What to Expect Symptom-Wise
Perhaps one of the most significant menopause.com/">first symptoms of menopause is the hot flashes which can cause you to sweat at night or even during the day when everyone else is comfortable or even cold. These hot flashes may or may not be accompanied by red blotchy skin, flushed skin or even a prickly kind of heat.
If you normally experience pre-menstrual symptoms like cramps and mood swings, chances are that these symptoms will worsen as time gets closer to menopause. Other early signs of menopause include irregular periods, tenderness of the breasts, sleeping problems and fatigue. In terms of sex, your libido may decrease and there may be some pain during sex due to vaginal dryness.
Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms experienced during a woman’s period are very similar to the first symptoms of menopause, except possibly magnified by 10 in some situations. The first noticeable sign will be irregular menstrual cycles or periods that may last longer. In my situation my period mysteriously (and happily) stopped for about 3 or 4 months. Then I experienced very heavy menstrual bleeding (unhappily) lasting much longer than a regular period. Then it would cease again for sometimes a few weeks or maybe a few months. The biggest problem is in the not knowing when it will occur again. I was forced to carry supplies (or change of clothes) with me at all times. After about a year of this my period (joyfully) stopped altogether. I still carried those supplies with me just in case of a surprise attack! I will have to say that, as a rule, if you experienced rather mild menstrual cycles, with few adverse symptoms, your experience with menopause will generally be with the same intensity.
Irregular periods, of course, are early signs of menopause as well. However, because perimenopause can last years, whenever you start exhibiting signs of irregularity, you should be examined by a doctor to rule out other health issues like tumors, fibroids, cancer and more. There are many things that can cause irregular periods and should not be the “end all to end all” signs of menopause.
Exercise Prescription
Hot flashes, gaining weight, and lack of sleep can result in moodiness and depression. There are a few things you can do to prepare for this time of life or relieve some of these first symptoms of menopause if you are already experiencing them. I started an exercise program. Exercise can help reduce these symptoms and decrease the possibility of heart disease, osteoporosis, and obesity. I joined a local gym and sought the advice of a female personal trainer. She helped develop an individualized exercise routine according to my medical and exercise history.
The actual event itself will likely come with little fanfare as you have been experiencing the early signs of menopause for years. You are in true menopause when you have not had a period for at least one year. Of course, those symptoms will likely continue for a while longer past the perimenopausal stage. The real kick in the pants comes with the fact that you can still get pregnant while still exhibiting the early signs of menopause. As long as you are still having periods, that means you are still ovulating and thereby there is always a small chance of pregnancy.
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