Menopause occurs when a woman has her last menstrual period due to a drop in hormone levels, meaning that she can no longer conceive naturally.
Most women reach menopause in midlife, but some women experience early or premature menopause at a much younger age, and this can impact their physical and mental health.
What is the usual age of menopause?
Natural menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Many women experience several years of challenging menopausal symptoms before their periods finally stop.
What is early or premature menopause?
In some women, menopause occurs at a younger age:
Premature menopause
Women who have their last menstrual period before the age of 40 are considered to be in premature menopause.
Early menopause
If your regular periods stop between the ages of 40 and 45, you are experiencing an early menopause.
Women who experience menopause early in life often benefit from hormone therapy.
Common symptoms of early or premature menopause
Whenever it happens, women can experience a range of menopause symptoms due to a lack of circulating oestrogen, including any of the following:
- hot flashes
- vaginal dryness
- mood swings and low mood
- brain fog
- night sweats
- difficulty sleeping
- sudden feelings of anxiety
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you can have blood tests to check your hormone levels and confirm that your symptoms are related to the menopause.
Causes of early and premature menopause
You may experience your menopause earlier than other women for a variety of reasons, including;
- family history
- being a smoker
- having a low body weight
Early menopause after treatment for other health conditions
Treatment for many health conditions can affect the production of hormones and cause periods to stop.
These include
- Breast cancer treatment, which puts women into early menopause, aims to reduce the risk of relapse
- Surgery to remove the ovaries
Primary ovarian insufficiency
A woman whose periods stop suddenly at an early age may be experiencing primary ovarian insufficiency rather than the menopause.
In this condition, the ovaries slow but still produce eggs sporadically, and pregnancy is still possible.
The impact of premature and early menopause on women’s health
Early or premature menopause can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and medical advice is required to manage these health conditions.
How can hormone therapy help?
Hormone therapy can be used to replace the missing hormones. This type of treatment will protect your bones and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Menopausal hormone therapy is also helpful in managing the debilitating menopause symptoms that many women experience during this stage of their lives.
Whatever your age, you can contact us for advice and further information about managing your hormonal symptoms.
Our private HRT clinic is CQC registered. To book an appointment, please call 01706 691683, email info@themenopauseclinic.com, or book online here.
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