A study from Europe, published in Jan 2008, investigated the risk of having a premature menopause among women treated with chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In the group of 600 women who were a part of the study, it was found that nearly half had the likelihood of developing menopause before the age of 40. That is a 12-fold higher risk compared to the general population.

It is well known that certain chemo drugs can suppress the follicles in the ovary that mature every month and cause menstrual periods. This study showed that two drugs belonging to the group of chemo drugs called ‘alkylating agents' – procarbazine and cyclophosphamide (especially the former) – were the most likely culprits for this. Unfortunately both these drugs are very effective against Hodgkin’s and a part of the best chemo regimens against the disease. Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and cures the majority of patients with this disease, even when the disease is advanced.

It seems that till the time safer drugs are found that produce results just as good as these agents, thousands of women with Hodgkin’s will just have to accept the risk of a premature menopause and its effects on their body and health.