Don’t Let Early Menopause Catch You by Surprise

By the time women are in their thirties they are usually experiencing some of the more unwelcome signs of aging. Skin, hair tone and texture become duller and coarser, fine lines start to appear, and extra pounds start adding up. Periodontal disease can become a concern and the senses don’t function quite the way they used to. The heart, bones, and reproductive organs undergo changes too that may not be so obvious.

Perhaps the very last thing any woman wants to deal with on top of all the other physical changes she experiences throughout her mid-to-late 30s and into her 40s is early menopause. The end of the reproductive years represents a transition to “middle age” many women find mentally disturbing as well as physically uncomfortable. Delaying thoughts of menopause as long as possible has its appeal.

As with most things in life however, nature takes its own course. For many women, it pays to be prepared – even if that means facing the challenges of menopause before we’d like to. Women who are likely to experience early menopause (before the age of 40) will benefit from some mental and physical preparation beforehand. In the case of early menopause, ignorance is definitely not bliss!

Will I Go Through Early Menopause?

It is estimated that 1 in 100 women go through early menopause. If your mother, maternal aunts, or older sisters experienced early menopause, chances are you will, too. Early menopause can occur spontaneously, but it can also result from surgical procedures or illnesses. Among other things, it can be brought on by ovarian failure or surgical removal of the ovaries. Chemotherapy may also induce early menopause chemically.

How Can I Prepare?

Research shows that women who make changes in their lifestyle in their 20s and early 30s can affect both the severity and the duration of the symptoms associated with menopause – whether early or not! If you think you are likely to experience early menopause, you may wish to make lifestyle changes earlier on that can help you during the transition.
Help your body be prepared for early menopause by:

• Exercising regularly


• Eating a nutritional diet


• Managing stress


• Not smoking

To prepare yourself for early menopause mentally and emotionally:

• Discuss your feelings and concerns about menopause with your partner or closest friend


• Talk to relatives who have already experienced menopause


• Talk to your doctor or gynecologist about questions and concerns you have about health risks associated with early menopause (such as osteoporosis)


• Research menopause in books, magazines, and online


• Learn about HRT, natural supplements, and other treatments that can help alleviate the symptoms associated with menopause.

Menopause signals change much as the onset of menstruation does during the early teen years. With preparation and planning, women can experience the transition more smoothly and enjoy their lives to the fullest throughout it at any age.