The Causes of Early Menopause and How to Ease the Transition
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her body ceases to be fertile. This typically occurs in a woman's early 50s, but many women begin feeling the effects as early as their late 30s and this is considered perfectly average. But what if you experience menopause at a much earlier age than average? This is called early menopause.
A woman is considered to have gone through early menopause when the process of menopause is completed before she reaches the age of 45. Early menopause can occur for a variety of reasons: illness or disease, medical procedures, or just because early menopause runs in her family.
Several Causes are Possible
An illness or infection may impact a woman's reproductive system profoundly enough to make it shut down prematurely. This is one of the more rare causes of early menopause, however. A much more common cause is the result of treatment for cancer or other serious illness. Chemotherapy for any type of cancer may result in early menopause.
Treatment for ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer may involve a full or partial hysterectomy. When this procedure is performed, it sends the body into surgical menopause. This isn't quite the same as early menopause since it is provoked by the physical removal of the reproductive organs.
Genetics may also play a part in the development of early menopause. If a close relative of yours underwent this early change, you may experience it as well. Although the connection between genetics and early menopause is not very well understood, it is mostly accepted in the medical community that there is a connection.
How to Ease the Transition
Experiencing menopause at an early age can be emotionally taxing for a woman. There are the regular physical challenges of dealing with the change, and the added emotional stress of these changes happening ahead of schedule. Since menopause means that a woman will no longer be able to bear children, early menopause often results in depression, especially for women who were hoping to have children in the future.
Although there is no way to "cure" menopause, you can help to ease the transition by taking prescription hormone replacement therapy. Taking hormones can slow down the drastic changes that are taking place and help you to adjust gradually to the new state of your body.
While early menopause is emotionally and mentally stressful for many women, relaxation can go a long way toward easing the transition and making the changes easier to cope with. With a strong system of support from family, friends, and healthcare providers, you can get through the change and emerge a stronger woman than ever before.
