Early menopause, the three factors that threaten women!

Headaches, depression and cramps are the three factors that affect the menopause period, according to a new study.
According to the study, people with premenstrual disorders, or PMD, such as PMS have more than twice the risk of going through menopause early.

"We found that compared to women without PMD, those with PMD have 2.67 times the risk of having early menopause," said study author Yihui Yang.

Menopause is considered early when it occurs before the age of 45, for 5 to 10% of women, explains the author of the study. Early menopause is worrisome because of the shortening of reproductive years, but also because of links to other health concerns, she added.

"It is important to identify women at risk for early menopause because of its association with poorer heart, brain and bone health," said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who was not involved in the study.

A 2010 study found that women who experience early menopause are at an increased risk for overall mortality, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and neurological disease. According to the study, women with PMD were also more likely to have severe symptoms at night, CNN cites.

How are PMS and early menopause related?

The study included data from more than 3,000 women – 1,220 with premenstrual disorder (PMD) and 2,415 without PMD who participated in the Nurses' Health Study II, which investigates risk factors for chronic disease in women.
Beginning in 1991, women self-reported their PMD diagnoses and answered a questionnaire to confirm symptoms, the study said. The researchers followed the participants every two years until 2017 to assess when the women went through menopause.

It is important to note, as this is an observational study, that it cannot be said that having PMS causes early menopause. Instead, the results show that there is a correlation between the two, said study author Dr. Donghao Lu.

Next, researchers must find out why the two conditions are linked and whether there is a biological process that links them, Faubion said.

What to do about PMS and early menopause?

Research like this can help health care professionals identify who may be at risk for early menopause, said lead study author Dr. Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson.

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition that involves monthly physical and mood changes leading up to menstruation. Symptoms may include anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration, appetite changes, fatigue, pain, headache, bloating and abdominal pain.