Could going through early menopause cause a miscarriage? I'm not sure if I'm premenopausal, but I do feel like my body has been changing now that I'm 40. I had two miscarriages in the last few months, and I'm wondering if premenopause could cause this.

Stacey

It may indeed. Menopause itself is defined as the cessation of menses and is only diagnosed after periods have been absent for six months. Still, many hormonal and reproductive changes occur before periods stop completely. Episodes of irregular periods, increased length or volume of periods, and shortened cycles are typical of the perimenopausal years. Abnormal or absent ovulation may result in low or absent progesterone levels.

In addition, egg quality starts to diminish as a woman enters her late 30s. We know from IVF research data that up to one-third of the eggs obtained from a 35-year-old woman will be genetically abnormal, while at age 40, as many as 50 percent of the eggs are abnormal. Diminished ovarian reserve related to perimenopause often makes itself evident with frequent miscarriages. Diminished ovarian reserve can be tested by measuring FSH and estradiol levels on the third day of your menstrual cycle. Elevations may indicate that advanced age has affected your fertility and may have caused your miscarriages.

A newer test of inhibin B may shed more light on the issue of perimenopausal reproductive capabilities. Low values in this test indicate diminished fertility potential and possibly a greater risk of miscarriage.