Early menopauseoccurs when your menstrual cycle stops between the ages of 40 and 45. Menopause before age 40 is considered premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency.The average age of women who go throughmenopause, a complete year of no periods, is between 51 and 52 years old.
Premature menopause happens to about 1% of women under 40, while early menopause is seen in about 5% of women under 45.
As menopause gets nearer, yourovariesbegin to produce less and less of the hormone estrogen, which causes your menstrual cycle to change. The symptoms you experience during menopause are a result of these fluctuating hormone levels.
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There are some signs of early menopause to watch for. These symptoms are also associated withlow estrogenlevels, and are similar to those of premature menopause.
Frequent Symptoms
The way you experience early menopause will differ based on what triggered it. For example, research has found that women who undergomedical menopausedue to chemotherapy have longer menopausal transitions with worse symptoms than other women.
People may start having irregular menstrual cycles for a few years before their last period. The symptoms of early menopause include many of the typical menopause symptoms, including:
8 Natural Remedies for Hot Flashes
Complications
Early menopause is linked to some serious health complications.
Neurological Diseases
Research has shown that a short time span between your first period and menopause may be associated with a higher risk ofdementia.An evaluation of a diverse prospective cohort study of more than 15,754 women found that those who started menstruation at a later age or entered menopause early had a more than 20% greater risk of developing dementia.
Sexual Dysfunction
Early menopause means you may be faced with hormone-related sexual challenges earlier than expected. These may include vaginal changes like skin thinning and decreased lubrication, which can make tearing easier and penetration painful and anxiety-producing.
Mood Disorders
Not everyone who experiences early menopause will have a mood disorder. Some women will, however, have poorer mental health outcomes than others. Findings in this area are largely inconsistent, and long-term systematic investigations in early menopausal people are lacking. Nevertheless, early menopause means the end of fertility, which can be a highly emotional and unexpected loss for many.
In a cross-sectional clinic-based study of 174 women with chromosomal abnormalities and 100 women withTurner syndrome, researchers found that early menopause due to chromosomal irregularities increased the lifetime risk of depression, with depression onset typically occurring after ovarian function changes.
Heart Disease
Early menopause is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.This is likely at least in part due to lower estrogen levels, which are related to changes in cholesterol. This higher risk may also be because of cardiovascular risk factors earlier in life, such as smoking, which also increases the risk of early menopause.
Osteoporosis
Experts say the earlier in life you experience menopause, the worse its impact will be on your overall bone health. That’s because decreasing levels of estrogen inhibit your bone’s natural rebuilding abilities and make reformation less possible.
One cross-sectional study of 782 women who had never received bone mass–altering drugs found that those in early menopause had significantly lower spinal bone mineral density than women who underwent normal or late menopause.
How Estrogen Affects Osteoporosis and Bone Health
When to See a Doctor
If you think your symptoms are related to early menopause, you should consult a doctor. Getting an accurate diagnosis can help with better symptom management.
You may also want to see your doctor in the following situations:
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Summary
Early menopause comes with many of the traditional menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness. It’s associated with a higher risk of complications like heart disease and osteoporosis. You should therefore consult your doctor if you suspect you are going through early menopause.
Experiencing menopause at any age is a life-altering event, but experiencing menopause in your early 40s can feel particularly difficult. If you are feeling robbed of your 40s and as if menopause will never end, it may be time to talk to trusted family members or a mental health professional.
If you find that your physical symptoms are stopping you from living your life to the fullest, definitely reach out for mental health support. Connecting with others who can listen without judgment (and, better still, who have gone through this change at an earlier age) is extremely powerful.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Cleveland Clinic.Premature and early menopause.
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