Vegetarian Diet and Eraly Menopause

[coffeemama]

I read somewhere that a vegetarian diet can trigger early menopause????

[GreenElle]

I am 45 y/o and It seems I have reached menopause, with only 4 periods in a period of a year. I've been vegetarian for 6 years and before that, almost vegetarian for 10, consuming fish 3 to 4 times a month. I'm really concerned. I have no children and it is obviously too late to have them. But I have aged incredibly much and put on 20 kg in the last 3 years, the bulk of it during Covid. My skin is a disaster, I have low levels of vitamin D (i know, sun) and Calcium, despite eating lots of green calcium rich vegetables. I cannot distinguish what signs are due to my natural aging and which one might be because of not eating meat. I do eat some cheese and some eggs and a bit of yogurt from time to time. Nobody had an early menopause in my family. I feel with no energy, sluggish, fat, depressed, and I have excruciating back pain.  I used to hike long distances and swim and always was of normal weight, but in recent years, because of back pain and feeling so much pain in all my body, I have ceased to be so active, which obviously is making matters worse. I am taking vitamin B12 and consuming enough ALA Omega 3 in the form of flax, or so I believe. But I know it converts poorly. I just wonder if I am hurting myself by being vegetarian? Worse, am I hurting my partner? We consumed no heavily manufactured products. I make everything at home from raw materials. My partner has lost so much weight, despite eating like a kraken... and I have put so much weight on, despite eating little. My biggest concern is my early menopause, though.

[specialmom]

Hi GreenElle.  When is the last time you had a thyroid test?  I would check into that as it sounds thyroid related to me.  

[petal365]

I have been a vegetarian (90-100% organic) for 7 years now, I am 34 years old and am at least 1/4 way through menopause (peri-menopause).  Through this year I have missed 4 periods.  East indian women that meer eat a stitch of meat in their lives are typically completed menopause by their late twenties or early thirties.  This has been personally difficult as I still wish to have another child.  Interestingly enough it appears some women don't have this experience at all??  

[Flowers1954]

I have been a vegetarian for nearly 20 years and, like laprof, I will turn 54 in January. I have regular periods as always and no sign of menopause in sight yet!

[laprof]

I've been a vegetarian for about a decade (other than the occasional piece of fish) and I am just beginning menopause - and I'll turn 54 in January.  No early menopause for me!