Maree
For more than 15 years, Maree, aged 38 years, has been on a roller-coaster trying to deal with premature menopause.
In the early days she sat in consulting rooms and heard the same comment: "You could not be menopausal - you're too young. It's all in your mind". At a time when women are usually thinking about starting a family, she was coming to terms with infertility.
|
"I always knew I was different. By the age of 17, I had only menstruated twice," says Maree. "Back then, I didn't dwell on this abnormality because other things were happening in my life, like starting a career." |
Maree was eventually diagnosed with premature menopause in her early twenties, soon after she arrived in Australia.
Managing early menopause
In the past 15 years, she has tried the whole range of hormone replacement therapies, as well as complementary therapies.
However, as Maree explains, each HT alleviated some symptoms, but only briefly. Combined with the severe menopausal symptoms, the limited effect such drugs have on her causes her to feel overwhelmingly frustrated.
|
"I began researching and looking for options not available in Australia".
"I told my (future) husband that I didn't think I could have children, but that did not deter him. My husband has been a great support and accompanied me on my journey. In fact, if it had not been for him, I know I would have crumbled a long time ago."
"Many people suspect my condition, but because premature menopause is a closed issue, they don't like to ask. And, I don't rush in and confide in others. If my work colleagues knew I was menopausal and unable to have children, then they would feel uncomfortable, especially talking about their children. In these subtle ways, my condition always impacts on what I am doing."
"I go through periods when I feel low, when my symptoms are out of control and I cannot go anywhere because I am continually sweaty and hot. Sometimes I feel there is nothing that can be done - no treatments, no answers."
"I take one day at a time - if I wonder about the future, I become depressed. All I am seeking is some symptom relief and quality of life." |
Karen
My story is...I was 28 years old. I already had two beautiful children, one of each. So I guess in a way, you could say I was lucky!
The trouble started when I tried and I tried... and again tried to fall pregnant for what I thought would be the final last time. Looking back it was a very frustrating time for all.
I had missed periods, so off I went to do a home pregnancy test only to come up negative. Then off to the doctor convinced that 'this time I must be pregnant', only to have my doctor put it (missed period) down to stress and it will happen when it happens.
Needless to say this went on for some months. Then there was the depression, mood swings and hot flushes - my god! I started to see a councilor who thought I had post natal depression. After all, my little girl was only two years old and a handful at that. We put the hot flushes down to anxiety attacks.
By this stage I was in severe depression and felt totally out of control. I went on antidepressants for a while but that wasn't really my thing.
Close to one year after I had my very first symptoms, I was diagnosed with early menopause at the age of 28. The youngest age my doctor had seen personally.
I still find it difficult to talk about. You could say embarrassing and ashamed leap to mind. But as I mentioned earlier, I do realise I am one of the lucky ones because I was able to have two beautiful children. If I'd left it a few years later, then I might not be so lucky.
All the same you still can't help feeling a little bit cheated and envious when sitting with the kindy mums having a coffee and the conversation goes like this, “I’m going to have another one when Tommy goes to pre-school, what about you?”
I just smile and reply, “No more for me”.
“Karen”
30 years
Western Australia
Share your story
If you would like to share a short story (50 - 200 words) about your own life experience we would be please to hear from you.
Simply go to the Feedback form and in the Comments field start with the words - "My story is....".
Your story will then be considered for anonymous publication on this website.
For Example
My story is that... "my menopause was premature through surgery. I really struggled with it at first. I was 31 years old and I thought that I was going to be a lesser woman to society and to my partner. I saw both a sex counsellor and a marriage counsellor. In the end it was my own acceptance of what had happened that pulled me through. I realised that this was not the end of my life. It is how I think about myself that matters."
Content updated July 05, 2005
|
Personal stories 
