Perimenopause is the beginning or onset of the natural process known as menopause. This is the stage in every woman's life in which the reproductive phase ends. The average age of menopause is 51, but anything between 40 and 59 is considered to be within the normal range. When a woman begins menopause prior to age 40 it is considered to be early menopause, and causes some reason for concerns. <br><br><strong>The process of menopause</strong> <br>Menopause consists of three stages. The first is perimenopause, and during this phase, the eggs stored in the ovarian reserve are depleted. Estrogen and progesterone hormones fluctuate during this period and the levels of each decline. Since they are responsible for aiding in several processes within the body, the decrease of these hormones can result in the symptoms that are commonly associated with menopause. <br><br>Stage two is menopause. After a woman has had 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle, menopause is completed. The third stage is postmenopause. This is the rest of a woman's natural life cycle after childbearing years and signals a new chapter. It is also when many women must deal with consequences of menopause such as decreases in bone mass which can lead to fragile bones and osteoporosis. <br><br><strong>Signs and symptoms of menopause</strong> <br>Every woman is an individual and will experience menopause differently. While many seem to achieve menopause with few symptoms, some may have mild to severe discomfort. The first noticeable symptom of menopause is irregular menstrual cycles. Periods may be skipped, or become lighter or heavier. In addition, the lack of estrogen in the body can cause hot flashes, night sweats, digestive upsets, insomnia, vaginal dryness and others. Low progesterone levels are linked to mood swings, irritability and depression. <br><br><strong>Causes of early menopause</strong> <br>There are many things that can lead to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/menopause-center/early-menopause.html" rel="nofollow">early menopause</a>. Treatments for cancer such as radiation and chemotherapy, surgical removal of the ovaries, lifestyle habits and heredity. Anything that interferes with ovarian function has the potential to cause early menopause. Smoking has been found to be a factor in women entering early menopause up to 2 years earlier and in some cases 9 years. It is also found more often among women with low body weight. Extreme athletes have experienced both temporary signs of menopause and actual early menopause due to the heavy amounts of exercise and low body weight. <br><br>In addition to these, women who have family members that have entered menopause early also have an increased risk of the same happening to them. <br><br><strong>Special concerns for women with early menopause</strong> <br>The first concern with early menopause is the inability to conceive and bear children. If a woman enters early menopause prior to bearing children, she will be unable to conceive naturally. In addition to this, there are certain risks associated with early menopause. Studies have shown that the earlier a woman enters menopause, the higher her odds for experiencing potentially dangerous health conditions. These include cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, endometrial cancer and blood sugar disorders such as diabetes. <br><br><strong>Treatments for early menopause</strong> <br>The standard medical treatment for the symptoms of early menopause and natural perimenopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This has been found to be the most effective in alleviating symptoms, however; it does pose additional long term health risks such as increased risk of cancers and cardiovascular issues. <br><br>Alternative or natural treatments are also effective ways to treat the symptoms of menopause, but carry fewer if any side effects and health risks. Extracts of compounds that act like estrogen in the body are taken from plants that contain high levels, and they are manufactured into natural supplements. Plants such as black cohosh, wild yam, soy beans, flaxseed and a host of others contain phytoestrogens and isoflavones. These are the compounds that have a similar effect as estrogen in the body. Foods containing these ingredients can also be consumed to help ease menopausal symptoms. <br><br><strong>Conclusion</strong> <br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/menopause-center/symptoms-of-perimenopause.html" rel="nofollow">Perimenopause</a> is the beginning stage of menopause that begins after the age of 40. When it starts earlier, a woman is entering early menopause. It is always wise to consult a physician if the symptoms appear before the normal age range to rule out any other possible causes. Hormone replacement therapies are available both in synthetic form from a physician, or in alternative natural forms which are considered to be safer and with fewer side effects.