Medically inducedmenopauseis when medical treatments, like chemotherapy or surgery, cause a person’s ovaries to stop functioning before menopause would normally occur. It happens much faster than natural menopause, and it often causes more severe symptoms. The effects can be temporary or permanent, depending on the treatment and the extent of damage to the ovaries.
Read on to find out more about the causes of medical menopause and the treatments available.
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Causes of Medical Menopause
Several procedures and treatments can induce medical menopause. If you’re considering any of them, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider ahead of time.
Surgery
Surgical menopause occurs when a person’s ovaries are surgically removed (oophorectomy) or after aradical hysterectomy(removal of the uterus, ligaments around the uterus, and the upper 1/3 of the vagina).
These procedures may be done for different reasons, such as:
Without ovaries or a uterus, a person is not fertile and no longer produces estrogen. Surgical menopause is immediate and permanent and is often more symptomatic than natural menopause due to the suddenness of the change.
Hysterectomy: Overview
Radiation
Radiation to the pelvic area, which may be prescribed to treat cancers occurring in that area (such as ovarian, colorectal, or uterine cancers), can damage the ovaries.
This damage can cause a sudden drop in hormone levels, resulting in amenorrhea (stopping of periods) which can be temporary or permanent.
Pelvic irradiation may also impact uterine function and contribute to a loss of fertility.
Chemotherapy
It is hard to know if your periods will stop temporarily during chemotherapy or for good, and it’s not possible to predict how soon you will know the answer. Your healthcare provider will periodically perform blood tests to check your hormone levels.
If you are in your late 40s at the time you go through chemotherapy, your medical menopause may carry you into post-menopause without a recurrence of your menstrual cycle. If you are 30 or younger at the time of treatment, you may resume your periods and experience natural menopause in the future.
Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment
Hormone Therapy
The use of medications to temporarily shut down the ovaries in order to suppress the production of estrogen is known as ovarian suppression therapy and may be used as a treatment forhormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Once the medicine is stopped, the ovaries usually begin functioning again. The time it takes for the ovaries to recover can vary from person to person. The younger you are, the more likely it is that your ovaries and estrogen levels will bounce back.
There have been cases of people getting pregnant while on ovarian suppression medications, so if you are premenopausal and have a cis-male partner, it’s important to use non-hormonal birth control such as condoms, a diaphragm, or a non-hormonal IUD.
Symptoms of Medical Menopause
Medical menopause causes the samesymptoms as natural menopause, but the symptoms may come on more abruptly than they would with a more gradual, natural transition. Symptoms also tend to be more intense than if menopause had been reached naturally.
Symptoms of medical menopause include:
Declining estrogen levels have also been associated with cardiovascular risk factor changes that increase the risk of heart disease.
Having your ovaries removed reduces hormone levels literally overnight. For younger people, menopausal symptoms after this surgery can be particularly intense.
Managing Medical Menopause
There are a variety of treatments for menopause. Talk with your healthcare provider about which of these would be most appropriate for you.
They can include:
8 Natural Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
Summary
Menopause can be challenging when it happens naturally, but when it’s medically induced, it can be especially so. Emotionally, it can take getting used to, especially if it’s abrupt. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription treatments that can help with symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
15 SourcesVerywell 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.Metcalfe K, Lynch HT, Foulkes WD, et al.Effect of oophorectomy on survival after breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.JAMA Oncol. 2015;1(3):306-313. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.0658The North American Menopause Society.Instant help for induced menopause.Australian Menopause Society.Early menopause due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Breastcancer.org.How menopause can happen with breast cancer treatments.Lambertini M, Del Mastro L, Viglietti G, Pondé NF, Solinas C, De Azambuja E.Ovarian function suppression in premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2017;18(1):4. doi:10.1007/s11864-017-0442-8Secoșan C, Balint O, Pirtea L, Grigoraș D, Bălulescu L, Ilina R.Surgically induced menopause-a practical review of literature.Medicina. 2019;55(8). doi:10.3390/medicina55080482American Academy of Dermatology.Caring for your skin in menopause.Ji MX, Yu Q.Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2015;1(1):9-13. doi:10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: implications for timing of early prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;142(25):e506-e532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000912Rosenberg SM, Partridge AH.Premature menopause in young breast cancer: effects on quality of life and treatment interventions.J Thorac Dis. 2013;5 (Suppl 1):S55-61. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.20Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Lupo M, Dains JE, Madsen LT.Hormone replacement therapy: an increased risk of recurrence and mortality for breast cancer patients?J Adv Pract Oncol. 2015;6(4):322-330. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2015.6.4.3De Franciscis P, Colacurci N, Riemma G, et al.A nutraceutical approach to menopausal complaints.Medicina. 2019;55(9). doi:10.3390/medicina55090544Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G.Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause.J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Nonhormonal treatments for menopause.
15 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.Metcalfe K, Lynch HT, Foulkes WD, et al.Effect of oophorectomy on survival after breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.JAMA Oncol. 2015;1(3):306-313. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.0658The North American Menopause Society.Instant help for induced menopause.Australian Menopause Society.Early menopause due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Breastcancer.org.How menopause can happen with breast cancer treatments.Lambertini M, Del Mastro L, Viglietti G, Pondé NF, Solinas C, De Azambuja E.Ovarian function suppression in premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2017;18(1):4. doi:10.1007/s11864-017-0442-8Secoșan C, Balint O, Pirtea L, Grigoraș D, Bălulescu L, Ilina R.Surgically induced menopause-a practical review of literature.Medicina. 2019;55(8). doi:10.3390/medicina55080482American Academy of Dermatology.Caring for your skin in menopause.Ji MX, Yu Q.Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2015;1(1):9-13. doi:10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: implications for timing of early prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;142(25):e506-e532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000912Rosenberg SM, Partridge AH.Premature menopause in young breast cancer: effects on quality of life and treatment interventions.J Thorac Dis. 2013;5 (Suppl 1):S55-61. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.20Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Lupo M, Dains JE, Madsen LT.Hormone replacement therapy: an increased risk of recurrence and mortality for breast cancer patients?J Adv Pract Oncol. 2015;6(4):322-330. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2015.6.4.3De Franciscis P, Colacurci N, Riemma G, et al.A nutraceutical approach to menopausal complaints.Medicina. 2019;55(9). doi:10.3390/medicina55090544Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G.Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause.J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Nonhormonal treatments for menopause.
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.
Metcalfe K, Lynch HT, Foulkes WD, et al.Effect of oophorectomy on survival after breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.JAMA Oncol. 2015;1(3):306-313. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.0658The North American Menopause Society.Instant help for induced menopause.Australian Menopause Society.Early menopause due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Breastcancer.org.How menopause can happen with breast cancer treatments.Lambertini M, Del Mastro L, Viglietti G, Pondé NF, Solinas C, De Azambuja E.Ovarian function suppression in premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2017;18(1):4. doi:10.1007/s11864-017-0442-8Secoșan C, Balint O, Pirtea L, Grigoraș D, Bălulescu L, Ilina R.Surgically induced menopause-a practical review of literature.Medicina. 2019;55(8). doi:10.3390/medicina55080482American Academy of Dermatology.Caring for your skin in menopause.Ji MX, Yu Q.Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2015;1(1):9-13. doi:10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: implications for timing of early prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;142(25):e506-e532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000912Rosenberg SM, Partridge AH.Premature menopause in young breast cancer: effects on quality of life and treatment interventions.J Thorac Dis. 2013;5 (Suppl 1):S55-61. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.20Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058Lupo M, Dains JE, Madsen LT.Hormone replacement therapy: an increased risk of recurrence and mortality for breast cancer patients?J Adv Pract Oncol. 2015;6(4):322-330. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2015.6.4.3De Franciscis P, Colacurci N, Riemma G, et al.A nutraceutical approach to menopausal complaints.Medicina. 2019;55(9). doi:10.3390/medicina55090544Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G.Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause.J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Nonhormonal treatments for menopause.
Metcalfe K, Lynch HT, Foulkes WD, et al.Effect of oophorectomy on survival after breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.JAMA Oncol. 2015;1(3):306-313. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.0658
The North American Menopause Society.Instant help for induced menopause.
Australian Menopause Society.Early menopause due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Breastcancer.org.How menopause can happen with breast cancer treatments.
Lambertini M, Del Mastro L, Viglietti G, Pondé NF, Solinas C, De Azambuja E.Ovarian function suppression in premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2017;18(1):4. doi:10.1007/s11864-017-0442-8
Secoșan C, Balint O, Pirtea L, Grigoraș D, Bălulescu L, Ilina R.Surgically induced menopause-a practical review of literature.Medicina. 2019;55(8). doi:10.3390/medicina55080482
American Academy of Dermatology.Caring for your skin in menopause.
Ji MX, Yu Q.Primary osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.Chronic Dis Transl Med. 2015;1(1):9-13. doi:10.1016/j.cdtm.2015.02.006
El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk: implications for timing of early prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2020;142(25):e506-e532. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000912
Rosenberg SM, Partridge AH.Premature menopause in young breast cancer: effects on quality of life and treatment interventions.J Thorac Dis. 2013;5 (Suppl 1):S55-61. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.20
Kaunitz AM, Manson JE.Management of menopausal symptoms.Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126(4):859-876. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001058
Lupo M, Dains JE, Madsen LT.Hormone replacement therapy: an increased risk of recurrence and mortality for breast cancer patients?J Adv Pract Oncol. 2015;6(4):322-330. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2015.6.4.3
De Franciscis P, Colacurci N, Riemma G, et al.A nutraceutical approach to menopausal complaints.Medicina. 2019;55(9). doi:10.3390/medicina55090544
Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G.Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause.J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Nonhormonal treatments for menopause.
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