Contents:
- Medical Video: Early Menopause – Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Clinic
- Early menopause is different from early ovarian failure
- What is the effect if a woman experiences premature menopause?
- Hormonal changes occur earlier
- Early menopause can be caused by medical intervention
- Early menopause can be caused by various health conditions
- How to diagnose early menopause?
- Smoking can also cause premature menopause
- How to alleviate the effects of early menopause?
Medical Video: Early Menopause – Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Clinic
Menopause is the phenomenon of the cessation of the production of female reproductive hormones which causes a woman to no longer experience the menstrual cycle. In general, menopause occurs at the age of 45 to 55 years. A woman is said to experience premature menopause if menopause has occurred under the age of 40 years. Here are some facts related to early menopause in women.
Early menopause is different from early ovarian failure
Many argue that early menopause is caused by early ovarian failure, but it is not. Even though they have the same symptoms and effects, early menopause cannot be cured because the ovary has stopped producing hormones normally. While early ovarian failure is caused by a hormone deficiency and can be overcome by estrogen hormone therapy.
What is the effect if a woman experiences premature menopause?
Even though it occurs earlier, early menopause still has the same effect as menopause in old age. This is due to changes in the hormone estrogen, except that early menopause has occurred at a younger age. The following are some of the effects of early menopause:
- Emotional disorders such as mood swings and depression
- Skin, eyes and mouth feel dry
- The vagina feels thinner and less flexible
- Decreased libido
- The body often feels hot and sweats
- Easily tired
- Bone loss
- Cannot have offspring
- More susceptible to heart disease and stroke
- More susceptible to colon and ovarian cancer
- More susceptible to gum disease and teeth
Hormonal changes occur earlier
Menopause is usually characterized by hormonal changes during the transition period called premenopause. This transition occurs in a period of several years, and ends one year before experiencing the last menstruation. This phase starts at the age of 50 years, but this can occur faster and with a shorter time in women who experience early menopause or before they are 40 years old.
A shorter time will be experienced if the reproductive organs have experienced interference or cannot produce hormones again. Women who have just undergone surgery for removal of the reproductive organs will usually also experience menopause immediately.
Early menopause can be caused by medical intervention
Some methods of treatment and medical interventions can directly affect ovarian activity, leading to early menopause. Following are some of these medical interventions:
- Chemotherapy - One of the side effects of chemotherapy is damage to the ovary and can cause the ovary to stop working. The effects of chemotherapy occur directly or within a few months. The effect of chemotherapy on ovarian damage depends on the frequency of chemotherapy being undertaken.
- Ovarian removal surgery (oophorectomy) - women who undergo surgery to remove the ovary will experience a very rapid decrease in hormones and experience menopausal symptoms, one of which is loss of libido. In other words, surgery causes menopause directly.
- Uterine removal surgery (hysterectomy) - Hysterectomy will not cause menopause directly because it can be done without removal of the ovary, but will stop the menstrual cycle and cause it to not experience pregnancy. Women who undergo a hysterectomy will experience menopause a few years sooner.
Early menopause can be caused by various health conditions
Here are some health conditions that can cause early menopause:
- Only has one X chromosome (turner syndrome) so that the ovary is not fully formed and causes early menopause.
- Hereditary factors with a family history of early menopause.
- An autoimmune condition can attack the ovary, which blocks hormone production.
How to diagnose early menopause?
Early menopause is diagnosed by physical examination and blood to distinguish early menopause from pregnancy or thyroid disease. A diagnosis can also be made with the estradiol test, if the estradiol level is below 30 then this shows you during menopause.
The most important way of diagnosis is by detecting FSH levels. This hormone works to stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen. If the FSH level is high or above 40mIU per milliliter, this usually indicates you are experiencing menopause.
Smoking can also cause premature menopause
Smoking and cigarette smoke can trigger ovarian damage because of the effects of anti-estrogen on cigarettes. The impact can cause disruption of estrogen production, prolonged exposure can cause premature menopause.
How to alleviate the effects of early menopause?
After experiencing menopause, women will be more susceptible to various degenerative diseases, and a healthy lifestyle will help alleviate the effects after menopause. Here are some efforts that can improve the quality of life of a woman who has undergone menopause:
- Live physical activity and a balanced diet for healthy bones and heart.
- Enough for calcium and vitamin D needs to avoid osteoporosis. The calcium needed after menopause is around 1200 mg per day and vitamin D is needed around 600 - 800 IU per day.
- Avoid cigarette smoke and if you smoke, stop smoking.
