Menopause is a natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It occurs when she has not had a menstrual period, spotting, or vaginal bleeding for 12 consecutive months. If you are wondering how menopause starts, it is a process that is caused by a decline in progesterone and estrogen levels. It leads to the permanent cessation of ovulation, and thus, you cannot get pregnant.
So, menopause starts at what age? Menopauses happen anywhere between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age for natural menopause is 51. However, some women have also experienced it earlier due to lifestyle changes. This is called early or premature menopause.
What is Early Menopause?
Early menopause is when a woman goes through menopause earlier than expected. So, how do you know if you are early in menopause or track what is early menopause by age? Unlike menopause, early menopause symptoms start between the ages of 40 and 45. This is a rare condition and causes infertility.
What is the Difference Between Premature Menopause and Early Menopause?
Menopause, whether early or prematurely, refers to the loss of ovarian function before the typical menopausal age. However, they both differ in timing and causes.
- Premature menopause is when it occurs before the age of 40. It is often because of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), genetic factors, or autoimmune conditions. Women who experience this may still have occasional periods or produce small amounts of estrogen, but their fertility is significantly reduced.
- Early menopause, on the other hand, happens between the ages of 40 and 45. It can occur naturally or due to medical treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
While both conditions share similar symptoms, because of premature menopause age, it is considered more severe as it affects reproductive health much earlier and may require hormone therapy to manage long-term risks.
What Causes Early and Premature Menopause?
Many of the causes of early menopause are similar to the causes of premature menopause. In 50% of the cases, the cause of menopause is not known. However, on a broader level, anything that damages your ovaries, causes an imbalance in hormone levels, and stops your body from producing estrogen leads to menopause.
Let’s look at some of the common causes of early and premature menopause:
- Genetics: A woman’s menopause timing often follows her family history. If close relatives experienced early menopause, the chances increase.
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): In some cases, the ovaries stop functioning properly before age 40 due to genetic, autoimmune, or unknown causes.
- Medical Treatments: Surgeries like ovary removal, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy can damage ovarian tissue, leading to menopause earlier than expected.
- Autoimmune Disorders: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid disease may cause the immune system to attack the ovaries, affecting hormone production.
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, poor diet, or excessive alcohol intake can speed up ovarian aging and contribute to early menopause.
- Infections and Chronic Illnesses: Certain viral infections like mumps or chronic illnesses like HIV or AIDS can cause early or premature menopause.
- Early Period: Getting your first period before the age of 11 can lead to menopause between 40 and 45.
What are the Symptoms of Early and Premature Menopause?
Early and premature menopause symptoms are similar to those of natural menopause. However, these may appear suddenly and feel more intense due to the abrupt decline in hormone levels, enabling you to diagnose that you have reached menopause.
The following are the signs of menopause at 40 or earlier:
- Absent or irregular menstrual cycles before stopping completely.
- Hot flashes and night sweats (sudden feelings of heat, flushing, and excessive sweating, especially at night),
- Mood changes such as increased anxiety, irritability, or depression due to hormonal shifts.
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia).
- Reduced estrogen levels cause vaginal dryness, itching, and discomfort during intercourse.
- Brain fog, being more forgetful, or difficulty in focusing and concentrating.
- Estrogen helps maintain joint health, so its decline can lead to joint pain and muscle stiffness.
- Changes in sex drive (libido).
- Weight gain or loss.
- Breast tenderness, racing heart, or headaches.
- Dryness in skin, eyes, or mouth.
- Hair loss or hair thinning.
What is the Diagnosis and Test for Early and Premature Menopause?
Diagnosing early or premature menopause involves evaluating symptoms, medical history, and hormone levels. A doctor may recommend blood tests to check follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. High FSH and low estrogen levels indicate menopause.
Additional tests may include a thyroid function test to rule out thyroid disorders and a genetic test if there is a family history of premature menopause. Bone density scans may also be advised to assess osteoporosis risk. Early diagnosis is crucial to managing symptoms and preventing long-term heart diseases or any health complications.
How is Early Menopause Treated?
Through early menopause treatment, the goal is to reduce long-term health risks like osteoporosis or cardiovascular diseases. The therapies and treatments include:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Helps relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings while protecting bone and heart health.
- Non-Hormonal Medications: Antidepressants and other medications can help with mood changes and hot flashes if HRT is not an option.
- Lifestyle Changes: A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise, and stress management can support overall well-being.
How to Prevent Early Menopause?
While early menopause cannot always be prevented, certain lifestyle choices may help delay its onset and reduce health risks.
- Quit smoking: Smoking accelerates ovarian aging and lowers estrogen levels.
- Maintain a balanced diet: Eating nutrient-rich foods, including calcium and vitamin D, supports bone health.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity improves heart health, bone density, and hormonal balance.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can disrupt hormone production, so relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation may help.
- Monitor reproductive health: Regular check-ups and early intervention for hormonal imbalances or autoimmune conditions can support ovarian function.
FAQs
1.Can you start menopause at 35?
Yes, but it is uncommon. Menopause before 40 is considered premature menopause, often caused by primary ovarian insufficiency, autoimmune diseases, or medical treatments. If periods stop suddenly at 35, a doctor may run tests to determine the cause.
2.What is the earliest age for menopause?
The earliest cases of menopause have been reported in women as young as their teens or early twenties, usually due to genetic conditions, autoimmune disorders, or medical treatments like chemotherapy. However, this is extremely rare.
3.How common are premature menopause and early menopause?
Premature menopause affects about 1% of women under 40, while early menopause occurs in 5% of women between 40 and 45. The risk increases with a family history, medical treatments, or lifestyle factors like smoking.
4.Can you reverse early menopause?
If caused by stress, weight loss, or certain medications, hormone levels may recover, and cycles may return. However, if the ovaries have permanently stopped functioning, reversal is unlikely.
5.Can stress bring on early menopause?
Stress alone does not cause menopause but can disrupt hormone regulation, leading to irregular cycles and worsening menopause symptoms. Long-term stress may also affect ovarian health, making early menopause more likely.