Ladies with asthma (Catamenial Asthma) - Asthma Community ...

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Ladies with asthma (Catamenial Asthma)

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All you ladies out there, its worth considering is your asthma related to your periods?

I have just been diagnosed with Catamenial asthma it is related to hormones and periods, the week before my period my peak flows dropped serverly and my asthma went right out of control, often having to take steroids and needing regular nebulizers all the time. I have been sent into a chemical menapause and i'm off nebulisers and no steroids for 6 months, still on medications its not a cure but it sure has helped....

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9 Replies

Hi

I know there is thought to be a link between exacerbations and hormones. A few ladies on here step up treatment just before their period is due. Hope the enforced menopause doesn't bring new problems. Keep us updated it will be interesting to see the outcome and success if any you have.

I asked my consultant if this was a known phenomenon and he didn't have a clue but my asthma is always worse round my period!! Will be taking this snippet along with. E to my next r/v!! I always step up my steroids too. I'm only 25 so I know it won't change soon but at least I know I'm not going mad!!

Forgive me if this is too much information, but I have the most irregular periods you can imagine. In some ways my asthma actually helps me recognise my time of the month. I get so much worse with it. his kind of means I have some kind of indication but doesnt make it any less unpleasant

Catamenial asthma

So far so good still no major incidents with my asthma, never felt so good.

If I suspect you have this then fight your corner, it's easy to treat in most women its a case of going on the pill and getting your periods stopped!!

hb1977 profile image
hb1977

Hi

I'm on medication which puts me into a medical menopause. Not on them for Asthma but because I've also got Endometriosis :-(

Can't say I've noticed any improvement so I'm assuming that the asthma wasn't being influenced by my menstrual cycle!

Good Luck with your treatment, sounds like you are enjoying some real improvement!

Hi

A lot of drs haven't heard if this type of asthma, it's quite common but not diagnosed as not widely known.

If your having difficulties getting your consultant to believe you ask them to contact professor ian Sabroe at the northern general hospital Sheffield, he Is a specialist in difficult asthma and he diagnosed this type of asthma after several months of peak flow testing over a period of 6 month so may be worth doing this and taking the evidence with you at your next asthma clinic appointment.

I am still doing well have had a few attacks due to colds etc.

My everyday asthma control is 90% better than it was. I hardly have nebulisers now. I know when my next round of treatment is due as my asthma starts to get out of control.

So keep fighting yr corner and good luck

Any questions regarding catamenial asthma I will try to answer but I'm no expert

All you ladies out there, its worth considering is your asthma related to your periods?

I have just been diagnosed with Catamenial asthma it is related to hormones and periods, the week before my period my peak flows dropped serverly and my asthma went right out of control, often having to take steroids and needing regular nebulizers all the time. I have been sent into a chemical menapause and i'm off nebulisers and no steroids for 6 months, still on medications its not a cure but it sure has helped....

Depending on the severity, in some patients, it is not a big nuisance. On the contrary, it can be a major issue and cause many problems in daily life activities in some patients. Catamenial Asthma can be life threatening if it is left untreated at the right time. Any type of Asthma can't be cured, but can be controlled with proper medication.

NouveauDruid profile image
NouveauDruid

For me, prior to age 10 and now that I am 51, I've had asthma (or I suspect I have it again, that is.) So, I believe it is absolutely linked to hormonal changes and there is information online to prove it, showing an 80% increase in asthma in perimenopausal women who had not had a period in six months vs. those still menstruating. There is also a link between asthma and women who have taken hormone replacement therapy for ten years or longer.

So, I feel there's no hope for me with regard to stopping the trigger, which was nothing more than living long enough to begin menopause several years ago. Because he thought I just had an upper respiratory infection, four weeks ago my GP put me on Singulair and Ventolin after two rounds of antibiotics and a corticosteroid shot. I fear no one takes the female hormone-asthma link seriously, at least not beyond the pioneering doctors writing about it.

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