If you have not gone through menopause, you may experience menopausal symptoms after your treatment. These include hot flushes, night sweats, dry skin, vaginal dryness, decreased sex drive (low libido), low mood, poor concentration and difficulty in sleeping. You might get these symptoms if your ovaries are affected by treatments such as:
- Radiotherapy to your pelvic area (unless you had your ovaries moved (transposed) before treatment)
- Certain chemotherapy drugs
- Surgery to remove your ovaries (this treatment is rare but will definitely cause early menopause)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Most of the menopausal symptoms can be prevented or reversed by replacing the hormones that your ovaries previously made using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs.
If you are younger, it is very important that these hormones are replaced to protect your bones and improve menopausal symptoms.
You may not be suitable for HRT if:
- You have a family history of breast, ovarian or womb cancer, as the hormones may encourage these cancers to grow.
- Have a history of blood clots, heart disease or stroke
- Have untreated high blood pressure – you will need to have medication to treat this before starting HRT
- You have liver disease
- You are pregnant
Read more about managing menopausal symptoms.