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It is true that all women undergo certain changes in their lives. Menstruation and climacteric are two of them. There are still others, such as pregnancy, which does not happen with all, but can still be considered a major transformation and part of a woman’s life. But what about when they occur before the expected time? We are going to talk today about early menopause, what are its main causes and whether it has a major impact on a woman’s life. Keep reading the text and check all the information now!
What is Early Menopause?
Before we get into the subject of the text itself, it is important to give a summary of what menopause is and what are the effects that this phenomenon has on a woman’s body. Menopause is undoubtedly the most well-known stage of the climacteric, a period in which a woman’s body is preparing to stop being fertile. During menopause, the ovaries stop functioning and the woman does not menstruate anymore. This implies a significant hormonal decrease in the woman’s body, which generates several symptoms such as decreased libido, hair loss, hot flushes, among other things.
When this cycle we mentioned occurs in a woman before the age of 40 , it is considered to be early menopause or premature menopause. This is not a hormonal disorder, as many believe, but the ovaries fail to function before the expected time. One of its main characteristics is the reduction of eggs produced and, consequently, of menstruation. Which also ends up generating hormonal changes.
What Causes Early Menopause?
Early menopause can occur in a woman for a variety of causes, making it practically impossible to indicate just one thing that can be common in all cases where this happens. However, some factors can help to understand why this occurs. Some studies, for example, point to the interconnection with the age of the woman’s mother as one of the possible causes. Although this is not definitive, it is certain that family history helps to explain early menopause. If a woman’s mother and sisters have, it is very likely that she has too.
In addition, there are some external factors that can contribute to early menopause. Women who have undergone cancer treatments , for example, may suffer from this because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have the side effect of premature ovary death. As other less common causes of this phenomenon, we can point out some changes in the X chromosome, such as Fragile X Syndrome and Turner Syndrome, which normally cause the eggs to die at a young age.
How is the Diagnosis done?
In order for a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis of early menopause, tests are needed that will show a decrease in hormone levels in a woman. However, these tests are usually accompanied by the certainty that the woman also has several symptoms such as:
- Vaginal dryness;
- Decreased libido;
- Constant mood changes;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Fatigue;
- Night sweats and hot flushes.
The exams together with these symptoms make it possible for a doctor to make the right diagnosis and point out possible ways for treatment.
Treatment of Early Menopause
The treatment of early menopause aims to alleviate the symptoms and prevent them from disturbing a woman’s life, in addition to helping to prevent other types of diseases from arising, since the lower level of hormones increases the chance of this happening. This condition is treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that helps prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, in addition to heart disease. It is also worth remembering that this type of treatment does not reverse ovarian failure.
Is it possible to get pregnant even with Early Menopause?
One of the biggest fears of women who go through early menopause is whether it is possible to become pregnant during this process. The answer is yes, it is possible to get pregnant. However, it is important to understand the conditions under which this can occur. The chance of a woman who has early menopause becoming pregnant is less than 10% , which is quite low. It is possible, however, that a woman receives an egg donated by another, through the so-called ovodoation , so that it can be fertilized in vitro. The chance of success, in these cases, is up to 60%, not as high, but much greater than the woman would have had without this type of process.
Certain things in life are inevitable, like the changes that every woman needs to go through. And it is necessary to know how to accept them even when they appear at unexpected moments, as in the early menopause. It is also important to know the treatments and how it can affect your life both in the present and in the future. It is possible to lead a good, healthy and very happy life after this phase, which, for many, can be troubled. And following the recommendations we gave today can be of great help.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
