Can Menopause Cause Cancer?

Menopause is a natural process in women which takes place at the age between 40 and 50. In this process, estrogen level decreases and ovaries stop functioning. It is the end of women's menstrual cycle. For some women it is a blessing while for others it is a nightmare.

Cancer itself is a very scary word for everyone, irrespective of gender. It can develop in any organ of the body and can spread easily to other parts. There are several treatments of cancer, which are very painful themselves and have many side effects on body and health. Some types of cancer are incurable and can also be fatal.

Women, in their menopausal age, are already going through emotional and mental depression as the side effect of menopause and the thought that menopause can develop cancer is very frightening for them.

It is a very controversial debate for scientists and researchers to decide whether menopause can be a cause of cancer or not? After extensive research, it was discovered that:

- Menopause is not listed as a cause of cancer, but the risk of cancer in postmenopausal women is higher than in premenopausal women. Woman's age, at which she reaches menopause, has an impact on her likelihood of developing certain types of cancer.

- Women who get early menstruation, at age of 12, but have late menopause after age of 55, are at higher risk of developing cancer of ovaries, breast or uterus. Uterine and breast cancer are caused due to prolonged exposure to estrogen. Long history of menstruation means that the woman had a longer exposure to high estrogen level during her reproductive years so she is at more risk to get cancer.

- The chance of developing ovarian cancer depends on the total count of ovulations a woman had. The long menstrual history increases the chances of ovarian cancer because the woman ovulates more.

- Symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and vaginal dryness are treated by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in which estrogen and progestin are combined. Recently it was discovered that hormone replacement therapy increases the breast cancer risk in women. Now after the latest research, they are advised not to take "combined hormone replacement therapy."

Research work on how to reduce the risk of cancer due to menopause is in progress to improve the life quality of women who are near or in menopausal age.