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Meds & Menses (a question for the ladies)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/29/2013 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
I hope someone can help me with this. I have had regular monthly menses, usually about 25 days, for many years. In April 2013 my cycle started to shorten and by July it was 14 days. I started seeing blood (UC) from late June and on 6 August I was diagnosed with UC. I had seen my OB/Gyn just an hour before my GI appointment and she said I was ovulating that day (it was day 12). On that day I started taking Pentasa (8 tabs) and Salofalk enemas (nightly). It is now almost October and I have not had a period since my last one in July. Has anyone else had their meds interfere with their menses cycle ? I'm due back at the GI this month but I thought first hand experience would be great to hear.
Posted 9/29/2013 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have not had this problem, although my cycles have been different lately. I am ovulating later each month since I was diagnosed (in June) and have had spotting this say cycle. Have you lost a lot of weight? A low bmi can stop your cycles.
Posted 9/29/2013 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
No, I haven't lost any weight. I never had the terrible D aspect of UC, I suffer from constipation so had no weight loss.
Posted 9/29/2013 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
I know for me there is a correlation between changed with my cycle and flares.

My docs sort of dismiss is mostly so far saying your body is busy fighting colitis and so your cycle is 'less' of a priority for your body right now...

I'm convinced it is more. But what I do know is what came first - the chicken or the egg- so to speak.

Obviously it is is not the be all end all to a flare or else men and children would not be affected - but what I do know is for me in this past year, it has been a factor.

I've had UC for over 7 years - August of 2012 - I missed a period (no chance of pregnancy... ) and started seeing symptoms shortly after. Took a few months but was almost back to normal in both departments! Then Feb. 2013 missed another period, flare acted up again. This time it escalated (due to many reasons I won't get into here) but landed me in Hospital by mid-April. At that time I thought I was starting my cycle, but only had tiny amount for a couple days (not typical). Flare was very severe and spent 3 weeks in hospital and escalated in meds to Remicade from Mezavant.

I have not had a period since!

Now I am 40! It is possible I am in early menopause (unfortunately for me as I was trying to get pregnant last year before all this started... ) Did menopause (hormonal fluctuations) set off those last flares? or did I stop having period because of Flare ???

GI still says it is possible my body is just taking a 'break' and that it is not due to menopause that my flare acted up..... but I'm not so sure.

Docs. won't declare actual MENOPAUSE til 1 full year without a period... it's been over 5 months and I'm not feeling hopeful on that front. Especially considering my sister at 35 was told she had POF (pre-ovarian failure)... seems like for both of us our child bearing time may be over!

Any way, I noticed both of you (caycro and momto2boys) are around my age... it is very possible that hormones are also a factor in you conditions or that your conditions are causing hormonal changes... I just don't' know what comes first..... :(

That's my 2 cents on the matter...
Posted 9/29/2013 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Since stress can delay ovulation, it makes sense that some people's bodies might stop the reproductive process during a flare.
I have been thinking hormones could be playing a part in the development of my UC. I have noticed my luteal phase is getting shorter lately (time between ovulation and period). I am not sure it this is because I am on a steroid enema or getting older or UC or all of the above.
Posted 9/29/2013 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having the opposite problem. I've had breakthrough bleeding every day since I changed meds this last time. None of the literature nor either my GI or GYN say that the change should affect my BCP. Meanwhile I've had a 'slow leak' for five weeks. :-/
Posted 9/29/2013 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
It's also possible (if not probable) that at age 43 you are perimenopausal. The next time you menstruate, call your OB/Gyn the very first day of bleeding and ask for a baseline FSH blood test. It must be done before day 3 of a new cycle. This measure of FSH and E2 will help you better understand where you are with regard to menopause.

It is quite common in perimenopause to have erratic cycles, including really short ones. I had 17 day cycles for about 4 years. It was not fun!
Posted 9/29/2013 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
While I still had UC my period was, all over the place. I would have it for weeks on end then not at all for a month. After I had surgery I still had problems, my dr thought it might be a result of all the prednisone and stress from uc on my body. I don't know if its an option for you, but I got a mirena IUD and it has helped a lot.
Posted 10/1/2013 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the responses. I had been seeing a OB/GYN as we have been trying to conceive for five years. She thought I was doing well and still had a few more years of trying - before this UC diagnosis threw me off. That rules out the Mirena, I had one before and it was fabulous.

Back to both docs and see what they say !
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