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Menopause (Expert Forum)
going through menopause at age 33
Answered by
Machelle Seibel, MD - Women's Health, menopause, ReproductiveMedicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
MA
Questions in the Menopause forum are answered by Dr. Machelle Seibel. Topics covered include menopause issues, depression, hormone replacement therapy, hot flashes, joint or muscle problems, memory problems, mood swings, osteoporosis, sexual problems, skin changes, sleeping problems, vaginal problems, and weight problems.
going through menopause at age 33
by tcrise, Mar 18, 2006 12:00AM
I just turned 33 yrs. old and I just had my final hysterectomy (my third one - everything is out now) Now I am just waiting for the fun to start but not sure what to expect...ever since I had my left ovary and tube out 3 years ago I already had the night sweats..I am just worried about the low sexual drive and the mood swings and to make sure I stay on a healthy diet. I have seen women go through it but mentally I am not sure how to prepare my self or my family...I live in a house of men (even the cat's a male)and they are all ready to leave the nest for a few years when it hits - ha ha...anyway...anyone's help would be great...not what I expected to be doing in my 30's...nor am I anywhere near ready for it...
Doctor's Answer
by Machelle Seibel, MD, Mar 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Mar 20, 2006 12:00AM
A. It is always a challenge to go through menopause at such an early age. However, if you were having night sweats 3 years ago, it is possible that the ovary that was just removed wasn’t producing as much estrogen as ovaries normally do and your symptoms might not worsen. Some women decide to go on low dose estrogen to help them with symptoms and estrogen can even help improve sex drive. Ask your doctor if that is a good thing for you to do. Testosterone is also available if sex drive gets low. Low dosages of testosterone are usually very helpful for low sex drive if your values are low and estrogen doesn’t work. Foods like soy and flaxseed can also be helpful. You can look for recipes and more info about alternatives to estrogen in my book The Soy Solution for Menopause from Simon and Schuster or on Amazon.com.
You also need to be aware that young women lose bone most rapidly in the first few years after menopause. Ask your doctor to do a bone density and get another one in the next year or two to be sure you aren’t losing calcium from your bones. Take a calcium supplement, about 1,000 to 1,200mg daily.
The good news is that things are likely not to get much more difficult than they are in the first few months after your hysterectomy was complete. If they do, discuss it with your doctor who should be able to help you. In the meantime, tell your male friends not to laugh at you. You’re going to be just fine.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
You also need to be aware that young women lose bone most rapidly in the first few years after menopause. Ask your doctor to do a bone density and get another one in the next year or two to be sure you aren’t losing calcium from your bones. Take a calcium supplement, about 1,000 to 1,200mg daily.
The good news is that things are likely not to get much more difficult than they are in the first few months after your hysterectomy was complete. If they do, discuss it with your doctor who should be able to help you. In the meantime, tell your male friends not to laugh at you. You’re going to be just fine.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
Member Comments (2)
by james4, Apr 11, 2006 12:00AM
hi i had a friend with a very low sex drive i know in her case she started taking fenugreek from health food store she swears by it.it is for men and women with low sex drive hope this helps
