Early menopause, with all the unpleasant symptoms that come with it, can be the result of treating certain diseases. Sometimes it is an irreversible process, but in some situations it is possible to restore the function of the ovaries. When can treatment cause menopause and can the process be reversed?

Early menopausecauses anxiety. Usuallylast periodoccurs around age 50, although some women have their periods several years longer or less. However, there are cases whenearly menopauseis associated with the action of pharmacological preparations, surgical treatment, as well as oncological treatment (often causes permanent ovarian failure). Then the menopause "falls" on a woman suddenly, many years too early, which can lead to various abnormalities in the functioning of the body and have a destructive effect on the psyche.

Early menopause: drug effect

The largest group are women treated for advanced endometriosis. Endometriosis is the movement of the endometrium (the lining of the womb) outside the womb. These scattered clusters of endometrial cells also bleed during menstruation, but because the blood does not have an outlet, endometrial cysts or endometriotic foci form in other organs.

Treatment of endometriosis involves the removal (laparoscopically) of the lesions, followed by additional pharmacological treatment, as the disease has a strong tendency to recur. Currently, drugs from the group of gonadoliberin analogues (GnRH) are mainly used in therapy. As a result of their action, the production of estrogen hormones by the ovaries is inhibited. The consequence is the arrest of menstruation, which stops the development of endometriosis foci, but at the same time is associated with the occurrence of increased symptoms of menopause. GnRH analogues are also used as a preparation for surgery to remove large fibroids. Taking medications 3-4 months before surgery reduces the volume of fibroids, making the operation easier to perform, reducing the risk of uterine removal.

Early menopause: restore the regular cycle

The action of GnRH analogs is reversible. In the case of treatment in preparation for the removal of fibroidsyour regular menstrual cycle returns within a few months after surgery.

In the treatment of endometriosis, GnRH analogues are used for about 6 months after the procedure. After their discontinuation, further monitoring is required and sometimes drug therapy must be continued. If a woman wants to have a child, very often only the method of in vitro fertilization is left, because endometriosis is such an advanced disease that it destroys the fallopian tubes, causes adhesions, limiting the ability to get pregnant naturally.

Early menopause: the aftermath of surgery

Removing the appendages (ovaries and fallopian tubes) or the uterus, or the entire reproductive organ, dramatically accelerates the onset of menopause. Most often, surgery is necessary for cancers of the cervix, endometrium, ovaries and breasts. An indication for the removal of the uterus in women over 30 may be a precancerous condition of the endometrium. Preventive ovariectomy is often recommended in breast cancer in women between the ages of 30 and 40. This prevents disease recurrence, as breast cancer is in a large number of cases estrogen-dependent.

The procedure is similar in women with family history of breast cancer and in those who have been diagnosed with BRCA gene mutations. Removal of the ovaries is sometimes necessary in advanced forms of endometriosis, when it is located in the ovaries and the cysts are difficult to extract.

Important

The effects of the lack of hormonal protection

Usually, several years before the last menstruation, symptoms of a gradual decline in the hormonal function of the ovaries appear. The most common are hot flashes, drenching sweats, sleep disturbances and emotional lability. Additionally, there may be dryness and recurrent vaginitis, urinary incontinence, and decreased libido. There are also other changes that may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases or osteoporosis. If the menopause occurs earlier than its normal, it also comes with all of these symptoms.

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Female diseases