CANCER SURVIVORS

Cancer survivors often undergo medical treatments that cause them to go into menopause. The term induced menopause describes menopause caused by a medical treatment. Certain drug and radiation therapies can damage the ovaries and cause menopause. The most common cause of induced menopause is the surgical removal of both ovaries because of a medical problem. Hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus but not the ovaries, does not cause menopause.

Women who experience induced menopause do not have the gradual transition of hormones leading up to menopause. With surgical menopause, menopause occurs abruptly, on the day of surgery. With menopause induced by drug treatments, there may be a short transition as the damaged ovaries shut down production of hormones over a period of time. The abrupt loss of ovarian hormones usually causes more drastic symptoms than those seen with natural menopause.

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Induced menopause that occurs at a much earlier age than natural menopause (typically, age 52) may result in increased risk for some diseases due to the loss of estrogen and other ovarian hormones. For example, the protective effect of estrogen on bone health is lost, resulting in increased risk for osteoporosis.

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Women with induced menopause might require treatment for menopause-related symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness more often than women who reach menopause naturally. For women who are unable or unwilling to use estrogen therapy, there are non-hormonal medications and treatments that may effectively relieve symptoms.