Early Menopause Symptoms The primary symptom of menopause is the ending of menstrual periods. Some women experience no other symptoms than this. Most women, however, will experience other symptoms. Some of these early menopause symptoms can occur prior to menopause, during perimenopause. Some symptoms will most likely improve with time, some may improve then come back, some may stay with you for the rest of your life. Early menopause symptoms which generally improve over time: Hot flashes. Fluctuations in menstrual cycle. Mood swings and other emotional changes, such as changes in sex drive. Insomnia and other sleep disturbances. Generalized itching. Joint pain Generalized itching. Headaches. Heart Palpitations. Memory problems can also be one of the early menopause symptoms Long term early symptoms of menopause: Changes in the vagina, including: Vaginal itching and dryness. Vaginal infection risk increases. Experience of pain in sexual intercourse. Problems in the urinary tract can also be among early menopause symptoms, including: Loss of ability to control urine leakage. Increased risk of urinary tract infections. Possible appearance changes. Most of the early menopause symptoms will cease sometime around when the menstrual periods come to an end. However, some women continue to experience these symptoms well after the end of menopause, sometimes up to several years after. Some surgeries, chemo or radiation therapy can also cause symptms to return. Pre-existing problems such as irratibility, anxiety, depression or insomnia could be worsed with menopause. While some women will experience many or all of these early menopause symptoms, some women may find they experience none of these symptoms, other than the end of the menstrual period cycle. Many women see menopause as a liberating experience, with no more worries of menstruation or pregnancy.