The cause of early menopause in women can range from genetic predisposition to autoimmune dysfunction. Women who experience this onset earlier than normal are likely to experience some form of mild to moderate depression as a result of fluctuating hormone levels in the body. Women who are catapulted into this phase earlier than they had expected may experience an added sense of loss due to a premature end to childbearing years. For many women, the idea of entering into this phase of life is a dreaded and gloomy notion. Our society values youth and beauty, and the stopping of all reproductive abilities is an unmistakable sign of aging, even if the process does happen seemingly prematurely.
Most women enter menopause at around 51 years of age, although perimenopause can begin in the early 40's. There are subtle changes taking place during the perimenopausal years, such as irregular periods, weight gain, and possible mood swings. However, during perimenopause a woman can still become pregnant since the reproductive organs are still functioning. It is not until a woman has missed her period for at least one full year that she is considered truly to be in menopause. Depression caused by menopause is among the many symptoms that are common for women who go through "the change" earlier than they expected. In fact, such feeling are often noted in women who experience the symptoms later than what is considered normal.
The rest of a woman's life is spent in these postmenopausal years, just as the first part of her life was spent in prepubescent years. Many times this is a difficult time for some women and depression caused by menopause is common, particularly due to fluctuating hormones. This time of life can be especially unsettling for some women, and it is helpful to understand the symptoms and effects of this change in order to prepare for it.
Some women are candidates for early onset simply because they inherited their timing from their mothers. A good rule of thumb about a daughter's onset is that typically a woman will become menopausal about the same time her mother did, barring any unusual difficulties or circumstances. If a mother began the change early, then the cause of her daughter's timing is not too much of a mystery; it is genetic. However, there are many other explanations for the cause of early menopause such as autoimmune dysfunction, ovarian problems, cancer treatments, and surgery. An autoimmune problem such as a thyroid disease can be the culprit in some women.
The surgical removal of ovaries, or a hysterectomy, is another cause of early menopause. Surgically removing the ovaries early can spur the abrupt onset of menopausal symptoms in younger women. Sometimes there are abnormalities of the ovaries, or perhaps cancer has been detected. In other cases there may be endometriosis or other problems that make it necessary to remove the ovaries of a young female.
For younger women who do not expect to deal with the loss of hormonal balance so abruptly, this can be an extremely difficult time. Depression is not unusual and is due to the sudden change in hormones as well as psychological factors associated with the change. Early onset is also associated with radiation and chemotherapy in patients who have undergone cancer treatments. These treatments can affect the body functions and can possibly trigger the onset of early menopause in women who are also dealing with other health issues. The depression caused by menopause in some early menopausal women can also be due to dealing with a severe and chronic illness as well.
Another factor to consider is possible viral damage that happened to female babies while they were still in their mothers' wombs. If the mother contracted a virus while carrying the baby, the young female's ovaries will be affected as well. The cause of early menopause in these women results from a lower number of eggs than what is considered normal. These women literally run out of eggs earlier than other women their age and experience an early onset of menopause. In all of these cases, depression caused by menopause is common. Balancing hormones without productive ovaries is difficult.
Doctors can perform blood tests and do a challenge of progesterone to see what level a patient's estrogen has dropped to. He or she can then run other tests that may be relevant to her condition, such as a thyroid test. There are also many natural as well as synthetic hormones that can be prescribed to help balance out the body changes that result from early menopause. Understanding the options and making a plan to address one's changing body is important for anyone who is entering early menopause. This will help alleviate the depression caused by menopause as well as provide a healthy choice for living. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens." (Isaiah. 38:14)
Most women enter menopause at around 51 years of age, although perimenopause can begin in the early 40's. There are subtle changes taking place during the perimenopausal years, such as irregular periods, weight gain, and possible mood swings. However, during perimenopause a woman can still become pregnant since the reproductive organs are still functioning. It is not until a woman has missed her period for at least one full year that she is considered truly to be in menopause. Depression caused by menopause is among the many symptoms that are common for women who go through "the change" earlier than they expected. In fact, such feeling are often noted in women who experience the symptoms later than what is considered normal.
The rest of a woman's life is spent in these postmenopausal years, just as the first part of her life was spent in prepubescent years. Many times this is a difficult time for some women and depression caused by menopause is common, particularly due to fluctuating hormones. This time of life can be especially unsettling for some women, and it is helpful to understand the symptoms and effects of this change in order to prepare for it.
Some women are candidates for early onset simply because they inherited their timing from their mothers. A good rule of thumb about a daughter's onset is that typically a woman will become menopausal about the same time her mother did, barring any unusual difficulties or circumstances. If a mother began the change early, then the cause of her daughter's timing is not too much of a mystery; it is genetic. However, there are many other explanations for the cause of early menopause such as autoimmune dysfunction, ovarian problems, cancer treatments, and surgery. An autoimmune problem such as a thyroid disease can be the culprit in some women.
The surgical removal of ovaries, or a hysterectomy, is another cause of early menopause. Surgically removing the ovaries early can spur the abrupt onset of menopausal symptoms in younger women. Sometimes there are abnormalities of the ovaries, or perhaps cancer has been detected. In other cases there may be endometriosis or other problems that make it necessary to remove the ovaries of a young female.
For younger women who do not expect to deal with the loss of hormonal balance so abruptly, this can be an extremely difficult time. Depression is not unusual and is due to the sudden change in hormones as well as psychological factors associated with the change. Early onset is also associated with radiation and chemotherapy in patients who have undergone cancer treatments. These treatments can affect the body functions and can possibly trigger the onset of early menopause in women who are also dealing with other health issues. The depression caused by menopause in some early menopausal women can also be due to dealing with a severe and chronic illness as well.
Another factor to consider is possible viral damage that happened to female babies while they were still in their mothers' wombs. If the mother contracted a virus while carrying the baby, the young female's ovaries will be affected as well. The cause of early menopause in these women results from a lower number of eggs than what is considered normal. These women literally run out of eggs earlier than other women their age and experience an early onset of menopause. In all of these cases, depression caused by menopause is common. Balancing hormones without productive ovaries is difficult.
Doctors can perform blood tests and do a challenge of progesterone to see what level a patient's estrogen has dropped to. He or she can then run other tests that may be relevant to her condition, such as a thyroid test. There are also many natural as well as synthetic hormones that can be prescribed to help balance out the body changes that result from early menopause. Understanding the options and making a plan to address one's changing body is important for anyone who is entering early menopause. This will help alleviate the depression caused by menopause as well as provide a healthy choice for living. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens." (Isaiah. 38:14)
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