Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Shaon1978]

Hi there everyone I am ne to the group

I have just had a blood test on Friday and had to make an appointment at the doctors, I have made an appointment this Thursday but asked if the doctor could ring me.

Anyway I am 36 years old and have been told I am post menopause state I haven't had a period for over 6 months  . I cant believe this has happened to me so young I am very upset.

I have joined this group as I think I will be needing lots of support.

Look forward to speaking with you all x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome Shaon1978
What a shock for you! You are not alone, we get lots of women of your age and younger who have experienced the same thing. 
I had a premature menopause which started in my mid 30s.  You will need to have HRT to replace the oestrogen you are missing and this will protect you from long term bone loss and heart disease and other problems like vaginal atrophy and bladder issues.
I recommend you try Femoston Sequi 1/10 to start with (you can increase to 2/10 if need be later) - I would ask for this type of HRT as many GPs tend to prescribe the older, cheaper HRT preparations like Prempak.  Femoston has a kinder, more bio identical, progesterone which results in fewer side effects and seems to suit many women very well. If you are offered a continuous HRT type I'd ask to try the sequential type first so you can see whether the progesterone suits you.  I certainly stayed on a sequential HRT for most of the last 20 years - though you have to put up with a short withdrawal bleed each month I preferred it to the taking progesterone all the time.
Sorry if I'm bombarding you with too much info at this stage but it's good to go to the GP  really clued up so you know the right  questions to ask.
Read up all the info under the headings to the left of this screen, particularly about HRT preparations.
The other site you really ought to visit is: http://www.daisynetwork.org.uk
You don't have to join but you can access their info which is very good.
Keep us posted.  Get back to us with questions etc. Good luck. DG x

[Shaon1978]

Thank you for this information Dancinggirl 

I think at the moment I am still in shock, and very upset need to get my head around it, and now I will be unable to have children which is upsetting as I don't have a family and would of liked to.

I need to think of as many questions as I can for Thursday but cant seem to think at the moment.

Sharon x

[Dancinggirl]

You poor thing - this is quite a blow for you.
My mother experienced an early menopause at 37(so did my grandmother!!) and didn't tell me.  She had 4 children in her 20s and just kept saying to me I shouldn't leave it too long to have my children.  I really wish she had warned me properly about this though as I would have been more prepared.  I didn't get round to having my babies till my early 30s - I have a girl and a boy - so I had them 'just in time'. You have a lot to come to terms with and we are here to support you at this very confusing time.  Hopefully you have a good GP who will guide you through this but do ask to be referred to a meno clinic or gynae if you feel you are not getting the advice and support you need.
Keep us posted.  DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi Shaon

 

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis of early menopause before you were ready for it.

There are other members who are or have been in a similar situation to you ie wondering about a family and menopause. Has this definitely been ruled out? Just because you haven't had a period for 6 months doesn't necessarily mean you will never have another one - and I hope there may be others in your situation - maybe on other forums (?Mumsnet) where you can ask about fertility.

I realise you had a blood test and I presume from this reading you were told you were post-menopausal but one blood test is not necessarily definitive and it depends on what your periods were like in the years and months before your last period - often the ovaries have a last "fling" before packing up and there have been many cases of women having surprise babies in their mid 40's ( whose menopause is later than yours) so it could still be possible.

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/diagnose.php

This is the info on blood tests, FSH and menopause on this site (link above):
"A normal level does not exclude early menopausal transition and a raised level does not exclude continuing ovarian function. One raised level should therefore not be relied upon as a reason to stop using contraception since egg release can still occur late in the menopausal transition.

A normal level does not exclude early menopausal transition and a raised level does not exclude continuing ovarian function. One raised level should therefore not be relied upon as a reason to stop using contraception since egg release can still occur late in the menopausal transition. "

However I wouldn't want to build your hopes up but I do suggest you seek advice from a fertility specialist - as Dancinggirl says ask to be referred, and I think it is also important to try to keep a cycle going with HRT for this reason as well as bone protection.

Hope your visit to the doctors goes well and let us know you get on.

Hurdity x

[Shaon1978]

Hi there

Well I managed to get into the doctors this morning instead of tomorrow, she just went through the blood results which confused me a bit, all I know is that my levels were in the levels of post menopause.

I mentioned about children and she was on about egg donation but then because of my hormone levels she would have to look into it more as I would probs have to have a lot of hormone treatment to be able to carry a baby

She said I didn't really need any HRT unless my symptoms became unmanageable and could give anti depressants for mood and irritability.

Am feel very upset and sad that I am unable to have children naturally this is a big blow.

Sharon x

[Dancinggirl]

Oh dear, another GP who doesn't know how to treat premature menopause. 
I'm afraid I find this very worrying.  Whether you have meno symptoms or not your will be oestrogen deficient and there could be long term consequences for your bones and heart and that's not including vaginal atrophy and bladder problems that may emerge. ADs won't protect your heart and bones or prevent vaginal atrophy or bladder problems.  Is there another GP in the practise you can see or ask to be referred for specialist advice.
It is strongly recommended you have HRT if your oestrogen level is low at your age and frankly I think your GP is being negligent in offering ADs instead of HRT which is what you need. 
I'm afraid I must recommend you be assertive about this as I've had enough problems even with the HRT and I'd hate you to have issues too early.
Print off stuff from this site and the Daisy Network site and take it back to your GP.
Good luck  DG x

[Shaon1978]

Oh sounds like I need to get a second opinion.  My head is battered

x

[Dancinggirl]

Oh you poor thing.  I would definitely get some advice from a menopause clinic or gynaecologist. I am very annoyed on your behalf that you didn't get the right support from your GP.  This is a big thing for you to come to terms with and the physical and mental repercussions are a lot to deal with so you should be given some proper support.
Here is the section from this site that explains about the consequences if premature meno is not treated properly:

Later consequences of the menopause are of great importance to women with POF with untreated POF leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease; the more years that women are lacking in estrogen the greater the risk.

Some proper advice about your options regarding having children should come from a gynaecologist who can give you that specialist advice you need.  Perhaps do some research online about gynaes in your area who specialise in menopause and then go back to your GP and ask for a referral.

In case you haven't already read the section on premature menopause on this site, here is one of the important sections:

Appropriate information and support should be provided since Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) can be a very difficult diagnosis to come to terms with.
The main aspect of treatment is the provision of adequate estrogen replacement to both control menopausal symptoms and to reduce the risk of later health consequences. Estrogen can be in the form of HRT, which will include a progestogen to protect the womb lining if the womb is still present. If HRT is used, it should usually be continued until the early 50s, ie the average age of the menopause, for both symptom control and bone protective effect.

Women who have a sudden premature menopause, may require higher doses of estrogen in HRT to control the symptoms than would usually be used by women in their 50s.
Previous concerns about risks of HRT should not apply to women with POF taking HRT since they are simply replacing the hormones which would usually be produced anyway at this stage.
 
Just a thought; you could do an email consultation with Dr Curry who founded this website.   It costs £25 but she would give a gynaecologists viewpoint and would give the advice you could show your GP.
My thoughts are with you. Keep posting  DG x

[Dancinggirl]

Hi again Shaon1978
Here is the page on this site that shows links that could help you.
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-resources.php
   DG x

[Briony]

Hi there

I mentioned about children and she was on about egg donation but then because of my hormone levels she would have to look into it more as I would probs have to have a lot of hormone treatment to be able to carry a baby

She said I didn't really need any HRT unless my symptoms became unmanageable and could give anti depressants for mood and irritability.

Am feel very upset and sad that I am unable to have children naturally this is a big blow.

Sharon x

Hi, just wanted to say hello and offer some sympathy as I am in a similar boat - I am 42 (40 when this all started) and like you, will not be able to conceive naturally. In fact, it was a miscarriage that seemed to set off my problems - all was fine before then. This year has been particularly hard as my two closest friends are pregnant. I'm trying hard not to let them see I am hurting, but it's not easy.

While I know it's a horrible shock to take in at first, it does get easier to accept and you become more open to other possibilities:on this site you'll meet  ladies here who've adopted really successfully and there are also others who have learnt to enjoy the benefits of being 'child free' (I try not to call myself 'childless'). I've chosen not to go down the medical/egg route as I think I would struggle to handle the failure rate and hate the lack of control - though everyone reacts differently and I admire those who've tried.

In the short term, the most important thing is to ensure you have good advice (and this site is definitely the best place for that - even my GP recommended it  ) and access to the treatment you need. Crucially (especially at our younger  age) your heart and bones need protecting, but also, HRT should help to control your emotions/mood. Feeling anxious and depressed, on top of having to take in the news about your fertility, is the last thing you want. As others have said, your doctor's behaviour is unacceptable. If your doctor isn't able to support you, then go elsewhere (I did and have never looked back. Switching was so simple - my new surgery offered me an appointment at the same time I registered!).

 - It seems so unfair that in this postcode lottery, we end up receiving such contrasting support from our GPs. God bless you lovely ladies on here who keep us sane 

Good luck xx

 

[Shaon1978]

I just wanted to say thanks for all of your help and advice, it is much appreciated.

Its very hard to accept at the moment but I am sure in time I will do.

I am sure I will be on here quite a lot

Sharon x