What is Forced Menopause?

Menopause is defined by the natural cessation of the menstrual cycle and the ability to conceive a child. The whole process (from peri-menopause to post-menopause) can take years to complete. However, for some women undergoing cancer treatment, menopause occurs in a single day or several weeks because of surgery, chemotherapy, or pelvic radiation therapy. This is called surgical or forced menopause and can be either a permanent or temporary side effect of treatment.

Why Forced Menopause Can Occur with Cancer Treatment

The ovaries serve as a major hormone production center for estrogen and progesterone, two essential hormones that support the menstrual cycle and fertility. Cancer treatment can impair the function of the ovaries.

Women undergoing a total hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy to treat gynecological cancer undergo immediate surgical menopause. The ovaries are removed and there is an immediate decrease in the hormone levels in the body.

Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries, leading to a permanent or temporary menopause. This can cause a woman's period to stop for several months, even after treatment has ended. Some women are surprised to find their period to return months after treatment, so it important to use a birth control method until you know for certain that you are post-menopausal.

Radiation therapy to the pelvis is also a source of forced menopause. The effects can be permanent or temporary, based on the treatment regimen. Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy causes damage to the ovaries, limiting their function.

Physical Changes That Occur with Forced Menopause

Diminished hormone levels in the body can cause many physical and emotional changes. Women who undergo sudden menopause because of cancer treatment (especially surgical menopause) sometimes experience these effects more intensely than women who undergo menopause naturally.

Effects of Menopause

• hot flashes
• night sweats
• mood swings
• depression
• vaginal dryness
• low libido

Hot flashes and night sweats can be the most common and the most bothersome. Some women may be given hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve these symptoms, but HRT is not for all women. You should discuss the risks and benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy with your doctor.

Before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) menopause remedies or herbs, talk to your doctor. Some OTC products may interfere with your cancer treatment.

• 10 Cool Ways to Stop Hot Flashes In Their Tracks
• Menopause and Mood: It's Not All In Your Head

_Sources:

How the Female Body Works Sexually. American Cancer Society. Accessed January 18, 2010.
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/PhysicalSideEffects/SexualSideEffectsinWomen/SexualityfortheWoman/sexuality-for-women-with-cancer-how-female-body-works-sexually?docSelected=sexuality-for-women-with-cancer-how-female-body-works-sexually

Detailed Guide. Uterine Sarcoma. American Cancer Society. Accessed January 10, 2010.
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/UterineSarcoma/DetailedGuide/index