QuestionI am 46 yo with 2 children (18 & 14) My last normal period was in September. October, November, & January (1/10/06) were light/spotty and of short duration (1-2 days) I completely missed my period in December. I am experiencing many symptoms similar to my last pregnancies inluding swollen, tender breasts, thickening around the waist, slight nausea. Pregnancy test in the 1st week of January was negative. Can early menopause mimic pregnancy?
AnswerIf you had your period on January 10,you are not pregnant. I doubt that you have any symptoms of menopause. These are night sweats, flushes, flashes, vaginal dryness, memory loss. As you approach menopause (around 50 years of age) you will start to miss a period occasionally. Then you will miss two periods, then several. When you miss a full 12 months, we look back at the date of your final period and say that is when you reached menopause. If you have any doubts, take a pregnancy test seven days AFTER you miss your next period and you will know for sure.
