Does Follistim Cause Early Menopause?

[DreamAboutU]

I'm in my earlies 40s, single, and have not been exposed to any medication. I always had a regular 28-day cycle.

My doctor started a first cycle of IUI for me to get pregnant. She prescribed Follistim. I experienced severe side effects with Follistim (headache, dizziness, breathing problem, etc When the dosage was high, I had trouble sleeping on one side because of the pain). Besides, it seemed that I didn't respond to the medication at all after periodic ultrasound and blood test.

Therefore, my doctor asked me to stop taking Follistim and cancelled my cycle.

Now, my period doesn't come any more, and there is no sign that it will ever come. I understand that Follistim may alter the cycle. However, will it end the cycle althogether? What did it do to me after all? I'm a little concerned.

[DreamAboutU]

Hi,

I apologize for the delayed response to your question. I have excuse other than I relocated to another state and got a new job. I was so focused on my job that I didn't have time for anything else.

I hope that your period is normal at this time, and things go well with you.

To give you an update: My period did come back after maybe two months. Then the doctor prescribed clomid with high dosage.

I experienced severe side effects with clomid. A dark spot appeared in front of my left eye when I woke up every morning.

Good thing is that the side effects disappeared several weeks after I stopped taking clomid.

Despite my desire to have a baby, I feel most important thing is to keep your own well-being. I will not do anything special to conceive after that.

If you get a chance, please send me an update!

Emily

[bb4us2011]

I went through the same exact thing in Jan 2011. I had regular periods before planning an IUI. I have had one stop of period 6 months prior with an elevated FSH, but my periods resumed and my FSH lower significantly.

I was injected with follistim to prep for the IUI. Not only did I not respond, I had a strong reaction like you I had small bleeding and pain in both ovaries for weeks after, hair loss, hot flashes and felt ill. I never saw a period again. I am devastated since and tried so many things, acupuncture, herbal chinese medicine. The best I have seen is a small bleeding last June. In my case, I feel ovarian function at times with mucus and all, but I never ovulated since the follistim treatment and it seems irreversible. You are not alone, but you and I seem to be the “rare” cases. In most cases, periods resume, we have not been that lucky.
May be it is the age, I am in my early 40s too! Stay strong and send me un update if you see this.