Just a summary of entering menopause before 40:
Chemotherapy stopped my periods in January 2007, at the ripe old age of 34.
Menopause was permanently surgically induced by an prophylactic ovariohysterectomy in June 2007, at the ripe old age of 34. I had my ovaries, uterus, and cervix (and appendix) removed.
Pro: No menstruation for the rest of my life
Pro: Almost 0% chance of developing ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer.
Con: Weight gain (pushing 50 pounds)
Con: No libido (at all, ever)
Con: Facial hair (as in, brown hair sprouting on my upper lip daily)
Con: Hot flashes
Con: Dried up skin which still manages to sprout acne
Con: Thinning head hair
If I had to summarize menopause in a single word, it would be DRY. Dry vagina, dry skin, dry libido, dry mood.
If I had it to do over again, would I? Probably. But I would have appreciated more information. I feel that I was pressured into the surgery by a young (female!) surgeon who was more interested in seizing my ovaries than having a serious conversation.
Chemotherapy stopped my periods in January 2007, at the ripe old age of 34.
Menopause was permanently surgically induced by an prophylactic ovariohysterectomy in June 2007, at the ripe old age of 34. I had my ovaries, uterus, and cervix (and appendix) removed.
Pro: No menstruation for the rest of my life
Pro: Almost 0% chance of developing ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer.
Con: Weight gain (pushing 50 pounds)
Con: No libido (at all, ever)
Con: Facial hair (as in, brown hair sprouting on my upper lip daily)
Con: Hot flashes
Con: Dried up skin which still manages to sprout acne
Con: Thinning head hair
If I had to summarize menopause in a single word, it would be DRY. Dry vagina, dry skin, dry libido, dry mood.
If I had it to do over again, would I? Probably. But I would have appreciated more information. I feel that I was pressured into the surgery by a young (female!) surgeon who was more interested in seizing my ovaries than having a serious conversation.
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