Experiences with Endometrial Hyperplasia?

SongbirdWoman · 09-13-2002, 03:58 PM

Hello Cysters

I'm new to all of this, even though I just turned 40 last week! I've probably had PCOS most of my life, yet it wasn't diagnosed until this past May! I think it's wonderful (relatively speaking) that PCOS is being recognized more and more and that so many of you are finding out that you have it sooner than later!

That said....I have developed a new problem. I've started bleeding for weeks now and my ob/gyn has diagnosed me with hyperplasia. He decided not to do a biopsy yet because an ultrasound (regular, not vaginal) indicated to him that my lining was not overly thick and the problem is only a few months old. So for now he has put me on Prometrium for a couple of months to see if it will regulate me. I wish maybe that he *had* done the biopsy for my own peace of mind (I have cancer on the brain after losing my mother to cancer in January and so many people fighting cancer or deaths to cancer around me lately!)

I read in Christiane Northrup's book "Womens' Bodies, Women's Wisdom" about castor oil packs on the abdomen for this condition and I just ordered some supplies to give this a try in addition to the Prometrium.

I also read in a few places about assessing psychological stress when abnormal bleeding is a symptom, and yes, it began right after my mothers' death. So I have to wonder about that! Before that my periods were relatively regular (some long cycles and skipped cycles), but sometimes maybe too short and sweet. I don't seem to be ovulating.

I was on Metformin until I started the Prometrium. I'm not sure why he discontinued it.

I did one round of Clomid in June and this seemed to worsen the whole thing, going from periods getting too long to this problem of the endless period!!

I'm feeling nervous and frustrated about this whole thing....and pretty scared as well. I'd love to hear some experiences with hyperplasia from others as well as anything that seemed to calm this problem down.

One question is: how long on the progesterone did it take to stop the bleeding???

SongbirdWoman (Jeri)

CTCyster · 09-13-2002, 04:28 PM

Jeri-

I would urge you to request an endometrial biopsy from your doctor. I was dxd with Endometrial Hyperplasia in the summer of 2001. I was given a biopsy and the cells taken were found to be just below pre-cancerous. I think you need to know where you stand for your own peace of mind.

Previously, I had had a 14 month bleed and was given a combination of Premarin and Provera (about a five day course of each) and then the bleeding stopped. If this hadn't worked, my next option would have been to get a D&C. The doctor kept me on the Provera after discontinuing the Premarin for three months and then I went in for a follow up biopsy. The results were great! No more suspicious cells- the lining was normal.

Endometrial Hyperplasia is certainly nothing to take lightly since it is considered such a precursor to Endometrial Cancer; Yet, it is a highly treatable condition. If I were you, I'd look into it a little further by doing some of my own research and then discussing it with your doctor further. I know you said that your doctor has already rxd Prometrium- but I would want to have the biopsy anyway- just to be sure.

Good Luck! And feel free to PM me if you want to chat about this!

*Aimee*