When you’re in the middle of trying to have a child and a doctor tells you you are in peri-menopause you do what any sane person would do – you get a second opinion. And when that second opinion calls it premature ovarian failure, you think they’re all quacks!
How could I have premature ovarian failure (aka early menopause) at 39 just a few months after losing a baby? Plus I had no trouble getting pregnant at 35 and then again at 36.
Then at 41 I went to another doctor who specializes in treating hormone issues and he shows me the in depth results of blood work and says “Yep, you’re in menopause.” Whoa…What?”
Luckily, we went another way with our family planning (adoption) and I can now focus on my health.
Premature Ovarian Failure
I still have NO idea what caused this…and it bugs the crap out of me! I’m one of those people that wants to get to the root of the problem so I can treat that and not just the symptoms. But in this case, science has no answer for me – at least not yet.
I wanted to share my story here and talk about some of the symptoms I had just in case you might be experiencing them also.
For years, I’ve just “lived with it” which is what my regular OB told me I had to do. But now that I look back, I can see years of symptoms – that I just thought were part of Mommy Brain and having 3 very young kids.
The average age for menopause is 51 but 1 in 100 women between the ages of 30 – 39 have early onset menopause or premature ovarian failure.
The symptoms are basically the same:
– irregular periods (although at the beginning this may not be the case and with the pill who knows these days)
– hot flashes (I had about 20 per day for 6 weeks last summer – that’s it)
– trouble sleeping (I have 3 kids, 3 dogs and a husband that snores – who could sleep)
– mood swings, depression (I have a very stressful life with lots of hard things that happened in the last few years)
– dry skin, mouth, eyes (always had these)
– bladder issues (I peed 6 times a night with Evan, I’ve been happy to just go once or twice a night now)
– infertility (secondary for me)
– brain fog (life is CRAZY who wouldn’t be confused all the time?)
– trouble losing weight (who doesn’t?)
As you can see, I could explain away each of these symptoms. But the blood test I couldn’t explain away.
– FSH levels over 40 (mine were closer to this a few years ago when they first started telling me this was my problem…now it’s 103)
– estrogen levels less than 30 (three months ago mine was 33, now on meds it’s 27 – they’ve pretty much stopped working)
I can no longer fight this diagnosis, but I can fight the symptoms until I figure out the root of the problem – although, you can never go back once they stop, they stop*.
*Some women with POF have gone on to have children, you will need to work with your doctor if this is your wish.
But now at the ripe old age of 42, I have to worry about osteoporosis, increased risk of ovarian and colon cancer, cataracts, gum disease/tooth loss and cardiovascular disease (which I already worry about since my dad died of a stroke at 60 and I know I have a genetic issue that causes an increased risk already.)
If you’re having symptoms (even just a few), please see your doctor and have a few simple blood test run to rule it out.
You don’t have to feel crazy – there is help!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, I don’t even play one on tv. These are my stories and my experience.