Understanding Early Menopause: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Menopause is a natural change that occur when your ovaries stop producing eggs, and as a result you stop getting you periods.
It usually appears between the age of 45 to 55, and when it occurs before 40, it is called early menopause or ovarian insufficiency.
Early menopause can happen on its own for no clear reason, or it can happen because of certain surgeries, medicines, or health conditions. It is known to have a genetic factor, therefore if your mother experienced an early menopause, you are more likely to experience it as well

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Premature Menopause

Signs & symptoms

The symptoms of early menopause are not different from any other menopause.
The first thing you probably noticed is that the time between periods (menstruation cycles) lengthens.
Other symptoms of menopause might also occur- hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping and mood changes.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will suggest different tests according to your age and symptoms:
Pregnancy test
Blood tests to check your hormone levels
A diagnosis is generally made when you did not have any menstrual bleeding for a year, with no obvious reason.
After diagnosis, you might have to do further tests to search for possible causes.

Treatment

Usually no treatment is needed. Your doctor might offer medication for symptoms relief.
Premature menopause can evoke feelings of grief, sadness and loss. Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor for guidance.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital