FSH

Hi!  I am 42 years old & have been told that I am menopausal.  It's been EXACTLY one year since my last period.  I began the "cycle" of pre-menopause around 38 yrs old having irregular periods. Dr. took blood levels which are as follows:  FSH:57.5  LH:29.7(serum).  My question is:  Is this normal for some women to go through menopause this early or should I be concerned about cancer etc?  I  have NO pain or anything.  I used to have minor pain in one or the other side of the ovary 2 weeks prior to a period, & was told that was sign of ovulation.  It would then disappear with no trouble.  I get yearly PAP smears & dr. palpates stomach/ovary/breast for disease.  All comes back fine. I am Hypothyroid also.  This is under control.  Mom went through early menopause, but was diabetic & thyroidal.  I read somewhere that early ovarian failure could be a sign of cancer if LH levels are high in ratio to your FSH levels, but stupidly I don't understand what that means.  Are mine high in ratio?  Also, my depression & anxiety has gotten horribly worse.  I sit around thinking that I'm dying of every disease there is.  I don't believe that I was ever like this before.  I am lightheaded, depressed & frightened.  Also am not on any HRT.  Thank you for responding. I appreciate your time so very much.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. Women who go through early menopause before the age of 40, are in what is called medically premature menopause.  It is just the usual menopause, but it happens a few years earlier than it does for most other women.  I am not aware of an increased risk of cancer due to this. The ratios just mean that the FSH is higher than the LH rather than both being about the same level.  

There is an increased risk of osteoporosis because you are not making estrogen for a longer period of time than if menopause came at say, age 45 or more.  If you and your mother both have hypothyroid, you might both have an autoimmune condition.  That means that your body attacks the hormone producing cells in your body. It can affect the thyroid gland to cause a hypothyroid condition, and then the ovaries and cause premature menopause.  This grouping is common.  If you want to know for sure, your doctor can check your blood for antithyroid antibodies and antiovarian antibodies.  This won

[Downrivergirl]

I hope your wrong.. Since my FSH is higher then yours, lol.. And not to mention younger then you.. I have the same fears as you.. except I havent had a cycle in 7 months, Dr says paps and pelvic as well as blood work, has come back fine.. So I dont know what to think.. Only hoping that what people have been telling you is not true.. OH GAWD !!!! That has just totally ruined my night.. :(

[Free Bird82]

Oh my!  I in NO WAY wanted to worry anybody else.  I guess the forum MD should have a response that we can trust.  My biggest gripe was the fact that they just easily said early menopause with no other tests done.  I guess I just thought that if something is not "normal", that the doctor would look into other possible scenerios before dx what I HOPE is what it really is....just an early menopause due to genetics really. I just wanted someone to explain my levels to me in way that I can understand.

[Free Bird82]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

  You've really helped me and I appreciate it.  Everything that you suggested, I do, so that is good.
  Bone Density - DONE!  Multi-vitamin - DONE!  Exercise - EVERY DAY FOR YEARS!!!!  Actually my doc's say I'm in better shape than them...ha ha. Cholesterol - EXCELLENT!!  Mammograms - YEARLY!  Paps - YEARLY!!  Checkups -6mos or when necessary!  I'm either a doctor's dream patient or worst nightmare (LOL) becuase I am very pro-active with my health.
  The only thing that I don't care to do just yet, is the hormone replacement therapy.  Doc gave me an Rx, but I haven't filled it.  I believe that with extra knowledge and attention, that I can beat the mood swings with natural remedies as long as I know that they are due to the menopause, etc. & hopefully will pass with time.  I just feel that there are too many risks with HRT that I, at this age, am not willing to take.  Again, thank you ever so much!!!!

[Bonnie B.]

Hi Free Bird, I just wanted to mention (as I did on another thread) that there is a very informative, supportive website called earlymenopause.com that might be helpful to you too.

[Free Bird82]

Thank you Bonnie.  I will look it up!!