True or false? some forms of chemotherapy can cause a woman to experience early menopause.
Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. The term can describe any of the changes you go through just before or after you stop having your period, marking the end of your reproductive years. Women are born with all of their eggs, which are stored in their ovaries. Their ovaries also make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control their period
(menstruation) and the release of eggs (ovulation). Menopause happens when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month and menstruation stops. Menopause is a regular part of aging when it happens
after the age of 40. But some women can go through menopause early. It can be the result of surgery, like if their ovaries are removed in a hysterectomy, or damage to their ovaries, such as from chemotherapy. If it happens before age 40, for any reason, it’s called premature menopause. First signs of menopause Most women nearing menopause will begin experiencing vasomotor symptoms (VMS). The most common is hot flashes. During a hot flash there is a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the upper body, often with blushing, racing heart, and sweating. These flashes can range from mild in most women to severe in others. You may also notice other symptoms of menopause such as: Symptoms of
menopause Other possible symptoms often include: Natural menopause isn’t caused by any type of medical or surgical treatment. It’s slow and has three stages: Your genes, some immune system disorders,
or medical procedures can cause premature menopause. Other causes include: Menopause is different in each woman. In general, the symptoms of perimenopause last about 4 years. You might suspect that you’re going into menopause. Or your doctor will say something, based on symptoms you've told them about. You can keep track of your periods and chart them as they become uneven. The pattern will be another clue to your doctor that you’re perimenopausal or nearing menopause. Your doctor might also test your blood for levels of:
Menopause TreatmentMenopause is a natural process. Many symptoms will go away over time. But if they’re causing problems, treatments can help you feel better. Common ones include:
Lifestyle changes Lifestyle
changes help many women deal with menopause symptoms. Try these steps: Some studies have found that soy products relieve hot flashes, but researchers are still looking into it. There aren’t many large studies on whether other supplements such as black cohosh or “bioidentical” hormones work for menopause symptoms. Talk to your doctor before starting any herbal or dietary supplements. Yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture are safer ways to manage menopause symptoms. Menopause ComplicationsThe loss of estrogen linked with menopause is tied to the following health problems that become more common as women age. After menopause, women are more likely to have:
It can be tough to manage the sexual changes that come along with menopause, like vaginal dryness and a loss of sex drive. You might also find that you don’t enjoy sex as much and have trouble reaching orgasm. As long as it isn’t painful, regular sexual activity may help keep your vagina healthy by promoting blood flow. Your ovaries have stopped sending out eggs once you’re in menopause, so you can’t get pregnant. But you can still get a sexually transmitted disease. Use safer sex practices if you’re not in a relationship with one person. Can chemotherapy cause early menopause?Chemotherapy (chemo).
Some types of chemo can damage your ovaries and cause early menopause. You may have menopause right away or months after treatment. Your risk of early menopause from chemo depends on the type and amount of chemo drug you have.
What causes a woman to go into early menopause?Causes of early menopause
chromosome abnormalities – such as in women with Turner syndrome. an autoimmune disease – where the immune system starts attacking body tissues. certain infections, such as tuberculosis, malaria and mumps – but this is very rare.
Can cancer treatments cause menopause?Some cancer treatments can affect the way the ovaries work. This can cause an early menopause for some women. Before menopause, the ovaries produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. These control a woman's monthly cycle (periods).
Can chemo and radiation cause menopause?Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can cause early menopause because these treatments are toxic to the ovaries, especially when used at high doses to treat cancer. Whole-body radiation therapy and radiation in the pelvic area are more likely to affect your ovaries.
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