Steph Hilton went into premature menopause at 32 - this is what she wished she knew

Steph Hilton went into premature menopause at only 32. She says she started to get these symptoms before the devastating diagnosis and has this one regret.

A Sydney woman who went into premature menopause at just 32 is urging other women to get fertility tested before it’s too late.

After a lengthy and heartbreaking IVF journey, Steph Hilton fears she may never have a child of her own - and faces years of hormone replacement therapy and adverse health risks.

When the now 38-year-old started getting hot flushes and brain fog six years ago, she joked about menopause - then she received the devastating diagnosis.

In Australia the average age of menopause is 51; while around five per cent of women experience early menopause between the ages of 40 and 45.

Menopause in women younger than 40 is called premature menopause - or premature ovarian insufficiency - which affects around one per cent of women. It can cause infertility and have short and long-term health consequences such as heart disease, osteoporosis and memory problems.

Steph Hilton went through early menopause at 32. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I’d always planned to get my fertility checked when I was 30, but I didn’t and now live with that regret,” Ms Hilton said.

“When I went to the doctor with my symptoms, the tests came back showing quite advanced menopause - there was no chance to even retrieve eggs.

“Having a baby is what I’d expected and planned, as many women do - so to lose that and know I was never going to know my own child was very confronting.

“I’ve never been as heartbroken in my life.”

Sydney sexual health clinician Dr Therese Foran said Ms Hilton is not alone - and urged women to look at risk factors for premature menopause and consult with their doctor.

“Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can cause early menopause because these treatments are toxic to the ovaries,” she said.

“Other risk factors include a genetic predisposition - so if your mother or another family member had early menopause then it would be worth further investigation.

“Some auto immune conditions also represent a risk factor.”

Dr Foran, a board member of the Australasian Menopause Society, said the contraceptive pill could mask the symptoms, with many women only discovering they were in early menopause after deciding to fall pregnant and come off medication.

“Premature ovarian insufficiency, if not managed, means a woman is likely to die earlier - as it increases the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia,” she said.

“It obviously has an impact on fertility and a woman’s chance to conceive, or add to her family. The psychological impact is also huge.”

Steph Hilton turned to IVF to try and have a baby. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

After Ms Hilton’s diagnosis, her sister stepped in, donating eggs through two retrievals, resulting in 36 frozen eggs. With the help of a sperm donor, Ms Hilton was able to create nine embryos, yet five transfer attempts ended in heartbreak.

The Dee Why woman fell pregnant in 2022, only to miscarry at six weeks.The following March she became pregnant again, but her joy turned to pain again.

“My dad had been diagnosed with late stage cancer in 2021 and had two very rough years - passing away in June 2023,” Ms Hilton said.

“He’s been thrilled with my pregnancy and I was devastated my baby wasn’t going to meet her grandfather.

“Yet at my 20-week scan, doctors discovered an abnormality in the baby’s heart.”

Genetic testing confirmed a major deletion on chromosome 7, which would result in severe disabilities.

“My baby would have had to face years in hospitals, multiple surgeries, and a drastically lower quality of life,” she said.

“She was deemed not compatible with life, and I had to end the pregnancy - Daisy was born stillborn on September 1, 2023.”

Ms Hilton tried her last two embryos early last year, but both attempts ended in failure.

She was advised not to use her sister’s eggs again; instead one of her close friends donated eggs, resulting in nine embryos.

The first transfer was successful, but ended in a chemical pregnancy at five weeks. The second transfer also failed.

Steph Hilton, at her home in Dee Why, says she has spent $70,000 to try to have a baby. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I’ve spent more than $70,000 and gone through so much heartache - it’s time to take a break,” she said.

“But I’m dedicated to the idea of raising a child - it’s not the end of my journey.

“And I’d encourage other women to be aware this is a possibility - get a fertility check, it’s best to know early - you can freeze your eggs and better plan for the future.”

A friend has started a gofundme to help Ms Hilton in her quest to have a child.

Originally published as Steph Hilton went into premature menopause at 32 - this is what she wished she knew