopause is often one of the most difficult times in a woman's life but it is important to realize that menopause is just a phase and you will not have to feel like this for the rest of your life.