Induced Menopause

“Induced menopause occurs when a medical treatment,
such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation,
removes or seriously damages both ovaries”.1

Umbrella

What may the Induced Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Chemically-Induced or Chemical Menopause
  • Early and Premature Menopause Due To Medical Treatment
  • Iatrogenic Menopause
  • Induced Menopause or Forced Menopause
  • Medical Menopause
  • Medically Induced Menopause
  • Surgical Menopause
  • Treatment-Induced Menopause

Terminology

What are some ways used to describe induced menopause?

DotS the definition of medically induced menopause may vary. In Medically Induced Menopause: Is Medically Induced Menopause the Same As Surgical Menopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“There are lots of ways and words people use to describe having medically induced menopause. The terms ‘medically induced menopause’ and ‘medical menopause’ are commonly used, and they mean the same thing. Other terms you might hear include:

  • Treatment-induced menopause…
  • Chemically-induced or chemical menopause…
  • Surgical menopause…
  • Iatrogenic menopause…
  • Early and premature menopause due to medical treatment…
  • Induced menopause or forced menopause…”.2

Induced Menopause

What is induced menopause?

DotS the definition of induced menopause may vary. In Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause the (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“Induced menopause occurs when a medical treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, removes or seriously damages both ovaries. The reason for the medical treatment may affect whether hormone therapy will be recommended.

  • Surgery: When both ovaries are surgically removed, menopause results. Cancer is a common reason for this surgery. Removing both ovaries may be done to treat ovarian cancer or to help prevent breast and ovarian cancer in women who are considered to be at high risk
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a powerful drug therapy to treat various types of cancer. It may be used along with surgery, radiation therapy, or both
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to damage cancer cells and reduce their size or keep them from growing”.3

Medically Induced Menopause

What is medically induced menopause?

DotS the definition of medically induced menopause may vary. In Medically Induced Menopause: What Is Medically Induced Menopause? the JH’s definition is:

“Medically induced menopause is when menopause happens because of surgery or treatment, rather than naturally. For example, because of chemotherapy, or surgery to remove the ovaries”.4

Cause

What causes induced menopause?

In Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind, published 17 October 2024, the author also notes:

“Medically induced menopause can be caused by:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy to the pelvic area
  • Surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy)
  • Medical menopause where hormone production is shut down with medicine, such as Lupron or Zoladex”.5

Menopause Symptoms

What are menopause symptoms related to induced menopause?

In Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind the author explains:


“Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Women may also face increased long-term health risks, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease”.6

Cancer Treatment Menopause Symptoms

Are cancer treatment menopause symptoms more severe?

In What Causes Menopause? Menopause Due To Surgery: Managing Menopause After Surgery the JH note:

“Menopause can happen because of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These treatments can cause your ovaries to stop working. The sudden change in hormones, particularly oestrogen and testosterone, may lead to more severe symptoms.

Not all cancer treatments will cause menopause. Depending on the treatment, menopausal symptoms may be temporary or permanent. Other factors may influence permanent menopause, such as your age and the type of chemotherapy undertaken”.7

Surgery Menopause Symptoms

Are surgery menopause symptoms more severe?

In What Causes Menopause? Menopause Due To Cancer Surgery the JH explain:

“If your menopause is caused by surgery, your oestrogen and testosterone hormones will suddenly drop, causing symptoms to be more severe than normal”.8

Fears and Concerns

For women with induced menopause, what may be some fears and concern?

In Premature Menopause: How Premature Menopause Affects Health the Menopause Society explain:

“For women with induced menopause, especially when it results from treatment for a serious illness, a number of other fears and concerns may compound the challenges of premature menopause. These include:

  • Pain and discomfort related to the disease or treatment
  • Anxiety over additional treatments
  • A sense of loss of control related to illness, treatments, hospitalizations, and adverse events
  • Confusion over lack of information or a feeling of information overload
  • Frustration over a lack of support
  • Reduced self-esteem because of changes from surgery
  • Embarrassment related to hair or skin changes caused by chemotherapy or radiation
  • Feelings of resentment or guilt
  • Apprehension about relationships, including sexual activity and intimacy
  • A feeling of uncertainty or hopelessness
  • Fear of not being cured or of death
  • Fear of the disease coming back (recurrence)”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I am considering treatment or surgery that may bring on menopause?

In Medically Induced Menopause: What To Ask Your Doctor the JH include:

“If you’re considering treatment or surgery that may bring on menopause, it’s important to ask the right questions so you can get the information you need. We’ve created a list of questions to use as a guide for conversations with your doctor and specialists”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Induced Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Induced Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 08 May 2025
  2. Medically Induced Menopause: Is Medically Induced Menopause the Same As Surgical Menopause? Last Updated: 16 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 16 May 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/medically-induced-menopause Accessed: 19 May 2025
  3. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 08 May 2025
  4. Medically Induced Menopause: What Is Medically Induced Menopause? Last Updated: 16 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 16 May 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/medically-induced-menopause Accessed: 19 May 2025
  5. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind. 17 October 2024 https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/10/inherited-cancers-australia-and-jean-hailes-join-forces-to-ensure-women-with-medically-induced-menopause-are-not-left-behind/72003/ Accessed: 08 May 2025
  6. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind. 17 October 2024 https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/10/inherited-cancers-australia-and-jean-hailes-join-forces-to-ensure-women-with-medically-induced-menopause-are-not-left-behind/72003/ Accessed: 08 May 2025
  7. What Causes Menopause? Menopause Due To Cancer Surgery. Last Updated: 25 September 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/causes-of-menopause#menopause-due-to-cancer-treatment Accessed: 08 May 2025
  8. What Causes Menopause? Menopause Due To Surgery: Managing Menopause After Surgery. Last Updated: 25 September 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/causes-of-menopause#menopause-due-to-cancer-treatment Accessed: 08 May 2025
  9. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 08 May 2025
  10. Medically Induced Menopause: What To Ask Your Doctor. Last Updated: 16 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 16 May 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/medically-induced-menopause Accessed: 19 May 2025
Topic Last Updated: 19 May 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 08 May 2025

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