Causes For Early Menopause You Must Know!

Ladies, some of us, after experiencing painful period cramps, may just wish for our periods to stop once and for all soon, right?

Well, be careful about what you wish for because your periods stopping for good, before a certain age can indicate the presence of a disorder!

Now, we know that every woman has to experience periods, starting from the onset of her puberty until she attains a stage known as menopause, years later.

Usually, the onset of puberty occurs around the age of 12 for most women, and menopause happens anytime after the age of 45.

Menopause is a phase in which there is a natural decline in the reproductive hormones being produced in a woman's body, as she ages, thus causing her monthly menstrual periods to gradually stop.

Both puberty and menopause are natural processes and there is nothing one can do to stop or start them.

Since puberty and menopause are the results of hormonal activities in the body, a woman going through them experiences certain symptoms.

Before a woman experiences her monthly menstrual periods, she goes through PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

Some of the symptoms of PMS are mood swings, irritability, excess hunger, constipation, cramps, tenderness of the breasts, etc.

Similarly, even when a woman is going through menopause, she experiences a few symptoms such as, pain in the vagina, pain during intercourse, vaginal dryness, mood swings, fatigue, reduced sex drive, changes in the skin texture, development of excess body hair, etc.

Now, most women would know that after the age of 45, they could experience menopause anytime and they would be ready for it.

However, there is a disorder known as 'early onset menopause', in which a woman can experience menopause way earlier than normal, probably in her 30s!

This can surely disrupt her life and health in many ways and she may not enjoy her youth as much. Early onset of menopause can come in the way of a woman's sex life and fertility!

Have a look at some of the major causes for early onset of menopause, here.

1. Surgeries

Major surgeries can bring about certain changes in the reproductive system and reproductive hormones of a woman, causing early onset of menopause. Women who have had uteruses or ovaries removed surgically, women who have gone through pelvic surgeries and cervical cancer surgeries are at a higher risk.

2. Chemotherapy

If a woman has suffered from diseases like cancer and was treated with chemotherapy or other radiation therapies for a long time, it could affect the production of oestrogen and progesterone hormones, causing an early onset of menopause.

3. Smoking

This is one of the most dangerous causes for the onset of early menopause, as smoking is a very common vice! The toxins in the cigarettes can affect your reproductive hormones and lead to this disorder.

4. Thyroid Disease

Women suffering from thyroid disorder also experience abnormal hormonal fluctuations which can affect their menstrual cycle, leading to the early onset of menopause.