Methotrexate linked to premature menopause??

I have been on methotrexate for about 6 years for rheumatoid arthritis and have experienced irregular periods sometimes, and just recently when my arthritis was active I missed a period. Because I am in my early forties I was told these things could happen because of my age but it may be because of the methotrexate.

Its interesting to hear that someone else is making the link. I missed a period in may then..........since June I have been constantly bleeding very heavily.

Because I am 47 I am being told that its probably the 'change' (isnt everything at my age!!!!). I dont have ANY other symptoms that say I am going through the menopause.

However they have decided to take me in and have a look to make sure its nothing else AND to fit the coil :shock: to try and regulate the bleeding.

Most of the docs I have spoken too have 'poo poo'ed' the methotrexate link

hi, i have taken methotrexate since sept 07, it was increased to 17.5mg in dec 07, i completely missed a period in october and havnt had a regular one since! they are completly different to i am used to, and i have started getting migraines, both the ra nurse and my gp refuse to admit it is the methotrexate, i feel like i am getting ignored all the time, i am 35 yrs old

If you feel that a symptom is due to a side effect of a medicine that you have taken then you may wish to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) via their yellow card scheme - http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Reportingsafetyproblems/index.htm

Patient Admin Team

I am so sorry to hear that others have also suffered from this. My GP and my Rheumatologist both almost convinced me that my loss of periods/premature menopause were NOT related to my Methotrexate medication (for Psoriatic arthritis.) A quick search online shows that this drug is used by the NHS to cause abortions, and loss of periods is a common side effect of Methotrexate used for chemotherapy. It aint rocket science to see that there is a connection.... I hope and pray for all of us that the effect is reversible with time.

I also have PSA, and I have been taking methotrexate for 5 years now on the advice of my rheumatologist to protect my joints.

At 41, I have also just been through the menopause. My oldest sister is 52, and she hasn't reached hers yet, my mother went through hers at 54.

My rheumatologist in Swansea has told me that although some research finds that \"autoimmune disorders and immunosuppressants are common causes for early menopause\", but that \"methotrexate, at the dosages recommended in rheumatology, is not known to be a common cause of early menopause\", but agrees that \"early menopause is common for patients taking high doses of methotrexate for chemotherapy\".

I was warned not to become pregnant while taking methotrexate because it causes birth defects. I was not warned that there was even a slight chance of early menopause as a side effect of this drug. I expect that many cases of early menopause from this drug (and others?) are not being reported because patients are not given the information to make the connection with the drug, or lump this problem with the rest of their arthritis symptoms. The experiences here are showing a problem is there.

I hope some Doctor reads this and looks into the connection, and that a proper warning can be given to women in future.

Hi, about 15 years ago I was taking MTX for severe psoriasis. I tried both tablets and injections, I was 25 years old, I noticed my periods becoming very irregular and when I spoke to my Dermatologist I was advised that MTX was at that time known to cause symptoms of the menopause and advised due to my age to stop treatment immediately. However once I stopped treatment my periods returned. Hope this helps.

[quote:cd87ba6639=\"linda\"]I have been on methotrexate for about 6 years for rheumatoid arthritis and have experienced irregular periods sometimes, and just recently when my arthritis was active I missed a period. Because I am in my early forties I was told these things could happen because of my age but it may be because of the methotrexate.[/quote:cd87ba6639]

I'm on medication to stop my periods. I am also now on my 2nd week of Methotrexate to treat psoriasis. Strange because i now am having a period. So i reckon methotrexate does mess with periods.

I started on methotrexate for RA when I was 52. After taking for approx. 6 months my periods stopped completely. I assumed this was the menopause. Six months ago I had to stop taking methotrexate as my liver function tests were very high and I have now started having periods again. Coincidence or what?

Thank God I finally found someone who has the same thing. Im 19 and since taking methotrexate my periods are constantly late. My last one was late September which was when i was put up to 15mg, and the first thing I thought was 'Crap im pregnant', but since i havent had any other signs I can rule that out. Anyone else feel like crap a couple of days after taking it?

I've been taking methotrexate for about 10 months and although it's helping I have had a number of side effects including much lighter periods and some hair loss. I tend to feel irritable and just not myself for a few hours after ive taken it so I've started taking the tablets at night so that I sleep through the side effects. I've recently noticed that I'm having palpitations - has anyone else?

[quote:62ef6d6b92=\"Emma \"]At 23 I was told I'd had a premature menopause. Having had no symtoms apart from absence of periods, I was shocked to hear it, especially as it did not run in my family at all. Just a year and a half before this news, I'd taken myself off methotrexate taken as treatment for my psoriasis. I'd been on it for 2 years, and before that, went through years of topical steroids and UVA treatment etc.

My period absences only occurred whilst I was on methotrexate and obviously after I'd come off it.

I have mentioned this methotrexate to my gp's, and (nhs) specialists, and they have casually dismissed it as being irrelevant, and in fact, no one has ever queried why at all a girl in her early 20's would come to experience this.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar after taking methotrexate, or even a lot of steroid creams??[/quote:62ef6d6b92]

I was on it for Crohn's Disease and have been off for 8 months because it stopped my period all together.

I am 31 and my doctors also dismiss it as nothing when my period has always been like clockwork since 12. It has still not returned. I wish you well.

im 16 and i was on methetrexate for 4 years for psoratic arthritis then stopped and started my periods then when i went back on methetrexate my periods stopped and my doctor said it was not a side effect of the methetrexate

Hi,

I'm aged 39 and have been told today that I am going through an early menopause and prescribed HRT. I have been on methotrexate for at least 5 years - maybe longer. I have never been aware of a possible link before, but am interested in doing a little more research now! I also take enbrel, sulphasalazine and arcoxia. Any more information/advise on RA/early menopause/HRT gratefully accepted!

Hi

I'm 46 and have been taking meth for the past 11 months to treat psoriasis. Everything's cool until four weeks ago I started to bleed after intercourse. I've had my periods twice this month. I wonder what is wrong with me now. Am I reaching premenopausal stage? My mom had her last period in her 50s. Could meth be responsible for this?