大象传媒

"I started my periods just before my 11th birthday, had them regularly for six months and then they just stopped."

Though she didn't know it at the time, this was a sign that Amanda, from Nuneaton, was going through premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), otherwise known as early menopause.

She was officially diagnosed with POI when she was 13-years-old after experiencing symptoms including irregular periods and weight gain.

"I knew it was bad but I don't think I fully understood it at that age,鈥� said Amanda.

"I was always thinking about the cost of IVF when I was in my teens and pre-teens."

After finding an egg donor and undergoing IVF, Amanda, now aged 30, is expecting a baby boy.

"It took a while to believe it because it's been 17 years of thinking it was never going to happen."

According to The Daisy Network, approximately one in 10,000 women under 20 in Britain experience early menopause. Possible causes can include genetic issues or auto-immune disease, but in most cases, the underlying cause is unknown.

This clip is originally from 大象传媒 Radio 5 live.

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