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Does stress cause menopause?

In researching articles on menopause, I found one that explains that "extreme stress, grief, or emotional upheaval" may trigger menopause or menopause symptoms.  Sometimes this is a temporary menopause.

My husband died unexpectedly six months ago and my employer put me through an federal inquisition over the bills, mostly medical bills, that my husband left to me.  In short, I have been very stressed.

I don't find much on this particular topic and would like to hear from anyone who believes herself to be in a menopausal stage triggered by stress.  If so, was it temporary?  Were the symptoms different than what most women experience, perhaps more sudden?  Know of any good articles on this subject?
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Avatar universal
My 18 yr old son passed away unexpectedly in 2014. I was 43 at the time with normal periods, but  I never had another period since that day. Doctor tested me after 6 months and said that I was definitely in menopause and that it was brought on by the trauma of that day. I have experienced hot flashes and that is about it so far.
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Avatar universal
I too have this question! I had a very high stress job for 3.5 years plus other personal stresses going on.  I was always regular and then towards the end of those 3.5 years of the high stress job - nothing - for almost two years now!  I thought perhaps menopause???  We moved and I haven't worked for the past 3 yrs.  I started taking OTC Estroven x-strength the past 5-6 mths to ward off hotflashes and sleepless nights.  It took care of those issues!  My life now is pretty much stress free.  Last week I began bleeding.  Could stress have been the cause for me to just stop having periods?  Would love to hear if others have experienced the same.
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Avatar universal
My son was killed when cycling at the age of 20, in 2012, coming up 5 years ago.  I had a period at the time which stopped and I've never had one again since.  Just now I find that I'm bloating and have period pains again, and sometimes I feel my heart again, which has been numb for 5 years too.. I've been unable to feel love etc, but can seem to feel anxiety.  I still love my other son, I just can't feel it.. I think it, and I act happy even though I can't feel that emotion in my heart.  It's occurred to me that I have had PTSD, and maybe I'm now thawing out.  Maybe my periods will come back too.. I'll let you know if so.
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Avatar universal
http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/how-to-beat-weight-gain-after-menopause/?utm_campaign=cc+posts&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=140124+menopause+weight+gain&dynid=facebook-_-cc+posts-_-social-_-social-_-140124+menopause+weight+gain
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1 Comments
So I know this is an older thread, but I'm so glad it is here...for women in the future, as well.
At 36, four months after the birth of my daughter...I fell into deep, deep post-pardum anxiety. I knew something was wrong, but (as I have trouble asking for help when it's needed)...I didn't get diagnosed for another four months.
The same month I was diagnosed, I survived the most severe case of stalking in the history of Sac County. I survived by the skin of my teeth. I felt unsafe, 24 hours a day, and even though he ended up on prison- my sense of peace was gone. I had to be in 'mama-bear' mode with a 8 month old and 2 yr old, and my husband worked a lot.
Half my hair fell out. It didn't help the PPD itself lasted around a year and a half. Also, my stalker is believed to be a serial killer that had flown under the radar for a long time. He got out of prison when my daughter turned two. That became a new adjustment to deal with, as law enforcement is still trying to connect him to other missing women.
Okay- (trauma story told) onto early menopause and my experience.  Most the women in my family go through menopause late. Around 55-57 years old. I noticed at age 37 my periods totally changed. Half the length they used to be. Facial hair popped up a bit, and hot flashes and night sweats started. I thought to myself, there is no way this is menopause! It was. I spoke to one of my older cousins, and after a horrific car crash- the same thing happened to her at age 38. So there is definitely a correlation.
I can't even imagine the loss of a child, or my spouse- so my deepest sympathy to you warrior women who have gone through that level of trauma.
I have found one positive thing in my research though...
That is, early menopause seems to last longer but is not as severe or as intense as regular menopause. It's longer, but a bit more gentle on the body and mind.
Take care gals. We may be the fairer sex- but we definitely are not the weaker.
Avatar universal
I am sooo glad I found ya'll!  I turned 43 in Nov.  I found out 3 days later my adopted Mom had passed away on Nov. 3rd.  I startedm y period immediately for 3 weeks.  SEVERE hot flashes all day, night sweats kept me from sleeping.  I started taking Estroven & I haven't had another period since end of Nov. but hot flashes & night sweats stopped also. I now have black circles under my eyes I got overnight one night.  I've gained 10 pounds in a month.  No energy.  No appetite.  I eat a piece of chicken 7 I'm full.  IS THERE A NATURAL HELP WITHOUT MANMADE HORMONES?  I do not go to doctors if no need.  Will I start my period back?  I just feel like my life is over when I now see young women in pretty clothes & I have sagging thighs, now a size 6 instead of a 4...almost overnight & am afraid I am still gaining, hair is limp & no life, sagging skin around my knees.  I never really grieved as my job & BF kept me busy w/everything needing done w/my family home I am trying to save from foreclosure from a sale that went bad, animals, property management, and home sales....never a day off did I take for me during all of this.  I don't mind the absence of periods, but this hair growth on my face I now shave & weight gain has me so depressed I can't pull out of it.  I have no friends or family.  No insurance either.  Such is life I reckon.  
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Avatar universal
Shock induced menopause is slowly being recognized by the medical community. I'm truly sorry for your family's loss
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Avatar universal
I discovered my husband was having an affair and within two months lost my job of more than 10 years.  That was when I was 39.  I stopped eating and lost 30 pounds rapidly.  I also began drinking heavily.  My periods became  irregular and had completely stopped by my 41st birthday, which incidentally coincided with the finality of my divorce.  That was 3 1/2 years ago.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My mother spontaneously entered menopause when my father died unexpectedly in a boating accident.  They were raising eight (yes...eight) children, and ran their own business.  My father's sudden death left my mother to raise us all alone, with some in university at the time (and the rest of us going to university, eventually), and a business to run by herself.  She was 48 when my father was killed, and never had another period.

So, yes, apparently it can happen.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi !

Oh Lord, I can so empathise peaps.

My son age 22 died suddenly in June 2013, and I ahven't ahd a period since.  I am 49, and have been regular and quite heavy.  Definately not pregnant (recently had normal smear test result) and use a standard copper coil fro contraception, over 5 years now.

So am wondering if thsi is temporary or have I gone itnho menopause.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so sorry to hear about your son, I really am.....that must have been very hard to get through.....as a result, did you go into menopause then permanently following that? sorry again for your loss.
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Avatar universal
My son died at 19 from Pulmonary Emboli, I found him on the floor dying. I went into Trauma induced Menopause, that was almost 6 years ago.
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Avatar universal
Wow, sorry to hear of your hair loss. Have you had an in depth check of your thyroid? If not I would have it checked to be sure.

I had been sent into menopause at 38 yrs old due to the sudden loss of my son in a car accident. I immediately stopped having my cycle, prior to this I was very regular. When my Dr. tested me she confirmed I was in full menopause. I had no or few other symptoms. Everything just stopped and so did my metabolism. in the 9 plus years I have gained and cannot lose weight. I was never heavier than 150 lb until this loss. I believe my body was trying to shut down.
My answer to this is a traumatic event can send you into menopause, it happened to me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Am wondering if severe stress has caused what appears to be menopause. With the onset of insane events in my life, my periods stopped. I have symptoms that follow menopausal patterns, and would be fine with menopause except not sure. My periods were fairly regular - every 24-32 days - and then suddenly stopped. Have to say, with the stress and an inability to stomach food, I probably lost 20-25 pounds, with probably 5 of those being in hair loss. I MISS MY HAIR!! I go for months upon months without my menstrual cycle. The severe stress has eased off, but I am beyond exhausted by the events, and there is a profound sadness that hangs over me still. Any ideas out there?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 421/2 years old. I have missed my period a few times over the years. This hasn't happened to me in a while, but for the month of June I did not have a period. It is now July 12th and still nothing. My tubes are tied , but my husband and I are trying to get a reversal. Can anyone tell me if I am just stressed out or going through premenopausal. If it is premenopausal can I still have a reversal and a succesful pregancy? Thanks for the help
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks, I am sorry to hear about your cancer.  I've never been through chemo, but I I'm told that it ain't for sissies.  

My husband didn't feel well this past Christmas Eve.   I wanted to take him to the clinic, but he said no.  He was afraid he would be admitted and he didn't want to "ruin Christmas for the kids" by being hospitalized.  Christmas Day, we gathered around the tree.  He came in, sat down, wheezed, gasped, slumped over, and died.  Heart attack.  Needless to say, it really ruined Christmas for the kids.

My job requires me to have a perfect credit report, and the resulting bills created more problems.  I have been so busy with work/credit problems, it interfered with the natural grieving process.

Now, things are smoothing out.  My job status is restored, and I am on the other side of the shock/grief of losing my husband.  I have just recently noticed several physical problems, including sudden symptoms of menopause.  I turned to the council of my favorite support group -- my female co-workers.  They say my reaction is common.  A woman is as strong as she has to be.  Her body tends to react to stress after it is all over, when she is in a "safe place."

So, I hope that when you beat this cancer, you will remember this.  Prepare for the stress to hit and take some time to heal your mind.  You might want to start thinking now about all the nice things you will do for yourself when you are on the other side of your chemo treatments.

Take good care of you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So sorry to hear that your husband died suddenly. That happened to my sisters husband at age 40 and it was a nightmare as you well know.

But anyway, I don't have any info at hand or even know of any, but I wanted to share something with you which is sort of related to what you are saying as far as shock, trauma or stress effecting the body.

I was diagnosed with a chronic illness HCV - came as a TOTAL SHOCK and that next menstrual NEVER CAME  BACK the following month and that was 2 years ago!  I told the doctor that I believe that the shock of hearing I have a disease that could kill me made my body go into like a "Post traumatic stress disorder". Also my DHEA has been high ever since and so I started googling and I came across studies that showed when men came home from war and had PTSD,their DHEA was high also.... So some of my doctors listen and think I have a good theory and some don't say much. My PCP thinks I think out of the box all the time and that my theories make total sense.

Again, so very sorry to hear about your husband. I know I couldn't deal with that right now or ever actually, I hope I go first - I always tell him that. I hope you are alot stronger than I am.

But anyhow, you may want to check and see if your DHEA is high also. Not that the doctors got mine to lower. Mine is still high and I think its all stress related. BTW menstrual never came back.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help but this chemo has me a little queezy in the mornings and I don't have the energy to look through to find studies, but if I feel better later, the afternoons are better, I will try to find time. Gotta run.

Hope you feel better soon,
MO
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Avatar universal
I don't think that stress itself would, I've had a lot of stress, I'm 56 and still having periods!  But I would think that stress if it leads to weight loss by not eating probably would. It could be related to fat, estrogen binds to fat cells.  And yes, I can stand to lose some weight which is easier said than done. : (
Helpful - 0
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