Early Menopause: Causes and Symptoms

Menopause is an inevitable part of a woman's life. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive stage, as the ovaries stop releasing eggs and producing oestrogen and progesterone hormones, which are responsible for the ovulatory and menstrual processes. Because of this, menstruation will stop.

Normally, a woman will go through menopause between the age of 45 and 55. According to statistics, the average age of women when they reach menopause is 51 years old. However, there are cases when menopause occurs before a woman reaches the age of 40. This is known as premature or early menopause.

Early Menopause Symptoms

· Infrequent, heavier or lighter periods
· Hot flashes or night sweats
· Vaginal dryness
· Vaginal inflammation
· Mood swings and irritability
· Pains during intercourse
· Reduced sexual desire
· Tiredness
· Sleep disturbance

Causes of Early Menopause

Early menopause can occur naturally or as a result of surgical procedures. Some of the medical reasons that can affect the timing of menopause and cause premature menopause include:

· Surgical procedures for the removal of uterus and ovaries

· Surgical sterilisation of the fallopian tubes (tubal litigation)

If early menopause happens naturally, it is a condition known as primary  ovarian insufficiency (POI). At this point, the ovaries have stopped functioning normally. However, it is still possible for menstruation to occur and for a woman with POI to get pregnant. The possibility of pregnancy, however, is reduced.

The usual causes of primary ovarian insufficiency may involve:

· Genetics
· Autoimmune disorders
· Chromosome abnormalities

· Having undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments

Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

If you have experienced the symptoms of early menopause, particularly if you have not had your period for three months or longer, consult your physician immediately.

During your evaluation, the physician may ask you about other symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and pains. You may also be asked about medical treatments or surgeries that you have undergone, any autoimmune diseases in your family, or if anyone else in your family have had early menopause.

Physical examination as well as blood tests may be conducted to help determine whether you have primary ovarian insufficiency. Further tests such as genetic testing, karyotyping and antibody measurements may be required to know the specific cause, if you indeed have primary ovarian insufficiency.

With early menopause, it means you also have low levels of oestrogen. Lack of oestrogen in women may lead to osteoporosis because the body needs oestrogen to make bones resistant to fracture. To alleviate the symptoms of early menopause and increase oestrogen levels, a treatment called oestrogen replacement is used. Treatment is either in the form of a pill or skin patch.