Cancer gene mutation causes early menopause

According to a US study of over a thousand women, women with the BRCA mutations that is linked to higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer may hit menopause earlier than other women. The study led by researchers at UC San Francisco also found that in women with the mutation heavy smokers experienced menopause even earlier than non-smokers.

Since they have briefer reproductive window and possibly a higher risk of infertility, the scientists said that women with the abnormal gene mutation should consider having children sooner. Mitchell Rosen, who worked on the study said, 'Now they have an additional issue to deal with.'

It is estimated that one in 600 U.S. women carries the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. According to the National Cancer Institute, with a BRCA mutation a woman's chance of getting breast cancer at some point in her life increases from 12 to 60%, and that of ovarian cancer from 1.4% to between 15 and 40%.

This is the first controlled study to explore the association between BRCA1 and BRCA 2 and the age at onset of menopause, the researchers said. They surveyed 382 California women who carried the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and another 765 women who weren't known carriers focussing specifically on women who went through menopause naturally, and not those who had their ovaries removed before menopause. Women with the genetic mutations reported achieving menopause at age 50, on average, compared to age 53 for other women. Women with a BRCA mutation who were also heavy smokers, achieved menopause at age 46.

'Our findings show that mutation of these genes has been linked to early menopause, which may lead to a higher incidence of infertility,' said Mitchell Rosen. 'This can add to the significant psychological implications of being a BRCA1or 2 carrier, and will likely have an impact on reproductive decision-making,' Rosen added.

Women who carry the mutations have their ovaries removed surgically before going through natural menopause. Ellen Matloff, director of cancer genetic counseling at the Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut said that those women are already advised to get their ovaries taken out by age 40, which puts a 'huge burden' on them to find a partner and start a family. Adding that more research will be needed to confirm these findings and their impact, if any, Matloff said, 'This study does not mean that you can't have children, and it doesn't mean that you have less time than you thought you did.'

The study appeared in the journal Cancer.