(Reader’s Digest) — You suddenly have unexplained bruises on your body and hair on your chin? These may be early signs of the onset of menopause says Ellen Dolgen, author of the free eBook, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause.

Breast pain: Pesky hormonal fluctuations can cause cyclical breast tenderness (ranging from bothersome to unbearable) even when Aunt Flo isn’t due for a visit. What’s more, since perimenopause causes irregular cycles, it’s nearly impossible to know when your breasts are going to begin throbbing, according to the National Cancer Institute. Your breasts may also feel “more lumpy” than they did before, notes Dolgen, Menopause Mondays blogger.

Unexpected bruises: Perimenopause causes some women to become a bit clumsy—and those minor bumps can quickly turn into big bruises. This is because fluctuating hormones can make skin thinner, making you bruise easier.

Dry eyes: Strangely, excessive tearing is a sign that your eyes are desperately trying to make up for a lack of moisture. And you can thank plummeting hormones for those “Cheech and Chong”–style eyes, Dolgen says. Hormones affect the ocular tissues and the composition of tears your eyes produce, resulting in excessively dry eyes and changes in vision (going from near-sighted to far-sighted, for example).

Chin hair: Don’t be surprised if your tweezers become your new best friend, Dolgen says. For a lucky 15 per cent of women, “super human” hair on your chin, upper lip, or cheeks is an all-too-common symptom of perimenopause, according to the North American Menopause Society. And, perhaps what’s worse, the hair on your head may become thin, dry, or brittle. (…)