Anyone got their period back after chemopause? How old were you?

I'm 42. I started chemo June of 2015. I had a period July 2015. I was also on Lupron, but quit that a year ago. No sign of my period. I doubt it's going to come back ever. I hope it doesnt. Only good thing to come from cancer.

I haven't posted on the forum in a long time and came back after searching “fsh & estradiol". My last period was March 2015, right after my 1st infusion, I was 40. I am 2 months shy of going 3 years without a period and New Year's Day, it arrived (Happy 2018 😬). I can't get a definitive answer on whether or not I am in menopause as my hormones have gone from normal levels to “in the gutter" (my oncologist's term 😂) then back to normal (twice)over the last 34 months. My blood test from last week shows that according to my fsh level (25.5), I am menopausal however, my estradiol level (71)indicates I am not. I feel like my body doesn't want to be in menopause and is trying to get back to normal (or as close to that as it can get). It was a very light period and because I prefer to err on the side of caution, I visited my gynecologist, she has scheduled an ultrasound just to make sure everything is ok. I don't know if I am glad or mad that my period may (or may not) have returned after nearly 3 years, especially since my BC was ER+/PR+ 🤷🏼♀️

dblomom, what does the mo say about the returning perios? Doesn't this mean that Tamoxifen is not effective anymore?

DATNY,

My MO doesn’t know yet, I see her every 6 mos. My Gyn has sent me for an untrasound, which I am actually sitting in the parking lot for now, full of dread (mainly bc of the actual procedure itself 😒👎).Depending on what it looks like, I will visit with my MO after the results are available. I truly was just getting to the point where my brain wasn’t consumed with all things cancer. I am glad that my healthcare team is thorough but at the same time, I hate all of the tests (and paying for them!).

dblomom, I asked because one of my friends, HR+,Her2- blames her metastasis on the fact that Tamoxifen stoped working, as evidenced (to her) by the returning periods. She didn't tell the mo about it right away, she thought it was just normal. I don't know if tamoxifen effectiveness and returning period are truly correlated, but I think the mo should know about the change.

Good luck with the test, hopefully everything turns out fine!

I was 39. Period stopped after the 5th chemo and returned 9 months later. Then I went on zoladex

Yes that's correct. However, women report irregular period on tamoxifen whether they had chemo or not.

My MO had told me if period doesn't return within 3 years post-chemo, we can safely assume it's permanent menopause

I am 45 and mine came back. I kept my Mirena IUD in during chemo per the doc's instructions so I have no idea how chemo affected my period. Chemo ended in April 2016 and the IUD came out last summer. Periods have been regular ever since much to my oncologist's surprise.

Hi, I had my last period two weeks after starting chemo. I was 48 then. I’ve not had a period since. I have a lot of hot flashes and that’s a sure sign of menopause. My Onc told me that they wait for a year after treatment has finished to determine if you’re in menopause, along with blood tests.

My understanding from reading about Tamoxifen is that about 50% of people taking it either build up a resistance to it in the first twelve monthsor it doesn’t work at all. And of course AI’s are much more effective than Tamoxifen for post menopausal women.

Hello,

I did not get a period while l was on chemo therapy. My last period was in August of 2015, from that point l have not seen my period. Hope all is well with you. The only time l am bleeding is in my nose and l am in my sixth week and still bleeding; only when l blow my nose. I have sinuses and post nasal drip. l am dealing with it to the best of knowledge . I wish you the best of luck that your nose will be able stop bleeding after you finish your treatment.

I was 38 years old at time of diagnosis. My period returned 6 months after chemo ended

Hello All,

I am 42. I actually had not had a period since March of 2017 due to chemo and then I have been on Tamoxifen. I went through all the side effects of menopause - especially the hot flashes and yesterday Aunt Flow came with a vengeance! There was no spotting, it was a full on period out of nowhere lol. I had a headache the eve before (like I used to get the day before my period back before the chemo) but did not think anything of it. I was also very moody. So I guess you can still have a period while taking tamoxifen even if you had already gone through the menopause symptoms. I was pretty bummed as that was a very nice perk for having the cancer in the first place. So..I guess we will see if that means I will be back to having them monthly again.

Hi,

I was diagnosed in the fall of 2013 (stage 3C at 45) and had my period through my last chemo infusion but then it stopped (Feb 2014). A few months after that my doc started me on lupron which I took for 3.5 years with Anastrozole. Because of numerous side effects I switched to Tamoxifen for 3 months and then I took a break for another 3 months. At that time my Onc checked my estrogen, etc levels and pronounced me menopausal. But then 2 months after taking Anastrozole only, my period returned and blood tests confirmed that I was ovulating. It returned at age 50 after chemo, 4 surgeries, years of lupron + AI, etc. I'm really surprised actually because my body feels so beat up.

I have to chime in here. I was on AC/T 6 years ago at age 40. Stopped period after first AC treatment. Then 3 years later got the worst period of my life! Then went two more years without a period and then bam just this week it came back again. I am on tamoxifen and have an endometrial biopsy on an annual basis as my lining is always very thick. I'm really hoping they don't recommend a hysterectomy at this point as my boobs are already gone. Time will tell I guess. Wising you all the very best and know you are not alone!