Chemically induced menopause, also known as medical or surgical menopause, refers to menopause that occurs suddenly as a result of medical treatment rather than naturally over time. Some of the most common causes of chemically induced menopause include:
- Chemotherapy or other cancer treatments that damage the ovaries
- Surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy)
- Medications used to treat endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or other gynecological conditions
The duration of chemically induced menopause depends on the cause:
- If the ovaries are surgically removed, this causes permanent menopause. Women who have both ovaries removed will not produce estrogen or progesterone ever again naturally.
- If menopause is caused by chemotherapy or medications, it may be reversible once treatment is finished. However, the ovaries may be permanently damaged by aggressive treatments, especially in older women nearer natural menopause.
Symptoms experienced during induced menopause are usually more severe than natural menopause and can begin suddenly. Common symptoms include:
The abrupt drop in estrogen and progesterone levels also puts women at higher
risk of long-term health issues like osteoporosis and heart disease. That’s why it’s so important to discuss
hormone therapy options with your doctor.
Options to Manage Symptoms
There are several hormone therapy options that can help relieve uncomfortable symptoms during induced menopause:
- Estrogen therapy - Estrogen alone may be an option if the uterus has been surgically removed
- Combined hormone therapy - estrogen plus progestin to protect the uterine lining
- Bioidentical hormones - made from plant sources, matches human hormones more closely
- Custom-compounded hormones - balanced according to your individual hormone levels
- Tibolone - synthetic steroid hormone that can relieve menopausal symptoms
- Other medications like antidepressants, blood pressure medications, etc. to treat specific symptoms
Many factors impact how long treatment will be recommended, including your age at menopause and personal risk factors. Most women take hormone therapy for 5-10 years until around the typical age of natural menopause. Staying on therapy longer seems to have additional benefits for bone, heart, and brain health.
I highly recommend consulting a menopause specialist like Dr. Richards at Hormone Wellness Institute, who can run advanced testing like genetic, blood, and saliva panels to analyze your hormone levels. This allows them to create a customized treatment plan to get your symptoms under control safely and effectively.
With an individualized approach focused on bioidenticals and lifestyle changes, most women can achieve great relief even after surgical or early menopause. You don't have to suffer through this transition alone thanks to compassionate care. Call Hormone Wellness Institute today to schedule a consultation.