Stopped Lupron, now heavy periods
Question
I am 48 and have for the second time been put on Lupron for control of my heavy menstrual bleeding due to endometriosis. The first time, several years ago, Lupron worked like a wonder drug eliminating all my heavy bleeding. Upon returning to my normal cycle after the Lupron wore off the, first time, I had very light periods and all was back to normal. This time after the Lupron wore off my very first period is as heavy as it was when the Doc put me on the drug. I went thru a month and a half of a period and right now I am on day 3. My question is: Is it normal after the Lupron wears off to have heavy periods? And if not, what is wrong with me?Thanks!
Answer
Last Updated: July 3, 2013
You did not state in your question if you were being treated for fibroids. It is possible that the fibroids shrunk after your first course of therapy to a size sufficiently small so that they did not cause excessive bleeding. But the second time the fibroids may have been bigger and did not respond sufficiently. Alternatively, you may have returned to ovulatory cycles the first time around with adequate amounts of progesterone to balance your estrogen production. The second time, you may possibly not have ovulatory cycles, and the unopposed estrogen creates an unstable uterine lining. It is still possible that you could benefit from progesterone therapy for 10-14 days each cycle.
Dr. Davenport
Dr. Davenport
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
