Menopause occurring before the age of 45 years is regarded as premature (early onset) menopause.

Early (premature) menopause can occur for a variety of reasons such as following the removal of the ovaries, following chemotherapy, auto-immune failure of the ovaries, hereditary causes (runs in families) and other causes.

Women who undergo an early menopause, potentially start to lose bone at a significantly earlier age than women who undergo menopause in their fifties. This puts them at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis at an earlier age, than women who undergo menopause at midlife.⁸⁹

Hormone Therapy

In this setting, it is often advisable to consider hormone therapy for this group. There generally does not appear to be adverse consequences of hormone therapy in this young age group. It is acknowledged that women have a normal lifetime exposure to oestrogen, which begins in the early teenage years and ends in the early 50’s. The adverse consequences of hormone therapy seem to be related to exposure to oestrogen beyond the midlife years (after 50 years of age).

Hence, by replacing oestrogen in young women with premature menopause, it helps to conserve the integrity of the skeleton.^90,91

Diet and Lifestyle

In addition to hormone therapy, it is recommended that women partake in regular exercise, have adequate dietary calcium intake and optimise vitamin D levels in order to prevent the development of osteoporosis.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about early menopause.

The Jean Hailes Foundation (http://www.earlymenopause.org.au)

Content updated 27 July, 2009