With early menopause, the ovaries run out of eggs earlier than expected and result in the ovaries not being able to produce an egg and hormones required to achieve a pregnancy. Very rarely, (about a 2-5 per cent lifetime chance) a woman may have a spontaneous pregnancy after diagnosis of early menopause.

Sometimes, early menopause is diagnosed when a couple are being investigated for fertility. If the woman's ovaries fail to respond to hormones used to produce eggs or if eggs that are produced fail to fertilise, these may be signs of early menopause developing. Male infertility should be excluded prior to any decisions via a semen/sperm test.

For a woman who has gone through early menopause, her options for having children are: 

• Donor egg
• Surrogacy with donor egg
• Adoption

Ask for a referral to a fertility specialist who is a member of one of the Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) clinics. There are different issues for each woman depending on the reason for her early menopause.

Premature ovarian failure / primary ovarian insufficiency (not necessarily 'menopause', as not always permanent)

• Still have some follicles but do not respond to IVF therapy
• 2-5 per cent lifetime chance of spontaneous pregnancy
• Need donor egg - ask your specialist

Menopause after chemotherapy  

• Pre-chemotherapy counselling regarding preservation/embryo freezing.
• Ovarian hormone suppression
• Ovarian biopsy
• Ask for a referral to a fertility specialist who can discuss the options for trying to save eggs for conception.

Although these techniques are still fairly new, you should know about your options.

Egg preservation:

This takes place before chemotherapy. The ovaries are hormonally stimulated and eggs collected. If you have a permanent partner, the eggs can be fertilised with partner's sperm and embryos frozen. When pregnancy is desired, the embryos are transferred into the uterus.

If you do not have a partner, then the eggs may be frozen. When pregnancy is desired, the eggs are thawed and a partner's sperm or donor sperm is used to fertilise them. (This technology is still in development and the success is limited).

Ovarian preservation:

Some women are given therapy with a GnRH agonist - a hormone which causes a chemical temporary menopause - to suppress the ovary and eggs temporarily. This therapy is given during chemotherapy. After chemotherapy ceases, the GnRH agonist is ceased and the menstrual cycle should return.

Ovarian biopsy with freezing:

This takes place before chemotherapy. A piece of ovary is excised and frozen. After therapy, ovarian tissue is transplanted under skin and with hormone stimulation, eggs are collected. This technique is still in the research phase.

It is important to seek appropriate advice from a fertility specialist, your other doctors and a counsellor who is looking after you.

Early menopause FAQs

1. Will early menopause affect my fertility?

Yes, most women are unable to conceive a baby after going through early menopause. When spontaneous early menopause happens, there is a very small possibility of getting pregnant naturally.

2. Can I have children if it is picked up early?

When both ovaries have reduced "ovarian reserve", the chances of pregnancy are very low.

3. Is IVF an option?

IVF is an option with a donor egg, or previously preserved ovaries, eggs or embryos.

Content updated March 23, 2010