QuestionHello from Montreal,
I am 28 and am in menopause. My FSH is 70.5. I have not had a period in almost 8 months. In the middle of February I started to get hot flashes. It only lasted 2 weeks and that's all. I also thought that a woman was supposed to have vaginal dryness but for the past week and a half, I have been having to wear light days pads because of so much discharge. It is clear and watery. It also interferes with the intimate time with my husband because I am too wet. Is this something that I should be concerned about?
AnswerHello Jennifer,
You have a condition called Premature Ovarian Failure. It is where young women start menopause early. In this case, the ovaries have shut down and so are no longer producing the hormones that are essential to your body. Because of this, you need to be given hormone replacement therapy, at a higher dosage than menopausal replacement because you are only 28. I recommend using a low dose birth control pill for this. It is easy to use, will give you the hormones that you need in sufficient amounts and will keep you regular.
The discharge is not necessarily a concern, however, keep in mind that you are still susceptible to getting various vaginal infections. In order to be sure that it is nothing to worry about, you need to see a gynecologist and undergo an examination to check for vaginal pathogens. Your gynecologist can also prescribe a low dose birth control pill for you.
Good luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf, and follow me on Facebook at http://bit.ly/9Iw9oV
