5 reasons which explain early menopause
Some women may go through menopause before the age of 50 due to the removal of the ovaries. But when menopausal symptoms appear earlier, certain diseases or substances may also be involved. This is known as a premature ovarian failure.
Nighttime waking up swimming, trouble concentrating, lack of menstruation...menopausal symptoms can be difficult to live with and accept when they occur at the expected age, around the age of 50. But if they manifest themselves in their forties, they can be even more frightening. In France, 80% of women go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but 10% are menopausal before the age of 45, and 1-2% before the age of 40.
For some women, explains the American site Health, early menopause can be caused by surgery to remove the ovaries. One in a hundred women experience these symptoms before the age of 40. This is called premature ovarian failure. In most cases, the cause of this condition is difficult to pinpoint. Here are the main risk factors:
Early menopause : a hereditary phenomenon
If your mother, grandmother, or sister went through early menopause, you'll probably have to go through the same ordeal. Indeed, the genetic factor has been pointed out by researchers. In 20% of cases, reports the Health site, a woman who went through menopause very early was not the only one in her family to suffer from this problem. If you are concerned about this phenomenon, disregard all modesty and do not hesitate to question the women in your family.
Genetic factors increase the risk
Early menopause is linked to genes. It is therefore associated with certain diseases or genetic mutations. Women at greatest risk are those with Fragile X syndrome. This rare disease affects intellectual abilities and leads to learning and language difficulties. Even if you do not have Fragile X, you may have developed a mutation that affects your ovaries and results in primary ovarian failure associated with Fragile X.
Women with Turner Syndrome are also likely to develop menopause between the ages of 30 and 40. This syndrome affects women exclusively: it is characterized by the complete or partial absence of one of the two X chromosomes in women. It affects the size and functioning of the ovaries of the women concerned.
The consequences of autoimmune diseases
Thyroiditis (related to inflammation of the thyroid gland) may explain the development of early menopause. The same is true for Addison's disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones. In both cases, the body turns on itself and attacks the ovarian follicles (cells containing the egg), preventing them from functioning normally.
Tobacco and endocrine disruptors are harmful
The adverse health consequences of active and passive smoking are well known. We are all born with a stock of ovarian follicles that are supposed to last until the natural age of menopause, around the age of 50. But regular exposure to toxins such as tobacco or pesticides can affect this reserve and accelerate the menopause process.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Like toxins in the environment, cancer treatments can affect the genetic code of ovarian cells. This does not mean that all women who have gone through chemotherapy or radiation therapy will necessarily go through menopause sooner. It all depends on the type of medication received or the dose of radiation, the age at the time of treatment, and the area of the body in question. Symptoms of early menopause may appear years later in some women, or not at all in others.
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