posted 02-24-2003 11:04 AM            

I was wondering if there is a relationship between age to enter menopause and genetics? I have two aunts (both from my father's side) who menopaused at the age of 37 and 38. On the other hand, women from my mother's side were in their mid to late 40s.Lately, I am having two week long PMSs, bloating, nausea, irritibilaty before my periods although my periods are still very regular (28 days). I was wondering if these could be signs of perimenopause. I am 36.

posted 02-24-2003 04:04 PM            

I'm 41 1/2 now. It wasn't until my periods stopped for 3 months (just after I turned 41) and I confirmed that I wasnt pregnant that I began to suspect menopause. I asked my 76 yr old mom when she went through it, I knew it was somewhat early but not how early... she replied "oh, I don't remember exactly but it was very eary. You were about six or seven. We were at this farm, there's a photo of you with some animals. I remember that's the last period I had. I'll try to find the photo!" I hope you're laughing...she didn't remember, but she did find the photo and sent it to me and we figured I was about 8, so she was about 42. Looks like I am going through it around the same time. She claims she didn't have many peri symptoms, was pretty regular until her last period, but I remember her having a lot of headaches as a kid, and joint pain! I have been having peri symptoms for a number of years with mostly normal, short periods (26 days), some a bit early or a bit late. Didn't realize that's what it was until my periods got really erratic. After the 3 months without I got one every 3 weeks for the next 2 months! Then I went 5 weeks.

I started to do a lot of research on early menopause, read a few good books and spoke with a lot of women, found a good chat/support group! While there is no 100% relationship, there is a strong one for sure. Many women who go through it early had moms, aunts, grandma's who did too, not all. There could be other conditions as well, such as thyroid, that could be causing fluctuations that could also be hereditary. My mom did, buy my aunt, her older sister, went through it at an early age. When I learned my mom had gone through it that early it sort of made things fall into place for me. At least I understood what was going on, and my gyn confirmed it, as much as she didn't want to consider that I was going through Early Menopause, the fact that my mom had made it very likely that I was too. You should visit your gyn about the bloating and pms symptoms, perhaps try a natural female herbal compound (there are so many around these days) to see if that helps. I also want to add that a lot of women I've spoken with have had problems finding md's who will consider/treat Early Menopause in women under 40 or 45, and also during perimenopause our hormones fluctuate so often blood-work does not show that much but we feel in various ways.

I wish you luck!