Prolonged bleeding in perimenopause

by Gibby
(UK)

I am a healthy 49 year old in the permimenopausal stage (ok I have slight hashimotos which I take thyroxine for and my creatiine levels in my kidneys are somewhat high, but otherwise really ok! :-)

I had a comparatively light 5 day period starting 5th August, (it is now 5th September) which then continued as spotting, then seemd to have a more normal period late August, then spotting again and now over the last few days extremely painful severe cramping, pain seemingly in both ovaries, with sore breasts, pain almost as as strong as labour pains - I am exhausted!

I am waiting for an ultrasound appointment to make sure there is nothing serious going on, but have been under some personal stress over the last three months and just feel that this is an estrogen dominance thing, hope I'm making sense here (I scored 72 in your quiz).

Now the question is - would it be safe to start the cream any time now as I have NO idea what is happening to my cycles now, how soon could it be delivered to the UK and how much is it? Considering I have not had the scan yet, would it be safe to take in any case to see if it helps? I started the gym not long ago and am even wondering if it is possible that the new exercises set something off.

The other question I have is possibly the main reason for my stress - an important week for me end of October where I want to be in a well as possible state (not bleeding to death!). Do you think the cream could do it's thing by then or would it be easier to opt for the progesterone only pill short term to help me with this? Can I combine both approaches? I was on the mini-pill when I was breastfeeding and got on really well with it - I am still unsure why the mini-pill should be any worse than the progesterone cream. I suppose I am looking for a magic wand to get better overnight - but most of all I want to be really well end of October.

Sorry for the novel 0 I never ran out of space! great :-)

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Prolonged bleeding in perimenopause

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Sep 14, 2009

Update
by: Gibby

Thanks, Wray. Well, had my ultrasound scan and the technician immediately and confidently pointed to the culprit - a single fibroid, only 1.7 cm across, almost square in shape and in her mind causing the problem because of it's position. There are many women who start spotting with vigorous exercise regimes, and I still feel this set it off, as the fibroid itself is on its own and not particulary big, but perhaps the whole muscular system collaborated to stretch the uterus for the fibroid to be more of a problem. Also I had developped this OTT craving for liqorice, which I have since found out is estrogenic, so no more of that:-(.

After my first post I started flooding, soaking everything I could throw at it within half an hour, all day, all night, for days, rang the doc as the ulstrasound could not be done internally with that going on and he gave me tranexamic acid (a derivative of lysine) which stops bleeding - wonderful stuff, like a tap turned off within 2 hours. Took it for 4 days, went for the scan, the spotting came back slightly along with the cramping pain, but taking it VERY easy it has now stopped, for a whole two days! Doc on holiday until Monday 21st Sep (one week), and in the meantime I have to decide what to do. I started putting myself on an Agnus Castus regime (I am a qualified herbalist) 3 weeks ago to give it time to do its thing with my pituitary gland to encourage it to produce more progesterone by itself, am still in a quandary about the progestin only pill (no, no estrogens in there), or to stay with Agnus castus and the cream. I am absolutely paranoid about the flooding to start again, and like the idea of having much reduced bleeding in general and a contraceptive thrown in until the menopause is complete, but do appreciate the warnings about side effects I don't want either. I am not entirely certain about the effect of either progesterone, as I have a tendency to depression and some may find this hormone calming, but depression is another effect, too, so I have read anyhow.

So what to do? I still have not made up my mind yet. The bleeding is the worst effect of all and to stop that without surgery or side effects is to me the most important. Phew... thaks for giving me the chance to think out loud, and perhaps some bits in here will trigger some light bulb moments in others on here.

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Sep 14, 2009
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Submitted by: Gibby

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Thanks, Wray. Well, had my ultrasound scan and the technician immediately and confidently pointed to the culprit - a single fibroid, only 1.7 cm across, almost square in shape and in her mind causing the problem because of it's position. There are many women who start spotting with vigorous exercise regimes, and I still feel this set it off, as the fibroid itself is on its own and not particulary big, but perhaps the whole muscular system collaborated to stretch the uterus for the fibroid to be more of a problem. Also I had developped this OTT craving for liqorice, which I have since found out is estrogenic, so no more of that:-(. After my first post I started flooding, soaking everything I could throw at it within half an hour, all day, all night, for days, rang the doc as the ulstrasound could not be done internally with that going on and he gave me tranexamic acid (a derivative of lysine) which stops bleeding - wonderful stuff, like a tap turned off within 2 hours. Took it for 4 days, went for the scan, the spotting came back slightly along with the cramping pain, but taking it VERY easy it has now stopped, for a whole two days! Doc on holiday until Monday 21st Sep (one week), and in the meantime I have to decide what to do. I started putting myself on an Agnus Castus regime (I am a qualified herbalist) 3 weeks ago to give it time to do its thing with my pituitary gland to encourage it to produce more progesterone by itself, am still in a quandary about the progestin only pill (no, no estrogens in there), or to stay with Agnus castus and the cream. I am absolutely paranoid about the flooding to start again, and like the idea of having much reduced bleeding in general and a contraceptive thrown in until the menopause is complete, but do appreciate the warnings about side effects I don't want either. I am not entirely certain about the effect of either progesterone, as I have a tendency to depression and some may find this hormone calming, but depression is another effect, too, so I have read anyhow. So what to do? I still have not made up my mind yet. The bleeding is the worst effect of all and to stop that without surgery or side effects is to me the most important. Phew... thaks for giving me the chance to think out loud, and perhaps some bits in here will trigger some light bulb moments in others on here.

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Sep 13, 2009

Prolonged bleeding in perimenopause
by: Wray

Hi Gibby. Your age and peri-menopause speaks volumes for the erratic cycle, the spotting, the cramps and sore breasts! It will become more erratic as menopause approaches. I don't believe it has anything to do with exercise either. The pill, whether mini or not, contains synthetic oestrogen and progestins, they come with many adverse side affects and to my mind are not worth taking, please see this web page.

You mention stress, this drops progesterone levels sharply, which only makes us feel worse! No amount of progesterone will help the irregular cycles, but it will help the pain and stress. It's a very calming hormone, as it activates the GABA receptor sites, GABA is our most calming neurotransmitter. You might consider taking the amino acid taurine, about 2000-4000mg/day. This is extremely calming too, also calms the heart, lowers cholesterol as it's an integral part of bile, is essential for stabilising blood sugar and more. As you say the pain was severe, I would suggest using about 200mg/day progesterone, I don't think you'll find a lower dose will help. You might care to read this page on peri-menopause.

Take care, Wray.

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Sep 13, 2009
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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Gibby. Your age and peri-menopause speaks volumes for the erratic cycle, the spotting, the cramps and sore breasts! It will become more erratic as menopause approaches. I don't believe it has anything to do with exercise either. The pill, whether mini or not, contains synthetic oestrogen and progestins, they come with many adverse side affects and to my mind are not worth taking, please <a href="http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/contraceptives-research.html">see this web page.</a> You mention stress, this drops progesterone levels sharply, which only makes us feel worse! No amount of progesterone will help the irregular cycles, but it will help the pain and stress. It's a very calming hormone, as it activates the GABA receptor sites, GABA is our most calming neurotransmitter. You might consider taking the amino acid taurine, about 2000-4000mg/day. This is extremely calming too, also calms the heart, lowers cholesterol as it's an integral part of bile, is essential for stabilising blood sugar and more. As you say the pain was severe, I would suggest using about 200mg/day progesterone, I don't think you'll find a lower dose will help. You might care to <a href="http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/peri-menopause.html">read this page on peri-menopause.</a> Take care, Wray.

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