Not Feeling Like Yourself? The Signs of Early Menopause
These days, it seems that everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Michelle Obama is talking about perimenopause and menopause. And, thank goodness. After all, the more awareness we bring to this once-taboo topic, the better chance we all have of coping with the hot flashes, mood changes, and lower libido it inevitably brings.
There is, however, one topic that isn't as regularly discussed: premature or early menopause, which, according to the National Institutes of Health, impacts approximately 5% of women. 'Early menopause occurs when a woman goes through menopause at an earlier age,' explains Dr. Roger Lobo of Columbia University Fertility Center. 'We typically classify early menopause as menopause with an onset before age 45. Premature menopause is prior to age 40—before age 45 it is earlier but not premature.'
Causes of early menopause
When it arrives unexpectedly, menopause's impact on physical and emotional health 'can be significant,' says Dr. Alexandra Henríquez Linares, a specialist in gynecological oncology, breast pathology, and integrative medicine. This is because the decline in estrogen and progesterone production that takes place between 45 and 55 years of age is usually progressive, while early menopause often occurs more abruptly.
In most cases there is no clear cause, although Henríquez says there are several factors that may influence early menopause.
Genetics: If your mother or grandmother had menopause very young, it may be hereditary.
Autoimmune diseases: Early menopause may be related to lupus or autoimmune hypothyroidism.
Aggressive medical treatments: Radical surgeries, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy could accelerate the process.
Environmental factors: Toxins such as tobacco, heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, or industrial chemicals and plastics could act as endocrine disruptors, which confuse our endocrine system by decreasing ovarian reserve.
Viral infections: such as mumps in childhood, although this is less common.
Symptoms of early menopause
Early or premature menopause has the same symptoms as natural menopause. 'Those who have early menopause will see a stop to monthly menstruation and can also see other common menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and vaginal dryness,' explains Lobo.
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