Early menopause! This term can be frightening for many women, especially those who haven’t had children yet. Early menopause is nothing more than the woman’s ovaries stopping the production of enough hormones to induce ovulation, meaning the woman completely stops ovulating. Usually, cases of early menopause can occur around the age of 32 or older, but it is not uncommon to hear reports of young women in their twenties facing this minor problem1.
Estrogen is the main hormone responsible for ovulation, and when the ovary starts to produce much smaller amounts than necessary, ovarian function is compromised, leading to huge anovulatory cycles, even without any apparent problem. Yes! Early menopause is directly linked to hormones, but don’t panic if you have been diagnosed with early menopause. Most cases can be reversed with the ideal treatment prescribed by a specialist.
What Are the Symptoms of Early Menopause? How to Treat?
The symptoms of early menopause can be very similar from woman to woman and are also quite similar to menopause that happens due to age, which is the most common and at the ideal age for perimenopause2 to occur.
- Hot flashes, excessive sweating and heat
- Decreased menstrual frequency
- Vaginal dryness
- Frequent headaches
- Mood swings
- Weight changes (almost always gain)
Changes in the skin and hair are also very common features. All of this is due to hormonal changes. If the body stops producing the necessary amounts of estrogen, the entire metabolism can be hormonally compromised, so all parts of the body that benefit from estrogen may suffer—including the vagina, which can lose moisture almost completely. As a result, libido is also affected by the lack of hormones. Some women completely lose their sexual desire during this period of early menopause.
Early menopause can be caused by several factors, whether genetic3, hormonal, or even by chemotherapy. The most common cases of early menopause are when a woman has a severe hormonal disorder that, if left untreated, can develop into early menopause. Moreover, the absence of menstruation should not be seen as a relief unless the woman is taking medication to stop her menstrual flow; any and all absence of menstruation for more than three cycles should, in fact, be investigated by a doctor.
Women who have two or more of these symptoms above combined with an absence of menstruation for even more than a year are serious candidates for early menopause. To diagnose, the doctor will request hormonal tests, done through the patient’s blood, and also an ultrasound exam to closely evaluate the ovaries. More serious cases may show ovarian atrophy. In these cases, reversal is more complicated, but possible through hormone replacement therapy and also surgically.
Treatment for early menopause is relatively simple, requiring patience and a lot of discipline to undergo hormone replacement, since some symptoms may be unpleasant at first. However, as treatment for early menopause progresses, the benefits become clear—everything improves, including libido. Hormone replacement is essential in cases of early menopause, because if left untreated it can cause many other problems such as osteoporosis and even heart problems. Usually, women who experience early menopause can still get pregnant; however, pregnancy is usually only possible with donated eggs, in other words, through egg donation. That’s why you should seek help if you start to notice excessive heat and an absence of menstruation. Visit a trusted gynecologist for a physical assessment and to investigate the possibility that you may be experiencing early menopause.
See you next time!
See also: I can’t get pregnant! How to Discover the Cause
Photo: Hey Paul Studios
