The Risks and Side Effects of Premature Menopause

Menopause is a natural transition for women in their early 50’s when the ovaries seize to produce Oestrogen hormones. It could be said that menopause marks the end of the fertile phase in a woman’s life. In certain instances, women experience Premature Menopause where the affected ovaries stop producing the Oestrogens well before the menopausal age.

There are certain known factors that affect the ovaries resulting in early menopause, but there are also cases of Idiopathic Premature Menopause with unknown causes. Early or Premature Menopause is seen in women in their late 30’s. As per the reports of the National Institute on Aging, most women in the United States go through menopause at the average age of 51.

What causes premature menopause?
Premature Menopause or Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is caused by certain known factors such as:
Genetics
According to the researchers Anna Murray, Claire E Bennette and John R.B Perry et al, the menopause age and chances of premature menopause are most likely inherited in women.  The study was conducted by the researchers on four genetic variants related to premature menopause due to genetics in approximately 2000 women within the age group of >45, and showed that all of the variants indicated increased risk of premature menopause in the study participants.
Another genetic factor that increases the risk of Premature Menopause in women is defective chromosomes. Turner syndrome, Fragile X syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities can result in Premature Ovarian Failure in women.

Autoimmune health issues
A research conducted by Alper, Michael M. MD; Garner and Peter R. MB, Bch in The American College of Gynaecologists shows that out of the 33 patients (susceptible to early menopause) examined for evidence of autoimmune diseases, 39% were diagnosed with autoimmune disorders and 18% of the patients had a family history of autoimmune diseases. Thyroid disorders are most commonly observed in women who are prone to early menopause.

Lifestyle
Lifestyle habits can significantly affect the wellness of an individual, and early menopause is commonly observed in chain smokers. A study conducted by researchers on “Meta-analyses identify 13 novel loci associated with age at menopause and DNA repair and immune pathways” showed an association of smoking with early menopause.

Epilepsy
Researchers Klein P, Serje A and Pezzullo JC from the Department of Neurology, Washington DC, USA found that 14% of 50 study participants with epilepsy had either non-surgical early peri-menopause or menopause. The research showed that women with epilepsy have an increased risk of Premature Ovarian Failure (POF).

Symptoms of Early Menopause
Most women who are prone to Premature Ovarian Failure attain a normal puberty with regular periods, but later on, they may develop missed or infrequent periods. These women also experience infertility as the ovaries fail to produce eggs.  Women with Early Menopause experience Menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, decreased sex drive and mood swings with depression. In a nutshell, early menopause symptoms are akin to the menopause symptoms that women experience in their early 50’s.

Side effects of Premature Menopause
There are certain side effects to early menopause in women such as:

• Premature aging - A research presented at the annual gathering of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 2014 revealed one of the side effects faced by early menopausal women. The research showed shortened telomeres (structures that sheath DNA) in women with premature menopause. The changes in the telomeres are linked to the egg production by the ovaries. As premature menopausal women have decreased egg count, the aging in their body starts sooner than other women with normal health.

• Infertility - Infertility is one of the severe side effects of early menopause that affect young women emotionally and physically.  As per the statistics, 6%-8% of women with Primary Premature Ovarian Failure succeed in conceiving, but the majority of the women with POF resort to conception through egg donations or they may not conceive at all.

Menopause effects
As early menopause mimics the natural menopause phase, women experience similar side effects to those of natural menopause.

• Thinning of hair
• Hirsutism
• Dry and itchy skin
• Acne outbreak
• Rheumatic pain
• Behavioural changes

Health risks associated with Premature Menopause

• Bone health - As per the study conducted by Gallagher JC at Creighton University, Omaha, USA, women with early menopause are at a higher risk of Osteoporosis. In another study by van Der Voort DJ et al, it was found that early menopause increases the risk of fractures in women.

• Neurological risks - Women who have undergone Oophorectomy- induced early menopause as a result of removing ovaries, have an increased risk of dementia or cognitive impairment according to the Mayo Clinic Cohort Study of Oophorectomy and aging. The same study also shows the prevalence of Parkinsonism in women with induced, early menopause.

• Other health risks - There are other health concerns associated with premature menopause like Cardiovascular disorders, increased risk of ovarian cancer, periodontal diseases leading to tooth loss, colon cancer and an increased susceptibility to the formation of Cataract.

As women with POF fail to produce Oestrogen, they develop sensitivity to many diseases and health risks compared to women with normal health as Oestrogen has many protective benefits for women in their life term. Women with Premature Menopause can find some relief with the use of hormonal treatments used to treat menopause symptoms both in natural menopause ad premature menopause. However, early menopause cannot be reversed.

References:

https://www.thebeautyinsiders.com/menopause-supplements