A British influencer who went through premature menopause at just 27 years old has shared the two most noticeable changes to her appearance that she experienced.
Bethan Mary Leadley, an influencer and singer-songwriter from Brighton, west Sussex, suffers from Turner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that often makes women more susceptible to primary ovarian insufficiency (premature menopause).
In December 2022, Ms Leadley’s period was delayed, leading her to believe that she may be pregnant.
However, four months later and following several negative pregnancy tests, she underwent blood tests before receiving the devastating confirmation that she was going through premature menopause.
Taking to the social media platform TikTok to share her unique experience, she revealed the two drastic changes to her appearance that occured once her period stopped, the first of which was a dramatic shift in her hair.
She said: ‘About six months before my period stopped my hair was perfectly straight, I didn’t have to do anything to it, I didn’t have to use any fancy products. It was just always shiny, always super straight, never really frizzy.
‘Just a few months after my period had stopped it had become so frail, so dry, hair was falling out, hair was breaking off. It was just permanently frizzy. I would brush my hair and then immediately two seconds later it would become knotted again.’
Bethan Mary Leadley, an influencer and singer-songwriter from Brighton, west Sussex, went through the menopause at just 27 years old
Alongside changes to her hair texture, Ms Leadley also revealed that her eyes and face had altered.
She shared that her ‘eyes had become a lot more shrunken’ and that her face ‘was just constantly puffy regardless of what I did’.
Ms Leadley added: ‘I feel like it looks like I gained weight but I think I actually lost weight in this time but my face was just holding so much.’
The average age at which natural menopause tends to occur is between 45 and 55 years old, according to the World Health Organization.
However, an estimated one per cent of women experience premature menopause under the age of 40, while just 0.1 per cent undergo menopause under the age of 30.
The young social media star, who is now receiving HRT (hormone replacement therapy treatment) to alleviate her symptoms, remarked that her eyes are blurrier than before losing her period and that her skin texture has also changed.
She also revealed that her GP was unable to prescribe her HRT straight away and that she would be forced to wait up to 10 months for a reproductive endocrinologist to prescribe her the drug.
Ms Leadley, who noticed changes in her hair, eyes and face, is now on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to manage the symptoms of premature menopause
Dr Anne Henderson, a consultant gynecologist and British Menopause Society advanced specialist said that premature menopause can be ‘catastrophic’ if it goes without the correct medical treatment and guidance.
She said: ‘Premature menopause is a completely different scenario from a natural menopause. It is imperative that it is treated properly with HRT or some form of estrogen replacement until the age of traditional menopause.
‘It is very striking that she is noting those changes in her hair and skin because typically at 27 you would be used to having endless healthy collagen. For a woman going through menopause later in life, those changes wouldn’t be anywhere near as noticeable.
‘Those changes are sadly only going to accelerate like a runaway train without the correct treatment. Once large amounts of collagen have been lost, it can’t be replaced. ‘
Dr Henderson remarked that while premature menopause is incredibly rare, it is still important to be aware of the possible signs and symptoms and advised seeking medical advice if you have gone three months without a regular period.
Common menopause symptoms can include hot flushes or sweats during the day and night, feelings of nausea, weight gain, lack of sleep, migraines, heightened anxiety and short-term memory loss, amongst others.
To manage the potentially ‘catastrophic’ effects of going through menopause early in life Dr Henderson also advises being acutely aware of your family history.
She added: ‘If those with premature menopause are not careful and don’t get expert medical advice, then they could end up in the same position as a woman in her 60s or 70s with thinning bones, fractures, heart pain or at risk of clogged arteries.
‘For someone so young, this could be absolutely devastating as you are at the start of your life and your career.
‘With the adequate treatment, women can feel fantastic, but it is about catching it as early as possible.’
