Premature menopause – no time for tears!

Menopause, or the last period

First, a bit of theory, to remind myself of my school years. In the lives of women and menstruating people, there are three periods (not the periods that end with menstrual blood, unfortunately, things are not so good! 😜): preparatory, reproductive, and after the end of reproductive life. The reproductive period begins with the arrival of the first period and ends with menopause, or the last menstrual bleeding.

The first one to bring up the table is… menopause, also known as climacteric . During this stage, ovarian function ceases, which causes the body to stop menstruating. The cause of this process is a decrease in follicular activity of the ovaries and changes in the concentration of sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Although this is a completely natural period in the life of every menstruating person, unfortunately it is often associated with unpleasant symptoms, such as hot flashes, poor well-being, fatigue and urinary tract infections.

You can find a good dose of knowledge about menopause in the article 👉 " Menopause - a curse or a second life? ". Today, however, we will focus on the problem of premature menopause, which affects a large part of the world's population. It is worth knowing what its characteristic symptoms are, in order to be able to react in time and control the situation with specialist treatment.

Why so fast?

The average age at which menopause begins in Western culture is 50. It varies slightly between countries. In Poland, menopause statistically occurs between the ages of 48 and 52. Unfortunately, sometimes it surprises much earlier…

Let me explain: medically, we do not talk about premature menopause, but about premature ovarian failure (POF), which causes the same symptoms. In this text, I will focus on the common name, which is more commonly used.

Premature menopause affects an increasing number of menstruating women. It is estimated that it affects an average of 1 in 100 people. It results in a reduction in the number of reproductive years and the concentration of sex hormones, especially estrogens. Then, various complaints and even the risk of disease can occur. Premature menopause is said to occur when the last menstrual period occurs at any time before the age of 40.

Premature menopause - causes

There is a lot of talk about the connection between premature menopause and the history of the reproductive period. Studies show that the earlier the first period occurs, the earlier menopause may occur. Scientists are not unanimous in this theory, but the greatest such correlation was noted in people from Poland, Spain and Italy, among others. Other reproductive factors include the age at which a person gave birth to their first and last child, and the length of the cycles and menstruation itself - the longer the cycle, the potentially later the menopause. Premature menopause may occur in people and women with a history of hypertension, circulatory system diseases or diabetes. Often the cause is cancer (including ovarian cancer), radio- and chemotherapy, and autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's disease, Addison's disease or celiac disease.

Also read our article about diet for Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism .

Demographic factors may also be associated with early menopause, including race, origin, occupation, marital status and place of residence. They are not indifferent to health. Stress, depression and an inappropriate lifestyle also play a major role: lack of physical activity, poor diet, alcohol abuse and smoking. However, genetic and hereditary factors, or more precisely, the vertical increase in heredity, have the most frequent influence on early menopause. If one of the parents or grandparents had early menopause, it is very likely that their child (or grandchild) will also stop menstruating earlier.

Symptoms of early menopause

Premature menopause manifests itself in several characteristic symptoms. Among them, menstrual changes stand out. Periods may appear more often than usual, but they can also be heavier or scarcer. In addition, there are other symptoms of menopause:

• excessive dryness of the skin and vaginal dryness ,
• frequent and sudden hot flashes,
• excessive sweating,
• trouble falling asleep,
• heart palpitations, especially in stressful situations.

The symptoms of premature menopause can vary from person to person. They often occur with different frequency and intensity. It is important to respond to the unusual changes that occur in the body at the right time.

Early menopause – tests, diagnostics

If you experience symptoms of early menopause, or even just some of them, it is worth seeing a gynecologist. The specialist should order extended tests, such as transvaginal ultrasound and cytology. Laboratory tests cannot be omitted, including hormones produced by the ovaries (estrogens, progesterone) and the pituitary gland (FSH and LH). High levels of FSH and low levels of ovarian hormones may indicate the beginnings of menopause. In such a case, the gynecologist should recommend an effective treatment method.

Premature menopause – treatment

After diagnosing premature menopause, appropriate treatment should be applied. A gynecologist may recommend hormone therapy, called hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It supplements the level of hormones (progesterone and estrogens), which are responsible for stimulating the ovaries, and thus improving the functioning of the body and well-being. This type of treatment is most often used until menopause has occurred normally. This is associated with a decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, which can lead to serious health problems. HRT can also be used longer, depending on the patient's preferences. Hormone therapy has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life by eliminating or alleviating troublesome symptoms. Among other things, it helps to reduce vaginal atrophy, improves its elasticity and the functioning of the urinary system. However, it will not work for every person or woman. There are numerous contraindications that should be discussed with a doctor.

There are several factors that can affect the delay of menopause. First of all, it is worth going to the doctor regularly and getting tested to minimize the risk of it at an early age. But... what else? It is common knowledge that a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity and a proper diet (especially a vegetarian diet) bring not only external effects in the form of a slim figure, but also internal ones (read more about this in the text: diet for menopause ). They can not only alleviate the intensity of symptoms, but also delay menopause. It is worth remembering that stress has a huge impact on our body. Its reduction and rest are recommended always and everywhere! Using a two-component contraceptive pill also has a positive effect, which inhibits the growth of ovarian follicles, which preventsovulation .

You can read more about how the pill affects the menstrual cycle in our article: Contraceptive pills and your period .

So when are these kids coming? 🍼

In the case of early menopause, the problem of getting pregnant arises. While women and people over 50 who are going through menopause usually have already given birth to and even raised children, it may be different for people under 40. Currently, the trend of postponing having children is increasingly noticeable. Not long ago, starting a family was a priority – children were more often born between the ages of 20 and 30. Today, more and more people are putting education, work and a career first. Getting pregnant and starting a family is only a secondary issue.

Nice things to wipe away tears

I don't know anyone who dreams of premature menopause. It's important to remember about the support that close people can give during this period. In addition to taking care of your health, you can't forget about your well-being. But how can you improve your mood amidst the annoying symptoms of menopause and the changes that life brings? Is there a magic cure?

I doubt it. But there are ways to at least slightly ease the pain of existence and bad mood. In our online store, in the " Nice Things " tab, you will find several products created from the heart - ones that will make your time more pleasant. Among them, you will find a cherry pit hot water bottle , the warmth of which is like the scorching sun on a summer morning. But most importantly: remember, we are here for you, if you only need_needed virtual hugs! 🤗❤️