Premature Menopause
Menopause that happens before the age of forty is referred to as early or premature menopause. Many women naturally go through early menopause but it can also be exacerbated by smoking, taking certain medicines and treatments such as a hysterectomy. Premature menopause happens when ovaries stop making hormones, making ovulation stop at a younger age than usual. Visit Bluebonnet OBGYN to find out if you're a likely candidate for premature menopause.
Causes Of Premature Menopause
Early or premature menopause can sometimes happen for no clear reason. It can also happen due to surgery or health conditions. The most common causes are family history, smoking, chemotherapy, hysterectomy, surgery to remove the uterus, among other health conditions. A woman is more likely to have early menopause if she has a family history of the same. She is also more likely to experience premature menopause with more severe symptoms if she is a smoker.
If a woman is undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation treatments, her menstrual cycle may stop and she may never be able to get pregnant again. These treatments can damage your ovaries, although it also depends on how young the woman is at the time she was undergoing treatment. The surgical removal of ovaries will cause menopausal symptoms right away. Your hormone levels will drop immediately after the surgery and menstrual will cease. In addition to that, women who undergo hysterectomy procedures to remove the uterus are also likely to experience the condition.
Other health conditions that trigger premature menopause include autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, HIV and AIDS, missing chromosomes and chronic fatigue syndrome. The immune system may mistakenly attack the ovaries and prevent them from performing their normal functions. Moreover, women with HIV and AIDS may experience early menopause, especially if their infections are not properly managed. Women born with missing chromosomes might go through menopause prematurely, especially women with Turner's syndrome.
Diagnosis
You will know that you're going through menopause when you've not had menstrual cycles for a whole year. You can also talk to a doctor or nurse if you have symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness and irregular periods related to aging issues.
The physician will take a blood sample to measure your estrogen levels and other related hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). If you're still concerned about getting pregnant, you may choose to get tested.
Associated Effects
The symptoms and health problems of women undergoing premature menopause are similar to those of women undergoing regular menopause. However, some women with premature or early menopause may also experience higher risks of serious medical conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Consult your physician and discuss the steps required to lower your risk of these health issues. Those who are experiencing more severe menopause symptoms can visit a clinic to receive treatments.
The women with premature menopause may also undergo stress, depression, and sadness over the loss of their fertility or the change in their bodies. Seeing a doctor can help with symptoms of depression, which include lack of energy and lack of interest in things that you previously enjoyed. The doctor might also recommend counseling, and refer you to a specialist to help you deal with your feelings. If you still want children, the doctor can discuss other options such as egg donor programs, and adoption.
