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[teaselweasel]

Hi,

I am new here and was hoping someone could tell me if I am going mad or whether everything is coincidental before I embarrass myself at the doctors.

My husband and I have been together for 20 years, married for 10, and we had both decided that neither of us wanted children.  In November 2013 I fell pregnant whilst on the pill, which I had been on from the age of 17.  In December 2013 we had decided to have a termination.  It was a very traumatic experience emotionally and one which I hope never to go through again.  After the termination I felt I was pressurised into having the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection which lasts for 3 months.  I did not want to go back on the pill again as naturally I did not trust it after what had just happened.  The nurse asked me what contraception we were planning to use in the future and I told her we would use condoms.  She told me that I would be pregnant within 6 months if we relied on them alone, so this is why I reluctantly agreed to have the injection. 

I have heard lots of horror stories about the injection and many of my symptoms I have had and are still having which I think are related to early menopause but are also related to the Depo-Provera injection.  In the end I never went back for another injection at the end of March 2014 and we have been using condoms ever since.

I haven't had a period since the end of October 2013, and this was a pill period not a true period, nothing at all, not even a sign of one.  I have had twinges and dull aches but nothing other than this.  My hair has thinned drastically, it is half as thick as it used to be.  I have been depressed on numerous occasions, very emotional and crying at the slightest things.  Over the past month or so I have been experiencing this weird sensation of my chin, nose and cheeks, they feel as though they have sunburn and although not visibly noticeable they feel hot to the touch.  I am not as sharp mentally as I used to be either, a lot of the time I feel foggy headed, forgetful and clumsy.  Headaches and tiredness have also contributed to my long list of symptoms. 

I went to the doctors a couple of months ago to ask them why I haven't had a period in 18 months and she said they couldn't do anything until September 2015 which would be 18 months after the last injection had worn off.  Everything I have read about Depo says that it is usually out of your system in 6 months but you are supposed to get your periods back after 12 weeks and then they are erratic and occasionally very heavy but I haven't had anything.  I just cannot believe that 1 injection would suppress my periods for well over a year.

I like to think I look after myself, I am not overweight, I do not smoke, eat sensibly, drink in moderation and exercise regularly.  Maybe I am putting 2 and 2 together and getting 100 but something is definitely not right and the more I look into this I am convincing myself that it could be early menopause.  There is no history of it in my immediate family but my mum said there was an aunt that was quite young.  I just hope that at 36 I am wrong.

I am sorry to ramble on and apologise for the lengthy post but just hope someone could shed a small glimmer of light on this for me. 

[CLKD]

You ramble on, the rest of us do 

  ……. what a shock to fall pregnant whilst taking The Pill, not unknown of course but when 1 is not wanting children it is a difficult situation.  In your shoes I would have done the same as I made my decision not to be a Mum when I was aged 8.

That aside - have a browse round.  There are Menus, top of screen; a search button and I am sure ladies will be along with experiences and suggestions. 


There is a web-site regarding 'early' menopause, Daisy something I think  - I am sure that if you browse the menus that will pop up too!  Ask any question you like !

[honeybun]

The site you are thinking of is called The Daisy Network. It is specifically for women who are going through an early meno. It might be helpful to have a look on there although I think there is a joining fee.

Of course stay with us too as some of our ladies have also gone through an early meno.

I should also say .... .....should have that to start with really 


Honeybun
X

[CLKD]

   Honeybun - we're a Mine of Info on here  - Teasalw: do stick around and ask, ask, ask ……….

My question to you is - do you grow teasels, if so how (we have a wild birds and nature thread ) - we sometimes talk about menopause too 

[Dancinggirl]

Hi teaselweasel and welcome to MM
I've just checked the Depo provera injection on the NHS website - I have to say I don't like the sound of it!!!.  The side effects and symptoms you are experiencing sound like progesterone intolerance to me (provera is just progesterone) and it says that Depo Provera suppresses your oestrogen levels so that would also explain a lot of fatigue and fogginess. I am certainly no expert but it sounds like it, sort of puts, you in a menopausal state - just suppresses the 'feel good' oestrogen and strips you of everything else so you can't get pregnant. Unfortunatey I think you need to be patient and wait for this stuff to get out of your system and then get some blood tests done to see where your hormones are. My husband & I  used condoms for many years and when used properly they are very effective - I had no unwanted pregnancies.  Being told you would fall pregnant within 6 months using condoms is frankly outrageous - they are probably used to advising young girls who get themselves pregnant  because they didn't take proper precautions and frightening them into having this injection.
Hopefully you will emerge and feel better in the next few weeks.  I'd take some Vitamin D as well as at this time of year we can be deficient due to lack of sunshine and this can make us feel fatigued and achy.
Keep us posted.  DG x

[scriv]

Yes, I would agree to give the injection more time to get out of your system before thinking you are in early menopause. My daughter had that several years ago and it took her well over a year before her body was back to anywhere near normal. Depo Provera can really mess you up.

I have personal experience of early menopause at 39, but it was in my family and I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the same time, also in the family. For about 3 years before my last period I had lots of problem with very heavy periods and also erratic ones, coupled with doing silly things. I went along to my doctor and had a chat. They didn't believe me, but later conceded I was  right lol.

Life has been fine with an early menopause once I got my HRT sorted out. All you can do at the moment though is to go as healthy as you can and wait for that awful DP to leave your system.

A word of warning though, if you are going through an early menopause, you are likely to be extra fertile, so do take precautions if you don't want another pregnancy.

[teaselweasel]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your help and advice.   I hate feeling so paranoid all of the time.  I am super obsessed thinking that I am pregnant because of the non existent periods, I take a test every single month just to make sure and my husband and I are being extra, extra safe in that department.  I have also ordered an FSH level testing kit because I feel I need to know to be able to move forward. 

I will of course keep you updated and thank you all once again 

[CLKD]

Could you husband not go and have a quiet chat with the GP 

Keep posting!

[lancashirelass]

I had zoladex which works similar to depo my cycle returned after 6.months think you need to push 18 months too long.

[Dorothy]

Hello & welcome.

Just a thought, but have you considered any form of counselling to help you deal with the trauma of the termination? I was just thinking that sometimes stress can have a major effect on our bodies, including monthly cycle or lack of, so this might also be having an effect?

[Briony]

Hi and welcome.

Your post is really interesting as I am convinced that miscarriage (as in my case) or termination can lead to early menopause. I was a really healthy 40 year old who fell pregnant for the first time and subsequently lost the baby. Within three months I had developed excruciating pain in my shoulder, tingling, weird skin sensations, palpitations, headaches, fatigue and severe anxiety - I became a different person. People kept saying it was 'trauma' and I needed counselling but I knew it wasn't. I'd had wonderful support from family and friends and was dealing with the miscarriage ok. It was the weird symptoms that we're stressing me! 

 Cut a long story short, but three years and several consultant visits later, I was diagnosed with a sudden early menopause and estrogen deficient. Since then a number of others I know have found a later (38 +) pregnancy ending in miscarriage or termination has been followed by menopause. I can't find any medical research on this, but anecdotally, it seems we're not alone.

At your age, your body 'needs' estrogen to protect your heart and bones, so you should see a sympathetic doctor as soon as possible.

Good luck and big hugs xx

Ps my FSH was normal initially. Specialist then suggested checking estrogen on day 4 of period and that's when the connection was made.