CHAPTER 1: Menopause
1078 Words
The waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and the sharp tang of alcohol wipes. Abigail sat quietly on the vinyl-covered bench, her fingers worrying the hem of her soft blue cardigan. It was the middle of a weekday, and most people were at work or school, but she had taken the morning off, unable to ignore the gnawing worry any longer.
The nurse finally called her name. “Miss Curtis?”
She immediately rose, smoothing her skirt, and followed the woman down a clean hallway, into a small, warmly lit consultation room. A poster on the wall showed the female reproductive system in bright, clinical colors. Abigail looked away from it quickly.
“Dr. Villanueva will be with you in a moment,” the nurse said with a polite smile before shutting the door behind her.
When Dr. Elaine Villanueva entered minutes later, she greeted Abigail with kindness and concern. Abigail had been seeing her for years mostly routine check-ups and the occasional cold, but this felt different.
“So,” the doctor said gently, sitting across from her and opening her file, “what brings you in today?”
Abigail hesitated. She had practiced what to say, even whispered it to herself in front of the mirror that morning. Still, now that she was here, it felt silly. But the knot in her stomach pushed her forward.
“I’ve been... feeling off lately,” she began. “At first, I thought it was just stress. But it’s been weeks now.”
Dr. Villanueva nodded, giving her space to continue.
“I’ve been getting these... sudden hot flashes. Like my body heats up out of nowhere. And my sleep’s all over the place. I wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. My periods are weird, too. Last month, it came two weeks early, and now it’s late.”
She paused, chewing her lower lip. “And I’ve been more emotional than usual. Irritated one second, crying the next. It’s like I don’t recognize myself sometimes.”
Dr. Villanueva tilted her head slightly as her brows knit together, giving her all her attention. “When did you first notice these changes?” She asked.
“Maybe two months ago?” Abigail replied. “But it’s been worse recently. I just turned thirty-three. I didn’t think this was normal.”
“No, it’s not typical,” the doctor said carefully. “But it’s not unheard of either. Some women experience early menopause, which can start before forty. It’s rare, but it happens.”
Abigail blinked a little surprised. “Early... menopause?”
“We won’t jump to conclusions yet,” Dr. Villanueva said in a calm and reassuring tone. “But what you’re describing are symptoms we see during perimenopause... or should I say, the transition into menopause. It’s when hormone levels start fluctuating.”
She clicked her pen once, then looked up again. “Can I ask something a little personal?”
Abigail nodded slowly, feeling hesitant.
“Have you been sexually active recently? Or noticed any pain, dryness, or discomfort during intercourse?”
Abigail’s cheeks flamed instantly, and she looked down, suddenly very interested in the tiny fray on her sleeve.
“Um… I’m actually…” She hesitated, then cleared her throat. “I haven’t... really. I mean—I’ve never—”
Dr. Villanueva softened at Abigail's reaction, immediately catching up with her shyness. “You’re inexperienced?”
Abigail gave a tiny nod, eyes still lowered. “Yeah. I guess I just… never found the right person.”
“That’s nothing to be shy about,” the doctor said warmly. “In fact, that helps us rule out a few possible causes for your symptoms, like infections or STIs. So thank you for being honest.”
Abigail gave a small, embarrassed smile, still not fully meeting her eyes.
“But with everything you’ve told me,” Dr. Villanueva continued, growing a little more serious, “I do want to be upfront with you. If this is perimenopause, and you’re experiencing it this early, that means your ovarian function is slowing down faster than it should.”
Abigail's smile slowly faded.
“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.
“It means your body is producing fewer healthy eggs, and the ones that remain may not be as viable,” the doctor explained gently. “In simpler terms...your fertility window might be shorter than most women your age.”
Abigail’s stomach twisted. “So… I could be infertile soon?”
“It’s possible, though I won’t say that for sure until we get your blood work results. But I want you to start thinking about it now, just in case. If having children is something you want someday, we may need to talk about options like egg preservation or fertility treatments sooner rather than later.”
Abigail sat still as the doctor’s words began sinking in like stones into water.
She had always assumed there was time. Time to fall in love. Time to start a family. Time to figure it all out. But now, everything felt rushed, like her body was betraying her on a clock she hadn’t even known was ticking.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice soft but steady. “What happens next?”
“We’ll do a blood test today to check your hormone levels—FSH, estradiol, AMH. I’ll also examine you just to be thorough. Once we have results, we’ll talk about your next steps, depending on what we find.”
Abigail nodded, barely noticing the crinkling of the paper beneath her as she shifted on the exam table. Dr. Villanueva stood and moved gently and efficiently, walking her through each part of the pelvic exam and then stepping out as a nurse came in to draw blood.
When it was over, Abigail got dressed again slowly, her hands trembling slightly. As she slipped her shoes back on, she realized the room had grown colder.
Dr. Villanueva returned with a kind expression, handing her a small pamphlet about reproductive health.
“I know this is a lot to take in,” she said. “But no matter what, you’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out, okay?”
Abigail forced a smile and nodded, but her heart was heavy.
As she walked out into the late morning sun, the world looked the same… but everything inside her had changed.
- Writer
