About Early Menopause

When it comes to early menopause, no two circumstances are alike. There are many reasons why a woman's ovaries can stop producing eggs and her menstrual cycle comes to a stop. Factors can include heredity, age, lifestyle, body structure, personal medical background and family health history. Typically, if the menstrual cycle ceases before age 40, the condition is referred to as early menopause.

Facts

• When a women has not had a menstrual cycle for more than a year, the typical diagnoses is menopause. Early menopause or induced menopause, often occur in women who are in their 30s. Women in their 20s are also known to suffer from the condition. Women bodies can stop producing estrogen incrementally or all at once. This occurs when the ovaries stop producing eggs or hormonal changes take place because the ovaries have been damaged.

Medical Menopause

• Various non-surgical medical procedures and treatments can bring on menopause. Prescription medications, chemotherapy and radiation treatment and have been identified as causes of medical menopause. Ovaries removed as a result of surgery will cause women to stop producing eggs immediately. If the ovaries are damaged by medication or chemotherapy, the person will likely experience a more gradual and unpredictable drop in fertility. You should confer with your health care provider to discuss the best methods for safeguarding against an unwanted pregnancy.

Surgical Menopause

• Surgical removal of both ovaries is referred to as an oophorectomy. The removal of the uterus, which is called a hysterectomy, includes taking out the ovaries or disrupting the blood supply to the ovaries. These surgical procedures are often the primary causes attributed to induced menopause. The menopause occurs right away due to the removal of the ovaries. Surgical menopause can happen in various ways. The majority of surgical menopause cases come about with hysterectomies.
  Ovary removal may be performed during hysterectomy procedures because of the lack of satisfactory response to other medical approaches. If a hysterectomy is being discussed as a possible option, make sure that you consider the prospects of early menopause. And, don't hesitate to seek multiple medical opinions before proceeding.

Premature Ovarian Failure

• Premature ovarian failure (POF) occurs in 1 percent of women when it is not associated with any of the following diseases: pituitary glands, severe anorexia, genetic disorders, immune system disorders, polycystic syndrome, chronic and severe stress or nutritional deficiencies. POF can happen at anytime time before the onset of menopause can be expected to typically occur.
  Generally, POF is irreversible; however, early identification and treatment of the problem causing perimenopause can possibly save you from having your ovaries removed. It is important to pay attention to hot flashes and missed menstrual cycles.

Symptoms

• There are a wide variety of symptoms that have been attributed to reduced levels of estrogen women experience during early menopause. Again, the symptoms may vary from woman to woman. In some cases, there may not be any identifiable symptoms. Some of the known physical signs of perimenopause are hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, rapid heartbeats, menstrual changes and headaches. Emotional symptoms of early menopause include mood changes, anxiety, irritability, minor memory loss and periodic lack of mental clarity.

Hormone Therapy

• Coping with early menopause can be a devastating experience, especially considering how fast it can occur. A woman's ovaries produces Estradiol (E2), which is an estrogen that helps the body functions. E2 affects menstrual cycles, breast development, tissue lubrication and skeletal strength. It is essential for overall health and sexual development. To assist in replacing this lack of Estradiol in the body, hormone therapy (HT) is a common treatment for women who are in induced or early menopause. HT has been proven effective in mitigating potential health problems.
  Some women are concerned about uterine cancer that has been tied to hormone therapy. To reduce the risk of uterine cancer, some physicians recommend a combination hormone therapy option to women who still have their ovaries in place. The treatment may be a blend of protegestrone and testeroterone. Another possible treatment is a synthetic hormone called DHEA. However, there are no long-term clinical trials that have proven the safety and effectiveness of DHEA.

Alternatives Treatments

• There are some behavioral and lifestyle changes you may want to consider, including stopping smoking, weight training, meditation or yoga and getting a full night's sleep. Some women have found these approaches to be quite helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of early menopause.