Very Early Menopause Could Raise Odds for Breast, Ovarian Cancers [Video]

Key Takeaways

Menopause before the age of 40 is rare, but cancer risks may rise when it does happenThe excess risk extended even to the relatives of women affected by very early menopauseWomen who experience very early menopause may need more cancer screening, researchers said

TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Menopause before the age of 40 could raise a woman’s long-term risk for breast or ovarian cancers, new research suggests.

Besides that, “there is also higher risk of breast, prostate and colon cancer in relatives of these women” noted study author Dr. Corrine Welt. She’s chief of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.

Menopause before the age of 40 is rare, and is sometimes clinically known as “primary ovarian insufficiency” — a shutdown of normal ovarian function prior to a woman’s 40s.

In the new study, Welt’s team tracked the health histories of 613 …