No period for a year but FSH is low so still not post-menopose?

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sumomo
sumomo Member Posts: 49
edited November 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi. I started chemo Oct 2017 and finished Apr 2018. Since I started, I've had no period so I thought I was post-menopause, and expecting to switch from Tamoxifen to an Aromatase Inhibitor soon. But my recent bloodwork seems showing I haven't passed menopause yet. Has anyone experienced the same?

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited November 2018

    so my FSH is 6(not menopausal), my LH is 2.8 (not menopausal) but estradiol is 5 (menopausal). Havent had a period in 3 years. My OB/GYN says I am premenopausal and wants me to get a copper iud, my MO says I am menopausal. Have you had your estradiol checked? MO says tamoxifen can mess with FSH and LH levels...

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  • sumomo
    sumomo Member Posts: 49
    edited November 2018

    Hi Tresjoli2. Thank you for your comment. My FSH is 13, LH is 6, Estradiol says <40. I'm not sure what <40 really means. It means less than 40 but why didn't it say an actual value? So I called the laboratory but they insisted that's the right result and I should discuss with my doctor. I will tomorrow.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited November 2018

    let me know what you find out. None of my doctors agree on what my labs mean.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited November 2018

    I've got friends whose periods re-appeared 2 years after chemo. How old are you?

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited November 2018

    My GYN only goes by the FSH (menopause). My MO goes by the Estradiol (not menopause). My LH shows menopause. Ugh. Repeat levels recently showedmore menopausal levels.

    I did have a period 18 months after chemo stopped them. None since - it's been four months now. And I haven't been on any hormonal therapies for almost a year.

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  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 868
    edited November 2018

    I'm 43 now. Diagnosed just 2 weeks after my 40th birthday. Not knowing if I'm in menopause or not has been really hard. I'm amazed that the docs cant figure this out.

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  • sumomo
    sumomo Member Posts: 49
    edited November 2018

    Thank you all for your comments. I just saw my oncologist who confirmed I was post menopause. My estradiol says <40, not a specific number but the range less than 40, and based on that the doctor said I was. Apparently, he doesn't care about my FSH or LH. However, he told me to continue Tamoxifen for another half year (i.e. one year in total) before moving on to aromatase inhibitor, so I guess he plans to reconfirm later.

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited November 2018

    My MO told me that if you start an AI and you are not menopausal, your period could come back. Tamoxifen suppresses your period, which is why they test estradiol

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited November 2018

    Tamoxifen doesn't suppress periods. Many women continue to have periods while on it. It can actually add to what's going on in your uterus. It works by blocking the effect of Estrogen on breast tissue.

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