Zoladex for endo....A bit personal but I need some advice/help...

[Shoppaholic33]

I had my last zoladex injection for my endometriosis last month and am going away on holiday next week with a guy that I've just started seeing...I'm so worried that when it come down to us having sex that I'm going to bleed...also worried my periods will start next week. How long does it take for them to come back and has anyone else had bleeding during sex after this course of treatment?! X

[Impatient]

You can get vaginal moisturisers and KY jelly to help with lubrication..That's why women bleed having sex while the zoladex is drying you out down below. It reduces the libido or sex drive to zero and has a habit of making the vaginal lining brittle and fragile and friction can cause that to bleed. It won't be the same a aperiod menstrual bleed, but is could hurt.

You need to use condoms for 4 months after finishing the drug because you must avoid getting pregnant at all costs, as the drug is toxic for devloping babies, BC pills are not effective as a contraception when you have zoladex in the system, hence you must use condoms but condoms only have so much lube on them and it isn't enough for a dried out vag.

So definitely pop to the chemist for extra lubrication....and condoms. Don't rely on your partner to have sufficient supply...and never rely on being able to buy them overseas (if you are going overseas) and what the quality of them will be.

Also you could speak to your GP to get Norethisterone tablets.

If you start taking them right away, even if you do start ovulating, they should stop an actual period happening till you stop taking the tablets. Be careful on holiday if you get an upset tummy that can send the tablets right through you too quickly to work and could trigger a period, the norethisterone only works so long as you take them, skip them or have a bout of tummy upset and tht could cause a period bleed to happen in a day or two after. They can be very useful tablets for big events like exams and holidays when you want to delay coming 'on'.

The average time to restart periods is 5 months after zoladex , but in my own experience my period came back as quick as it darnwell could which was very annoying.

And take anything you might need if you do start your period. Pain killers are essential and having enough towels to cope too.

Boyfriends know their girlfriends have periods so even if yoou do come on, just be honest and tell him. He will have to deal with just as you will have to deal with it.

And sex when you are on a period can be a very good way to relieve period pains if a bit messier than usual.

Failing all that, just tell him you have just finished having chemo and are not yet ready for penetrative sexy time, you can still have intimacy without actually doing that sex act.

Most of all, enjoy your holiday as best you can. You deserve to have a great holiday after zoladex. Hope you have a fab time.

[Shoppaholic33]

Thanks impatient so any risk of bleeding will come from the zoladex making the lining fragile? And not because having sex will start my period ( i know that sounds stupid but I'm worried that as I haven't had a bleed for a while then anything like that may just trigger it to bleed?) So it won't be like a full on bleed? I've not been with him long so I'm really nervous about bleeding!

[Impatient in reply to Shoppaholic33]

Sex does not causea period to start. Any post sex bleeding is from damage to the vagina and cervix tearing any scar tissue or adhesions or even just friction on the rather delicate tissues. Your period will return after the zoladex but you will probably have some warning for that, like if you feel ovulation pains, or get PMT/PMS before a periods, or maybe you retain tummy bloat for a few days....the usual warning signs that you are about to come on.

And it could be rather brown sludge in appearance as that menstrual lining has been stuck inside you for months and it will have lost its red colouring and turned chocky brown or darker. Don't panic, it is normal, a bit gross but normal and it is rather stickier too than regular periods are where the lining is only a few weeks old before it sheds away.

I would say if you do have sex and you do bleed after the fun, then give yourself time to heal, several days if you can manage it. Don't expect to be at it like rabbits, you might only manage the one night of passion, hopefully you will be fine, but if it hurts you and you bleed then you should give yourself recovery time.

Your moisture levels inside down below should return to normal levels eventually, but they won't have had time to get there yet.

[Kymmy]

I take norethisterone tablets that stops my period if I take it three times a day when I'm due or twice a day if I want to just thin it out, helps with pain management too