Life after Premature Menopause/POF

I was diagnosed with premature menopause at the age of 33. A fertility evaluation revealed the bad news. At the time I was urged to take HRT. When I asked the doctor what the average age of women taking HRT was, she told me 51. When I questioned the wisdom of taking HRT for 18 years more than average there was no good answer forthcoming and I decided to pass. You can imagine how thankful I was later when the HRT research study results came out.

I suffered greatly for the next 12 years. I'm a lawyer and even decided to quit trial work because my hot flashes were so severe, unpredictable and debilitating. When I was 45 I decided that it might be the time for HRT because things were only getting worse. Fortunately, by then I had found a doctor who believed in natural remedies first and then the natural HRT like estrace and femring. While I am not free of hot flashes, things are a little better. We chose adoption and have a wonderful family. I must admit the desire for pregnancy has never left and everytime I read about some 50 year old giving birth I wonder if it ever will happen to me.

I am encouraged to see that there seems to be more information about Premature Menopause/POF (premature ovarian failure). Whenever I read about menopause, it was talking about women 20 years older than me. I was left to feel like a freak, not telling anyone, still carrying tampons in my purse, just so that I could feel like all my friends. It's weird that now my friends are starting to talk about being perimenopausal and worrying about unintended pregnancy. So I still feel abnormal.

Premature menopause is a world unto itself. I suppose things will equal out at age 65 :)

Anonymous

For more information:

• Premature Menopause
• Premature Ovarian Failure Support Group
• HRT, Hormone Replacement Therapy-benefits and risks

 

Updated 06/01/2007