where has all my progesterone gone?/?sudden menopause

[meysey]

I have had some test results back from the GP but have a frustrating two week wait to discuss them in detail, and wondered if anyone else had had the same health problem.

I have had 3 months of erratic periods (late with longer bleeding), and the GP suggested a Day 21 progesterone/LSH/FSH/thyroid test.

My progesterone came back as 1 - the level for a post menopausal woman. I am 42 and had been TTC again (last baby 2 years ago).

They will repeat the test but I am completely shocked. Can you have a menopause and not notice? Everything had been fine until recently. Can you have a rogue result? Am I still alive?

Any thoughts/experiences to share?

I have two lovely children so I won't be completely heartbroken not to have another, but have concerns about health implications of all this. (LSH/FSH also haywire/high but don't have numbers).

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along but I would think that it has something to do with your longer cycles ie you weren't ovulating on Day 21 but may have been later on.

Thanks NorksDrift, my big worry is that from what I have seen on here and elsewhere, the range should be about 16-30.

meysey, its true that GPs do 'day 21' tests regardless of length of cycle with some wildly misleading results - you might have not ovulated yet, or had an annovulatory cycle - but even so, its true that 1 does sound low.

It is possible to have a very short lead-up to menopause...my sister went into total menopause within about three or four months, at the age of 40. Its unusual, but it can happen. FSH should be tested at day 3, or thereabouts - I think in your shoes I would get re-tested on the third day of your next period for FSH. If your gp will play ball. I'm not a medic, but after years and years of IF and endless research, I'd say thats a better quick indicator than a day 21 test - which depends so much more on length of cycle.

If you're worried about health implications, it might be worth giving the Amarant Trust a call - when I thought I was in menopause (I wasn't, as it turned out) they were lovely. I'll try and find a link...

www.amarantmenopausetrust.org.uk/clinic.php

hmm, not sure that'll work, but you can google them easily enough. Good luck!

thanks I will contact them