What is Premature Menopause?

Question: What is Premature Menopause?

Answer: Premature menopause occurs when menstruation stops before the age of forty. Premature menopause happens either naturally or medically. The most common causes of premature menopause are:

• genetic
  
• surgery to remove the ovaries or other medical treatments
  
• treatments for cancer, particularly chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvic region

Premature menopause increases a woman's risk for developing osteoporosis, and often causes stress for women who still want to have children. Women who experience premature menopause and who want to become pregnant may be able to have a baby through a donor egg program.