low estrogen levels possible premature menopause?
I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and was told my estrogen level was 25. Apparently that is really low. My doctor didn’t seem to concerned she just gave me medicine for the headaches I’ve been having. But I was reading online about premature menopause and I have a ton of the symptoms on there. Is it possible? Also, for the last few days I have been having period type cramps in my lower abdomen, but I’m not supposed to start my period for like three weeks. I am on the pill. A friend told me I could be pregnant, but with my low estrogen and being on the pill is that even possible?
oh and i am twenty one years old
no it was when i was taking the actual pill not the placebo. and I’m not that skinny i have gained a little over ten pounds in two weeks im five seven and now weigh somewhere around one fifty
Tagged with: estrogen • levels • menopause • Possible • premature
Filed under: Menopause Headaches
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The way to tell if you have premature menopause is to get your FSH tested–but because premature menopause is so rare, docs don’t usually test for it, nor do they know much about recognizing symptoms or treating it. Much higher FSH than normal can indicate premature menopause. I assume when your estrogen was 25, that was one of the days when you were NOT on the pill, i.e. were taking a placebo pill? Because it wouldn’t be that low if you were taking the pill. I don’t think you could be pregnant with that low estrogen–no pregnancy could be maintained with such a low level. Are you very skinny? If so, your ovaries might not be working well because of being too skinny.
First, your doctor will most likely perform a pregnancy and thyroid disease test. Low levels of estradiol, a form of estrogen, can indicate that your ovaries are starting to fail. When estradiol levels are below 36, it may signal that you are in menopause.
However, the most important test used to diagnose premature menopause is a blood test that measures follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH causes your ovaries to produce estrogen. When your ovaries slow down their production of estrogen, your levels of FSH increase. When your FSH levels rise above 30 or 40 mIU/mL, it usually indicates that you are in menopause.
Like all menopausal women, women in premature menopause experience lowered estrogen levels as the ovaries stop most of their production of this hormone. Low levels of estrogen can lead to changes in a woman’s overall health and may increase her risk for certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis. Other health risks associated with the loss of estrogen include increased risk for colon and ovarian cancer, periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss and cataract formation.
However, compared with women who go through natural menopause, women undergoing premature menopause spend a greater portion of their lives without the protective benefits of their own estrogen. This puts them at an even greater risk for the above mentioned menopause-related health problems.
The symptoms and health risks of premature menopause as well as the emotional issues that may result from it can be managed with the methods similar to those used for natural menopause. Women dealing with infertility that is brought on by premature menopause may want to discuss their options with their doctor or with a reproductive specialist.
Unfortunately Premature Menopause can not be reversed
Once the process has started, it’s unlikely to be reversed.
Hi chicainitaly
If your doctor isn’t showing the proper amount of concern for your condition, you might consider getting a second opinion.
Here are some links. They may seem somewhat random, but I’m hoping they’ll provide some clues.
Lab Tests for Menopause:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/menopause.html
Study on Polycystic Ovaries:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&uid=12447098&cmd=showdetailview&indexed=google
Hormone Testing Article:
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2005/jun2005_report_hormone_01.htm
Thyroid/Menopause Connection:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/menopause.htm
Estrogen keeps hyperparathyroidism in check when normal:
http://www.4.waisays.com/hyperpara.htm
Vitamin D deficiency and hyperparathyroidism:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20000404/vitamin-d-hyperparathyroidism
Good luck! I hope this helped a little.