Menopause is a significant natural change that occurs in a woman’s life in her 40s and 50s. It marks the end of your fertility journey. Once you’ve entered menopause, you will stop having periods. Your ovaries will stop producing estrogen and progesterone — the two vital hormones responsible for your fertility. Menopause happens gradually.
The symptoms can, however, be physically and mentally overwhelming. Knowing what to expect can prepare you for hot flashes, mood swings, and other menopausal symptoms. So, what are the 1st signs of menopause? And when should you see a gynecologist in Navi Mumbai? Let’s find out.
Common Early Symptoms of Menopause
1) Irregular Menstrual Cycles:
The earliest and most obvious sign of menopause is irregular periods. You may have a menstrual cycle one month and skip the next month, or you may go months without periods. The fluctuating period is the biggest sign that menopause is approaching. If there’s a two-month gap between your menstrual cycles, you could already be in your perimenopause. The flow could be heavier or lighter.
2) Hot Flashes:
The sudden onset of hot flashes, which may happen at unexpected times and last a minute or longer, is another early sign of menopause. Night sweats might become more common, and you’ll notice a rapid heartbeat with intense warmth.
3) Emotional Changes:
Menopause can put you on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute, you are happy, and before you know it, you’ll feel sad, anxious, and depressed. A drastic drop in estrogen accompanied by disrupted sleep can be the cause.
Physical Changes
a) Weight Changes:
Low estrogen can shift the fat stored in your thighs and hips to the abdomen. It also affects your metabolism, making it difficult for your body to burn fat. Besides, women in their 40s and 50s tend to exercise less, making weight management difficult.
b) Hair Loss:
Estrogen is again blamed for hair thinning and loss during menopause. Dropped estrogen makes testosterone dominant, which can cause a receding hairline. This male hormone is also responsible for unwanted hair growth on the face, like the chin and upper lip.
Sleep Disruptions
Menopause can disrupt your sleep cycle. Some women sweat a lot at night and might wake up drenched, which can affect their sleep. Other women are unable to fall asleep at all or might wake up frequently throughout the night.
Cognitive and Emotional Effects
Menopause is an emotionally tough time. You experience one of the biggest transitions, from your childbearing age to a new midlife. This can make mood swings frequent. The mood swings can sometimes be so severe that they can turn into depression.
Brain fog is another common symptom that women nearing menopause report. If you’ve been having a hard time concentrating or remembering things, it could be an early sign of menopause.
Importance of Medical Consultation
Whether or not you need menopause treatment in Navi Mumbai depends on the severity of your symptoms. Some women don’t even notice the changes, while others go into depression. If you feel hopeless, helpless, or have lost interest in all activities, consult a gynecologist.
