Menopause and PCOS

Mandobike · 12-03-2007, 07:34 PM

Hello--

I'm a 57-year-old woman who was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 34 (when it was still rare, and even some doctors didn't know what it was!) It seemed to disappear in my late 30s; I had a child at 41, and then had no problems for 11 years. At 52, I developed dysfunctional uterine bleeding, which turned out to be endometrial hyperplasia (a sign of estrogen dominance). After a D&C for that, I was put on birth control pills (Yasmin) for a year or so (lost 11 lbs. and felt GREAT on those), then on Prometrium to prevent the return of the hyperplasia (the doc took me off the BCPs because of my age, and I hate the Prometrium--it has made me gain weight, I feel depressed, foggy-brained, etc. on it). Then, this past August, after unexplained weight gain and other symptoms, I was diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism (with a TSH of 3.9), and put on 50 mcg. of levothyroxine daily. Because this med can take a LONG time to produce any effects, I am just beginning to see some (weight loss of 4-5 lbs.; on the bad side, some hair loss--but that appears to be stabilizing). Finally, the other effect that the thyroid med seems to have brought about is a full reinstatement of my periods--5 days long; every 26 days.........just as if I were 25 years old again! (GAAACK!)

I have read that PCOS women tend to go into late menopause, since ovulation was "stalled" at some point in their lives, and the body wants to finish "sending out" all its eggs. But I also have to wonder if the thyroid med, because it is stabilizing my body in so many ways, has decided to give me regular periods for once!

Anyone else out there my age and not yet in menopause? Anyone else who has recently gone on thyroid med and noticed a stabilization of their periods?

JosieFB · 12-04-2007, 01:07 AM

My mom didn't stop her periods until she was 55. She never had any of the external symptoms of PCOS (hair, weight, etc), but she had irregular periods in her teens (one every three months), and it took her about 6 years to get pregnant with me. We're almost certain my paternal grandmother had PCOS (hair, overweight, ultimately Type II diabetes), and she stopped her period at age 30 and then got pregnant with her 3rd child. She never had another period though. So my family doesn't bear out your theory. I'm 47 and have been diagnosed with PCOS only about 3 years. I've been on Yaz for a year and loved it. I've had awful cramps during every period for 30 years, and with Yaz, I have no cramps at all. However my gyn just asked me to stop Yaz because my BP was high in her office during my annual visit. I'm going to try life without it. I'm hoping my periods will start being irregular. If the hot flashes are bearable, I'm ready for to stop all this mess!

I've read that how many times you ovulate doesn't have anything to do with menopause. Women who have lots of kids don't go through menopause any later than those who have no kids. It's just whenever your hormones decide to subside.

Eva37 · 12-04-2007, 10:05 AM

welcome to sc

my mum had early menopause
eva

Nantucket · 12-04-2007, 01:55 PM

This is a great discussion and I am looking forwardto reading more replies!

I have always wondered what will happen to me during menopause...will I even know it's happening? My biggest fear is that after struggling for 20 years to have children and taking fertility meds etc that I will hit my mid 40's and have teenagers and then suddenly become the fertility queen..God kill me now. (sorry-but I cannot imagine starting over once I had teenagers in the house!) My husband laughs at me but I keep telling him that once I hit 40 he is going to get 'fixed' like it or not, lol.

Jashobeam · 12-04-2007, 03:43 PM

I've never heard of PCOS causing later menopause.

Here is some menopause info: Menopause and PCOS sites

PCGeekz · 12-04-2007, 07:59 PM

I'm turning 50 in just 35 short days.... UGH!!! I've been wondering about Menopause myself as I show no signs of it now. I always thought that because our eggs didn't develop like "regular" girls that we'd have them longer and hence go into menopause later. My endo seems to think I should be hitting it soon but my periods since being on Met have been every 28-32 days like clockwork. While the... em.... quality of the period is a little different it's still there on time. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, your the first one I've seen on the boards older than me.

I keep searching for answers and if I ever come across any, I'll let everyone know.

pal · 12-10-2007, 11:51 AM

Oh wow, I'm so glad I found this thread. Your story sounds alot like mine, I'm 54, PCOS dx in my 30s, two kids at age 40 and 44. Finally got on meds after menopause. Menopause came more or less on schedule, circa age 50, but it was rough. My PCOS symptoms have been pretty under control since my mid-30s, most likely because I was getting alot of exercise and eating pretty well. IR diet really helps me. Hope to find more of us so we can keep comparing info!

Caireann · 12-28-2007, 10:26 AM

Hi Mandobike,

I am 46, was dx in 1983 at age of 21 but had symptoms for years before that, including being px Clomid at the age of 12!

Asked my gyn/ob in 2002 about menopause and us gals with PCOS and she said that we all have a certain number of eggs and until those eggs have gone there is no menopause. She said that those of us who do not ovulate regulary (I take it she meant every month as I ovulate regularly.. just once every four years!!!

) we could expect to have our cycles shorten considerably and have 2-3 weeks cycles in order to rid the ovaries of the eggs quicker, but if not, then menstruation will continue and menopause would therefore be very late.

I was having regular menstruation but for the past year it is all over the place again, going from a 4 week cycle to 6 week cycle to 8 and 12 week cycle! Looks like I might be menstruating til I die!

Hugs

Mandobike · 01-02-2008, 12:10 PM

Hello, Caireann--

Thanks for the reply! (And thanks to others who have written--I've been away, and haven't gotten around to replying to many people).

Interesting what your ob/gyn said. My GP said exactly the same thing--that a woman menstruates until her eggs are used up--but my ob/gyn never said that! He says that women who have a late menopause may have an inherited tendency for that, and/or that they have superior nutrition (women in Third World countries, who have poor nutrition throughout their lives, often go into menopause in their 30s). Even though the ob/gyn is supposed to be more the expert about these things, I do believe my GP!

You know, the idea of having periods until I'm 60 (or beyond!) isn't the worst part. The most annoying thing is that I was diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism back in August, started on 50 mcg. of levothyroxine daily, and have seen very little real change in my weight--it goes down a few pounds; then back up.......then down a few, then right back up! I can pretty much track this weight fluctuation to water retention related to the time of the month! If I were out of menopause and no longer menstruating, I'd have a MUCH clearer picture of where I really am hormonally--since there is an interplay between hormones and the thyroid. I somehow feel that I can't get the thyroid situation regulated until I get out of menopause!! Arrgggh!!

Celia