Life after Premature Menopause/POF
| 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. |
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
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