Menopause, a normal biological change, marks the end of menstrual cycles. This typically occurs in women between the ages of 50 and 51. However, women going through an early or premature menopause is becoming more common. As doctors, we think it is important to understand the difference between the two, identify the symptoms, and take care of the health implications as soon as possible.
What Is Early and Premature Menopause?
Menopause is the absence of menstruation for 12 months. When this happens before the age of 45, it is termed early menopause; if it occurs before age 40, it is considered premature menopause. Although less prevalent than average-age menopause, early and premature menopause still impact a considerable number of women, and their consequences can have wide range of effects on health and quality of life.
What Leads to Early Menopause?
Early menopause can have a number of causes. Ovarian age and hormone secretion may be influenced by a variety of biological, medical, and lifestyle factors:
• Genetics: A significant contributing aspect is often family history. You are more likely to go through early menopause if any of your close female relatives did.
• Medical Treatments: Radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which are frequently used to treat cancer, might harm the ovaries and cause an early halt of hormone production.
• Surgical Causes: Menopause occurs right away after an oophorectomy, which removes both ovaries. In some circumstances, major pelvic surgery may also result in menopause.
• Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disorders can sometimes cause the immune system to attack ovarian tissue
• Lifestyle: Smoking has been linked to early menopause, because of the toxic effects of smoking on the ovaries it ages faster.
• Unknown Factors: In many cases of natural early menopause no clear causes are identified
Identifying the Warning Signs
Premature menopause rarely occurs overnight. Most women actually experience a transitional stage called the perimenopause, which may occur years before the complete stoppage of menstruation. The levels of hormones fluctuate during this stage because of hormonal changes, which are sometimes mistaken for stress or other conditions.
Here are a few obvious red flags:
o Irregular menstrual cycles, which may be lighter, heavier, shorter, or longer.
o Hot flashes and night sweats are one of the earliest and most common symptoms
o Disturbed sleep patterns like difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o Mood swings including anxiety, irritability or low mood
o Vaginal dryness and pain during sexual activity
o A decrease in sexual response and libido
The severity of symptoms can vary widely, and not every woman will have every symptoms. While some women may only have minor symptoms, others may find that the symptoms make it difficult to go through their regular lives.
Early Menopause's Effects on Health
Beyond the reproductive symptoms, early estrogen secretion can have health consequences. Because estrogen protects a number of physiological systems, early reduction of estrogen secretion can result in:
• Risks to Bone Health: Women may develop osteoporosis earlier in life, which raises the risk of fractures.
• Cardiovascular Risks: Because estrogen regulates blood vessel function and cholesterol, women who enter menopause early are at an early risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Emotional Concerns: When early menopause affects fertility, women may feel depressed or anxious.
• Metabolic Changes: Women who go through early menopause also have altered fat distribution and metabolism.
What Can Women Do About It?
It's crucial to consult a doctor if you or anybody you know is going through an early or premature menopause. A physician can examine symptoms, evaluate hormone abnormalities, and recommend the best course of action.
Many women with early menopause symptoms may brush them off as something temporary or unrelated. However, being aware of the patterns and seeking advice can help significantly.
Area of Expertise
• Dr. Durva Arun Kurkure is a well-trained radiation oncologist practicing at HCG Cancer Centre in Borivali, a single-specialty cancer hospital in Mumbai.
• She specializes in managing various types of cancer through various radiation oncology interventions.
• She has a special interest in the fields of neuro oncology, gynecological oncology, and pediatric oncology.
• Dr. Durva is well-versed in multiple advanced radiotherapy techniques, namely SBRT, SRS, IGRT, and IMRT.
• With a keen interest in research, Dr. Durva has worked on case reports, presentations, and research articles that have been published and presented in numerous prestigious forums.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.
