Peri Menopause Symptoms |
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In some women early menopause is possibly due to the failure of the ovaries (premature ovarian failure). It is believed this is due to hormonal, auto-immune or genetic processes which result in a depletion in the number of viable eggs in a woman's ovaries. This depletion may be complete, or, in approximately ten percent of women who have premature ovarian failure, partial, and these women have a reduced but still possible chance of becoming pregnant. Recent research has shown that female twins may be up to four times more times more likely than other women to undergo spontaneous early menopause and either or both twins may be affected. Women who undergo chemotherapy for cancer treatment sometimes have premature menopause, and cancer-killing drugs can damage other tissues too, including ovarian tissue. Tamoxifen, a drug prescribed in certain types of breast cancer treatment has an anti-estrogen effect and can also trigger early menopause. Sometimes, chemotherapy-induced menopause may only be temporary. Surgery is another known cause of early menopause. When the ovaries are removed or damaged during surgery there is a fast reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels and often the immediate onset of menopause. Because the hormonal changes are so abrupt due to the surgey, menopausal symptoms tend to be more intense than in a normal menopausal period.
Early menopause can be extremely distressing particularly when it occurs in younger women who may not yet have had children. Besides treatment of menopause symptoms all women benefit from counseling to address emotional issues associated with early menopause.
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