Premature Menopause

Premature Menopause

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

In Britain the average age for the onset of the perimenopause is around 50, spanning ages between 45 and 55.

However a number of women experience symptoms of the menopause earlier than this and this is known as a “Premature Menopause”.

Overall 15% of women experience a premature menopause, with most of these being between the ages of 40 and 45. However one in a hundred experience this condition in their 30’s and one in a thousand in their 20’s.


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Causes of Premature Menopause

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

There are a variety of causes of a premature menopause. The main ones are:

  • Genetic – it runs in the family
  • Treatment – chemotherapy or radiation treatment
  • Autoimmune disorders – such as hypothyroidism, Graves’ disease or lupus
  • Adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid gland deficiencies
  • Other potential causes are sarcoidosis, mumps, some sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis

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Impact of Premature Menopause

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

A premature menopause brings with it all the symptoms of a normally timed menopause such as:

In addition this is happening to you at a time when the last thing you would be expecting is to be going through your menopause. This magnifies the emotional and social issues that everyone going through the menopause has to face.

  • You might be planning a pregnancy and find that you now can’t conceive
  • Your friends will be carrying on as normal whilst you will be suffering from symptoms associated with “older women”
  • The chance to “share” experiences will be limited

This can be a difficult period and you can seek support from specialists such as The Daisy Network.


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