At just 32 years old, Nelly, a French woman, has entered early menopause. Doctors have diagnosed her with premature menopause, a condition that significantly reduces the chances of conception.
Menopause typically occurs in women around the age of 50, marking a decline in the function of the endocrine glands, particularly the reproductive glands. The levels of sex hormones in the body drop significantly, leading to menopausal symptoms that can affect various systems including the nervous, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, skin, hair, and reproductive systems. In reality, experts also encounter cases of very early menopause in women as young as 30, like Nelly.
Nelly shares: “At 18, I started taking medication to regulate my menstrual cycle. I stopped in January, but since my period hasn’t returned, I took a pregnancy test, which came back negative. I consulted a specialist and received treatment for amenorrhea, but with no results. Eventually, I had a blood test, and the results indicated that I was experiencing early menopause.”
According to the French Menopause Research Association, 1-2% of women of reproductive age experience menopause or are at risk of menopause before the age of 40, with some cases occurring before age 30. The causes can be genetic or chromosomal mutations, and autoimmune diseases or chemotherapy can also trigger early menopause.
Accepting this condition at a young age is challenging because they have many years of life ahead. They often feel it’s unfair. “Why is it me and not someone else? I don’t deserve this,” says Marie, a 33-year-old woman who has been in menopause for five years. However, upon learning about her genetic mutation, she felt more at ease and decided to fight against the “injustice” that fate had dealt her by living like a truly young person despite being in menopause. Her doctor recommended hormone replacement therapy (supplementing the deficient sex hormones), which is essential to stimulate ovarian function.
The chances of achieving natural conception for women in early menopause are only 3-5%. For unsuccessful cases, egg donation is necessary. The donor’s eggs are fertilized with the husband’s sperm and then implanted into the patient’s uterus, allowing for a normal pregnancy.
In France, the difficulty in finding egg donors means that waiting times can extend significantly, averaging between 3 to 5 years. The number of people needing egg donation continues to grow, while the number of donors remains low, leading to frustration among many couples. Some have sought assistance from French doctors working abroad in countries like Belgium, Spain, and Greece, at a cost of 5,000 euros.
In addition to infertility, women experiencing early menopause face increased risks for several health issues, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Women in menopause at age 30 may develop osteoporosis before turning 40. Cardiovascular disease is also a significant threat, particularly atherosclerosis, which can emerge after age 30. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it can be dangerous when complications arise.
