What is premature menopause?
Menopause is called “premature” if it happens at or before the age of 40. For some women, it happens naturally. This could be due to family history of prema-ture menopause. For other women, it is brought on by medical means, such as:
• Medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries
• Cancer treatments, such as chemo-therapy or radiation to the pelvic area that damage the ovaries — although menopause does not always occur
For women who want to have children, premature menopause can be a source of great distress.
Women who still want to become pregnant can talk with their doctors about other ways of having children, such as donor egg programs or adoption. Having premature menopause puts a woman at more risk for osteoporosis later in her life.
If you have premature menopause, talk to your doctor about whether MHT might be an option for you. We don’t know for sure how MHT might affect younger women. But some researchers think that for these younger women, the risks of MHT use are likely to be smaller and the benefits greater than those in older women who begin MHT at or beyond the typical age of menopause.