Doctors say high levels of stress and pollution are causing premature ovarian failure in Chinese women at an early age. Photo: IC
By Li Lin
Cici Liang, 29 was left alone in her home after having had a huge fight with her boyfriend. He had slammed the door on her, with strong words of warning.
"Because you have no periods, no sexual desire, and a bad temper, you should go see the doctor and take medicine for your menopause," he said.
Liang said the fight took place about one month ago, when she first realized there was something wrong with her. She looked up her symptoms on the Internet and found she was in line with most of the ones for perimenopausal syndrome (MPS), which describe what women experience before and after menopause.
"I became increasingly picky, it was easier for me to lose my temper, and a small amount of exercise, like walking up the stairs, would make me sweat," Liang said. "After I went to the hospital, I was diagnosed with minor premature ovarian failure (POF), and since then, I have been receiving treatment."
According to Ruan Xiangyan, director of the endocrinology department at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, POF is the root cause of MPS.
"When the ovaries fail, estrogen decreases, and almost every part of a woman's body is affected," Ruan said in a Beijing Youth Daily report in 2013.
"Most women who report having early menopause are in their late 30s, but now in China, more women have been experiencing early menopause symptoms, some even before they are 30 years old."
Li Yuan, director of the reproductive center at Chaoyang Hospital said she had met a 28-year-old patient who could not get pregnant and wanted to conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF), but her ovarian function was so poor that IVF would not work.
"Now, there are more elite, white collar women, who are successful in their careers suffering from POF," Li said, explaining that one of the biggest causes of POF is high pressure from a career and family. "Most POF patients have experienced high levels of stress at work when they are around 30, and no later than 40 they show symptoms."
Experts say that despite the fact that Chinese women are getting POF at an earlier age, the awareness about this condition needs to be improved. Ruan said many of her patients would go for years without reporting missed periods. Most came to her only to report insomnia, anxiety, or the inability to get pregnant, and were later told that they had POF.
Li warned that women should build good habits in their daily life to prevent POF. She said heavy metals in disposable tableware, polluted air and cosmetic products may affect ovarian function.
Women should also pay attention to the food they eat. "A decreased intake of fat, meat, milk and eggs reduces cholesterol levels, and thus affects the production of estrogen," Li said
To reverse symptoms of early menopause, Li said women should seek professional treatment from a doctor and should not self-prescribe estrogen pills because it could cause additional complications, like blood clots.
Guo Jun, director of andrology in Xiyuan Hospital, said a "modern" man in China also faces the risks of a decline in sexual reproductive health starting as early as when they are 30 years old.
A decrease of the male hormone testosterone can be accelerated by high stress levels, lack of sleep, tension in the relationship with a partner, smoking and drinking
Check for yourself
If you have four or more of these symptoms, you may need to ask your doctor about premature ovarian failure.
1. Decreased sexual desire
2. Decreased body strength and endurance
3. Decreased physical agility
4. Decrease in height
5. Less interest in life
6. Mood swings
7. Fatigue after a meal
8. Decreased performance at work