Zoladex to induce menopause?

[hildaogden99]

Just seen GP as I'm 57, still having periods, and the most recent is still going (mostly spotting) more than 5 weeks later! I also have a long history of fibroids that keep growing back. She's prescribed Provera to stop the bleeding for now but suggested Zoladex injections to put me into menopause. Never heard of this before so she told me to research it! Does anyone have any experience of this for this reason?

Thank you x

Was there no mention of hysterectomy?

Had been discussed in the past but as I'm surely close to menopause it's been seen to be unnecessary major surgery (would need an abdominal)

It's often used for women pre-surgery to reduce fibroid size before the fibroid is removed.

Has she suggested an ultrasound scan? 57 is quite old to be having periods (are they regular?) and you should have a scan to check the bleeding is in fact a period and not anything else, and also check the fibroids.

It seems rather an extreme measure and unnecessary. because are you any 'worse' than most women in peri meno?

The usual treatment for heavy periods would be the Mirena coil. Or an ablation to remove the womb lining.

If you had those injections you'd be plunged into chemical menopause and all the possible side effects of that.

You see if you had the injections, what happens if you want to use HRT?
That would 'reverse' the effect of the injection.

But you could also use HRT now to control the bleeding.

If it's only spotting is it really bothering you that much?

I've had 3 lots of surgery in 10 years to resect the fibroids and everytime they have grown back. The last surgery was nearly 3 years ago and my periods have been much lighter since, still regular, albeit a bit erratic, with some spotting. I had an ultrasound nearly a year ago after a spell of periods 2 weeks apart and spotting which did show some small fibroids again but nothing else. The bleeding then settled down for a few months back into into regular light periods until the latest episode which sent me back to the GP.I'm being sent for another ultrasound but she's not expecting anything different, it's more in case I'm referred for the injections.

I'm not on HRT or any other drug (don't want HRT as it encourages the fibroids), mirena didn't work (constant bleeding & acne), and am unsuitable for ablation so I feel I'm out of options. She also said 57 was within normal parameters so implied I just need to wait it out. Periods are not heavy anymore, just persistent, long lasting and spotting (current 5 weeks & counting!).