The most common cause of induced menopause is medical treatment, particularly surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Induced menopause occurs when the ovaries stop functioning normally due to damage or removal before the natural age of menopause, which is around 51 years old on average.
Causes
Some of the main medical causes of induced menopause include:
- Surgery - Surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy) for conditions like ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometriosis, or fibroids will instantly trigger menopause. Removal of the uterus alone will not directly cause menopause.
- Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancers like breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and others can damage ovaries and stop normal hormonal function. This is especially common in women over 40.
- Radiation therapy - Pelvic or whole-body radiation therapy for cancers can also damage ovaries and trigger early menopause. This is a risk for women with cancers like Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Autoimmune disorders - In some cases of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks hormone producing cells in the ovaries as well. This leads to ovarian failure.
Symptoms
The symptoms of induced menopause are often more severe than natural menopause because the hormone changes happen very suddenly. Common effects include:
- Hot flashes - Rapid sweating and sensations of heat, often at night. Lasts from 30 seconds up to an hour.
- Vaginal dryness - Decreased estrogen thins vaginal tissues and reduces lubrication, causing pain with intercourse.
- Mood changes - Depression, anxiety, irritability are common due to estrogen effects on the brain.
- Insomnia - Hot flashes and hormonal shifts impair sleep.
- Other effects - Fatigue, memory issues, joint pain, headaches, palpitations.
Long Term Health Risks
Induced menopause also comes with risks linked to the early
estrogen deficiency:
- Osteoporosis - Low estrogen accelerates bone loss, increasing fracture risk. Bone density screening is recommended.
- Heart disease - Lower estrogen is tied to poorer cholesterol levels and higher heart disease in younger women. Monitoring lipid panels is advised.
- Dementia - Younger age of menopause correlates to higher dementia risk. Reasons are still being studied.
- Early death - Some research indicates women with early induced menopause have higher mortality rates. More study is needed on this risk.
If you are dealing with induced menopause, know that you are not alone. Be kind to yourself through this challenging transition. There are many medical therapies that can help manage symptoms and reduce long term risks related to early hormone changes.
The specialists at
HormoVital have over 15 years experience successfully treating women with induced menopause. We take a personalized approach, using bioidentical hormone replacement when appropriate, along with tailored lifestyle plans to help you thrive. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation.
