To diagnose early menopause correctly women should seek help from their doctor. While the symptoms of early menopause can be very telling, your doctor or gynaecologist will have to perform medical tests to confirm if this is the case. If you suspect you might have early menopause it is advisable to visit a doctor so he/she can perform a diagnose. However, in this OneHowTo article we explain you the symptoms of this condition and the different methods used to determine if you have early menopause.
The symptoms of early menopause are similar to those of normal menopause. Among the most common symptoms are these:
- Changes in your periods
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Bladder irritability
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Lower sex drive
If you experience any of these symptoms and think that you're still young to have menopause you should call your doctor or gynaecologist and make an appointment.
At your appointment, explain the reasons why you think you have early menopause. Your doctor may perform a physical examination and a pregnancy test to rule out other possible conditions with similar symptoms.
A thyroid condition or pregnancy have similar symptoms of early menopause, but if the doctor rules out these symptoms, he/she might do a blood test to check your levels of estradiol, a form of estrogen. The results of this test may indicate an ovarian insufficiency, which will point as early menopause as the most likely cause.
The final and most important test to confirm the diagnosis of early menopause is a blood test that measures the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone is what causes the ovaries to produce estrogen, and an abnormally high level indicates ovarian failure and early menopause.
The causes for early menopause is not completely understood. There is a lot of evidence for the age of the onset of menopause to be hereditary, therefore if your mother or another family member had early menopause, it is possible that you get it as well.
The treatment for early menopause is similar to that of regular menopause. Unfortunately, once begun, menopause is not likely to be reversed.
Find out how menopause starts in this OneHowTo article.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Tell if You Have Early Menopause, we recommend you visit our Family health category.
- Seek medical help as soon as possible if you think that you are experiencing early menopause. This condition causes infertility, but can be controlled with medical and hormonal treatments, which will help you feel better quickly.