Menopause Society Practice Exam

Ovarian function can be irreversibly damaged by cancer treatments, leading to iatrogenic menopause. Chemotherapy, especially alkylating agents, can destroy ovarian follicles and cause permanent cessation of estrogen production in premenopausal women. Pelvic radiation can directly injure the ovaries or their blood supply, producing ovarian failure and menopause. Together, these two approaches are well known for inducing menopause in patients who have not yet reached natural menopause. Hormone therapy may cause low estrogen symptoms by suppressing ovarian function or blocking estrogen effects, but it is not typically a primary cause of menopause itself.