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Early Menopause & Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a disease usually identified by tumor growth on the nerves. These tumors are often flesh colored warts or moles located along the spinal column, stomach and gastrointestinal tract, nervous tract and under the armpits. These growths are called neurofibroma. This disease causes many serious health symptoms. As the female who suffers from this grows, one of the complications may be early menopause.

  1. Neurofibromatosis

    • Neurofibromatosis can be caused by a gene mutation or by an abnormal gene that is passed to the child during conception. It is a disease that affects both genders and can be found in every racial and ethnic group. There are actually two different types of this disease. Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) and Neurofibromatosis-2 (NF-2). The difference is based on where the gene mutation occurs on the chromosomes. The second type is more serious due to the tumor placement on the brain and spinal cord. However, both can cause serious health problems.

    Definition of Early Menopause

    • Menopause simpy means the end of a woman's menstrual cycle. Usually this occurs in women over the age of 45. Early menopause is when this occurs before 45 years of age; premature menopause is when menopause happens before age 40. Menopause symptoms are more extreme when early or premature.

    Menopause Symptoms

    • Premature or early menopause symptoms are the same as natural menopause, though usually more extreme. These include night sweats, insomnia, hot flashes and joint and muscle pain. Water retention and added abdominal weight are also common issues. Early menopause due to neurofibromatosis causes a rapid decline in estrogen as compared to a more natural decline. This accounts for the severity of symptoms.

    Interaction of the Disease and Menopause

    • Though neurofibromatosis frequently causes early menopause in women, menopause itself can exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. Hormonal changes of any kind often trigger tumor growths in individuals who suffer from this disease.

    Research

    • In a study performed by Cramer, Corf and Fortier of Brigham and Women's Hospital, women with neurofibromatosis were found to have a higher incidence of reproductive history issues. These included hypogonadism, irregular menses, infertility, ovarian cysts and early menopause. If a woman has been diagnosed with this disease, she should be aware of the potential for early and increased symptoms of menopause. She should work with her doctor to decrease the effect of these on her quality of life.

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