I am 35 years old. 9 months ago I became pregnant but it was a blighted ovum and I required a d&c. My periods came regularly for several months after that. Then they began to shorten to 24 days (used to be 28). Within the last three months however, they have been 28 days, 14 days, and now I'm on day 32 without a period (just took a prenancy test today - negative). I recently seen my midwife and told her this. She recommended birth control pills to regulate my cycles and didn't seem concerned. I told her I wanted to become pregnant again and she said that would "cure' my period irregularities. She didn't believe that my fertility could decline so rapidly in 9 months but I'm not so sure. I've had regular periods since I began menstruating at age 13. I've also had a successful pregnancy at age 31.
I'm also noticing the past few weeks that my memory is a little shot. Unable to remember names quickly. Forgetting what I'm doing, etc. I've noticed three times in the early morning hours where I awoke very sweaty. I have Major Depression and Anxiety. I took meds for 3 years and stopped for 7 months when my symptoms returned more furious than my previous episode. I'm back on meds (Lexapro) for 4 months with a big improvement in my mental status. I'm wondering now though if my depression/anxiety relapse was due to hormonal imbalances. I'm afraid that this is the beginning of perimenopause and my fertility is at risk. I'm going to see my internist to get my thyroid checked since I've had some weight loss recently. I want to get my hormones checked but I'm not sure what to ask for. I'm also afraid that he'll send me back to my midwife who's not concerned about my condition. Any suggestions or feedback are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Meg

Welcome to Power Surge. Oh my Meg - lots and lots of fluctuating hormones it seems. And there are alot of women who start peri.meno in their 30's. I would think that as long as you get your periods - even if it is irregular -you should be able to pregnant. Can Lexapro be used during pregnancy I wonder. Your GYN or family Dr. can order blood work to show the hormone levels... Sad to say Meg - during peri. the hormones are fluctuating and the blood work may say everything is "normal" even if you have all the symptoms of peri... Best wishes Meg.

meg: Ditto the previous post, but let me add a few thoughts of my own. First of all, dump the midwife who 'doesnt seem concerned with your condition.' Get one who understands your feelings, thoughts, concerns. It's YOUR body, not hers. Secondly, I know that in my thirties (I'm 44), I started having a few symptoms of peri, then they would disappear. It's funny...there isn't any 'line in the sand'--no definite starting point for meno---you just begin to slowly taper down. You may have indeed not ovulated a few times, but you can still get pregnant, because you are having periods. Tests, even blood tests, can be inconclusive, or even dowright false, because they all depend on when you are having them done.

If you want to get pregnant, I would consult a fertility specialist. Definitely find out if Lexapro is contraindicated for pregnancy. And don't worry too much...your fertility may not be the same as when you were 20, but 35 is still young. Good luck!

And I had a friend who told me his wife got pregnant at age 55, after he had spent years of going through hot flashes, bad moods, little and varying periods.

You just never know....