Early Menopause Health Risks: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Women who enter menopause early may be at increased risk for long-term health issues. Natural menopause typically occurs around the age of 50. Early menopause, both surgically-induced and natural, can occur any time before 50. The longer a woman is in menopause, the more early menopause health risks she may have to deal with down the road.

Health risks commonly associated with menopause include depression, mood swings, reduced bone density and increased risk of certain forms of cancer if taking hormone replacement therapy. The average woman spends between 25 and 35 years in menopause. Early menopause can increase that time by several decades. Spending more time in menopause could be connected with increased risks for osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Osteopenia and Early Menopause

Early menopause eliminates estrogen and progesterone production. These reproductive hormones are also thought to play a large part in bone production. Bones actively grow faster during the first 30 years of a woman's life than any other time. The rate of growth is faster than the rate of bone loss so osteopenia is not a problem. Osteopenia is characterized by reduced bone mass that is not severe enough to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy, calcium and vitamin D supplements are often enough to counteract bone loss and may promote bone growth. Osteopenia is reversible, so women in early menopause can correct the condition before osteoporosis occurs.

Osteoporosis and Early Menopause

If osteopenia is not detected during early menopause, osteoporosis can occur. Osteoporosis is also related to lacking estrogen and progesterone production. Many women have no idea they are suffering from bone loss in early menopause until the condition is advanced and causing pain. Prevention is best, but if osteoporosis is diagnosed after early menopause there are several treatments that can slow the progression of the disease and even prevent some of the more severe symptoms.

Treatments for Early Menopause Osteoporosis

The first step in osteoporosis treatment after early menopause is adopting a healthy, calcium-rich diet and exercise program. Weight bearing exercise builds bone density so women in early menopause can actually build bone mass or slow bone loss by lifting weights. Many gynecologists will suggest hormone replacement therapy, especially for women in very early menopause. There are risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, but the rewards may outweigh those risks for some women.

Other treatments for osteoporosis in early menopause include injections of bone-building medications and prescription medications for osteoporosis. Women in early menopause should receive a bone density test early on to establish a baseline bone density. This test can be used later to determine the rate of bone loss after early menopause.