Medically Induced Menopause
Medically induced menopause happens when ovarian function (which is producing eggs and releasing hormones) is stopped – temporarily or permanently – as a direct result of a medical treatment or surgical procedure, rather than through the natural ageing process.
Medically induced menopause typically happens before a woman’s natural age of menopause.
In other words, a woman has not yet experienced natural menopause. Rather, a medical treatment or surgical procedure has been administered that causes menopause.
It is different from natural early menopause which can occur spontaneously.
Medically induced menopause can happen at any age.
The medical term for this is iatrogenic menopause. It may also be referred to as surgical menopause, chemical menopause, or treatment-induced menopause depending on its cause.
Medically induced menopause in women who are typically premenopausal (who still have menstrual periods and are in the reproductive stage) – will navigate early menopause and its potential long term health risks.
How medically induced menopause differs from natural menopause
The main difference is the speed and completeness of hormonal change.
In natural menopause – oestrogen and progesterone levels swing or fluctuate significantly and unpredictably, while trending downwards overall over many years. This gives the body some time to get used to these hormonal changes.
In medically induced menopause, particularly surgical menopause, the hormonal change can be immediate and complete.
Women often say it is going from full hormonal activity to very low hormone levels overnight – with the body not having time to get used to the hormone changes.
This is why medically induced menopause tends to cause more sudden and severe, or intense, symptoms than natural menopause – as the hormonal change occurs suddenly rather than over months or years.
For many women, this makes the menopause experience feel overwhelming.
It is also important to remember that women who experience medically induced menopause are also likely to be dealing with the physical, emotional and psychological impacts of a serious illness (such as cancer) at the same time.
Medically induced menopause – through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy – may mean that some women experience menopause earlier than they would otherwise have. So, for many women, they are not only dealing with cancer or another serious illness, but are also possibly dealing with not being able to become pregnant, and the health consequences of menopause (and premature/early menopause for women younger than 45 years).
It is very important that you talk about the impact your menopause may have on your health – particularly your heart health, bone health and mental health. If your doctors or healthcare providers do not raise this with you – it is important that you ask them about this.
If you are navigating or dealing with medically induced menopause, it is also important that you speak with your doctor or healthcare providers about your menopause symptoms.
My Menopause SA
Evidence-based menopause information for South African women.
Page last reviewed: 1 March 2026
Next review due: 1 March 2027