Introduction:

Grief is a universal experience that touches every aspect of our lives, affecting us emotionally and physically. At the same time, menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life, typically occurring in her late 40s or early 50s. But can grief cause early menopause? Let’s delve into the emotional rollercoaster of Grief and its potential impact on hormonal balance.

 

Understanding Grief:

Grief is not just a feeling; rather, it is a sensation of response toward loss. It includes losing someone or something who is no longer with us, and we have a close bond with it. It is an emotional reaction toward the loss.

It is a process that unfolds in stages. From denial and anger to bargaining, depression, and acceptance, it takes a toll on our emotional well-being. But Grief is not confined to hearts; it affects our bodies, too. Stress, a common companion of Grief, can trigger a cascade of physiological responses, disrupting our bodies’ delicate balance of hormones.

Grief has social, behavioural, Spiritual, cognitive, and cultural impacts. However, Grief is not only associated with losing someone dear; rather, it occurs due to unemployment, bad relations, poor health, and prolonged illness. All these constitute Grief.

Exploring Early Menopause:

Early Menopause, on the other hand, is an unnatural biological event marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It typically happens in midlife, bringing a series of physical and hormonal changes. Most women experience menopause in their late 40s or early 50s, with a gradual decline in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Early menopause typically occurs before the age of 40. It usually initiates naturally or as a consequence of some pathological condition like oophorectomy, radiation or chemotherapy, or chromosomal abnormalities.

Process of Grief:

The process of Grief is complex and different for everyone. There are five stages of Grief which are:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Here, it is important to remember that everyone can experience a different sequence of events mentioned above. Various other factors contribute; sometimes, other feelings or emotions may overlap a person’s thoughts as they proceed through the grief process.

1. Denial:

• It is the 1st phase of the grief process and helps to reduce the intensification of pain that we experience at that time when we lose someone. During this phase, we not only try to tackle the emotional injury but also try to process the reality of the loss.
• The brain tries to process many painful memories and visuals; denials slow down the whole process beneficial for the brain, which otherwise causes feeling exhausted through emotions.
• It is quite common sometimes for people to experience the voice or even see the dead individual.

2. Anger:

• It is the 2nd phase of the grief process in which the individual tries to accept the new reality and suffers from emotional disturbance.
• Anger is the first emotion a person experiences in response to loss, causing the person to stay isolated from her thoughts.

3. Bargaining:

• It is the next phase of anger in which the suffering person tries to cope with reality. They want to do anything that aids them to minimize the emotional pain that they feel at that time.
• It usually begins from a feeling of dependency, which initiates one’s own personal regrets and guilt.

4. Depression:

• There is a time when the imagination of the suffering person becomes calm, and gradually, she starts to accept the reality of present circumstances. Now, bargaining no longer remains an option, and she tries to live in reality and bear the pain.
• At this stage, the feeling of loss intensified, which made her sad, less social and become an introvert. Depression in this stage is a natural phenomenon, and it is considered the most difficult phase of the grief process.

5. Acceptance:

• It is the final stage in which the person no longer remains in the feeling of pain.
• Now, at this phase, opposition to the situation and trying to change it does not remain. The individual completely accepts the reality, but sadness and regret remain there.

Contribution of hormones and neurotransmitters:

GRIEF PROCESS:

• Latest studies reveal that catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and cortisol levels rise in the person suffering from bereavement.
• During grief, numerous changes occur in the brain, particularly the limbic system, affecting mood. Dopamine and serotonin are responsible for pleasure and mood regulation. During griefing, these chemicals are not produced at normal levels, causing feelings of depression and low pleasure.

EARLY MENOPAUSE:

• Early menopause is associated with a sharp decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, which initiates the symptoms of menopause.
• Estrogen is related to releasing important neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates mood. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuation, along with other factors, constitute serotonin release disturbances leading to mood swings, a common symptom of menopause.

The interplay between Grief and Hormones:

Can grief cause early menopause? The answer may lie in the interplay between Grief and hormones. Chronic stress, a common outcome of Grief, has been linked to disruptions in the reproductive system. Research suggests that the hormonal imbalance induced by prolonged stress might influence the timing of menopause, potentially leading to an earlier onset.

Can Grief cause early menopause?

Before we start to find out the facts regarding whether grief can cause early menopause? We try to figure out the relationship between the hormones and the neurotransmitters that connect Grief and menopause.

Cortisol and grief Interlinking:

• Cortisol is the stress hormone produced by the body’s adrenal glands and aids in tackling stress-related circumstances. It boosts energy levels and manages sugar and blood pressure levels during stress.
• Usually, under normal conditions, the body has its mechanism to regulate cortisol levels after recovery from stress. But in the case of chronic stress in Grief, circulating cortisol levels rise constantly for a long period.
• On one side, these rising levels of cortisol disturb the body’s various physiological functions like sleep patterns, mood disturbance, etc.; on the other side, it will affect the reproductive hormones to a huge extent.

Effect of Cortisol on Estrogen:

• Increasing circulating cortisol levels are responsible for lowering the estrogen levels and initiates the associated symptoms like:

1. Irregular menstruation
2. Vaginal atrophy
3. Loss of libido
4. Excessive facial hair growth, etc

• Although these hormonal imbalances are curable, if left untreated for a long time, they lead to serious health outcomes, including early menopause. Here, it is interesting to know that high estrogen levels are also responsible for the upward cortisol levels.

Effect of Cortisol on Progesterone:

• Suppose we are talking about progesterone, another important hormone required for the prosperity of the female reproductive system. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries (corpus leuteum) in the placenta during pregnancy, and a small amount is produced by the body’s adrenal glands.
• Chronic stress, as occurs in Grief, bumps up the levels of cortisol in the body to cope with the associated functions simultaneously. It will cause a sharp decline in the progesterone levels. Pregnenalone is a precursor for cortisol and progesterone, which means whenever the body feels a situation of stress, pregnenalone gives priority to cortisol instead of progesterone. Another assumption is circulating cortisol levels will decrease progesterone levels, too. And if the process continues for a long time, it will increase the chances of ovarian failure or early menopause.

Interrelation between Serotonin and Estrogen:

• Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system; it also acts as a hormone performing a wide range of physiological actions across the body. Alternation in the serotonin levels will cause fluctuation in the estrogen levels in the female body at different life events.
• It is assumed that various estrogen-mediated physiological events are co-related with serotonin efficacy and distribution of receptors.
• In the CNS, estrogen impacts headache, dizziness and depression; all of these are consequences of low serotonin signalling and high levels of breakdown in the cleft.
• Estrogen monitors bone density, vascular physiology, and immunity outside the CNS, which are compatible with serotonin effects.
• So we can relate the above in the scenario of ‘can grief cause early menopause’, low levels of serotonin as in Grief for a long time can affect the estrogen levels and disturb the menstrual cycle and entire HPO-axis and may lead to early menopause.

Interrelation between Dopamine and Estrogen:

• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for satisfaction, pleasure and motivation. It also maintains sleep patterns, mood, memory, concentration and other functions.
• It is proven that the levels of dopamine decline in chronic stress and Grief. It is also associated with the loss of libido and hopelessness.
• Estrogen (estradiol) is concerned with the rapid regulation of dopamine through binding with specific estradiol-membrane receptors and aids in initiating motivational behaviours.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the question of whether Grief can cause early menopause opens a window into the intricate relationship between our emotions and hormonal balance. While the scientific community continues to explore this connection, it’s crucial to approach this topic with empathy and understanding. By acknowledging the potential impact of Grief on our bodies, we pave the way for further research, awareness, and compassionate support for those navigating the challenging intersection of Grief and hormonal changes.