From: shawn@Aardvark.Rain.COM (Shawn Allen)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Premature Menopause
Date: 5 Apr 92 23:11:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: aardvark.614
Distribution: na
Organization: Steve's UNIX System, Portland, Oregon

The recent dicussion on infertility drugs and the success rate of
the various meathods is very close to home for me and my wife. 
Just over a year ago, after 18 months of unsuccessful attempts at 
becoming pregnant, and 3-4 months of unusual periods (my wife upto this
time had been extreemly regular and consistant, then began to be upto a
week early then a week late {6weeks between periods} as well as the
length and intensity varied from very light/no-pain to very heavy/lots
fo pain). After consulting with an infertility specialist at our HMO,
we began seeing another outside specialist who diagnosed my wifes'
condition as "Premature Menopause". He subscribed hormones that would
regulate the 'monthlies' and suggested that our only options were to 
either adopt (which I have looked into and will prabably pursue) and 
a proceedure that involves the fertilization of a donor egg with my 
sperm. This fertilized egg would then be planted into my wifes' uterus
for the duration of the pregnancy. This preceedure is very expensize
and not nessesarily very successful, according to our doctor. 

To clearify things abit more, I did undergo a series of tests that 
showed I was producing sufficiant, healthy sperm (this is for those who
always ask if I had been tested, not for my ego as is the other reason
that people seem to infer.) and for personal reasons my wife stopped
the series of hormones and has since completely entered the
post-menopause phase (no periods, etc.). 

The doctor said he has seen this type of thing before, however I have
yet to find ANY liturature, magazine articles, ANYTHING that talks
about premature menopause, its causes if any, the years to follow etc.
This is a big emotional deal for my wife as she is 23 and everything
she reads basically points to death after menopause in upto 30-40
years, that would be 53-63. There is no data on women who go through
premature menoupause, except for women who have their uterus' removed
(sorry I dont want to butcher his-tor-ectomy) which seem to happen
later in life than my wife is now. 

My questions are:
1. IS this a common occurance?
2. Has anyone ever heard of Premature Menopause occuring in 
   otherwise normally healthy women?
3. What are the risks of not following the hormone thearpy?
   (My wife is not keen to taking hormone for the rest of her life to 
   avoid uterine cancer for the option of brest cancer, she is also
   worried about osteoperosis.)
4. What ARE the success rates for the proceedure discribed above?
   (the fertilized donor egg, being carried to term and delivered
   healthily, the doctor says that my wifes reprodutive system could 
   go thru this proceedure normally) 
5. Is there any info/data on premature menopause?
   Where can I get it?
6. Are there any national organizations for women who go through
   premature menopause?

Any help would be appreciated, 
BTW the doctor we were refered to can only help us with the suggested
proceedure, he will not help us with the premature menopause questions
because offically he is responsible for the infertility not the
premature menopause, that is the responsiblity of the HMO, and thier 
proceedure is to follow the edict of the outisde doctor. (This is a
common reaction within this hospital. They provide a economical service
for people who cannot afford alot for health care, thus they distance
themselves from any long-term expensive proceedures and patients) which
means that they will only pay for the hormones. 

If you have any type of info/data that may help me please post or 
email me. 

Thankyou !!
--
shawn

-- 
shawn@aardvark.rain.com                     |"The number of UNIX
"I'm with the government, I'm here to help!"|machines has grown to 10
"The God I believe in                       |with more expected." 
isn't short of cash, MISTER!!" -Bono        | -The UNIX manual, *1972*