To think I am menopausal at 35?

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I have always had predictable cycle, 28 days and moderate flow. Also not much pain during my period.

However, for the last 15 months, everything has gone crazy. Initially I assumed it was because I'd stopped breastfeeding (that was 15 months ago) and things would settle. But things have got worse. Here's what's happening:

Periods: sometimes two in a month and sometimes once every two months. Ovulation is extremely painful and bloated so much that I look pregnant. I feel nauseas too. Periods are crazy heavy, i use the thickest always pad AND the thickest tampon at the same time and need to change every couple of hours. There are loads and loads of clots, bigger than 50p coin. Other times I will have discharge that's dark and in small amounts but no real period.

Hairiness: I have suddenly become hairy. There are hairs on my chin now. Long black ones. Also my eyebrows and upper lip hairs have gone mental. Legs and underarm hairier too.

Mental health: my mental health has deteriorated. I feel suicidal most days and I don't enjoy anything. I cry most days.

I exercise three times a week and walk a lot. I am overweight but not too bad. No changes in diet or exercise to have caused this.

Oh and I don't feel like having sex at all.

I spoke with the GP and he gave me some meds to control blood flow in my periods but nothing else, no checks.

Do you think 35 is too early for peri menopause? Most women in my family have early menopause.

Please let me know your experience.

Thanks

The earliest menopause I’ve come across in a patient was 27, so yes, it is possible. But there are other causes of your symptoms, including hypothyroidism, so it would be worth getting a few blood tests.

My thyroid results came back ok. It was checked as part of routine blood tests to figure out reason behind some random pain I get on my back and headaches.

I'm going to be watching this thread with interest as you have exactly described my symptoms too and I'm 34, had my baby 18 months ago!! I'm in exactly the same situation as you!! I had an ultrasound done for fibroids etc but they said everything looked fine, just need to get the blood test done, there must be something going on!! Hope we find the answers OP xx

Could it be PCOS? I don't know that much about it but the hairiness stood out.

You sound just like me apart from the hairiness.
I started at 43.
Menopause matters website is useful.

I’m not medically qualified, but if you want to find out out if you’re perimenopausal then you can have your LH and FSH levels tested on day 3 of your period. If your ovaries are failing then the FSH will be high (I think around 20 or more).

Also did you have your thyroid hormones, specifically TSH, tested early in the morning and after you’d fasted for 8-12 hours? TSH falls as the day goes on, so the test really needs to be done under these conditions to give an accurate result.

Unfortunately I think everyone's experience of menopause differs. I started at 38 but all that happened was my periods became very scanty - on average one every 6 months, and I had hot flushes and sweats. I'm not sure what your experience could be but I hope you get to the bottom of it and feel better soon.

After I had my second child I had one period when he was 3 months and then nothing.

I was irritable, getting very hairy and having hot flushes so I went to the GP who ran loads of blood tests and sent me to a consultant to be looked at who also ran blood tests and confirmed that my body has naturally gone through the menopause.

I was 24, the youngest they had seen so I would request a blood test to get checked.

Yes, you could be menopausal. Or it could be something else. With a family history of premature menopause, it would seem likely.

Mine started at about 34 with hindsight but only got to your stage at 38.

These are the NICE guidelines for premature menopause - as you’re under 40, they should be doing blood tests for you (at least 2 sets) and offering you HRT. Or The combined pill works well for younger women, but get your diagnosis first. You need the hormones for physical protective reasons, not just emotional stability.

The Daisy Network is a charity focused on providing education about premature menopause. It’s very useful.

Finally, if you’re wanting more children, ask for an immediate referral to a gynaecologist, so you can see what options you have.

Sorry this is happening OP, menopause is one of the unspoken but seriously shit stages of life.

I have two kids and don't want any more.

I'm writing this from the hospital now where I am waiting for the blood test to check my hormones. Thanks to your advise, I came here today as it's third day of my period. Doctor did an ultrasound and said nothing showing in my uterus. He asked for hormone and thyroid tests.

I am outside the UK that's how I managed to get the specialist appointment and test booked so quickly.

Doctor said that's it's likely some hormonal imbalance that can be sorted using the pill. He also asked me to come back for more vaginal ultrasound to have a better look at the ovaries in few days.

I had what you described at 39. It went on for about 6 months and then my periods stopped. I now have a 14 month old .

My periods are still not the same after having her so I haven't got a clue what it is.

Good that you're getting it checked. I had a friend go through early menopause at 20

I wondered about your ovaries, esp with the bloating and back pain. Good that you're getting an ultrasound

It's totally possible.

But then, so are lots of things - that's why hormones are such frustrating beasts. I was convinced I was in peri when I was about 35, due to period changes. Tests showed no sign of it, and indeed subsequently got pregnant at 37 and again at 40, both on the first attempt, so I definitely wasn't. I think they just change as you get into your mid/late 30's. Friends have also said the same: one with light periods suddenly started getting heavy ones; ones whose periods had always lasted 6 days suddenly found they lasted 3 etc.

I got my results today and looks like estriol is pretty low. And rest are within normal range but low side. I am waiting for the doctor to call me and explain the results - it was emailed to me by the lab.

Doesn't anyone know what this may mean? I have googled and it explains lots of my symptoms.

Also was wondering about progesterone levels. I think they need to check that too.

Your FSH is nice and low, which points away from menopause. Looks more like a PCOS picture but that’s from an inexperienced perspective - you’ll need to see your doc, possibly after a scan, but I know how hard it is to wait

Have you put on a significant amazing of weight , i get PCOS worsening symptoms of I get too heavy . I had the same end of last year assumed I was menopausal and got pregnant 😱

No way to tell with PCOS from those labs - as there's no testosterone or SHBG on there : sometimes with PCOS the FSH:LH ratio can be an indicator, but that's not part of the official diagnostic criteria (the Rotterdam criteria). And in any case your LH is lower than your FSH, so that's all fine

E2 (estradiol) levels should be low at the start of the cycle - if the levels were high then they could be artificially suppressing the FSH levels, but they're not. So your FSH is within normal range and definitely not peri menopausal. Those bloods look entirely normal

Pelvic ultrasound will show if there's any ovarian pathology (incl polycystic ovaries), would be worth getting your full hormonal profile done (to include, testosterone, free testosterone, DHEAS, SHBG) and thyroid function (TSH, FT3, FT4 and TPO)

(not a Dr, just been through lots of fertility treatment)

Good luck

When in your cycle were the bloods taken? Should be day 2-4 to have any meaningful results - you wouldn't take progesterone at this stage in the cycle normally, as that should be very low (you'd normally take it later on to confirm ovulation or luteal phase levels).

Yes it’s possible but with those symptoms you also need to have a very good workup on general hormones, full gynae workup. Looks like that’s happening from your last update

One thing no one has mentioned is pituitary involvement. Check with your docs about that as well. It’s very positive that they are doing tests - I hope you find some answers soon.

Tests done 3rd day of my period. Doctor did an abdominal scan and said everything looks normal. He said he will do a vaginal scan after period.
Will get more tests done. Still waiting for the doctor to call back.

Hey did the doc call back yet? X

This is exactly what happened to me. I also thought it was just hormone upheaval after breastfeeding etc. I had my youngest child at 42, and I went from regular as clockwork, happy sane and brimming with energy, to somebody I or my family didn't recognise. I even developed a problem with my heart rhythm. Along with drenching night sweats, strange bone pains, lost weight and became scrawny looking almost overnight, I just looked and felt completely haggard. It was awful. Had numerous tests for thyroid, auto immune disorders etc...but not once did they ever offer a hormone blood test! They did absolutely nothing for my constant bleeding, after a year I was still bleeding 3 weeks out of every 4. And sometimes more. In desperation I paid to see a private gynaecologist, and even he didn't think it could be menopause! I looked so young..
Had a mirena fitted which eventually stopped bleeding, and dwindled on for another couple of years. Marriage nearly broke down and things were just simply crap. Finally went back to my gp and demanded a hormone blood test. Hesitantly gave me the forms..and when I eventually went back to follow up, was casually told oh yes, well you are menopausal. In fact..post menopausal! No big deal...it's normal. I was fuming, just so blase about it. Yet it can have such a huge impact on women. There really is not enough focus on this, and even doctors often have little awareness or sensitivity. Sorry you are feeling like this OP, I would definitely get it checked.

The doctor called me but on my husband's number. On my hospital account I have listed both mine and his number. He said he will call again. So hopefully I will talk to him tomorrow.

Mum2two sounds horrendous! I actually have been asking for a hormone test and no luck, both the GP and private GP I saw said I didn't need it. But I have been adamant that there's something wrong with my hormones! The private GP and specialist in the UK think I have fibromyalgia - pain everywhere, depression etc. as well as depression. But hormonal issues explain all symptoms.

My mum went through the menopause at 30yo so it's possible.