Identifying Symptoms Vital for Early Menopause Detection and Treatment

While the global average for menopause in women is around 50 years old, some experience this period before the age of 40. The condition is rare, affecting only 1% of women, but it is important to understand the symptoms and know how to react. Professor José Maria Soares Júnior, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, comments on the subject. He states that early menopause can “have serious consequences for women’s health”, but that there are solutions.

The first measure is knowing how to identify the symptoms. In women who do not use the pill, “the first sign is a change in their menstruation: they stop menstruating”, explains the professor. He adds that other signs may appear: “Hair loss, weight gain, sleep disturbances and changes in libido”.

A common effect in those going through menopause, even during the common period, is the feeling of heat. According to Soares, “40% have severe hot flashes that even alter their sleep and quality of life”. In those who go through premature menopause, however, “the tendency is for [the percentage] to be much higher, because they were living with a higher amount of estrogen and, suddenly, that amount of estrogen dropped. There is no adaptation period.”

Causes

The doctor comments that the reasons that can lead to early menopause can be diverse. There is biological predisposition, for example, which is associated with genetics. This, according to him, can even present itself before the age of 30, and even in adolescence, occasionally. In these cases, women even have difficulty developing feminine characteristics.

But the reasons can also stem from events during life. As the specialist points out, “there are lifestyle habits [that can cause precocity], one of them is smoking, which we must draw attention to because it reduces ovarian function”. In addition to these, he points to alcoholism, immunological causes and surgeries performed on the ovary or uterus as other possible reasons.

Treatment

The professional states that there are ways to treat it and that they are important, as early menopause can be associated with serious illnesses: “It can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and even dementia in the future”. Therefore, it is recommended that women start hormone therapy as soon as possible. Soares states that “to date there is no better medication than estrogen”, which is combined with the action of progesterone. Both are female hormones that decrease after menopause.

Progestogen (a supplement that enables the action of progesterone), however, can lead to side effects. Some women do not respond very well to certain types of specific treatments, so, as the doctor says, “we have several types and these types are individualized, depending on each woman and her characteristics”. Some help with libido, others with diuretic action and others have no effect at all; The recommended one is the one to which the woman best adapts.

The professional states that “osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases can reduce the chance of survival in the future by 28% in those women who did not receive hormonal therapy [in cases of early menopause]”, highlighting the importance of care. Finally, he recalls: “There were some signs, see a doctor”.