Yes, celiac disease can cause early or premature menopause.
Menopause normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55; menopause is considered early if it occurs in a woman before age 45, and premature if it occurs before age 40. Numerous medical studies have noted that women with celiac disease -- especially undiagnosed celiac disease -- often go through menopause very early, sometimes even as soon as their mid-30s.
Women who go through menopause early or prematurely have a higher risk of osteoporosis, which also has been linked to celiac disease. It's possible that the malnutrition resulting from the malabsorption of nutrients in untreated celiac disease may cause both early menopause and osteoporosis.
Celiac disease also can cause amenorrhea, which might be mistaken for early menopause in some cases. Many women who thought they had gone through an early or premature menopause have gotten their periods back after being diagnosed with celiac disease and adopting a gluten-free diet. Some even have become pregnant (celiac disease also is associated with infertility).
Source:
D. Martinelli et al. Reproductive life disorders in Italian celiac women. A case-control study. BMC Gastroenterology. 2010 Aug 6;10:89.
