GnRHa chemical menopause

[Y0YO]

Hello
I'm due to have an injection to go in to chemical menopause next week. It's for PMDD.

However I'm really anxious about it as it seems really drastic and my PMDD has been better since starting HRT.

Has anyone had chemical menopause? Can you give me any assurance it will be ok or any cautionary tales?

I'm really, really anxious about it and wondering whether to put it off.

Thanks in advance

So I'm due to have this tomorrow, still unsure!

What are they suggesting this? How old are you? And if you are being managed in HRT why do you need zoledex?

Sorry I'm just a random person to you but I'd be delaying this for sure. The side effect of the menopause could potentially be worse than your condition given that anxiety, fears and depression are worse without oestrogen.

I've been advised to take this treatment a few times as I have endometriosis and it is used to stop periods and is sold as magic fix, it's not.

I believe you can only have this for 3-6 months maximum otherwise it risks osteoporosis - so what are they suggesting after that period of time? You restart periods? It doesn't make sense?

Where as HRT you can tweak and amend to manage your symptoms.

Hello OP.
Obviously I can’t advise on your specific situation, but I’ve been on decapeptyl for just over two years (yes longer than the recommended 6ish months but closely monitored and Covid meant surgery was delayed). I’m on it for severe endo and was also really unsure about starting it. Honestly it’s changed my life and even the expected immediate flare in symptoms was far milder than expected. After about a month everything stabilised completely and I’ve had a great 2+ years.

I wish you well and hope you get the support and relief you need.

Thank you both for replying!
I have suspected PMDD and confirmed endometriosis and adenomyosis.

I'm on progesterone and oestrogen which seem to be managing the endo, I'm not having periods although I still get cramps.

I know I'm still cycling as I still get mood swings like clockwork. They can be distressing so the GnRHa is meant to help with that. I've also been prescribed add back tibolone with the injection.

I'm just wondering if the side effects of chemical menopause will be worse than the moods!

I know it's vain but I'm concerned about loss of skin elasticity etc. As well as hot flushes and so on.

I think I will delay the decision for now but it's reassuring to hear your positive experience @Maxsaidno

@omgwhy I'm 47. I think some people can tolerate it long term and if not then it can be used as an indicator as to whether a hysterectomy will help. I am on HRT but the NHS consultant dealing with me has been incommunicado for months and my GP won't prescribe without hearing from them first. I had a private consultation meanwhile but I can't afford to keep doing that!

Thanks again for replying

I'm the same age as you and have also been advised to take this to gauge if a hysterectomy is needed.

My quality of daily life with cramps, pain etc is rubbish I know 100% without my uterus I'd be happy.

So why do I have to go through 3-6 months of symptoms to prove this?

I've made the decision to push back on having the hysterectomy without the medical menopause first and if they won't do this I'm going to book in privately and pay to have removal.

I had wide excision surgery for the endometriosis last year and really regret not having my uterus removed at the same time.

Hindsight is a great thing

If you aren't having periods at the moment have symptoms improved? Can you carry on with HRT a privately as well and bypass the NHS??

Strangely it would be more cost effect for them to do the hysterectomy?

@omgwhy
I think I've kind of gone down this path of trying to treat the Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder and while doing that I realised I was in peri menopause and also discovered the endometriosis.

So it's all just mixed up and I'm confused!

The progesterone seems to have stopped my periods altogether but I'm still having mood symptoms and cramps.

Not being able to access advice is really frustrating. The private doctor is so expensive I have to ration appointments.

I'm not sure why they won't just offer you a hysterectomy, I guess anything irreversible is seen as drastic? The injection is irreversible so if you don't care well on it you can stop...

Thanks again, I'm feeling a little less alone now.

I hope you get the care you need

• the in section is reversible

I had a six month course for endometriosis in my 20s. It affected bleeding (twice as frequent) but hardly any pain and actually it was pretty liberating not to need opiates every 3 weeks to get by.

I didn't really notice any other symptoms. In hindsight probably because I was so glad to be in less pain and busy getting on with my life as I'd been desperate to do all along. I was only about 25 though.

Now, knowing more about them, I think I'd be ok with starting it, but if I reacted badly I don't think I would have the follow up doses.

Oh, as soon as the course finished my symptoms came back.

I think we are in the exact same place!!

@HoneysuckIejasmine

Oh, as soon as the course finished my symptoms came back.

Sorry to hear that, hope things are better now

@omgwhy

I think we are in the exact same place!!

It's tough isn't it? So many women fighting just to have a decent quality of life.

I think I'm just irrationally afraid of menopause. It may well be a blessing in disguise!

The symptoms I have with peri can't really get any worse, endometriosis, adenomyosis and peri menopause are like a vicious cycle of symptoms.

I can't wait to be over 50 and on the pathway to freedom from periods and cycles , and fingers crossed settle into some kind of HRT.. at the moment I feel like I put out one fire just for another 10 to light up.

There is no direction or support at all so you end up self medicating which is dangerous.

I'm working on nutrition at the moment and have had my own bloods and stool checks and about to have the Dutch test to take a proper look at what's going on.

The bloods showed I have high cholesterol which the GP has never tested for, so I'd recommend maybe doing your own MOT.

My plan is to gather all of this information and take it to the GP and work out some kind of plan.

@omgwhy

The symptoms I have with peri can't really get any worse, endometriosis, adenomyosis and peri menopause are like a vicious cycle of symptoms.

I can't wait to be over 50 and on the pathway to freedom from periods and cycles , and fingers crossed settle into some kind of HRT.. at the moment I feel like I put out one fire just for another 10 to light up.

There is no direction or support at all so you end up self medicating which is dangerous.

I'm working on nutrition at the moment and have had my own bloods and stool checks and about to have the Dutch test to take a proper look at what's going on.

The bloods showed I have high cholesterol which the GP has never tested for, so I'd recommend maybe doing your own MOT.

My plan is to gather all of this information and take it to the GP and work out some kind of plan.

Yes, I've had to do a lot of individual detective work and I'm second guessing my decisions.

Information is power! Hope you get some answers

Same to you as well, I'm heading down the route of going back on the combined pill for a while.

Just to let this take over the hormones rather than adding in new hormones!!

I have had these for years. I also have endo. For me, it was amazing. I honestly felt the best on the injection and induced menopause! It gives me hope for the approaching menopause, though still a few years to go I fear.

If you have the injection for more than 6 months, it's unlikely the symptoms will reappear that quickly. For me it would take 6 to 9 months for a period to come and generally, the endo would start to flare up in the 6 to 12 months after.

However, since being mid 40s,this is not the case and am hopeful it remains at bay, compared to my 30s.

@BusyLizzie61

I have had these for years. I also have endo. For me, it was amazing. I honestly felt the best on the injection and induced menopause! It gives me hope for the approaching menopause, though still a few years to go I fear.

If you have the injection for more than 6 months, it's unlikely the symptoms will reappear that quickly. For me it would take 6 to 9 months for a period to come and generally, the endo would start to flare up in the 6 to 12 months after.

However, since being mid 40s,this is not the case and am hopeful it remains at bay, compared to my 30s.

Thank you, that's reassuring

O know it sounds vain but we're there any premature ageing effects? Don't have to answer if you don't want to!

I'm just trying to weigh up pros and cons.

Thanks again

No ageing effects at all.
I still pass for someone 10 years younger apparently. I don't think the grey poking through can be attributed either as that process started 17 years ago lol.

@BusyLizzie61
Thank you so much, I'm glad you had a positive experience.

I know it sounds vain, I'm just not looking great at the moment and feeling a bit crap about it already.

I started going grey in my twenties so that ship has well and truly sailed!! Have now embraced it though and stopped colouring a few years ago.

I've deferred the injection for now but hearing positive outcomes is giving me more confidence to give it a try.

Thank you all, it's been really helpful to hear your experiences.

Hello, I was just wondering if you went ahead with this and If so, would you mind sharing what the result has been? Due to do the same thing next month for PMDD and share your anxiety about it !