Dienogest versues Zoladex injections

Hi,I am looking for a bit of advice. I am in severe pain due to a flare up of my endometriosis (was stage 4 when they operated me 2 years ago) and potential adenomyosis. The doctor suggested Dienogest or Zoladex injection as a an alternative treatment to another operation. Does anybody has any experience with these 2 drugs? I am struggling to decide

[Maxyy93]

Hi JessicaDee. I had zoladex injections and the period I had with it initially was awful. It was the heaviest I had ever had it and painful as if endo isn’t bad enough. It did put me into an artificial menopause so I had hot flushes a lot which wasn’t fun. I also gained quite a significant amount of weight after taking it and affected my mood quite a bit. Plus the injection is massive wasn’t a fun experience.I am currently taking dienogest which is difficult to get in the UK so currently having to get it abroad. First month was great had no period. But for 4 months, I have been bleeding/spotting. I don’t have any pain with it though which is a bonus and feel like my mood isn’t as affected as much. I’ve been told to be patient with it so hoping the spotting completely stops. I wish I had been offered it sooner as in comparison to the injections, I personally prefer it. But I would say do your research on different people’s experience. A lot of times these things are trial and error.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Maxyy93]

Thank you for your feedback, so sorry to hear how difficult your beginning was. based what I have heard so far I will go for the pills too🤞

[TedLocat]

Hi JessicaDee,

I am currently on zoladex injections and they have changed my entire quality of life, for the better! I haven’t experienced any of my usual endo symptoms since being on them, and haven’t touched a painkiller since March, which is a big deal for me!

I have experienced side effects of hot flushes, night sweats and I became more irritable, but for me, that completely outweighed the amount of pain and suffering I was in before. To counteract the side effects I was put on hrt which helped a lot.

I don’t have any experience of dienogest, so can’t help you there I’m afraid, but do your research and see what you feel is best for you.

Hope this helps, and I wish you all the best with your endo journey x

[Hidden in reply to TedLocat]

Thank you for your feedback, I wish you all the best too

[Catlover3]

Hi. My daughter was on zoladex initially as she has stage 4 endo too. However, since we moved to a new area her new surgeon put her on Depo provera which she has every ten weeks instead of the usual 12, and it has really helped to control the endo. She has just had another op to remove the mess her previous surgeon left behind and she is now almost completely pain free. The difference in her mobility is huge and she doesn't suffer with any bowel problems now either. Hope you find the right treatment for you soon!

[Hidden in reply to Catlover3]

Thank you for your feedback

[Eternalwarrior]

So sorry to hear that you are in pain I can understand how hard it is, as I suffer from both deep infiltrative endo and adenomyosis. I have been on both Dienogest and Zoladex in the past. Personally, Zoladex worked better for me, in terms of pain relief and it reduced the size of my endometriomas a bit too. Dienogest didn’t do much for me, unfortunately, but I think my endo was too advanced when I was prescribed Dienogest. It also affected my moods a lot, which Zoladex didn’t. I had hot flushes with Zoladex, but totally worth it.However, if Dienogest works for you, it is much easier to administer it. Good luck! X

[Annabelannabel in reply to Eternalwarrior]

Hi this is the problem I'm having with dienogest it worked so well for a good 6months however all my symptoms are getting more advance and feel as though the disease is significantly progressing thinking about the zoladex I've been offered but nervous as it's a lot to take on hormonally. X

[Tapa]

hi Jessica, I’ve taken zoladex for 6 months and I had an ok experience with it. I have stage 4 Endo + adenomyosis. I didn’t have pain for the 5 months that it worked. However the side effects are définitely the hot flashes, insomnia, sweats. The downside of zoladex is that it cannot be taken for long term. You have to give it a break after 6 months. It is said to cause weakening of bones which we don’t really see or feel so it’s difficult to judge.