Understanding Early Menopause & Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes

Menopause marks the ending of your menstrual cycle. This normally occurs in your late 50s or beyond, but may come early due to surgical procedures, genetics or unknown causes. If it comes about naturally or medically, the symptoms are the same.

Early Menopause

• Early menopause, also known as premature menopause, occurs when menopause is brought on abruptly by way of a medical procedure to remove the ovaries, or menopause beginning for other reasons before the age of 40.

Perimenopause

• Perimenopause is the first stage of menopause, also called menopause transition. This stage occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, and lasts two to eight years.

Mood Changes

• During both periemenopause and early menopause, you may experience mood swings and depression. The depression and mood swings may be brought on by the hormonal changes in both perimenopause and early menopause.

Physical Changes

• Your body also goes through changes in both perimenopause and early menopause. These changes include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, frequent urination and loss of bone density.

Reproductive Changes

• In perimenopause, you still have a menstrual cycle, although it's irregular. You can still become pregnant until menopause sets in. In early menopause, you can't become pregnant as you no longer have menstrual cycles.