Early Menopause and its causes

Oct 07, 2014 Ruchira Dhoke Lifestyle & Health, Women's Health 0

Are you experiencing mood swings, irregular periods, hot flashes, and dryness of skin around eyes in your mid or late 30s?

Well you may be suffering from “premature menopause” or climacterium praecox, which means cessation of the normal cyclic ovarian function prior to the age of 40.

With increase in life expectancy, today a woman lives a better and healthier life. Though menopause is considered to be a natural change in a woman’s life, experience it earlier than expected is a cause of concern. The average age of onset for “natural” menopause is 51, but because of factors like genetics, illness, or medical procedures some women go through it before the age of 40.

In addition to symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings they have to deal with additional physical and emotional concerns. Since menopause signals the end of a woman’s fertile years, a woman who wishes to get pregnant is likely to have trouble.

Like in all menopausal women, women in premature menopause experience low estrogen levels as the ovaries stop their production. Low levels of estrogen brings changes in a woman’s overall health putting her at risk for medical conditions such as osteoporosis, colon and ovarian cancer, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, and cataract formation.

WHAT CAN CAUSE PREMATURE MENOPAUSE?

Premature menopause can happen for these reasons:

Chromosome defects. Defects in the chromosomes like in Turners syndrome can cause premature menopause because the ovaries don’t form normally, and early menopause results.
Genetics. Women with a family history of premature menopause are more likely to have early menopause themselves.
Autoimmune diseases that attack the reproductive system preventing the ovaries secreting female hormones. Thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis are example of such diseases.
Surgical removal of the ovaries also called a bilateral oophorectomy, puts a woman into menopause right away and hormones decline rapidly with instant menopausal symptoms
Chemotherapy or Pelvic Radiation Treatments for Cancer. Cancer chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy for reproductive system cancers can cause ovarian damage.

WHICH TESTS IDICATES PREMATURE MENOPAUSE

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test: FSH levels rise when the ovaries stop making estrogen. So if FSH levels are higher than normal, you’ve reached menopause.

Estradiol test: Estradiol levels fall when the ovaries are not functioning. Levels lower than normal will indicate a sign of menopause.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) test: LH is a hormone that triggers ovulation. If you test results are above normal levels, you’ve gone through menopause.

Early Menopause, Menopause, women's health

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Ruchira Dhoke

A qualified medical microbiologist with an avidity to read enchant a deep passion for creating a good impacting masterpiece with my words .I am very fond of good old English literature and like listening to music and paint in my free time.