Raising Awareness on Perimenopause
- The topic of menopause may be less taboo, but there is still more work to be done — like raising awareness about perimenopause, the transitional time before menopause, and that there are some women who can go through it early like Naomi Watts who had “spiraling” symptoms at 36.
- Many women ask whether or not stress can bring on early menopause. While the answers from experts may vary, the overall consensus is that stress may not be the sole cause, but it can play a role.
- For reducing symptoms, making lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, and avoiding coffee and alcohol, as these can all be hot flash triggers, can all help a woman cope.
“Going through menopause at such a young age was not easy, especially during a time when there was so little information available about it,” the Australian actress, now 55, shared with HELLO! last July. “Mood swings, night sweats, and migraines…I was feeling like I was spiraling out of control.”
Once Watts realized what was happening, she learned that by being her own advocate, she could manage her symptoms after “seeking help and understanding more about what was happening.”
In addition, she gained a stronger sense of self during this “challenging period of adjustment.”
“Going through this journey led me to a deeper understanding of myself, and I came out on the other side feeling more authentically me. A lot of freedom came in the self-acknowledgement. I had those voices in the back of my mind reminding me how old women are let out to pasture, but there was a lure to this desire to be authentic, to crawl from behind the invisible wall and just acknowledge for myself something that everyone could have probably guessed.”
The Difference Between Menopause and Early Menopause
Menopause is described by the National Institute on Aging, as “a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.”
Additionally, “The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.”
The average age women go through the menopausal transition, which usually lasts approximately seven to 14 years, ranges between ages 45 and 55.
“The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity,” the institute explains. “The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. The body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and women may gain weight more easily. You may experience changes in your bone or heart health, your body shape and composition, or your physical function.”
Early Menopause Comes as a Shock to Ovarian Cancer Survivor Araceli Rubi
As for early menopause, the National Cancer Institute says it’s a condition which causes the ovaries to stop working and menstrual periods to stop before a woman turns 40. It’s a transition that can lead to fertility issues and symptoms of menopause.
Additionally, early menopause is split up into two types, primary and secondary. According to the National Cancer Institute, “There are two types of early menopause, primary and secondary. Primary early menopause means that the ovaries do not function normally. This may be because they have been removed by surgery, or it may be caused by some cancer treatments and certain diseases or genetic conditions.
“In secondary early menopause, the ovaries are normal but there is a problem getting hormone signals to them from the brain. This is usually caused by diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Some women with early menopause sometimes have menstrual periods and may be able to have children. Also called ovarian failure, ovarian insufficiency, and premature menopause.”
Menopause & Stress
Many women ask whether or not stress can bring on early menopause. While the answers from experts may vary, the overall consensus is that stress may not be the sole cause, but it can play a role.
“Chronic stress has been linked to a variety of health issues, and studies have shown that it can also play a role in bringing on early menopause for women,” Dr. Catherine Vanderloos says. “The constant release of stress hormones, such as cortisol, can disrupt the delicate balance of reproductive hormones in the body, potentially leading to irregular menstrual cycles and, ultimately, early menopause.”
Early Menopause Affects Cancer Risk
Luckily, a woman’s risk for breast cancer is reduced if she goes through early menopause.
In an earlier interview with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center, offered SurvivorNet some insight into the link between menopause and how it affects a woman’s cancer risk.
Dr. Bevers told Survivor Net that menopause doesn’t cause cancer, however, as women get older, their risk of developing cancer rises. (Women going through certain types of cancer treatment can also enter early menopause as a side effect from treatment.)
“Starting menopause after age 55 increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer. That’s probably because she’s been exposed to more estrogen,” Dr. Bevers explained. “During a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen stimulates the uterus and breast tissue. So the more menstrual periods a woman has, the longer these tissues are exposed to estrogen.”
She noted that women who begin the menopausal transition at a later age “also may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, possibly because they have had more ovulations.”
Dr. Bevers also suggested women try safer alternatives when coping with menopausal symptoms, instead of first trying hormonal therapy, as it’s been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers.
Managing Menopause Symptoms
For reducing symptoms, Dr. Bevers advises women to make “small lifestyle changes” like avoiding coffee before showering can make a big difference.
Other safe and health ways to manage symptoms, according to Dr. Bevers, include:
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing stress
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding hot flash triggers like coffee, tea and alcohol
- Quitting smoking
“The same ways you reduce your cancer risk before menopause: exercise, eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke, and maintain a healthy body weight,” Dr. Bevers added. “Research shows that gaining weight after menopause increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer, but losing weight after menopause can actually reduce your risk.”
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.