City doctors are seeing a rise in premature menopause.
It was only after the birth of Deepika’s second child that problems began to arise. But when her menstrual cycle stopped, she decided it was time to consult a gynaecologist. Deepika was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. At 25, she is going through menopause.
“She is undergoing hormone replacement therapy now. She will be given oestrogen and progesterone — the two hormones generated in the ovaries. This will help restore the normal menstrual cycle till at least the normal menopause period, that is 44 to 45 years of age,” says Dr Poornima Ramesh, consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Columbia Asia Hospital.
“We need to supplement her hormones, as ovarian failure can lead to brittle bones. A woman, who reaches her menopause at 45, gets brittle bones by the time she reaches 60. Deepika, if not given hormone supplements, will have fragile bones by the time she is 40,” says Dr Ramesh, adding that if the ovarian failure is auto-immune, it could also lead to thyroid and adrenal failure.
Gynaecologists say that premature ovarian failure has been observed in the age group of 18 to 28. Dr Padmini Prasad, director, Institute of Sexual Medicine, has treated 15 such cases over the last 12 months.
“According to a recent study, at least one in 1,000 women are suffering from early ovarian failure,” says Dr Prasad. “While the age 45 to 50 is the normal time for menopause to occur, many women between the ages of 35 and 40 get early menopause. Now, I am getting cases where young girls are coming in with complaints of ovarian failure,” she says.
The reasons are varied. “At times, genetic factors pre-pone menopause. An auto-immune disorder is another factor, where antibodies are produced inside the body to fight infections and these antibodies, in turn, kill the eggs,” says Dr Prasad. “A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, and an increasing number of women smoking, all these factors lead to ovarian failure at an early age,” she added.
“While cases of primary ovarian failure are not uncommon, having menopause in one’s 20s is rare. I am getting quite a few cases where women in their 20s have not yet attained puberty. These are cases of primary ovarian failure,” says Dr Aarthi Bharat, consultant gynaecologist, Sagar Hospital.
“In such cases, women become infertile and their fertility levels may or may not be restored even with a long course of treatment. But with hormone replacement therapy, a regular period cycle can be assured,” she adds.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}