Early menopause
Early menopause refers to a complete cessation of periods long
before its normal termination period. It is also known as premature menopause
and occurs before the age of forty. Thousands of women between the ages of
fifteen and forty-four undergo an “Estrogen Crash”, every year. It is the
sudden drop in estrogen levels that often leave women in the trap of early
menopause.
Onset of early menopause: More often than not, the onset
of early menopause is a result of hereditary or excessive stress. The
stress factors that can contribute to early menopause would include loss
of a loved one, extreme financial and various other difficulties of life.
Generally, who have faced problems related to extreme poverty, malnutrition or
living in violent family is more likely to experience a sudden change in their
menstrual cycle at an unexpected age.
Symptoms of early menopause: Traditionally, menopause
used to be associated with older women but surprisingly many younger women have
been caught in the clutches of early menopause. Some of the main symptoms
are as follows:
a) Irregular periods: Irregularity in the monthly menstrual cycle is one of the main symptoms
of early menopause. Shorter and frequent periods, extremely light
periods, extremely heavy flow, skipped, less frequent or complete loss of
periods generally signal that you are not able to produce enough estrogen
because of decline of your ovaries and menstrual cycle.
b) Infertility problem: Inability to conceive is one of the most depressing
hints of early menopause. In this case, there might be a slight or no
affect on your periods but you would have problem during pregnancy or
sometimes you just could not get pregnant.
c) Hot flashes: Hot flashes are the most common symptoms of early
menopause. It usually starts with a hot prickly feeling in the middle of
your back. The heat then gradually rises to envelop the back, chest, neck, face
and scalp. It often leads to the shooting up of your pulse rate and excessive
sweating.
d) Vaginal Dryness and Atrophy: Vaginal dryness and atrophy generally occurs when the
estrogen level drops and the vaginal tissue start drying and eventually becomes
less elastic. It leads to the difficulty in sexual intercourse, more prone to
infections and unusual irritation.
e) Bladder Control Problems: Excessive urination or severe urgency to urinate,
urinary stress incontinence or little leaks only when you exert yourself. It
results in thinning of your urethra and weakening of the surrounding muscles.
Early menopause and its various signs: There are many signs categorized as physical and emotional signs that
often signal the onset of early menopause. Following are early
menopause signs:
Physical signs:
Emotional Signs:
Factors that cause early menopause: Early menopause could be a result of any of the
following causes.
a) Autoimmune Disorder: This is one of the common causes of early
menopause. It is the stage where this disorder makes the body
mistakenly attack itself assuming the part of body as intruders and send
antibodies to destroy the assumed threat. These antibodies attack your
reproductive system and destroy the ovarian function.
b) Chromosomal Irregularity: Chromosomal irregularity could also cause of early
menopause. It is generally affected because of the defects on an X
chromosome.
c) Oophorectomy and Total Hysterectomy: It is the most difficult cause of early
menopause to deal with. In this case you experience it after the removal of
both the ovaries, removal of the uterus or both fallopian tubes.
d) Ovarian damage because of other surgical procedures: Some surgeries lead to damage of ovaries and
ultimately causes earl y menopause. It is the result of surgery
interfering with blood flow to the ovaries that causes premature ovarian
failure.
Early menopause is one of the most traumatic phases in women’s life, as they do not even think about it at an
early age. It is the most helpless stage, when they know they are
just losing it and can’t do anything about it. Generally, women at a younger
age are not prepared for this unexpected change in their life and fail to
understand its symptoms that make it all the more depressing for them.