Zoladex - did it stop your periods?

[Lula74]

Hi, all,

I've had horrendous periods due to fibroids for years, tried various things. Long story short I ended up in A&E last month and needed a blood transfusion. I'm on the list for a hysterectomy and they gave me a zoladex implant to put me into temporary menopause to stop my periods and keep me safe while I wait.

Only I have had a period yesterday/today, a month later and over three weeks after the zoladex went in. Luckily tranexamic acid is keeping things under control, but it's still pretty heavy, I've been resting with a bag packed in case I needed to go back in.

Wasn't this supposed to not happen? Will I just carry on having periods? The info on zoladex says it stops periods for "most" women. Is it just too soon, ie I've only been on it three weeks, and hopefully it'll work and this is my last period? I've also had none of the side effects yet that they warmed me about, hot flashes etc. Maybe it hasn't worked?

Any experiences you're willing to share gratefully received!

how long is your implant meant to last? I know that they do 3 month ones, but I'm on the monthly prostap equivalent (post chemo)....

Watching with interest as I'm due Zoladex ahead of a myomectomy for fibroids - and have just had a call to say they are going to get the process going. I think it can take a few weeks to kick in from what I've read, hopefully it's that.

You have my full sympathy though aa this month's period was hellish. Tranexamic acid didn't really contain it, the clots were massive and I'm still flooding 10 days on

My initial one was just a month to see how I got on, but I think I get the 3m next.

@ConfusedGin I went to A&E yesterday to ask, mostly because last month when I was in they said DO NOT sit at home getting this ill next time, come in sooner. What seems to be the case (I confess I didn't completely understand) is that this wasn't a period as such, it was a withdrawal bleed after finishing the three weeks of norethisterone they gave me a month ago to stop me bleeding, so they've given me three weeks more. Which kind of feels like we're just kicking the can down the road another three months, but I have managed to get a GP appointment next week so I will ask. Maybe I need to be on norethisterone till my op too? shrugs

*three weeks

That maybe makes sense (I'm not medical at all).

As I understand it norethistorone delays a bleed from starting or stops it in its tracks by increasing progesterone levels. When they drop the bleed will start as the normal amount of lining is already there, just delayed the shedding. So yes, kicking the can is a good way of describing it but OMG it's so good. Has helped me a lot when I've needed it for a wedding and then to stop a 6 week bleed.

Zoladex meanwhile reduces the oestrogen produced by the ovaries which affects the amount of uterine lining which is why periods get lighter or stop and hopefully, fibroids shrink. And why you may still have a bleed depending on when in the cycle you get the injection?

I'm not really sure as this is all stuff I've found. My doctor won't give me the Zoladex until I have the op date (myomectomy) but the hospital aren't seemingly understanding that. It seemed to click yesterday but we'll see

@ConfusedGin Aha, yes that does make sense. So maybe after this three weeks of norethisterone, I won't bleed, because the zoladex will have had time by then to stop the uterine lining building up...?

My next issue is we're due to go to Cornwall on holiday the day I stop taking the next lot of tablets, so I am hoping GP will at least give me one more week to take - if we're going to try stopping and see, I would like to be at home here near my own hospital, not hundreds of miles away ruining the family holiday 😁

I don't have a date for my op yet, but it's the consultant who started me on the zoladex and is in charge of when I get the op, so I guess that's ok that I started anyway. He seemed quite happy for me to be on it for months. But I'm post kids and awaiting a full hysterectomy, so maybe there's more of a "doesn't matter if we put you into permanent menopause" thing going on.

I've just finished treatment with Decapeptyl (similar to Zoladex) in prep for a myectomy. I had the surgery three weeks ago. I had one ordinary period (as heavy as usual) after starting Decapeptyl and then one vv light one and then spotting every month after that but literally just spotting. It was the best thing I could have done. Because of Covid and delays I ended up on Decapeptyl for a year pre-surgery, it didn't actually shrink the fibroid (which was a beast) but it did help my iron levels. Hope things settle down for you soon. It's miserable waiting.

Yes, I had injections for 24 months and took tibilone to counteract the side effects. Hideous periods stopped and haven’t restarted four months on so we’ve assumed that the chemically induced menopause has triggered menopause 🤞🏻.

I can’t remember how long it took to take effect but it was the best thing ever for me huge intramural fibroids and adenomyosis - took over my life pre Zoladex.

Oh, now this is good news to hear, thank you. So with a bit of luck, when the norethisterone runs out again, things could be much lighter, and if I can get through it without going back on the tablets, might stop altogether. I was sort of giving up on the idea of being stable until after the op, as I have bled more than not so far on the zoladex...

Great to hear, thank you. I don't mind waiting for my op if I can just be stable while I wait. I have a prescription for tibolone but I haven't needed it yet, no menopausal symptoms yet but it is early days, it's not been a month yet. Got my second implant this coming Monday.

I had it years ago so it was a monthly injection. I didn’t last more than a month before I ended up in hospital with my blood pressure skyrocketing. (well over 200)
it also never stopped my periods :(:(

Unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

From memory the Tibilone isn’t just for hot flush type side effects but the effect that the Zoladex has on other things, bone density and bone health being a key issue. You need to take it OP.

I’d also recommend taking a vitamin D supplement as it depleted mine even with a decent daily supplement.

oooh, @SingingInParadise I shall make sure I get my blood pressure checked, thanks.

@FlyAsFreeAsABird Thank you! Pretty sure consultant said I'd be ok without for six months, but if I haven't had the op by then I must take anyway. Tbh I am assuming menopause symptoms will hit before then and I shall be grabbing it anyway! And I'll look for some vit D, thanks :)

I took northisterone for 18 months before my hysterectomy (2 weeks ago!)

I never bled at all on it except an odd day or 2 of spotting on wiping.

When they removed my uterus (adenomyosis) the consultant said it was extremely bulky and heavy so the uterine lining was in in its muscle wall.

I think northisterone can also thin/ reduce endometrial tissue but it doesn't stop your cycle like the menopause drug will.

I always found starting northisterone stopped bleeding quite quickly but I always also believed it just kicked the cam down the road too.

But if needs be you can take it long term until you get a surgery date.

🤞 it won't be too long. I was only officially added to the list in February and had op in June

@Lula74 I'd hope they'd extend your norethistorone. I have to say I've found female GPs a lot more understanding and quick to take action to help

And Sorry to hijack but...

@BergamotandLime How are you doing post op? I'm having to have an open myomectomy and whilst I tell myself that thousands of women have a similar op and then have to look after a newborn whilst they recover, I'm still a little worried as it's so unknown to me

Also very jealous @itsgettingweird - I've been waiting 8 months for anything like movement. Glad you got through so soon.

I took Zoladex for 6 months in an attempt to kickstart the menopause. It didn't and my periods didn't stop. It appeared to leave me with permanent high blood pressure which is now managed. I had normal BP before and when I questioned this, I was told that it was a "coincidence".

@ConfusedGin - I'm ok. It really depends on what sort of incision you have. My beast meant I had to have a vertical incision which extends in a capital I shape from inside my belly button all the way down. I won't lie, I'll be 4WPO on Monday and still need tramadol, albeit a small dose, to manage. Bending and stretching is the worst thing you can do and leaves me sore for ages, one of those litter pickers and a eufy robot vacuum have been invaluable. DH was off the first two weeks and it was great to have him around but have managed since then with DD8 and DM popping in. I can now sleep quite comfortably without a nest of pillows, move fairly easily and walk a fair bit.

Sorry for the ramble and feel free to PM with any more questions!

Lula, it is proven to help bone mineral density loss. I ended up on it for a long time and have hopefully avoided surgery for the future but this study deals with BMD over a six month period.

Study here.

@ConfusedGin I am speaking to my lovely female GP this week so I hope I can get an overall plan :)

@itsgettingweird Really hope I can have the op soon too! Glad you're through the other side.

Sorry to resurrect a slightly dead thread but just wanted to see how you were getting on @Lula74 ? Entirely for selfish reasons as I've just had confirmation that I'll start Zoladex shortly.

But it looks like I may be on my period when I start. I was really hoping to avoid another period from hell.

@ConfusedGin I don’t have anything helpful to report I’m afraid. I’m still on norethisterone, so still not bleeding, but contrary to what @itsgettingweird was told, hospital docs and GP agree I have to try to stop taking it again because they all say I can’t be on it long term??? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m going to try to ask my consultant’s office when back from hols next week because frankly stopping taking it terrifies me. I’m exhausted but coping now after yet another iron infusion. I don’t want to go back to bleeding and anaemia. I also know I should probably heed @FlyAsFreeAsABird ’s advice and take the tibolone as I’m now getting menopause-type symptoms, but one of the side effects is breakthrough bleeding and I just can’t face taking anything that’s going to increase my risk of bleeding so I’m a bit frozen in place. I sort of stuck my head in the sand and am going to get back on the case to sorting next week when I’m home. It’s just been such a luxury to pretend to be semi-normal for a few days…

The Zoladex itself I have no problem with. I’m hot, is my only symptom. But not hideously so. Too hot randomly but I just take a layer off. Too hot at night but I just change my PJs each day. Others have it a lot worse. Hopefully you’ll get on fine and it’ll work for you. And hopefully I’ll get off the norethisterone without incident this time! 🤞🤞🤞 good luck to you. This all sucks greatly, doesn’t it? 💜