Menopause hitting women earlier

City gynacs say number of cases is rising rapidly

City gynacs say number of cases is rising rapidly

LIFESTYLE and eating habits of the city's women is of rising concern say some gynaecologists and may lead to early menopause or premature ovarian failure (POF).u00a0

Dr Anita Abhijeet Soni, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Hiranandani Hospital, said, "Earlier, I'd come across only one case of premature menopause a year, but in the past few years I have had around one or two a month. The exact reason can't be pinpointed scientifically. People have theories on IVF, contraceptive pills and the immune system going against the ovaries. Anyone who has irregular periods or is facing difficulty in conceiving below the age of 40, should get themselves checked for the disease."

Causes
Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai, consultant gynaecologist at Lilavati and Jaslok hospitals said, "My youngest patient with premature menopause was 20. Most cases are genetic, while some suffer from autoimmune disorder, that is the body's immune system destroys the ovaries. Even the use of chemicals in fruits and vegetable, which influence hormones, may lead to early menopause. Chocolate cysts which are blood accumulating in the ovaries called endometriosis affecting 20 to 25 per cent women could also lead to the destruction of ovaries."

Talking about the lifestyle of most urban women, Dr Pai further said, "Smoking also alters hormones and as more young girls take to smoking, the issue may get graver. Any kind of drug or alcohol abuse could contribute to the disorder."

However, Dr Mansukhani who has been a practising obstetrician and gynaecologist for the last 30 years with Jaslok Hospital doesn't believe that there is an alarming increase of cases. She said, "People who are overweight may suffer from scanty periods that could develop into early menopause."

Some doctors believe that chemotherapy for reproductive system cancers can cause ovarian damage immediately or after several months.

You can still get pregnant
Dr Nandita Palshetkar, gynaecologist and infertility specialist attached to Lilavati and D Y Patil hospitals, who has had a patient as young as 24 suffering from menopause said there is a solution to the problem, "One can freeze their ovarian tissues if premature ovarian dysfunction exists in their family or before they go in for chemotherapy. The eggs can be stored and fertilised through the procedure of in vitro fertilisation when a person decides to conceive well after their ovaries stop working. Women who suffer from this complication must be put on hormone replacement therapy as they may be prone to bone weakness, heart attacks and uro-genital diseases as well as sexual dysfunction."

Check for unhealthy ovaries if you have:
>>Painful periods
>>Irregular or heavy bleeding
>>Infertility
>>Hot flashes
>>Vaginal dryness

Premature menopause can be detected by:
>>Blood tests (hormonal)
>>Sonography
>>Laproscopy

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