What to Expect Symptom-Wise
Perhaps one of the most significant 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.
Urinary problems may also be early signs of menopause but should always be checked out by a doctor to re-affirm the cause. Frequent need to urinate, development of a urinary tract infection and even leakage of urine when sneezing, coughing or exercising can also be attributed to perimenopause.
Hot Flashes and Weight Gain
I then began to experience another one of the first signs of menopause, hot flashes. These are called, in clinical terms, vasomotor symptoms. These happen mostly at night. They would occasionally surprise me during the day. Being a fair skinned blond, I blush easily. I would be sitting in a business meeting and suddenly begin feeling very warm and flush. This would be quite apparent to others in the room. During the night I would wake during one of these hot flashes, my clothes damp and sweaty. The ten pounds I gained during the next few months is another one of the first symptoms 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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