Menopause refers to a period of time when you stop experiencing menstrual cycles, usually, resulting in infertility. Typically, it is a natural process that occurs after age 40 when your reproductive system ceases producing the sex hormones: progesterone and estrogen. Your ovaries are naturally responsible for making these hormones, which regulate ovulation and menstruation. When your ovaries fail to release the female sex cell or ovum every month, your menstruation cycles stop, indicating infertility. A normal menopause occurs after age 40. This article explores each of these eight causes of menopause in detail as follows:
1. Decline of Reproduction Hormones
As a woman, you have two reproduction hormones: estrogen and progesterone. They are produced by your ovaries and are responsible for controlling your reproduction processes, including menstrual cycles and ovulation. The production of these hormones begins to decline as you approach your 30’s. By the time you reach your 40’s, you may begin to experience abnormal menstrual cycles and other menopausal signs and symptoms. The cycles may be longer or shorter than normal and may also decline in frequency. In some cases, the cycles may be abnormally heavy or light. Other signs and symptoms of low estrogen and progesterone levels include low sex drive; pain during sex due to poor vaginal lubrication; urethra thinning, which increases vulnerability to urinary tract infections; migraines; and breast tenderness. You may also have trouble concentrating, depression, and fatigue.
The decline in estrogen and progesterone production is a natural process that occurs with aging. It may also result from other factors, including Turner syndrome, chronic kidney diseases, eating disorders, and too much physical exercise. The decline may continue until you reach full menopausal age when your ovaries completely cease to produce eggs, leading to total disappearance of the periods. Because the decline may also result from other factors other than aging, it is advisable to seek medical attention as soon as the signs and symptoms of a decline of reproduction hormones appear. This helps in early diagnosis and treatment of any other underlying cause.
2. Hysterectomy
This refers to the surgical removal of your uterus. Hysterectomy can be partial or total. In partial hysterectomy, the surgeon removes your uterus without, leaving your ovaries behind. Although your periods will disappear, your ovaries will continue to produce the ova, estrogen, and progesterone.
Total hysterectomy, on the other hand, involves the removal of both the uterus and ovaries. When this happens, immediate infertility occurs because the ovaries responsible to produce your sex cells are not available. Your periods will stop immediately following the procedure and you may begin experiencing other menopausal signs and symptoms, including hot flashes. These signs occur abruptly rather than gradually.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment method in which cancer cells are destroyed using medications. The medications used during this method may induce infertility by damaging your ovaries. This may result in menopausal signs and symptoms, including hot flashes, disappearance of menstrual periods, and irregular cycles.
In most cases, infertility that results from chemotherapy occurs gradually over time. You may fail to notice menopausal signs and symptoms when the treatment begins. However, the signs may begin to appear after a few months following the onset of the treatment. While some symptoms may disappear a few years after treatment, others may be permanent depending on the extent of the treatment.
4. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a cancer treatment method that involves destroying cancer cells using high-energy radiations, such as gamma rays, X-rays, and charged particles. Radiation therapy for cervical cancer may cause menopausal signs by damaging your ovaries. The damaged ovaries may not be able to produce eggs, estrogen, and progesterone, leading to menopausal signs and symptoms, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and trouble concentrating. In some cases, radiotherapy may cause vaginal narrowing, which makes it difficult for you to enjoy sexual intercourse. One way to remedy menopause resulting from radiotherapy is hormone replacement therapy, which can be prescribed during or shortly after the treatment.
5. Ovarian Insufficiency
Ovarian insufficiency is a condition in which your ovaries lack the ability to produce adequate reproduction hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. This may be due to various factors, including autoimmune diseases and abnormal genetic composition. When ovarian insufficiency occurs before age 40, it is known as premature ovarian failure. Premature ovarian failure can be reversed to allow you to live a normal sexual lifestyle. One suitable remedy for this condition is hormone replacement therapy. This therapy will enable you to remain fertile and sexually active until the normal menopausal age. The signs and symptoms of ovarian insufficiency may include menstrual irregularities, lack of periods, vaginal dryness, low sex drive, and hot flashes. Seek medical attention immediately you begin experiencing these symptoms for early treatment.
6. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by abnormal brain activities, which often result in recurrent seizures. Because the condition affects the brain, you are likely to experience impaired communication between your brain and the ovaries. Remember, the ovaries are responsible for the production of your sex hormones, including estrogen and progesterone.
It is the central nervous system that sends the nerve impulses to the ovaries, triggering the ovaries to produce these hormones. The epileptic seizures tamper with the normal functioning of your brain, affecting the normal ability of the ovaries to produce progesterone and estrogen. When this happens, menopausal signs and symptoms such as night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbance, and hot flushes occur.
7. Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease is an abnormal condition in which your immune system attacks healthy cells of your body. The diseases may cause menopause by damaging your ovaries, resulting in inability to produce estrogen and progesterone at normal levels.
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease may damage your ovaries by causing inflammation. When this happens, the symptoms of menopause, including low sex drive, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping begin to appear. Because autoimmune diseases may be deadly, seeking medical attention as soon as you see the signs and symptoms is necessary. This ensures early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause to ensure you live a normal sexual lifestyle and avoid possible infertility.
8. Genetics
Genetics can be an obvious cause of your early menopausal signs in the absence of medical or lifestyle causes. To determine if genetics is the cause of your menopause, you need to trace your family history. If your mother reached her menopause abnormally early, you are also likely to reach menopause earlier than normal. Genetic disorders such as Turner syndrome, a condition in which you are born with an incomplete chromosome may also cause menopausal condition. The condition renders your ovaries dysfunctional, leading to premature menopausal signs. Another genetic condition that may cause dysfunctional ovaries is pure gonadal dysgenesis. Addressing these conditions involves inducing secondary sex characteristics through hormone replacement therapy.
