Stress & Early Menopause

There is a relationship between stress and early menopause. In fact, stress and anxiety are two of the most common menopause symptoms. Stress caused by early menopause can rear its head in the form of anxiety attacks, paranoia, excessive nervousness and depression. On the other side of the issue, stress can also contribute to early menopause.

Symptoms

• Most women have enough to juggle in their lives to supply ample amounts of stress. Therefore, adding the pressure and symptoms of early menopause can be overwhelming. Some of the more stressful symptoms include depression, infertility, low sex drive, mood swings, insomnia, facial hair growth and hair loss.

Causes

• When ovaries stop ovulating and the monthly production of natural progesterone comes to a halt it creates a hormone imbalance commonly known as menopause. Going through this change before the age of 40 is considered pre-menopause. According to WebMD.com and MedicinNet.com, a slew factors can contribute to pre-menopausal symptoms: radiation, smoking, excessive alcohol intake or poor diet. Most of these factors either cause stress or are symptoms of stress.

  SafeMenopauseSolutions.com states that stress is one of the factors that can trigger early signs of menopause. Stress-induced metabolic changes can cause a hormone imbalance, which in turn may speed signs of early menopause.

Stress and Early Menopause

• The pressures of modern women such as raising children, maintaining a career, marital stress, taking care of aging parents, combined with the stress of menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings can be overwhelming. According to Women's Health Care, women who get proper nutrition, rest, exercise can alleviate some of the stress caused by early menopause.

Diagnosis

• Women who suspect early menopause will need to see their doctor and have a physical exam. The most effective test used to diagnose early menopause is a blood test that measures follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH causes your ovaries to produce estrogen. FSH levels increase when the production of estrogen slows. Consequently, higher levels of FSH are a strong indicator of premature menopause.

Treating Early Menopause

• Although premature menopause cannot be reversed, there are treatment options. Natural treatments such eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and taking measures to reduce stress ease the risk of early menopause. In addition to natural treatment, there is Hormonal Replacement Therapy. Gynecologists often recommend HRT to help replace some of the hormones that are no longer being produced as a result of early menopause.