Endo and the menopause

[StoneyClaire]

After several years of everything being quite quiet period wise I seem to be entering the peri menopause. I have been bleeding constantly since the end of july and have three occasions of epic flooding for a few hours at a time

The GP has done a smear and swabs and i am waiting for a scan to check for fibroids or anything more sinister.

However what are my menopause treatment options? I am very cautious about HRT as i have had bad reactions (depression/weight gain) to several types of pill anand the depo injection.

Thanks for any thoughts/experiences

[Bethleah]

I went through the menopause team. They started me on lowest dose oestrogen possible (everol 25 patches) with a progesterone pill. After a few months I couldn’t tolerate the side effects so they put me on evirol conti a combined patch but with double the oestrogen after couple months worse side effects (oestrogen was too high for me) I’m currently on the same conti patch which I cut in half. Been on 2 weeks so too early to tell. If it doesn’t suit me I come off it and hit flushes will return. I’ve been on all sorts of hormonal treatment over the years and after awhile the side effects become worse so I’ve had to change/ stop. They offered me the coil which I refused. Hope this helps

[Andbreathe1]

Sorry to hear you’ve had such a rubbish time, I can completely relate as had a very similar experience in May this year. I really struggled with the constant bleeding and flooding and the lack of support from the GP. They prescribed tranexamic acid and stuck me on a progesterone only pill whilst I waited for a scan. They pushed and pushed the mirena coil but I really didn’t want to go down that route. I asked about whether it could be peri menopause (I’m 48) but GP just shrugged.

Fast forward several weeks, had the scan and the radiologist said I had extensive adenomyosis (never heard of it prior to that!) I’m now on an 18 week waiting list to see a gynaecologist (although not holding out much hope due to past experiences after endo diagnosis 4 yrs ago).

Progesterone only pill helped to a degree, bleeding initially got lighter but didn’t stop (was told would take a few months to settle down) seems to fluctuate, my body likes to keep me guessing! But so much lighter and no flooding since I’ve been on pill 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Found this book helpful and looking into options - UAE sounds like it may help for me going forward. Could be worth a read?

amazon.co.uk/Adenomyosis-Ba...

Good luck and hope you get your scan soon x

[Marcia71]

it sounds like adenomyosis which is when endo affects the actual muscle of the uterus and causes heavy bleeding. Unlike endo a hysterectomy will cure adeno so I expect a Gynae may well offer that as you’re approaching menopause

The coil is probably the option they’ll often if a hysterectomy isn’t an option as it can help the bleeding and is used as a form of hrt. Generally for endo sufferers a combined hrt is recommended or tibolone as it’s a synthetic set of hormones so less likely to reactivate endo. Combined hrt can be given as oestrogen in one form and progesterone in another. I’m on lenzetto spray and utrogestan. Both are bio identical forms of hormones. This means they have less affect on your emotions and mental health but still no guarantees I’m afraid.