Things to Know About Early Menopause

Medicana Sivas Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Op. Dr. Özlem Bolayır made statements about early menopause on the occasion of “October 18 World Menopause Day”.

Regarding menopause, which is defined as the phase in which women's menstrual bleeding ends and ovulation ends, Bolayır said, "It is necessary to pass a period of 1 year after the last menstrual period. Before menopause occurs, there is a transition period between 4 and 8 years, which is considered to be an average of 5 years and which we call perimenopause. During this transition period, menopausal symptoms can be observed due to decreased estrogen hormone levels, especially bleeding irregularities.

Pointing out that the average age of menopause in Turkey is 47, Bolayır said, “Hot flushes, acceleration in osteoporosis, hormonal withdrawal in the genital area, vaginal itching, burning, pain during sexual intercourse can be seen. With the decrease in collagen level, an increase in urinary bladder and bowel sagging in the vaginal area may occur. said.

Bolayır stated that urinary incontinence can also occur with the negative effect of hormonal withdrawal on the urinary bladder and urinary tract, and said, “Frequent urinary tract infections can be seen. There may be an increase in cardiovascular system diseases. Women's fearful dream of menopause, the physiological stop of our life cycle, is early menopause.

“It is seen in 1 percent of women”

Stating that early menopause is seen in about 1 percent of women, Bolayır said, “Early menopause occurs when ovarian functions stop before the age of 40. The diagnosis can be made with hormone tests. However, it should not be forgotten that there may be misleading hormone fluctuations in patients in this age period.” he said.

Bolayır said that early menopause causes women to lose their chance of becoming a mother. Early menopause carries high risks for women in the long run, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.” said.

Giving information about the causes of early menopause, Bolayır said:

“The risk is high if there is a family history of early menopause. One of the common causes of early menopause is hereditary diseases. These are congenital and cannot be prevented. However, some conditions acquired during life can cause early menopause. Mumps infection in women, tuberculosis, autoimmune diseases, the group of diseases in which the body wages a kind of war against its own cells, can also negatively affect the ovaries.

Surgical interventions for ovarian cysts or other reasons, radiation and chemotherapy treatments that have to be given due to some cancers can also cause early menopause. Stressful and sedentary lifestyle, being very thin or overweight, smoking, exposure to some pesticides and industrial chemicals, and exposure to heavy metals can unfortunately cause early menopause.

Saying that early diagnosis is important, Bolayır said, “Unfortunately, we cannot change a significant part of the risk factors that cause early menopause. However, early diagnosis is important, in this way, egg freezing can be applied for women who want to have children, and serious health problems such as heart diseases and osteoporosis, which can be seen in the long term, can be postponed with the hormone treatments to be given. Long-term breastfeeding and childbirth play a protective role against menopause.