Your Options for Early Menopause Treatment

Perimenopause is the process during which a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs; as result, her body produces less reproductive hormones. At this time menstruation slows to a stop; perimenopause usually occurs in a woman’s late 40s and early 50s. When this process begins at an earlier age, it is considered early or premature. There are a variety of reasons why this may happen, but it generally comes down to two primary factors”medical intervention (usually the result of cancer treatment or the removal of reproductive organs) or natural factors (such as chromosomal abnormalities or genetic predisposition).

In order to prescribe early menopause treatment, a doctor will likely have you go through a physical examination and have blood work done to eliminate the possibility of other causes of period cessation, such as pregnancy and thyroid disease. The two main indicators doctors utilize in evaluating the status of reproductive health and viability are estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Estradiol is a form of estrogen and low levels may indicate ovary function is beginning to fail. FSH causes ovaries to produce estrogen, so as opposed to estradiol, these levels tend to increase as estrogen levels decrease.

Unfortunately, once signs of perimenopause have been diagnosed, it is very unlikely to slow down or reverse the process.  However, early menopause treatment is no different than menopause treatment that occurs at more traditional ages. Clearly, there is no œcure for menopause, regardless of when it happens, but instead the emphasis of most menopause treatment is to reduce the unpleasant symptoms and improve the overall quality of life.

There are many options currently accessible for early menopause treatment. Some of them, such as hormone therapies and medication, are undertaken with the prescription from a physician. However, many other options exist, and should be taken into account as one considers what is available. Whatever treatments are pursued, consultation with a licensed medical professional is important.

Common early menopause treatment options

There are several ways in which physicians assist with early menopause treatment, including:

• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): HRT comes in many forms, including pellets, patches, gel, cream and pills, which all have been used with the goal of leveling out the natural hormone fluctuations that are inherent to perimenopause and cause many menopausal symptoms.

• Medication: Low doses of antidepressants and other drugs”including Neurontin (gabapentin), which is used to treat seizures and hot flashes”have been used as an early menopause treatment.

• Diet/exercise: Some dietary suggestions include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods while trying to get plenty of calcium and vitamin D, whether through food or supplements. Another suggestion is to eat soy foods, as they are known to contain estrogen-like compounds.

Alternative early menopause treatment

There are also a number of alternative early menopause treatments out there, including herbal and botanical remedies. Phytoestrogens are substances found in plant-based foods that are thought to have estrogen-like effects. Alternative therapies that may relieve symptoms of menopause include black cohash, St. John’s Wort extract, pycnogenol, rhapontic rhubarb extract, diascorea alata, and a combination of kunbao and modified xiaoyao pills. It is important to remember that herbal and other natural remedies can affect liver enzymes and cause side effects and interactions with each other as well as other medicines, just like synthetic drugs; therefore, it is important to confer with a professional healthcare provider before starting treatment.

In addition, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved treatment for clinical depression that uses MRI-strength magnetic fields to improve the function of very specific parts of the brain. This happens without direct physical contact with the brain or circulatory system. A primary advantage of TMS is its lower side-effect profile.

If you feel that you have early menopause symptoms and depression, West Coast TMS Institute in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, is available to help you. Contact us if you would like to set up a psychiatric consultation for early menopause treatment.

If you found this post on early menopause treatment interesting check out our other posts on behavioral health including one on social disorders.

There are Many Possible Causes to Early Menopause

The Causes of Early Menopause

Menopause occurs when ovulation ceases.  Menopause may occur naturally or in response to surgical removal of the ovaries or to damage to the ovaries or the centers of the brain, which affect ovarian function.

Menopause is considered to be complete once periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months.  The average age of menopause is 51. This means that most women go through the stages of menopausea process called perimenopausein their late 40s or early 50s. When it happens before this time, it’s referred to as premature or early menopause.

There are many different causes of premature menopause.  Premature menopause may occur naturally, or may be the result of medical or surgical intervention.

Potential Medical causes of early menopause:

• Cancer treatments involving chemotherapy or pelvic radiation: These treatments can damage the ovaries or interfere with egg production. If these cancer treatments cause the ovary to stop producing hormones and/or eggs, the body may enter early menopause. The effects of these treatments may be immediate or delayed.

• Removal of the ovaries (Bilateral Oophorectomy): Surgical removal of both ovaries causes immediate menopause. As the ovaries are responsible for many of the hormones necessary for ovulation, a woman’s periods will stop after this surgery and she may immediately have strong menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes and diminished sexual desire.

• Chromosomal defects: Abnormalities in the structure of a woman’s X chromosomes may be associated with impaired ovarian function.

• Polycyctic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  PCOS is associated with pituitary hormone over-secretion, leading to increases in testosterone levels and other hormones in women.  PCOS first appears in women younger than age 30, commonly (but not always) in overweight women who have type II diabetes.  It is also associated with depression, acne, excess hair on the face and chest, and hair loss from the scalp area.

• Eating Disorders due to excessive food restriction and/or exercise.

• Genetics: While not related to any particular defect, women with a family history of early menopause are more likely to go through it themselves.

• Autoimmune Diseases: The body’s immune system may mistakenly attack the ovaries and interfere with their ability to make the hormones necessary for ovulation and fertility. Thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis are two diseases that can cause this to happen.

Risks of Early Menopause

Women who experience early menopause are at increased risk for osteoporosis, depression, anxiety, infertility and heart disease.  It is important to follow-up with your general doctor, gynecologist and psychiatrist to determine how to address these potential consequences of early menopause.

West Coast TMS Institute is a center located in the Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles area that provides complete psychiatric evaluations to fully assess diagnostic and treatment options, including TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, for depression. We make every effort to provide clients and their referring primary providers with objective, expert advice on all appropriate approaches to treatment.

If you found our Causes of Early Menopause post informative, click on our post on early menopause symptoms.