The majority of women with a premature menopause will have typical menopause symptoms (Chapter 26) which can be controlled by hormone replacement.
Most of the information available on hormone replacement relates to the vast number of women who have a normal menopause (in their early fifties). There is very little data for women taking hormone replacement earlier in their lives. It would seem that for each year that the body has natural oestrogen either as a result of a late natural menopause or as result of hormone replacement, there is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This increased risk is small and the majority of women who develop breast cancer whilst taking hormone replacement would have developed the cancer even if they had never taken hormone replacement (Q 27.15). For those who have a premature menopause, and who do not take hormonal treatment, the risk of breast cancer is reduced. It is difficult to extrapolate evidence from one group and apply it to another. Nevertheless, the current opinion seems to be that if a woman with a premature menopause takes hormone replacement until the age of fifty, the risks of breast cancer increase to those of a woman who has a natural menopause at the age of fifty.
The risks of a woman with a premature menopause having sustained oestrogen deficiency are reduced bone density and cardiovascular disease (Chapter 26). From the information currently available, the benefits of hormone replacement are thought to be greater than the risks.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What is amenorrhoea?
- 2 What is oligomenorrhoea?
- 3 What are true and false amenorrhoea?
- 4 What is the difference between primary and secondary amenorrhoea?
- 5 Our daughter has not started her periods yet. When should we seek medical advice?
- 6 My periods have stopped. When should I seek medical advise?
- 7 My periods have stopped. How can the cause be determined?
- 8 Can generalised ill health result cause periods to stop?
- 9 I am a keen sportswoman. Could this stop my periods?
- 10 What is hyperprolactinaemia?
- 11 Which investigations are particularly helpful in finding the cause for the cessation of my periods?
- 12 What is karyotyping?
- 13 What is Turner Syndrome?
- 14 What is the testicular feminisation syndrome?
- 15 What is the resistant ovary syndrome?
- 16 What are autoantibodies?
- 17 What is premature ovarian failure (premature menopause)
- 18 What uterine abnormalities may cause amenorrhoea?
- 19 What is Asherman's syndrome?
- 20 What are the late effects of prolonged amenorrhoea?
- 21 How can my amenorrhoea be treated?
- 22 What are the risks and benefits of hormone replacement when used for premature menopause?
- 23 My periods are coming infrequently (oligomenorrhoea). What is likely to be the causes?
- 24 How are infrequent periods investigated?
- 25 How can oligomenorrhoea be treated?
- 26 If my periods are absent or infrequent, do I need contraception?
- 27 Where can I obtain more information?
- 28 Support Groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
