Small ovaries

[withaspongeandarustyspanner]

I've been having weird periods for the last three years - increasingly irregular and heavy. In June I had 2 - both heavy and long. I went to see the nurse and had some blood tests (which I haven't had the results for yet - I forgot to ask, but will on Monday).

I was referred to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if I have fibroids or polyps. I don't thankfully, everything looked normal - apart from my ovaries being on the small side. I still have eggs - not that it really matters, I suppose, as we've completed our family, but I just feel a bit uncertain.

Does this sound like the beginning of the menopause? (I'm 40)

Do I need to ask for some more tests, or is there little point?

Thanks in advance.

Anyone?

With any advice at all?

You could be in peri-menopause. 40 is probably on the young side, but the peri phase usually lasts for a few years before your periods finally stop. You might want to take a look at Menopause Matters.

I have a small ovary, but afaik it never caused me any problems. The sonographer may have just mentioned it because it was something she noticed, not because it is problematic.

If you are worried about the heavy periods, there is medication you can take to make them lighter. I had tranexamic acid, but there are others.

What is the outcome you want?

Well, it might be (that's not the most helpful answer, is it?)

I think you'll have to wait and see what they say on Monday. Blood tests show what was happening on the day they were taken; if they are testing for hormone levels they may need a series to establish a pattern.

If they can rule other conditions which lead to weird periods, then what is left is start of menopause. At 40, this would be classed as premature, and it's worth considering HRT (read up on this yourself before discussing with your GP)

Well, the blood tests I had were to test for my iron levels - the GP (a locum) I saw thought I was on the young side for it to be the start of the menopause, and thought iron levels would be a good place to start. I had spoken to the nurse previously who suggested that it might be helpful to get them checked (she thought I was on the young side, too).

However, my periods have been a right pain for about a year and I'd booked to see the nurse about getting the coil fitted (I went about three years ago, but decided against it as she said that your periods sometimes stop and, at that time I didn't like the idea of not having periods as they were pretty regular and no real bother - this year they are all over the place and really heavy). While I was visiting the nurse - I flooded everywhere, but managed to get home sitting on my coat (which I ruined). So I haven't actually been tested for hormone levels - the blood tests and the ultrasound I had were to rule out iron deficiency and physical causes, and she only mentioned the ovaries. Who knows - they may have always been small - no one's ever looked at them/told me before. So yes, it could've been something she just noticed, but she did suggest that it could be a hormonal issue.

I don't really have a desired outcome. I just didn't know if this sort of thing is common/a sign. I mean, there's not much I can do about it, but I can speak to the GP on Monday when she's fitting my coil, I suppose. It's nice to have a topic of conversation lined up for such occasions :)

Do you have any other symptoms of perimenopause? I had lots of symptoms my Dr checked hormones and Im now in post menopausal range and on hrt. Im 31!

Its u likely but it can happen at any age.

Well, I've been complaining about itching for a while. And I've been incredibly miserable and had problems with anxiety. I've also had joint pain. And palpitations. And incredible migraines. But I've been about most of these things separately.

31? Crikey. I'll stop my moaning.

who said your ovaries were small- was it the dr doing the scan? I've had loads of scans and all done by a consultant radiologist at at top hospital (private)- and they always tell me what they can see and the relevance.
I'm not being 'funny' here but if you were told by a nurse or a technician then I'd take it with a pinch of salt- you need an expert to interpret what is seen.
ovaries shrink after the menopause. This is one sign it's happened. I don't know or see any significance of saying they are small unless they are relating it to your hormone profile.

If you're having those symtoms I would go back to Dr and ask for hormone check (if your in perimeno through the results may be unreliable) if you're having the mirena coil fitted they might just say that its got hormones and might make you feel better. I've heard other people say that they have estrogen with it.

I'll chat on Monday and see what the GP says. She's good - not our family GP but one I'm always happy to see at our surgery.

Well, the person doing it told me that. I don't know her status/seniority. She was careful not to say anything conclusively. Which is fair enough.