Anyone had a chemical menopause to diagnose Endo?

[MillyMe]

Hi,

I had a 2nd Lapo 2 years ago where Endo was found and removed and then I went on the mirena coil. I still have pain in my right side - I describe it like having a splinter you can’t get out, constantly throbbing/inflamed and more painful during ovulation and/or something pressed there. I still have long but lighter periods since having a mirena coil over a year ago? Dr not convinced it definitely is Endo pain given the laps and all the scans (ultra/ct) I have had. I a bit weary about the sound of a chemical menopause, but he said only will need to do it for 3 months and he will give a low dose of HRT.

[MillyMe]

Excuse typos - multi tasking around kids!

[Starry]

The gold standard and only definite way to diagnose endo is laparoscopy.

Some endo types can be hormone resistant or manufacture their own oestrogen so you could get a false negative (no improvement but it is still endo).

I took zoladex definitely had endo (a severe rv endo nodule and endo on bladder and uterosacral ligaments subsequently excised ) and had no symptom improvement and a lot of adverse effects from the drug.

[Kangalou in reply to Starry]

Hi Starry - this is really interesting. Are you able to point me in the direction of the info about hormone resistant/ oestrogen manufacturing endo? Thank you! X

[Starry in reply to Kangalou]

Wherever there are oestrogen receptors, aromatase and cholesterol there is potential to biosynthesise oestrogen in the body. This occurs in other tissues such as bones and adipose fat. Endometriosis cells have the ability and that this oestrogen is produced in situ within the cells and passed straight to the receptors. Normal endometrium of healthy women does not express aromatase but the endometrium of women with endo does.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/109...

researchgate.net/publicatio...

Google endopaedia endometriosis subtype 14 for the recto vaginal descriptor mentioning hormone resistance

[Kangalou in reply to Starry]

Thank you!

[Maxi72]

Hi

My endo didn’t show on any scans (MRI is the best for detecting endo) and I was doubting that my symptoms could be caused by endo. The injections to induce menopause were offered to me as I couldn’t tolerate any kind of contraceptive and couldn’t have the coil fitted due to pain ( I had unexplained nerve damage). The injection was a miracle for me to start with and reassured me that I wasn’t going mad. Later my lap found endo. Unfortunately most is in an inoperable place so I’m stuck on the injections. However at least I know the reason for my symptoms after 17 years and that’s something at least.

Good luck

[Roxy11]

I was put on chemical menopause without HRT and it wasn't too bad. I had strong mood swings but only a couple of hot flushes. But it was all worth it to be pain free for 3 months. My pain disappeared nearly all together a couple of days after my first injection. Off this result they did an MRI and found deep endo round my bowels. Even after all of the scans and surgery they couldn't find it without the MRI so the injections were the right move for me.

[Curly22]

Hi i had one zoledex injection for a month and then esmya after (both chemical menopausal drugs) and had a terrible time., for me it made the period pains worse. But this is just my experience as i think everyone has different symptoms. I also had fibroids which could have been why i was so ill.

Hope this helps xx