Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Mutley on July 06, 2015, 01:13:52 PM
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I'm going to GP on Tues to talk about starting HRT. Symptoms had calmed down but now the hot flushes are back and it's time to insist!! My GPs have been useless throughout diagnoses so I've been doing some reading up.
A recent ultrasound for heavy periods showed I had a "bulky" womb and bloods showed I'm now post-menopause. I'm 44. Something I read said you can't go on HRT with endometrial hyperplasia. So I was wondering whether this was the same or similar as a bulky womb and whether it might make me unsuitable for HRT.
Thanks for any advice and hope it makes sense, been struggling to sleep well at night for past 2 weeks!
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:welcomemm: have you browsed the drop down menus above? I'm sure someone with knowledge will be along with more info later. Did the GP send you for the ultra-sound?
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Hi and welcome to MM Mutley
If you are still getting periods then you are actually peri menopausal - to be post meno you need to be period free for well over a year or over 54 to be deemed post meno. Sometimes blood tests done at the wrong time can show a 'post meno' reading but in peri meno the hormone levels fluctuate greatly so this makes blood tests really unreliable. I would ask for a referral to a meno clinic or gynae for some more specialist advice.
Do read up all the info on this site to get clued up.
If your womb lining is thickened and causing heavy and prolonged bleeding, then a Mirena would help keep your lining thin and you could then have oestrogen as patch or gel to help reduce flushes and protect you heart, bones and prevent vaginal atrophy and bladder problems.
DG x
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Thanks for the replies.
Yes, I should have said bloods come back at post-menopause levels. I had bloods done last year and levels are lower now. Oestrogen less than 40, GP said I should expect periods to stop soon. GP sent me for ultrasound because I had couple of periods where I was flooding but then 2 after that were normal and I'd had a period just a week before both blood test and ultrasound.
Will see iwhat else I can find out about bulky womb. No mention of that above.
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Hi Mutley
As Dancinggirl says you are not at all post-menopause if you are still having periods and especially if they are still occurring now and again even though irregularly rather than very occasionally ( which could indicate you are nearing menopause - although there is no set pattern!).
Do read up on what happens to your body during this time - great article "Perils of the Peri-menopause" here:http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php
A pity your specialist did not explain what they meant by a bulky womb? I haven't come across this on here. Endometrial hyperplasia is caused by a thickened womb lining (the inner part) as measured by the scan - but this can generally be treated initially with a course of progestogen, if it hasn't progressed to pre-cancerous stage. There are other conditions affecting the womb eg fibroids ( and there are different types of these), which can cause heavy bleeding - but I don't know much about this. As Dancinggirl says you could then have a Mirena coil which would keep it thin - but the docs might want to investigate the "bulkiness" first? A thickened lining often occurs during the peri-menopause because of cycles where you don't ovulate - eggs start to develop and produce oestrogen which stimulates the womb lining. If an egg isn't produced the lining will sit there and if the same thing happens next month it gets even thicker. When you eventually ovulate the period is heavy as there is much more to shed - it will tell you about this in the article above.
I hope you will be able to have HRT after discussions with your doc but if they are not very forthcoming then do ask for a referral back to a specialist at a meno clinic if there is one near you? (Top menu - above the green menu bar - specialists)
Hope this helps
Hurdity x
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:thankyou: Girls!
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Does this help explain things http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-a-bulky-uterus.htm
Taz x
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I was told the same thing, have you had children, it can be perfectly normal if so.
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Yes, I've had children. Will look at those articles above thank you. It was report written by Radiographer with GP telling me results. No specialist involved and GP didn't seem to know either. No fibroids apparently.
I have an appointment on Tues with a GP reg, so will push them for a referral. You never know they might be better informed than the other GPs I have seen in that surgery!
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According to the link Taz gave you oestrogen plays a key role in development of/causing a bulky womb (adenomyosis) so it might be difficult re HRT - although it could be like fibroids in that if you use a Mirena coil this might mean you can use oestrogen as well to relieve menopausal symptoms. Looks like you do need a specialist referreal if your GP isn't knowledgeable enough.
Hurdity x