Clare (35) was coming off the contraceptive pill with the intention of starting a family when she first realised something was wrong. "I had come off the pill before without any problems. But, this time, my periods didn't come back. I didn't do anything for about eight months, thinking my body was re-adjusting. "Then, I went to my doctor who did some blood tests but the results were fine. My GP then referred me to Prof Harrison in the HARI (Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland) Unit at the Rotunda Hospital. It was only when I had a laproscopy followed by a biopsy of my ovaries did we discover that I had virtually no egg count at all. "I was then told I wouldn't conceive naturally and that my only options were egg donation or adoption. I just couldn't believe it.
"I was immediately referred to Maire Milner at the Menopause Clinic. There, I had bone density tests, chromosome tests, antibody tests, more blood tests to try to see why this was happening to me. No reason was found. "I've had no symptoms of the menopause apart from my periods stopping. I started on hormone replacement therapy straight away so as to prevent osteoporosis.
When, you first discover what has happened, you go through a period of denial. You think, they've got to be wrong. There is no history of early menopause in my family. As time goes on, that denial changes to shock. Then, it becomes a depression which is just there all the time. "The whole area of having children is something we all take for granted. Although there is a niggling doubt sometimes that you may be leaving it too late, you don't really take that on board.
"My husband has been very supportive but I think it is something he has found easier to come to terms with than I have. For women, it's a physical thing as well as an emotional one. It's more than about not having babies. It's also that your body is not reacting normally and that you'll never be pregnant. You are deprived of the experience of being female. You've had something huge taken away from you yet outwardly, you don't look any different.
"The irony now is that for egg donation, I am considered quite young - yet for adoption, I'm seen to be quite old."