When Natalie was diagnosed with premature menopause, her hopes for a family were dashed

Natalie Hart was 41 when she came off the pill in the hopes of starting a family. While she didn’t expect to fall pregnant straight away, she was devastated to experience a hot flush a mere two months later.

“I knew instantly that it was something to do with menopause,” the small-business owner says. When her doctor then told her she was going through premature menopause, Hart despaired, worried her hopes for a family were now dashed.

Hart’s story is familiar to associate professor Vicki Kotsirilos, a Melbourne-based GP who specialises in women’s health. She says menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual period. During this time, the ovaries no longer produce eggs and the blood levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone drop.

Kotsirilos says most women go through this change between 45 and 55. Those who experience this between the ages of 40 and 45 are considered to be undergoing premature menopause, which happens to about 6 per cent of women. Those before age 40 are referred to as having premature ovarian insufficiency, which occurs in around one in 100 women.

Understandably, Kotsirilos says that going through menopause earlier than expected can cause significant distress. “It’s quite drastic for young women, particularly if they haven’t had children and want them,” she says.

So how do you know if you’re going through menopause? Though its definition relates to when your periods stop, Kotsirilos says there are other symptoms that signify its arrival. These range from hot flushes and sweats, to sleep disturbance, fatigue and light-headedness. Many women notice mood changes at this time, and can also experience anxiety and depression. It’s also common to suffer from muscle aches and pains, painful joints, vaginal dryness and reduced libido.

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Kotsirilos advises speaking to your GP if you’re worried that you’re going through premature menopause. She says blood tests to check your hormone levels can indicate whether this is the case. Such tests can also exclude other potential causes for your symptoms, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.

If you are going through premature menopause, Kotsirilos says it’s very important to look after your health. She says the risk of cardiovascular disease rises at this time, so eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet and maintaining regular exercise can help reduce that risk. Because women are also at higher risk of osteoporosis, Kotsirilos says with exercise, the focus should be on strength training (such as lifting weights) to improve muscle and bone strength. Including adequate calcium in your diet, and ensuring you get enough vitamin D, can also help maintain strong bones.