Hello,

I'm new to the forum, though not to arthritis, and I wonder if any other women with RA have thought about this issue?

I'm 39, turning 40 in a few months. My mother had an early menopause (agecd 45-46). I've had RA since age 21 (nearly 19 years) and have been on ever increasing doses of methotrexate for 6 years now. For the last 5 years I've had increasingly irregular periods - a coil (non-hormonal) did not help sort them out, and even acupuncture (usually very helpful for irregular periods) has not helped. They're not painful or anything, and not heavy, just completely unpredictable!

I know that methotrexate at higher doses is implicated in reduced bone density (osteoporosis) and can be used to cause a miscarriage, so wondered whether anyone has had any information about low doses over a long period being implicated in perimenopause or early menopause?

To be honest, I'm not that bothered, except that I'm vegan and so need to consider my options to prevent osteoporosis. Also, I like to know what's going on with my body as far as possible!

Am going to get my hormone levels checked, but thought it was worth asking around first.

Thanks!

Clare

Thanks Lorna. I'll bear that in mind. Though I don't need contraception and I'm not keen on hormonal contraceptives for lots of reasons. But... I always said I'd NEVER take methotrexate, then I said I'd NEver take Leflunomide... in the end, though, trying to live a normal life has won out each time!

I've looked around on the internet and found references to a couple of studies that concluded:
RA is implicated in early / perimenopause
RA is associated with bone density loss
low doses of methotrexate are not associated with bone density loss

It's all a lot to take on board!