When your period has been delayed for quite a while, and you experience hot flashes as well as dryness down there, these signs can be scary for anyone who's in their 30s.
You know what these significant signs mean, ladies.
Different women experience different symptoms. However, early menopause for some may be brought about by the removal of ovaries. If a woman is proven to carry a BRCA gene mutation, she may have to undergo salphingo-oophorectomy as part of a preventive measure. Though the advantage is to manage cancer, the after effects of this surgical procedure to women can be overwhelming. For example, the estrogen levels and dominant female hormones significantly drop. Hence, leads to hot flashes, vaginal dryness as well as other signs of menopause.
Time reports that at least one out of a 100 women will encounter these signs for different reasons when they reach 40. It is hard to determine what causes this. 90 percent at a time, the woman never finds out the exact reason why.
Primary ovarian insufficiency is the term used for this medical condition. Shawn Tassone, an OB/GYN specializing at Austin Area Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Fertility says, "Basically, the ovaries poop out early."
The main sign: skipped or irregular menstruation for four months. The women might exhibit mood swings and low libido. They may struggle with infertility as well if they're trying to have kids. This is the first sign that something is not okay.
POI happens without an exact reason but there are factors that can put you at risk:
Genetics
This can be a factor as it appears that POI is genetic. If your mom went through an early menopause, or your siblings, or your grandmother, then you may also be a candidate for the condition. Tassone says that it runs in the family, either side. At least 20 percent of the cases last 2011 showed that the women have a family history related to the condition.
Genetic disorders
The most common inherited intellectual impairment is the Fragile X syndrome. FMR1 gene causes the syndrome. It was noted that even if you don't exhibit the syndrome, your genes can have a mutation that would result to Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency.
Autoimmune disorders
Thyroiditis (thyroid gland inflammation) and Addison's disease (decreased production of hormones from the adrenal glands) are also associated to POI. The immune system of the woman may attack the follicles in the ovaries, which meddles with the function of the organ.
Cigarette smoking
Women were born with follicles until menopause strikes. However, exposure to toxins like those found in cigarettes can make a woman run out of follicles.
Chemotherapy and Radiation
These treatments can cause damage to the ovarian cells. The damage depends on the type of drugs used during the treatment as well as the dose.
