Pre menopause symptoms start as early as 35 years of age but the majority of women do not notice them until around age 45.  It can last for any amount of time though it normally lasts for a few years.  This is a time that is often compared to going through puberty and adolescence except in reverse.  Many similar changes, challenges and adjustments must be made.  While this is the case for most women there are some who do not experience pre menopause symptoms at all.

Below is a list of pre menopause symptoms to help prepare you for the major changes ahead.

Mood Changes:  Due to the major hormonal changes caused by pre menopause, you can expect to experience a wide range of mood changes.  Common changes include anxiety, depression, and irritability.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats:  Hot flashes begin with a feverish feeling that runs throughout the body.  The skin is hot to the touch and body temperatures can rise up to eight degrees.  Hot flashes are typically accompanied by profuse sweating as the body quickly tries to cool itself back down.  Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night usually while in bed.  These can be extremely uncomfortable and may happen only a few times a week or in more severe cases, several times a day.

Irregular Periods:  Menstrual periods vary considerably.  Sometimes periods are missed for one or two months then return and disappear all over again.  Your period may be light or heavy and can last for short or long amounts of time.

Heart Palpitations:  Usually indicated by a fluttering or racing feeling in the chest, heart palpitations can be very scary.

Decreased Sexual Desire: With hormone levels changing so rapidly, a decrease in your libido is usually inevitable.  Along with other pre menopause symptoms such as vaginal dryness, irritability and hot flashes which can make you feel utterly un-sexy, a loss of sexual desire seems to be pretty logical.

Vaginal Dryness: With estrogen levels dropping, the vagina begins to dry out.  The natural lubrication that usually appears during sexual arousal goes by the wayside as your vaginal walls thin out and your body no longer needs it for reproduction.

Difficulty Sleeping: Insomnia and trouble staying asleep at night are common complaints.  Not getting much sleep can lead to other problems like irritability and an inability to concentrate.

Bladder Incontinence: You may experience issues with your bladder such as a frequent urges, very strong and sudden urges, and leaking urine are typical.  You may also retain water during this time.

Other pre menopause symptoms include dry skin, hair loss, digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation and nausea, aches and pains, short term memory loss and breast tenderness similar to what you may have experienced during pre menstrual syndrome.

Early menopause usually occurs very abruptly. In just months, weeks or even over the span of a few days, hormone levels will drop suddenly. Since it arises so suddenly it is very important to learn the signs of early menopause symptoms to help develop a plan to cope with it.

Below are early menopause symptoms to get you more familiar with the physical, mental and emotional changes that take place.

Irregular Periods: Missed or skipped periods are common. Periods can show up early or late or not at all. They have been known to disappear some months and return again. You may experience extremely light bleeding to very heavy bleeding. Periods will begin to slow down and eventually stop altogether.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: More than 75% of women going through menopause experience hot flashes. These are a hot feeling that shoots all over the body. They can spike your temperature up to eight degrees. As your body attempts to cool down you will break out into an uncomfortable sweat. Hot flashes at night are referred to as night sweats.

Bladder Control Problems: More frequent urination, more urgency to go, stress incontinence and occasional leaks are common.

Infertility: This is one of the most upsetting ways to find out that you may be in early menopause. If you are having trouble trying to conceive you may have to see a doctor and take a test to find out what the root of the problem is.

Skin Changes: This includes dry, itchy, wrinkling and tingling skin and some muscle tone loss.

Breast Tenderness: Much like what is experienced during premenstrual syndrome, your breasts may feel swollen or tender.

Weight Gain: Weight gain typically around the hips and thighs.

Trouble Sleeping: Restlessness coupled with night sweats make sleeping very difficult.

Heart Palpitations: A racing heartbeat that often includes sweat breakouts and anxiety.

Vaginal Dryness: Due to a drop in estrogen, the normal lubrication of the vagina becomes dried out. The vaginal walls become thinner and much more difficult to stretch out. As a result, the accommodations the vagina once had for sex and childbirth diminish.

Sore Joints and Muscle Aches: The drop in estrogen often leads to flu-like joint and muscle pains.

More Facial Hair: Dark, coarse hair growth on the upper lip, chin, chest and abdomen are normal.

Dry Mouth: Due to drying of mucous membranes.

Gastrointestinal Problems: You can expect heartburn, indigestion and nausea to occur frequently.

Other early menopause symptoms include hair loss and thinning hair, irritability, decreased sex drive, dizziness, constant bloating, changes in body odor, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, fatigue, emotional detachment and anxiety.

The most common menopause symptoms include vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, hot flashes and night sweats, weight gain, dizziness, and heart palpitations. Not all woman experience all of these symptoms at all the same times. The number of symptoms and the severity of them varies from woman to woman.

WidgetBucks - Trend Watch - WidgetBucks.com

Menopause symptoms occur in no specific order. It is best to educate yourself on what to expect so that when some or all of these symptoms arise you will already be prepared. Preparing your mind before any of these symptoms show up can drastically improve how you handle this important transition by lowering stress, fears and anxieties about what is to come.

Consulting older women and discussing menopause with friends is another great way to prepare for the change. Support and understanding from others can really make a positive out of an otherwise unpleasant time. Below is a list of symptoms associated with menopause.

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is a partial or complete lack of natural vaginal lubrication. Vaginal lubrication is usually produced during sexual arousal and helps to minimize friction during sexual intercourse.

Loss of Sex Drive

Menopause often correlates with a loss of sex drive. A decreased libido at this time is typical due to extreme changes in hormones. Weight gain and vaginal dryness can also affect the sex drive.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Hot flashes are usually described as a feeling of intense heat combined with sweating and increased heartbeat. These episodes typically last from two to thirty minutes each. Some experience these once a week while others may have them frequently throughout the day. Severe hot flashes can interfere with sleep, mood and concentration. Night sweats are hot flashes that are experienced at night, usually while trying to get to sleep.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is another common menopause symptom caused by rapidly changing hormones much like what is experienced during puberty for young women.

Dizziness

Dizziness or light headedness can be described as a whirling sensation in the head and eyes. It is often experienced when sitting or standing too quickly and can cause a sick or unpleasant feeling.

Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations are a fluttering feeling in the chest. Usually they are a rapid pounding sensation similar to an anxiety or panic attack which can last for seconds up to hours at a time.

There are many remedies that can help you ease those symptoms. Here you can find list of some popular menopause relief products.