Managing Symptoms, Perimenopause
A new international study has found that women with endometriosis are significantly more likely to experience early or surgical menopause — a finding that could have lasting implications for how the condition is managed and treated.
Published in Human Reproduction, the study analysed data from more than 279,000 women across the UK, Australia, Sweden, and Japan. It revealed that:
Surgical menopause occurred on average 19 months earlier in women with endometriosis.
Natural menopause happened 5 months earlier than in women without the condition.
Women with endometriosis were 7 times more likely to undergo surgical menopause, and twice as likely to enter menopause before age 40.
Surgical menopause, which involves the removal of both ovaries, is sometimes used to treat severe endometriosis when other methods fail. However, it brings an abrupt end to hormone production, often with significant side effects including hot flushes, mood changes, and increased risks of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, and while its links to pain and infertility are well-known, this study sheds light on its lesser-known impact on the timing of menopause.
Dr. Hsin-Fang Chung from the University of Queensland, who led the study, said the findings call for expanded endometriosis guidelines — ones that address not just immediate symptoms, but also long-term health outcomes like menopause.
“Women with endometriosis should be aware that they may be at increased risk of early or induced menopause,” Dr. Chung said. She recommends that those affected regularly visit their GP to monitor and manage chronic disease risks.
Experts also stress the importance of follow-up care post-surgery, especially for younger women who may need help managing menopause symptoms and protecting their bone and cardiovascular health.
While these findings won’t change overnight how endometriosis is treated, they add a new layer of urgency to conversations about its management — and a reminder that reproductive health is a lifelong journey.