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Overview

Learn about symptoms and options for managing early menopause caused by cancer treatment or preventive surgery.
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Menopause

During reproductive years, the ovaries produce hormones, such as and progesterone. They help prepare the body for pregnancy, and also play other roles in health and wellness. During natural menopause, these hormones decrease gradually, leading to menopausal symptoms.

Premenopausal women who have surgery that removes their ovaries will experience young-onset menopause. Certain chemotherapy treatments can also cause early menopause. The menopause experience is different for everyone, but typically, young-onset menopause causes more intense symptoms and side effects than natural menopause.

Many of the menopause symptoms can be improved with hormone replacement therapy. Research has shown that hormone replacement therapy after young-onset menopause is safe for most women who have never had cancer. 

Hormone replacement therapy is not safe for everyone. For women who cannot safely take hormones, there are non-hormonal options for managing menopausal symptoms and side-effects. 

If you are experiencing early-onset menopause or will be undergoing surgery or treatment that may bring about early-onset menopause, its important that you speak with your health care team about the options for managing menopausal symptoms and side effects. 

Find Experts
Find Experts

The following resources can help you locate an expert near you or via telehealth. 


Finding menopause experts


Related experts

Some symptoms of menopause may be managed by other experts. People experiencing menopause symptoms may benefit from a consultation with the following experts.

Sexual health experts

Acupuncture experts

  • The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has a searchable directory of licensed acupuncturists. 

Sleep experts

Bone density experts


Other ways to find experts

Get Support
Get Support

FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations. 

Last updated March 14, 2023