Period not returning

I'm just over a month out from finishing chemo and have not had my period return yet, but I agree with Nanna to get it checked. I am going in December to see my RE (the specialist I used for fertililty preservation) and he will do an ultrasound to see what's going on with my ovaries. I hope we both get our periods back! As for the timeline, I think I have heard it can take 6 months to get it back, but my oncologist also said you might ovulate, but not get an actual period while taking Tamoxifen, so that could be a factor as well. So I think an ultrasound would give you the best picture.

I just  read it could take a year to get them back... I ended chemo in July but was on Lupron shots to try to preserve my fertility (sure hope it worked!!). I stopped taking the shots in Oct. and got a light period right away but then nothing yet (should have been about a week ago). I have to wait 5 years no matter what because of the Tamox, but tonight that is feeling like an eternity... but grateful for the 2 beautiful kids we already have. Jp, you'll be in my prayers.

Mine took almost a full year to come back. And when it did, it came back with a venegence. Heavy, HEAVY bleeding for the first 2 cycles. Weird thing is I used to have horrendous cramps and now I dont have them anymore.

Not having your period return , or return erratically after chemo is COMPLETELY normal.  I completed chemo last November.  I didn't get a period until April.  I was actually hoping I would not, as mine have always been awful..and I already have my four kids.   Since then it's been on and off.  I can definitely tell the months when I'm ovulating, and if you can pinpoint that, that's a good thing for trying for a baby.   

I had two periods in one month, and one that was 16 days long.  My naturopath straightened me out immediately with the excessive bleeding with chaste tree extract and laser treatments that he uses (very similar to accupuncture, coincidentally!     Once it stopped,  I went two months with nothing..another ovulation and a period two weeks later. It was extremely light, which again is fine with me after years of horrible bleeding.  I'm 42 though, and probably would have been close to peri-menopause anyway - I'm just doing it a couple of years early. 

Basically our ovaries have taken a beating and it takes time to heal...staying with the holistic stuff is the best thing! 

I am in a similar situation...haven't started menstruating again ~4 months after I finished 4 months of TCH. Still on herceptin, but it's my understanding that by itself it doesn't effect fertility...

 I took the Luupron shots as well. Getting impatient... I just turned 33 and wouldn't mind trying for a baby at some point! I've been exercising and doing yoga, etc, but I didn't know if you had any specific things that had worked for you. 

 Also, if I want to get to a scan or ultra sound of my ovaries, do I do that with a fertility doc? or just a regular gynecologist?

I am older than you so this may not be the same. I had very normal periods and very normal hormone levels before chemo. I know this because I was trying for another baby via IVF. My period stopped after the first TCH in Dec 2009. It came back in Sept 2011. I also did a year of herceptin.

It stopped for almost 2 years. I decided not to try to carry another baby but I am currently expecting via gestational carrier. Life does go on!!!

I am 3.5 months out of chemo( TC x 4), 38 years old, and got my period this past Sunday.  It is so  heavy, but I am so grateful it came back!!! I swear by womens hath yoga.  The positions stimulate the repoductive system! The yoga also kept the hotflashes and night sweats away during chemo.  My health pyschologist claims belly dancing can also stimulate ovaries that need a boost.  

I am 51 and still menstruating! This, even after AC/T chemo. In fact, I was having ovarian pain and had an ultrasound where the technician saw a lovely follicle ready to burst! Hang in there - anything is possible.  Careful with the bloodwork. I was told I was through menopause. Bloodwork is not very reliable.

Tammy

Hello, this is my first time posting a message so I hope this is the right place to ask my question. 

It has been 2 1/2 years since chemo and I just got  my period back.  How normal or not is this?

Thank you MiniMacsMom.  It acutally is 2 1/2 years since.  I forgot to add this small but important detail.

Christina i only got 1 period after tretment and i am 14 weeks in granted i had nursed my son up until 2 mo before my dx so i only had 3ps or so bf i started chemo. There are so women who do getit all the way through but i think it does stop for a lot of us. Its not a bad thing to stop.... u dont loose as much iron or rbcs



Ja my bad for missing the years thing i would talk to an ob/gyn or a reproductive endocrynologist to make sure everything is ok. Are u on tamox or any shots to but u into menaupause? Also check out young survival coallition if u hVent already. Its a bc forum just for young women. They have talked about this alot there ps sorry for the mistakes... phone typing.

Hello Ladies!

This is my first post & I just want to thank you all for sharing. I don't feel so alone now. My period stopped soon after the first cycle of chemo & it's been 5 months since my last chemo (CTH) and I'm anxiously awaiting for my period to return. The hubby and I were in the middle of trying when I was diagnosed and we are super excited to start trying again after I finish my Herceptin treatments (Oct 2012). I'm amazed but also encouraged by the variability in the timing between last chemo and first period for some of you. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to expedite the process? Since we can't start trying again until 6 months post-Herceptin, I wanted to atleast get my homrones back in balance to increase the chance of us concieving when we do start trying. I'm 37 and we do not have children so needless to say, my clock is ticking louder then ever before!! We can't imagine our life without children so we are looking into other options just in case but it would be nice to have our own.

I was 39 at dx my period stopped after 2nd AC and didn't return for 2 yrs.

It's now regular and blood hormones all indicate I'm very permenopausal again. I had a tubal ligation earlier this year as I already have finished my family and my gynae recommended it.

I was on tch chemo and my period took months to come back and then would come and go. I am 33. Because of the advanced stage of my disease, I Wasn't planning on having kids. My oncologist wanted me on herceptin indefinitely. But here I am, four and a half months pregnant, and baby is looking good. So to all you women wondering if your period is coming back or if you will be able to have children, take some hope from my experience! Kids after cancer are absolutely possible. And if kids are not in your plan, I would use some kind of contraception even if you think you are starting menopause! Prayers and best wishes for all of you!