Smoking and Its Effects on Menopause

Smoking and Menopause: How are they Linked

A woman does not reach menopause suddenly. Several changes, especially hormonal changes take place within her body and the menstrual cycle slows down gradually. The body of a woman in perimenopausal stage and premenopausal stage exhibits several symptoms like irregular menstrual cycle, hot flashes, night sweats, high heart rate, increased irritability, loss of libido, insomnia, etc. Studies show that the percentage of women experiencing menopause at ‘premature age’ has significantly increased over the last few years. Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries), obesity, genetic factors, certain illnesses and treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, bad habits like smoking, drug/alcohol abuse can be the reason behind an early menopause. A number of researchers are busy studying smoking and its effects on menopause.

According to the study reports presented by the researchers of the Massachusetts General Hospital, the specific gene ‘Bax’ and the genetic receptor ‘Ahr’ trigger the onset of menopause when activated; and the chemicals that the body receives through smoking activate these genetic factors that destroy the ovarian cells. Thus, smoking affects the average menopause age.

Smoking and its effects on menopause may vary from woman to woman depending upon whether the woman belongs to the class of ex-smokers or current smokers and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Smoking affects the health of the arteries which in turn can affect the blood supply to the ovaries and can trigger an early menopause. Several study reports show that smokers have a higher risk of reaching menopause at an earlier age than non-smokers. Smokers show higher rate of infertility than non-smokers as smoking is responsible for the toxic effects on ovaries. Smoking speeds up the rates of follicular atresia. Several studies have thrown light on the fact that, more the number of cigarettes smoked, higher is the rate of inception of perimenopause.

According to the study reports presented by the ‘International Journal of Epidemiology’, early menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis and heart diseases. As ovaries stop functioning, the woman loses estrogen that helps control bone loss. Once the woman attains menopause, bones become weak and porous. Loss of bone density increases the risk of fractures. Hormonal changes lead to weight gain after menopause which in turn results in increased blood pressure and increased risk of heart diseases.

As smokers reach menopause earlier, they need hormone replacement therapy (HRT) earlier. Studies show that the severity of the peri- and premenopausal symptoms is higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Smokers may have to face certain side effects of HRT as they opt for it earlier than non-smokers. Since smoking is linked to earlier menopause, quitting smoking as early as possible is the only way of preventing health complications after early menopause.

Effects of Smoking on Menopause

Certain studies were conducted by the Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway and by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo. The reports say that: