Several uncomfortable symptoms appear when menopause happens. Women should not despair though because there are many menopause treatments available today. In fact some treatments are very simple things you can do on your own without a doctor. There are also naturally based substances that can be taken. Of course there is the hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is one of many menopause treatments.

It’s not always clear why menopause happens early which of course can make you feel frustrated and even annoyed. Often, however, there are reasons why it has happened at an earlier time of life and we’ll explore these reasons now…

When women have to have a hysterectomy it throws them into menopause immediately. Women have had to have hysterectomies for various reasons early in their lives sometimes cancer is at fault and sometimes they have fibroid tumors bad enough to need them. This is one reason for women having either premature or early menopause. Menopause often happens to women going through treatment for cancer. Chemotherapy kills good cells even in the ovaries along with the cancer cells. Sometimes these women only go through menopause temporarily though sometimes it can by permanent though.

Premature ovarian failure (POV) can cause early menopause. When this happens the ovaries stop egg production and also hormones cease to be produced. POV can be caused by autoimmune diseases and a genetic predisposition can increase the likelihood.

The symptoms for early menopause are identical to regularly occurring menopause. But because this type of menopause is usually brought on due to illness, surgery, or even genetics, the severity of the symptoms are much worse. These symptoms are mood swings, night sweats, insomnia, headaches, joint and muscle pain, and hot flashes. Weight gain is common during this time too along with water retention.

As well as mood swings you can become forgetful, get cravings and even become depressed due to changes in hormone levels. With early menopause the symptoms normally occur more quickly than with normal menopause. You can suffer a rapid loss of estrogen which can cause these symptoms.

Many women have benefited from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a method of treatment for early menopause. It is possible to get patches instead of pills. These slowly deposit estrogen into the body through the skin. It is important to try to get involved with a support group to help you through the bad days that you may experience. Friends and family as well as other women going through menopause can be a great source of strength and support.

There is evidence that using supplements containing either red clover isoflavone or Black Cohosh can reduce hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Other natural products used for menopause treatments that are being used today include Ginseng, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitex Agnus Castus, and Dong Quai. These are easily available at health food stores but you need to educate yourself thoroughly before starting to take them.