What is Medically Induced Menopause?
Medically induced menopause is when hormone production stops and periods end because of medical treatment, rather than natural ageing. Everyone with periods will experience menopause at some stage in their life as hormone production gradually declines. This natural transition called the perimenopause typically begins in your 40s, and can last 4-6 years before your period stops completely. Because this is a gradual process, symptoms tend to build up over time. By contrast, medically induced menopause means that the body doesn’t have the gradual adjustment period of perimenopause, so the impact of symptoms can feel sharper. Symptoms include mood swings, hot flashes, and difficulty sleeping.
Menopause can be difficult to come to terms with, and for many, managing symptoms is challenging. When menopause is medically induced, it presents its own unique challenges, as these changes happen more suddenly, and symptoms can be experienced more intensely. Regardless of how the menopause begins, it is still surrounded by stigma and misunderstanding, meaning many people don’t know what support is available. Understanding medically induced menopause and its side effects can help you feel more prepared and supported.
Causes of Medically Induced Menopause
Surgery
Surgeries that remove your ovaries such as hysterectomy with oophorectomies permanently stop hormone production. This leads to immediate menopause and symptoms which are often more intense than natural menopause. These procedures are recommended for medical conditions such as ovarian cancer, severe endometriosis, or genetic risks.
Cancer Treatments
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can alter hormone production and induce menopause. Chemotherapy medication and radiation therapy can damage the ovaries causing them to stop functioning either temporarily or permanently. This will depend on the dosage and duration of treatment as well as the type of cancer.
Medication
Menopause can also be induced by certain medications such as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues which suppress the production of hormones. GnRH analogues are prescribed to people with endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids.
Key Differences from Natural Menopause
The biggest difference between natural and medically induced menopause is timing. Symptoms of the menopause are experienced gradually from the age of approximately 40, known as the perimenopause, before your menstrual cycle stops. For those who experience medically induced menopause, the onset of symptoms can feel sudden and intense and can also occur in people younger than the ages you would typically start experiencing menopause symptoms.
Common side effects of medically induced menopause include:
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Mood swings and low mood
- Vaginal dryness
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Hair thinning or loss
- Joint or muscle pain
- Nausea
- Lower libido
There are also wider health impacts to be aware of, such as bone density loss, cardiovascular health, cognitive changes.
Risks, Benefits & Considerations
Medically induced menopause can be a necessary part of treatment for certain cancers, or a way to bring relief and improve quality of life for people with severe endometriosis and fibroids. But like any medical intervention, it comes with both benefits and risks that are important to understand.
Benefits
- Can provide significant relief from painful conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids.
- May be an essential part of life-saving treatment for cancer.
- Certain drug treatments, such as GnRH analogues, can offer a reversable option that gives the body a “hormonal reset”.
Risks & Health Considerations
- Permanence: some treatments (like surgery) cause permanent menopause, while others (such as drug therapies) may only trigger a temporary menopausal state.
- Other treatment options: For conditions like endometriosis, a hysterectomy is not always the cure. Endometriosis tissue can still grow outside the uterus, so it’s important to explore all treatment options before deciding.
- Health impacts: Medically induced menopause is linked to potential bone density loss, changes in cardiovascular health, cognitive effects, and more intense symptoms like hot flushes, mood swings, or vaginal dryness.
Managing Symptoms & Support
Lifestyle changes, and medical options like Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help manage symptoms and protect long term health.
Lifestyle tips to support your body though medical menopause:
- Stay cool: wear light layers or take cool showers to ease hot flushes
- Look after vaginal health: use a pH-balanced vaginal moisturiser
- Bone health: Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D and calcium to help prevent bone density loss
- Exercise: Include pelvic floor exercises to support bladder health and strength.
- Mental wellbeing: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is sometimes recommended to help with low mood and other symptoms.
Choosing gentle, organic products for your intimate health can also reduce irritation and provide comfort during this transition.
The most important step is to have open conversations with your doctor, ask questions about your options, and weigh up what is right for your body and your future.
Experiencing medically induced menopause can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Understanding your options, asking questions, and finding the right support can make a huge difference. At Natracare, we believe everyone deserves comfort and care through every stage of life. That’s why we create clean products free from chemicals of concern that are gentle, biodegradable, made with plant-based materials, and designed with your wellbeing in mind.
