To be freaking out that my Fsh levels are 155 at 43 years old!

[soverytired14]

I've been having irregular periods, frequent headaches and hot flushes for 2 years since I was 41. I had a blood test 2 years ago and fsh was 3 so I was offered the combined pill but it doesn't suit me so I took agnus castus and my periods got more regular for a year. They've been very irregular this year - just 3 periods so far and hot flushes every hour. So another blood test last week showed fsh levels of 155!! My gp says this means I've had an early menopause. From what I can tell over 30 means post menopausal so this is 5 times that. Apparently I'm also prediabetic but I'm a healthy weight exercise regularly don't drink much or smoke so that's also odd. My gp is asking what I want to do about it. I have no idea! Aibu to think there's something else going on that needs further investigation? Has anyone else had such high levels?

While 43 is earlier than average I don't think its wildly early? Many women are perimenopausal at least in their 40s

Ps you can be a healthy weight but eat too much sugar etc

Levels can vary widely from one day to another, so nothing to worry about. I started the perimenopause at 42 with irregular periods. Suffered all kind of dreadful symptoms until I got the full menopause at 47. Still struggling but overall feeling much better than during the peri stage.

If you hit the full on menopause before 45, you might be recommended to go in hrt to protect yourself against osteoporosis later in life. You could ask for a dexa scan to get an idea of your bones health.

OP are you in the UK?
My (UK) GP told me that there's no point in checking FSH to diagnose menopause in a woman over 40 with perimenopause symptoms as levels fluctuate. They can be very low one day then high the next day.

I'm surprised your Dr said you've had an early menopause if you've had 3 periods in a year.

It's normally diagnosed when you've not had a period for a year.

Normal to be in peri menopause from 40 onwards

I am in the UK. And I was surprised she said that too as I could get another period in the next year then I would still be perimeno not completed. I think it's just how high it is that's disturbed me. I've been googling and high levels are 30 or more not 155. When I couldn't find anyone on mumsnet who had levels anywhere near that I panicked

I eat a pretty healthy diet too. Not perfect but lots of home cooking pulses etc. So it's going to be hard to make much of a difference

Menopause age varies widely. My friend is still having regular periods at 55 and another less regular at 56 but another friend stopped at mid 40's.

We are born with x number of eggs and once they are gone that's it. When a woman's FSH blood level is consistently elevated to 30 mIU/mL or higher, and she has not had a menstrual period for a year, it is generally accepted that she has reached menopause. After menopause - 25.8 to 134.8 mIU/mL (25.8 to 134.8 IU/L). Yours @soverytired14 do appear to be higher than this range - what did you doctor say?

Can you cut out carbs: bread, pasta, rice, spuds? That would help your blood sugar.

@Browneyesbigbum

Menopause age varies widely. My friend is still having regular periods at 55 and another less regular at 56 but another friend stopped at mid 40's.

We are born with x number of eggs and once they are gone that's it. When a woman's FSH blood level is consistently elevated to 30 mIU/mL or higher, and she has not had a menstrual period for a year, it is generally accepted that she has reached menopause. After menopause - 25.8 to 134.8 mIU/mL (25.8 to 134.8 IU/L). Yours @soverytired14 do appear to be higher than this range - what did you doctor say?

Mine do seem to be higher than the normal range. My dr says I'm in early menopause and asked what I want to do about the hot flushes. I don't know if I can take HRT as my mum is very prone to DVT. but I'm also wondering if there's something else going on given how high they are.

I sometimes think it was better when ‘tests’ weren’t carried out! My periods became irregular in my early forties, and had stopped completely a couple of years later. It was a normal stage of life. My menopause. No worries about ‘levels of this or that’........

Yes I know what you mean. I wasn't worried about being peri until I got that result and if it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't know it was so high!

Has your thyroid function been tested? That can affect your menstrual cycle. Just to rule it out.

You don't have to be overweight to be diabetic. My brother is an athlete who cycles too and from work almost every day. He must be the fittest person I know with no excess weight or fat. Yet he is a T2 diabetic. It's a matter of genes.

Yes my thyroid came back clear

your GP needs to refer you to a gynae who is a specialist in early menopause. Go to the meno forum here and read the NICE guidelines pinned at top of the forum. Early menopause is a medical condition that is treated with hrt. Premature meno is before age 40, early meno before age 45. There are quite a lot of incorrect 'facts' here by other posters. I am a medical writer and write on women's health and hrt etc. You need investigations- blood tests are used on women under 45. You can also be pre diabetic at a normal weight. Look at the Daisy Network website for info on early menopause.

Your GP ought to discuss hrt more fully with you and tell you it's medical guidance to use it in women your age. There are types of hrt that do not increase blood clots so your mum's health is not relevant anyway. loss of estrogen at your age increases the risk of heart disease which is why you need hrt.

Thanks for all your responses. What kinds of investigation should I request please?

@soverytired14 if your mum is prone to DVT has she had a test for Factor V Leiden? There would be a reason why she's 'prone' to DVT and you could also have inherited which also can also affect you taking the pill & HRT. I do not understand the lack of treating the cause rather than the symptom - drives me insane.

(1) 43 would be young, but not freakishly so; but
(2) As others have pointed out, the testing approach that you describe is far from foolproof.

Yes she's positive for thrombophilia I've not been tested so would need to be.

Age of average menopause in the UK is 51.

Prem men- before 40.
Early meno- before 45.

Many drs regards before 47 as early.

If you are having only 3 periods a year at 43 that means you are lacking in estrogen already (because you are not ovulating more than 3 x a year.)

Long term this can affect your cardio health and your bone density as well as your brain (dementia.)

Spend a couple of hours reading all the info on the website of Dr Louise Newson.

You need at least 2 blood tests on days 2-5 of TWO cycles, to show a true reading of FSH. Single tests are no use. Wrong time of cycle, no use.

You could also have a blood test for your ovarian reserve and estrogen levels.

Your Mum's blood clots.

Modern HRT as a patch (NOT a pill) does not cause blood clots. It's the old types and pills that are a risk. The contraceptive pill has far higher risks of blood clots (yet you were given that???)

AS I said above, you are at a greater risk of blood clots and heart disease NOT taking HRT (it reduces the thickening of the carotoid artery) if it's the right sort.

Seconding Louise Newson as one of the best sources. Her Instagram account @ menopause_doctor is useful too. Here’s her information on early meno:

d2931px9t312xa.cloudfront.net/menopausedoctor/files/information/377/guide%20for%20younger%20women.pdf

Thought I'd update as you're all so kind to give me your thoughts. Turns out I wasn't being unreasonable! Having spoken to another GP that result is out of lab range so not normal, whatever that means. I'm getting my prolactin levels checked to rule out anything to do with my pituitary and he's referred me to an endocrinologist. Thanks everyone.