What Is Premature Menopause?

The average age of onset for menopause is the early 50s, but some women experience this hormonal shift far earlier in life. Premature menopause causes the body to stop producing certain hormones and ends menstruation in a woman’s 20s, 30s, or 40s.

As the ovaries no longer produce eggs, women who go through menopause early can have their family planning disrupted and struggle with the emotional and psychological effects of infertility. At the same time, the physical changes caused by menopause can make everyday life much harder, especially when you are going through these shifts much earlier than anticipated.

Defining Premature Menopause

Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has not had a menstrual cycle for 12 consecutive months. Premature menopause occurs before middle age. Some women in their early 20s or 30s enter menopause naturally while others do so after having a hysterectomy. This is known as surgical menopause.

Because a hysterectomy causes a woman to immediately enter menopause, surgeons are generally hesitant to provide them voluntarily for women who want one early in adulthood. Whether this is done as a contraceptive procedure or to alleviate pain, the hormonal effects of early menopause cause medical professionals to discourage a hysterectomy unless it is medically necessary.

Symptoms of Premature Menopause

Every woman has different menopausal symptoms. Some of the most common signs of going into menopause early include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Reduced libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Vaginal pain before, during, or after sexual activity (dyspareunia)
• Bladder changes, including urinary incontinence
• Emotional changes and mood instability
• Sleep disturbances

What Causes Premature Menopause?

When the ovaries stop producing eggs and hormones earlier in life, this is known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). It was previously called premature ovarian failure. Many other conditions may cause premature menopause, including chemotherapy/radiation, autoimmune diseases, AIDs or HIV, and chromosomal abnormalities, like Turner’s syndrome.

Women who start menstruating before age 11 are also more likely to start menopause early. Smoking is also a known risk factor for early menopause.

Find Relief for Your Menopausal Symptoms

If you have ended menstruation early, you may be able to delay it by undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Our dedicated team of women’s health experts wants to help you feel at peace in your body and find ways to manage menopause at any age.

Please schedule an appointment with us at the Women’s Health Medical Group, P.A. You can reach us by phone at 817-345-5336. You can find our offices in Fort Worth, Burleson, and Lake Worth, TX.