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The time when you start going through the change is actually called pre-menopause:menopause is when all symptoms have stopped. This is the time when you will notice changes occurring. It happens because an important hormone (estrogen) which is vital to the reproductive process isn't being produced in the amounts it was previously.. One of the first thing you may notice is dry skin, or being dry "down there" during sexual activity which starts many women on a search for menopause treatment.

At first the changes may be minimal but most irritating! Irregular periods might be your first sign as they come and go on a different schedule than before. Again, lower estrogen is to blame for these annoying changes. The pre-menopause stage will last for as many as ten years, but symptoms may change as you begin to get closer to full menopause.

A couple more minor menopause symptoms you may experience are hot flushes and/or night sweats. Hot flashes come without warning and your body just begins to sweat profusely! But don't worry, the reason it's called a flash is because it goes away quickly. You will suddenly feel hot and start to sweat as your body increases it's temperature, but just as suddenly, the hot flash is over. Unfortunately, hot flashes and excessive sweating go together because sweating is the body's normal reaction to being hot and trying to cool down. This symptom can be so annoying that it immediately sends some women searching for menopause treatment.

Night sweats are actually hot flashes that happen at night. At night, sweating may go unnoticed and you will continue to sweat until you wake up. By the time you awaken, you will probably be drenched in sweat, which may turn cold as the hot flash ends and you begin to cool down. This is where the term cold sweat comes from.

Another common early menopause symptom is mood swings; you need to be careful with these as they could harm your relationship.You may not be fully aware of mood swings but instead experience a feeling of doom and/or depression. Confidence may be lost and because you are worrying more, you may suffer from insomnia.

Lack of sleep causes more mood swings! These things will pass in time, but you need to keep in control of them if you are to have your life back after you get through pre-menopause. Your best defense here is awareness, and to think twice before going off on a rampage. Hormones (or decreasing amounts) can cause havoc with both your mind and body so be careful during this time.