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Early Menopause in Your 30s: What You Should Know
Menopause is a normal part of any woman’s life. It’s the end of your menstruating years and is characterized by low estrogen and progesterone, and the cessation of your period. On average, menopause occurs around age 51, but some women may experience it earlier. Women who go through menopause in their 20s, 30s, or early 40s have a condition known as premature menopause.
Read on to learn more about early menopause in your 30s and early 40s, what causes early menopause, and what to do about it.
What Is Early Menopause?
When you go through menopause before 45 years old, you’re considered to be in early menopause. At this point, your estrogen and progesterone levels are very low, your ovaries no longer release eggs, and you stop getting your period.
Normally, menopause happens during your early 50s, but some women can go through menopause earlier. About 5% of women experience early menopause (between 40 and 45 years old), 1% of women experience premature menopause (early menopause in their 30s), and 0.1% of women experience menopause in their 20s.
Causes of Menopause in Your 30s
Early menopause in your 30s can have a number of causes, some genetic and some due to lifestyle. Causes of early menopause include:1
- Family history of early menopause
- First period before age 11
- Autoimmune diseases
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Hysterectomy
- Chemotherapy or radiation
- Smoking
In about 50% of cases, it’s unclear what causes early menopause altogether.1
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Before you go through menopause, you’ll go through a transitional period known as perimenopause. During this time, your hormones fluctuate dramatically. You may experience symptoms like:1
- Irregular periods
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
At some point, your periods will cease altogether. Once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period, that’s a clear sign of menopause in your 30s.
Fertility Concerns
If you’re looking to get pregnant, early menopause in your 30s or 40s can pose serious concerns. Once you’re in menopause, you’re no longer capable of naturally producing a child. If you’ve frozen your eggs prior to menopause, or if you get donor eggs, you may still be able to get pregnant through IVF, but it’s a much more complex and expensive process.
Managing Symptoms in Younger Women
Fortunately, there are a number of different ways to manage symptoms of early menopause in your 30s. Depending on the cause of your early menopause and the symptoms you’re experiencing, you may explore treatments like:
- Hormone replacement therapy to treat hormonal imbalance in your 30s
- Lubricant or vaginal moisturizers for vaginal dryness
- Medication to manage hot flashes
Emotional and Mental Health Support
Not all symptoms of menopause at 35, 40, or 45 are physical; some are psychological, too. Mood swings, anxiety, and depression can all be helped with psychiatric medications. Talk therapy can be helpful, too, no matter what age you are when you reach menopause.
When to See a Doctor
If you start to see signs of menopause in your 30s or 40s, you should see a doctor. Your doctor can help determine whether you’re going through early menopause or if something else is causing your symptoms. They can also help determine the cause of your early menopause and treatments that may be able to help.
Conclusion
Any time a woman goes through menopause before the age of 45, she’s considered to be in early menopause. Early menopause isn’t inherently dangerous, but it’s important to understand why it’s occurring and whether other issues are coming along with it. If you think you may be experiencing early menopause, it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. Premature and Early Menopause.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21138-premature-and-early-menopause
