Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Menopause is when your periods stop.
- Premature menopause is when menopause happens before the age of 40.
- Early menopause is when menopause happens between the ages of 40 and 45.
- It's recommended that people who have premature or early menopause take menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to reduce the risk of health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
On this page
What is menopause?
Menopause is your final period. As you approach menopause, your reproductive hormones (e.g. oestrogen) drop. Most women reach menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In Australia, the average age to reach menopause is 51 to 52.
What is premature menopause?
Premature menopause is when you reach menopause before the age of 40.
What is early menopause?
Early menopause is when you reach menopause between the ages of 40 and 45.
Up to 12% of women have their final period before they are 45. This percentage is likely to be higher if we include menopause caused by surgery and cancer treatment.
Symptoms of premature and early menopause
Symptoms of premature and early menopause are like those you would experience if you reached menopause at the expected age. Menopausal symptoms can be more severe after surgery or cancer treatment, due to the sudden change in oestrogen levels.
Common symptoms include:
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- sleep problems
- mood changes
- brain fog
- headaches or migraines
You can also experience:
- sore breasts
- dry vagina
- reduced sex drive (libido)
- itchy skin
- aches and pains
- weight gain
- tiredness.
What causes premature and early menopause?
Premature and early menopause may be caused by primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), cancer treatment or surgery.
Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)
POI is when periods stop suddenly at an earlier age than expected. POI affects up to 1% of women. It's associated with certain autoimmune diseases, but in about 60% of cases a cause can't be found.
The first symptoms of POI may be:
- irregular periods
- no periods after stopping the oral contraceptive pill
- inability to get pregnant.
Cancer treatment
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can cause the ovaries to stop working, resulting in menopause. But not all cancer treatments lead to menopause.
Surgical menopause
Menopause happens with removal of the ovaries, with or without the uterus being removed. This surgery may be necessary due to cancer, or other health conditions such as severe endometriosis.
After a diagnosis
Premature or early menopause can be very upsetting. It’s normal to feel a sense of loss, sadness and grief. You may also have mixed feelings about your body image, fertility, and sexuality.
If you feel very emotional, anxious or depressed after your diagnosis, it's important to talk to someone. You can do counselling or join a support group. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist if needed.
Managing premature and early menopause
Depending on your situation, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as an endocrinologist, gynaecologist, fertility specialist, psychologist or psychiatrist.
People with premature or early menopause have lower levels of oestrogen, which can increase the risk of health conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or the oral contraceptive pill can help to reduce these risks. These treatments should be taken until the expected age of menopause.
If you cannot take hormone therapy (e.g. you have a history of breast cancer), your doctor will discuss your situation and recommend other treatments.
More information
For more detailed information, related resources, articles and podcasts, visit Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.
Where to get help
- Panay N, Anderson RA, Nappi RE, et al. 2020, ‘Premature ovarian insufficiency: an International Menopause Society white paper', Climacteric, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 426–446.
- Guideline on the management of premature ovarian insufficiency, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
- Premature menopause, ProjectAWARE – Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education.
- Mental and emotional wellbeing, Jean Hailes for Women's Health.
- Torrealday S, Pal L 2015, ‘Premature menopause’, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 543–57.
- Spontaneous premature ovarian insufficiency, Australasian Menopause Society.
- Early menopause due to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 2015, Australasian Menopause Society.
- The NAMS 2017 Hormone Therapy Position Statement Advisory Panel 2017, ‘The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society’, Menopause, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 728–53.
- Stuenkel CA, Davis SR, Gompel A et al. 2015, ‘Treatment of symptoms of the menopause: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline’, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 100, no. 11, pp. 3975–4011.
- Baber RJ, Panay N, Fenton A 2016, ‘2016 IMS Recommendations on women's midlife health and menopause hormone therapy’, Climacteric, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 109–50.
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