Is this very early menopause as there is a strong family history?

Hi,
I am 27 years old and early menopause runs through my family.  My mother started her menopause at the age of 30 and she has a cousin who started hers at 29. I have recently been diagnosed with deperssion.  I have had 3 children at a young age one of which died 3 years ago after a failed heart transplant, he was six.  I can understand why people would think this is enough to cause depression but I have coped well since his death.  I recently took myself off the combined pill when I was put on Lafepramine to rid my body of any unnatural hormones that may be aiding my depression.  I then had a UTI the first I have ever had in my life which was really really bad I had large blood clots coming out of my uretha. Last year I had Clamydia (chlamydia) whih was treated so I thought I would, out of curiosity buy a FSH fertility test which showed ++.  I know from reading forums that all of these could be symptoms of Peri-menopause. Would the fact that I took the FSH test at the same time as I had the UTI be any reason why it could show a ++. The first test I took was a stronger ++ than the second but the second test was also definatly a ++ I also did not use the first morning sample on the second test.  Is it likely that I could be starting my menopause at such an early age? Can you also tell me if the FSH levels are raised in the days before ovulation? Thank you.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

I am sorry to hear of your problems and especially, the loss of your child.

FSH levels do fluctuate during the cycle but not by great amounts. They do go up just before ovulation but again, not by that much. Blood tests are much more accurate than the urine ones. With your family history, it is possible you are going into menopause, especially if your FSH test was ++, but it is difficult to say for sure. About 1-2 % of women go into menopause before age 40. Next visit to your doctor, have a blood test for FSH drawn and talk with him/her about this. If you are going into menopause, you might want to consider estrogen since you are so young, also getting a bone density as you will be at risk for osteoporosis (bone thinning). For that reason, consider starting on Calcium supplements and a multivitamin.
Machelle Seibel, MD