Premature menopause: Hi everyone In contrast to... - Thyroid UK

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Premature menopause

Laundretta profile image
12 Replies

Hi everyone

In contrast to do many people on here,

My sister had a work medical about 10 years ago which showed she had sub-clinical Hypothyroidism. She was asymptomatic, but has been treated with Levo ever since. The GP maintains her TSH at around 1.

Her periods have been irregular and absent at times, and she has just been told she is probably now post menopausal! She’s 39.

I wondered if there are opinions out there about this scenario?

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Laundretta profile image
Laundretta
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12 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Laundretta

It's a long time since I went through menopause, but surely at 39 they can't guess she's probably post-menopausal, why aren't they testing her hormones? To be officially post menopause I believe you have to have gone 2 years since last period.

Laundretta profile image
Laundretta in reply toSeasideSusie

Hiya

They have tested her fsh and lh because she’s not getting periods and the results do point to menopause, but I wondered if she was over medicated on Levo whether this could be the root cause. Her last tsh test was under the ref range, so she has reduced Levo about 4 weeks ago. Basically GP has recommended this based solely on tsh without tying up clinical symptoms (no periods!) I reckon she should get back on track with the Levo first and then see what it does to periods and fertility hormones before going straight to hrt which is what her GP is currently proposing. Just wanted to idiot check my thinking as I’m very new to all of this myself!

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply toLaundretta

She should get a second opinion. In a similar situation I know someone who went on hrt and then became pregnant. It wasn’t menopause. Not everyone’s preference at that age :)

trelemorele profile image
trelemorele

Young girls go through premature ovarian failure before puberty. Women all ages go through peri and menopause.

Autoimmune conditions have massive influence on premature menopause.

I was hit with peri menopause at 38.- I'm Hashi.

On Facebook you'll find groups dedicated to peri and menopause, you'll learn how many and how young women go through menopause.

I'm not surprised, neither was my meno consultant who confirmed all above.

Huddy1234 profile image
Huddy1234 in reply totrelemorele

Hi Trelemorele,

I just had a endo appointment Saturday and he told me I have GONE through my menopause - i'm 46 and obviously knew I was coming to that age but was a little shocked when he told me this and sent me for a Dexa scan straight away (bone scan).

It does probably explain alot of my symptoms, fatigue, tiredness, moods, lack of libido, but was never told by anyone that having an autoimmune disease can bring on early menopause...... I have had under active thyroid since Nov 2017 so put a lot of my symptoms down to that.

trelemorele profile image
trelemorele in reply toHuddy1234

Your basic doctor won't know about it. They hardly know about thyroid in general.

You'd have to see imminologist to get that info from however if you look up online and read about hashimoto you'll find references to menopause link to Hashimoto. That's how I learned about it.

Are you going to get HRT?

Huddy1234 profile image
Huddy1234 in reply totrelemorele

My general doctor is absolutley useless - think I know more about thyroid then him, he doesn't care less!! Hence me asking for a referral to a endocrinologist....... he was thorough and examined me and took my history and sent me for blood tests (most I've never been tested for before!!)

Went for results and he hit me with this!!

I have to go back Oct 6th - he has asked me to increase my levo 2 days of the week from 25 to 50.

I increased my medication from 25 to 50 back in June this year and suffered terrible side effects (hot sweats, insomnia, low mood, sensitive, irritable, moody) so I decreased back down to 25 and most of the symptoms subsided.

Obviously I'm sensitive to levo increase so he is taking it slowly telling me 2 days a week at the minute.

He mentioned HRT, and said will discuss on my return appointment. My bone scan showed Osteopenia (the lady said to wait for official doctors diagnosis) but showed me on the scan graph...... so looks like my bones have been affected by this early menopause ;-(

Crap being a women eh

trelemorele profile image
trelemorele in reply toHuddy1234

Well the same happens to men really.

Low testosterone is responsible for osteoporosis in men.

However as they don't get as significant change as women do and as quick it does not affect them in early years like it dies affect us women.

I started on BC as soon as I realised I was in early menopause by myself. I've been on it for last 4 years now. I was dismissed by GPs for two years so had to take matter in my own hands.

I had dexa scan done last week - no bone changes whatsoever.

Huddy1234 profile image
Huddy1234 in reply totrelemorele

Is BC HRT?

trelemorele profile image
trelemorele in reply toHuddy1234

BC = birth control

Some are equal to HRT, some stronger depending what type of HRT you take.

Both combined BC and HRT contain estrogen and progesterone.

Huddy1234 profile image
Huddy1234 in reply totrelemorele

Well I've been on a progesterone only pill (Noriday) for the last 10 years (which stopped my periods) so, because of that I'm unable to pinpoint when I started my menopause??

On reading up on it, it looks like my estrogen levels have dropped hence my symptoms so will need HRT based on that - just hope I don't get allsorts of side affects from HRT, just want to feel like me again.

nessa263 profile image
nessa263 in reply toHuddy1234

Just wondering how you are doing with treatment? I am in the same situation as you.

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