Dienogest - can you take it before a diagnostic lap?

[mistygrey]

Hi has anyone been prescribed Dienogest before a diagnostic lap at all? Or do they only prescribe it after you’ve had a lap and confirmed diagnosis of endo? Thanks

[senselessmind]

Good question, I’ve been to my private gyno in Poland and found there I don’t need laparascopy first to get dienogest. In UK I went private to (also a Polish) gyno and I heard is only after surgery. I don’t even know how to get appointment with NHS gyno here since last time I spoken via Babylon I heard I have 6mobths to 1year waiting for appointment based on referral. I want to know how people here get treated here at all via NHS if I just feel… left and hopeless.

[Cia12]

I was prescribed it a couple of months afterwards, but I've heard of it being prescribed beforehand as well.

[Pugparent]

I was prescribed it after my lap but my case is different as I had a lap to remove a dermoid ovarian cyst and they found endo at the same time which was a surprise!

[RissRiss]

hi, I have been prescribed Dienogest before my lap which I find weird as I have not been diagnosed with endometriosis as of yet. My MRI did say “ I have a degree of fibrosis to the posterior aspect of the problem that may indicate presence of endometriosis” but not officially lap date yet been waiting since March ☹️

[mistygrey in reply to RissRiss]

Hi thanks for replying it is good they can prescribe it before a lap as I wasn’t sure if they could do. Does it help your endo symptoms at all? Like you I’m waiting on a lap date but it will be years prob

[TandE]

Hi there. I was diagnosed via mri earlier this year and then subsequently advised to go on dienogest (by a private gynae/consultant) while waiting for an appointment at the NHS endo clinic (where hopefully I will be offered a lap). The idea being to try and reduce pain/heavy periods and minimise further lesions. So in short yes, it is prescribed pre-lap but is uncommon on the NHS to my knowledge but I reckon you could ask. I can’t say as I’ve enjoyed the experience of taking it so far, the initial month was awful. Things have settled down a bit now though so while the pain hasn’t much subsided I’m giving it another couple of months. They say it can take a minimum of three months to notice changes. Game of perseverance!

Hope that’s useful to know. And good luck getting your appointment, I finally have an initial assessment in November but it’s taken almost a year to get that. Really hope you get one much more swiftly than that. Best wishes.