Menopause age

Why do some women undergo an early menopause?

The average female will experience the first symptoms of menopause around the age of 50 nevertheless these early symptoms can concern women as young as 40 and as old as 58. Unfortunately, some women undergo an early menopause at an age younger than 40, and while the reasons behind this are varied, they can be broadly slotted into 4 categories:

Premature ovarian failure
Premature ovarian failure can also be due to a genetic abnormality which more often than not is hereditary.
The cause of early menopause is also often due to an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakes its own components for foreign bodies and so attacks them. It is concerned of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, Lupus and thyroid disease.

The result of surgery
Under some condition it is necessary to remove a female’s ovaries and/or uterus because of disease e.g. to remove cancer or potentially cancerous cysts, and by doing this the individual undergoes spontaneous menopause.

The results of cancer treatments
Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause early menopause when used in high dosages.

Other causes
Other cases of early menopause can include family history (only around 5% of cases of early menopause have a family history however and so it is not certainty that the trend will carry on with each generation); viral infections and etc.

First symptoms of early menopause

Pre-menopause can start for a woman as early as her thirties. This can be very frightening for a woman and many times, she believes she is truly ill. The symptoms, from hormonal changes in the body, will come on very gradually and are perfectly natural.
Hot flashes and night sweats are very common signs of perimenopause, menopause. At night, you may wake up feeling hot and your clothes and bedding might be dampened with sweat.

Insomnia or sleeplessness is another reported problem. You might have trouble getting to sleep or you may have trouble staying asleep. Fatigue and lack of energy have also been reported.

Vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, breast sensitivity, and irregular periods also may occur at some time during menopause, early or not.
Weight gain, mood swings, depression, and anxiety may occur as your body experiences fluctuating hormone levels.

Incontinence could be a problem for some women.

Your hair quality could change and your skin may show signs of aging. As has already been stated, if you have reason to suspect you might be beginning menopause, seek medical attention to rule out anything more serious or pregnancy, the signs of which are similar to early menopause symptoms.

Early menopause (also called premature menopause) is a combination of secondary amenorrhea, menopausal symptoms, and a persistent elevation in follicle-stimulating hormone levels greater before 40 years of age.

One in 100 women between the ages of 15 and 40 will spontaneously develop premature menopause. In two-thirds of cases, no apparent cause for the early ovarian failure will be found. In one-third of cases, premature menopause include metabolic and systemic disease, chromosome abnormalities, immunologic disorders, infections, lack of blood supply to the ovaries, cigarette smoking, ovariectomy or bilateral oophorectomy (both ovaries removed), pelvic irradiation, and chemotherapy.

Symptoms of premature menopause

Symptoms of early menopause are often the same as those experienced by women undergoing natural menopause and may include:

• Irregular or missed periods.
• Periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.
• Hot flashes

These symptoms manifest that the ovaries are producing less estrogen.

Additionally the above symptoms, some women may experience:

• Vaginal dryness
• Loss of bladder control (incontinence)
• Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings, mild depression)
• Dry skin, eyes, or mouth
• Insomnia
• Low libido and decreased sex drive

Why are at risk of early menopause

You are at greater risk of premature menopause in following cases:

• You have undergone chemotherapy or radiation.
• You or a family member has an autoimmune disorder such as hypothyroidism, Graves’ disease, or lupus.
• You have unsuccessfully tried to become pregnant for more than a year.
• Your mother or sister experienced premature menopause.

Treatment of early menopause

Treatment of premature menopause depends whether or not symptoms are present and whether or not women with early menopause symptoms has significant risk to warrant therapy. Hormone therapy is the most common treatment.

Hormone therapy relieves menopausal symptoms and helps prevent osteoporosis. Hormone therapy can be taken as a pill or applied to your skin as a gel or patch. Women with early who cannot take hormone therapy may benefit from non-hormonal treatments.

Menozac – Menopause Remedy