The good news is that a new study does highlight some positive findings for women who begin the menopause before the age of 46. The team of Swedish researchers have found that women who go through an early menopause are much less likely to develop a severe version of rheumatoid arthritis than women who go through the menopause at the normal time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is quite common in women, especially older women. It has a detrimental effect on the wellbeing as it causes pain and inflammation in the joints, and can be difficult to manage. The new study indicates that these women who experience early menopause may be as much as 50 percent less likely to experience the debilitating disease.
The average age for going through the menopause is 51, with the normal range being between 46 and 63. It is defined as being the time after which a woman’s menstrual periods cease. During this time, the levels of oestrogen in the female body reduce significantly and these hormonal changes can cause unpleasant side effects such as depression, mood swings, hot flashes and headaches.
Investigators have announced that women who experience this difficult process earlier in their lives have a 16 percent chance of developing arthritis, which is far less than the normal rate of 35 percent in women who go through the menopause during the normal time frame.
The study links hormone changes to the presence of rheumatoid arthritis and indicates that further research into the link is required.