At Saint John's Health Center, health care professionals are focused on all aspects of a woman's health—from early womanhood through menopause and beyond.  While menopause is the end of menstruation and fertility, it does not mean the end of being a woman.  In fact, if a woman knows what to expect from early symptoms through progressive treatment options, she will go forward into her most powerful years healthier and wiser than ever.

Early Menopause
In some women, menopause may occur earlier than in others. For example, the onset of menopause can occur a few years earlier in women who smoke compared with women who don't. In addition, menopause may be induced at any time after a girl’s first period because of medical interventions, including:

Bilateral Oophorectomy
An operation that removes both ovaries can cause menopause. There is no perimenopausal phase. Instead, periods stop immediately, and hot flashes and other menopausal signs and symptoms begin.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy
These cancer therapies can cause signs and symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and cessation of periods, during the course of treatment. In some women, ovarian activity may resume after treatment is over. But if these therapies cause irreparable damage to the ovaries, they can end fertility and menstruation permanently.