Perimenopausia y menopausia
Early menopause and POI
Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026
Solo en inglés por ahoraMenopause before 45 is called early menopause, and before 40 it is called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Here is why it happens and why treatment matters for long-term health.
What early menopause means
Most people reach menopause between their mid-40s and mid-50s. Early menopause is when your periods stop before the age of 45. When this happens before 40, it is called premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). POI is not always the same as menopause. Periods can still come now and then, and the ovaries sometimes start working again for a while. The main sign is periods becoming irregular or stopping completely. You may also have hot flushes, night sweats and trouble sleeping, or changes in mood, sex drive, memory and concentration.
Why it can happen
Often no cause is found. Known causes include cancer treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, surgery to remove the ovaries, certain hormone medicines, and some genetic and autoimmune conditions. Your chance is also higher if early menopause runs in your family, if you started your periods early, if you smoke, or if you are underweight.
Getting checked
See a doctor if you are under 45 and think you have menopause symptoms, or if your periods become irregular or stop. A doctor will ask about your symptoms and may do blood tests. A record of your periods and symptoms, such as a Ciclo log, can help you explain what has changed. Periods can also stop for other reasons, including pregnancy, so it is worth finding out the cause.
Why it matters for bones and heart
Oestrogen helps keep bones strong, and very low oestrogen is the most common reason women lose bone. When menopause comes early, you spend more years with low oestrogen. This means a higher chance of osteoporosis, where bones become weak and break easily, and of cardiovascular disease, which affects the heart and blood vessels. Replacing your hormones until the usual age of menopause helps protect your bones, heart and blood vessels.
Treatment
The main treatments are hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the combined contraceptive pill, which replace the hormones your ovaries are no longer making. As well as easing symptoms, HRT helps prevent osteoporosis. Doctors often suggest taking it until about age 50, the usual age of menopause. Weight-bearing activity, getting enough calcium and vitamin D, and not smoking also help look after your bones.
Fertility and support
Early menopause can make it harder to get pregnant. With POI, pregnancy is still possible: between 5 and 10 in 100 people get pregnant without treatment. If you do not want to get pregnant, ask about contraception, because HRT does not prevent pregnancy. Some people are able to have children through IVF, using their own frozen eggs or donor eggs. Learning that menopause has come early can be hard, especially if you had hoped to have children or more children. A doctor, a counsellor or a support group can help with the emotional side as well as the physical one.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. If your periods stop or become irregular before 45, talk to a doctor.