National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)

Symptoms of early menopause vary considerably. For some women, the only symptom of menopause is that their monthly periods stop. Most symptoms of menopause are temporary and will ease with time.Not all women treated for ovarian cancer will experience menopausal symptoms. In particular, older women who have already gone through menopause and are not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are less likely to have symptoms. However, younger women who are premenopausal, and those who have been taking HRT and then stop may be more likely to have symptoms.

Some women find it helpful to keep a diary of their symptoms to discuss with a member of their health care team.

This section describes some of the common symptoms of menopause and includes suggestions about lifestyle changes that can help reduce symptoms and make them easier to manage. These suggestions will not stop the symptoms completely. However, it’s worth noting that lifestyle changes may bring other physical and mental benefits in the future.

Find out more about:

• Irregular menstrual periods
• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Bladder symptoms
• Sleep disturbance
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Mood changes
• Stress and emotional worries
• Effects on sexuality and libido
• Effects on memory
• Bone and joint pain
• Weight gain