No, PCOS does not cause early menopause; in fact, women with PCOS often experience menopause a few years later than average (around ages 51-53) due to a larger ovarian reserve, meaning they have more follicles and higher AMH levels, which extends their reproductive years. While menopause might be delayed, the hormonal imbalances of PCOS continue, and symptoms like weight gain, insulin resistance, and irregular cycles often overlap with perimenopause, requiring careful management.
Having PCOS can delay menopause
One study shows that women with PCOS can go through menopause an average of two years later than women without the condition.
Premature menopause symptoms mirror natural menopause, including irregular or missed periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes (anxiety, irritability, depression), vaginal dryness, low libido, and fatigue, often appearing before age 40. Other signs can involve joint/muscle aches, urinary issues, difficulty concentrating, skin/hair changes, and weight shifts, with potential for severe symptoms due to lower estrogen, impacting long-term health like bone density.
There are common menopause symptoms that can ALSO appear in those with PCOS, including: Irregular or missed menstrual cycles (although with perimenopause, this symptom will be new whereas in PCOS, it's a lifelong symptom) Weight gain.
A reduced GH, increased LEAP-2 levels, high LH basal, increased LH/FSH ratio, high androgens, and low estrogen are demonstrated in PCOS and linked to infertility.
In the United States, the average age of menopause is 51. Menopause between ages 40 and 45 is considered “early menopause,” and before 40 is called “premature menopause.” About 5% of women experience early menopause, and roughly 1% of women go through premature menopause.
Unlike our study, in above three studies, ≥35 or >40 years age at last delivery showed older age at menopause compared with women with younger age at last delivery.
You can get home tests to check FSH levels in your urine without a prescription. The tests show whether you have higher FSH levels. This might mean that you're in perimenopause or menopause.
Perimenopause, the transition to menopause, is often broken down into four overlapping stages focusing on menstrual cycle changes: the Late Reproductive Stage (slight cycle variations), Early Perimenopause (cycles vary by 7+ days), Late Perimenopause (cycles 60+ days apart, skipping periods), and finally, Menopause (12 months without a period), marking the end of perimenopause's hormonal fluctuations. Symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and brain fog can appear in any stage, though they often intensify in later stages as hormone drops become more significant, especially progesterone.
The first signs of perimenopause often involve changes to your menstrual cycle, such as irregular periods (longer, shorter, heavier, lighter, or missed periods), alongside common symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood swings (anxiety/irritability), and vaginal dryness, all due to fluctuating estrogen levels. Other early signs can include forgetfulness, brain fog, changes in libido, headaches, sore breasts, or increased joint/muscle pain.
Research has shown that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of PCOS, but its exact cause remains unknown. The symptoms of PCOS tend to run in families, so genetics have long been a focus of PCOS research.
For many women, PCOS doesn't feel the same every day. Not every woman with PCOS experiences “flare-ups” in the same way, but many describe them as times when symptoms become more noticeable or harder to manage, like breakouts, heavier hair shedding, mood swings or a particularly irregular cycle.
PCOS and perimenopause may have several overlapping symptoms, making it challenging to know what's what during this transition. Possible symptoms that may result from PCOS or perimenopause include: Acne and other skin issues. Irregular or missed periods.
Reasons for early or premature menopause can include:
Stage 4: Advanced PCOS with Associated Complications. In the final stage, PCOS may lead to more severe complications, often requiring more intensive medical management. Long-term risks associated with advanced PCOS include: Endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the uterine lining)
Common symptoms of the menopause include:
Here are the top five vitamins essential for female wellness during menopause.
Hormonal imbalances show up as symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight changes, irregular periods, skin issues (acne), hair changes, sleep problems, brain fog, low libido, digestive issues, and temperature sensitivity, affecting energy, body functions, and mental well-being, often linked to stress, thyroid, or reproductive hormones.
As women “use up” the eggs they were born with, by age 40, many women deplete their ovarian reserve and have difficulty producing enough good-quality eggs to make it to implantation, even with stimulation.
A menopause baby is a term used to describe a baby conceived during perimenopause (the transitional stage before menopause) or, in rare cases, after menopause. Perimenopause typically begins in a woman's 40s, but for some, it may start as early as their late 30s.
Can you reverse early menopause? You can't reverse menopause or make your ovaries function normally again. However, your provider can help reduce the symptoms and side effects of menopause. In the case of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), there's a small possibility you'll regain ovarian function.
Menopause between 41 and 45 years of age is called early menopause. It is a rare case of a girl Amanda who started experiencing symptoms of premature ovarian insufficiency known as early menopause when she was 11 years old. She turned out to be the youngest person in the UK to have experienced it.
Some females report vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause, usually in the first year after menopause. This is called 'postmenopausal bleeding'. It is common in the first 4 to 6 months of menopause hormone therapy (MHT), also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Hot flashes or flushes are, by far, the most common symptom of menopause. About 75% of all women have these sudden, brief, periodic increases in their body temperature.