What is Early Menopause ?
The onset of
menopause is a natural process that occurs at various ages, so
it is difficult to determine what constitutes early
menopause.
However, as 51
is the average age for reaching menopause in the US, and most
women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, it is
justifiable to say that menopause reached before the age of 45
can be classed as early menopause.
Women can
experience the menopause as early as 20, although this is very
rare, and this would certainly be regarded as early menopause.
Early menopause can be caused by a number of genetic,
environmental, or medical factors, but in some cases the cause
of early menopause is never established.
How is Early Menopause different to Premature
Menopause?
The
terms ‘early menopause’ and ‘premature menopause’ are fairly
interchangeable. Some people define menopause reached before
the age of 45 as ‘early menopause’, and menopause reached
before the age of 40 as ‘premature
menopause’.
Other
people refer to menopause caused by a medical intervention such
as a hysterectomy as ‘premature menopause’, and menopause that
occurs naturally before the age of 45 as ‘early
menopause’.
It is
useful to be aware of these definitions when reading about
early menopause, but there is no real consensus on when to use
one term or the other.
Causes of Early Menopause and Premature
Menopause
There are a
number of possible causes of early menopause or premature
menopause, but there are some occasions when the reasons behind
early menopause can not be identified. The causes can be
categorised into three main areas:
- Genetic factors
- can play a part in early menopause. If a close
family member has experienced early menopause,
there is a greater chance that you will do so as
well.
- Environmental factors - such
as stress, bad nutrition, excessive drinking and
smoking can cause premature menopause in some
women.
- Medical factors - including a
number of autoimmune diseases can cause early
menopause. A number of medical procedures can
cause premature menopause either by removing the
ovaries, causing instant menopause, or by
damaging the ovaries thereby speeding up the
onset of menopause. Please see the page on
surgical menopause for further
information.
It is very
rare that the supply of eggs in a woman’s ovaries will run out,
leading to early menopause. Usually early menopause occurs
because the body fails to respond to the signs that it should
ovulate, even though there are eggs available. There are
occasions when a lack of eggs can cause early menopause and
these include:
- A severe viral infection
such as mumps can affect a woman’s supply of
eggs
Early Menopause Symptoms
Early
menopause symptoms are similar to those of regular menopause.
The five main early menopause symptoms are:
There is a
condition known as ‘diminished ovarian reserve’, which occurs
when a woman experiences some early menopause symptoms, but
continues to have regular periods. This is often a sign that
premature menopause is on its way.
Risks of Early Menopause
Women
who experience early menopause are at a greater risk of
developing diseases associated with post menopause including
osteoporosis and cardiovascular
disease.
In order
to pre-empt these diseases, women who find they are going
through menopause early should consult their doctor as soon as
possible. They will be able to recommend the best course of
action, possibly a course or HRT if this is thought to be
suitable.
Other
Topics.....
Menopause
Symptoms
What is
Menopause
Hormone Replacement
Therapy
Male
Menopause
Perimenopause
Bleeding after
Menopause
Menopause
Supplement
Surgical
Menopause
Menopause Relief
Menopause Treatment
Herbs for
Menopause
Menopause and High Blood Pressure
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- www.menopausesymptoms.us - early
menopause
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