Tamoxifen and periods

Kristenann

I have been on tamoxifen for almost 2 years. This morninig I was horrified when I woke up to find that I had my period again! UGH! I have a call into my doc, but am wondering if anyone else on tamoxifen has been thru this?

CypressCynthia

Yep, same thing happened to
Yep, same thing happened to me. I was 33 yrs old when I started tamoxifen and did not have periods for a couple of years (had chemo for 6 mos too) and then there they were again.

cindycflynn

Kristenann
I've only been on Tamoxifen for about 4 months and have not had any bleeding, but I'm glad to hear you've contacted your doctor.

There could be various reasons for this, but the best way to know is to have your doctor check it out and to keep monitoring how you feel (see Meena's post on when you feel something isn't right).

Let us know what your doctor says. I know it's hard not to worry, but I hope you get answers soon and that it's nothing serious.

Take care,
Cindy

sal314

Yeah...
I still get a period about once every 6 to 8 months. MInd you I'm premenapausal, so that maybe makes a difference? My oncologist said my periods would most likely come back regularly once I stop taking it. That is a bummer I think! LOL. Out of all the crappy side effects, not having a period every month as actually been really nice! LOL.

Sally

BethInAz

Tamoxifen and bleeding
Check with your doctor. Not to alarm you but there is a 1/10 of 1% chance of uterine cancer while on tamoxifen. It's highly treatable so no worries - but bleeding is a sign. Go check it out and put your mind to ease.
Prayers for you,
Beth

TraciInLA

BethInAz said:

Tamoxifen and bleeding
Check with your doctor. Not to alarm you but there is a 1/10 of 1% chance of uterine cancer while on tamoxifen. It's highly treatable so no worries - but bleeding is a sign. Go check it out and put your mind to ease.
Prayers for you,
Beth

Timely post for me
Thank you for posting this, Kristenann -- it's very timely for me.

I'm glad to hear from some other premenopausal women on what your experiences have been, though my issue right now is just the opposite:

I'm 41, and nowhere near natural menopause -- my period came back regular like the sun after chemo, I started Tamoxifen about 9 months ago, still having periods you could set your watch by -- then, this month, it seems like Aunt Flo got lost on her way to my house, 'cause she ain't visitin'.

Maybe she's at your house, Sally? :-)

Traci

Dawne.Hope

TraciInLA said:

Timely post for me
Thank you for posting this, Kristenann -- it's very timely for me.

I'm glad to hear from some other premenopausal women on what your experiences have been, though my issue right now is just the opposite:

I'm 41, and nowhere near natural menopause -- my period came back regular like the sun after chemo, I started Tamoxifen about 9 months ago, still having periods you could set your watch by -- then, this month, it seems like Aunt Flo got lost on her way to my house, 'cause she ain't visitin'.

Maybe she's at your house, Sally? :-)

Traci

Traci
Dear Traci,

I was only on Tamoxifen for six months but it really wacked out my periods and I am about your age. I'd always been regular, but the last three months I was on it, it was 14 days, 50 days ... really strange.

sal314

TraciInLA said:

Timely post for me
Thank you for posting this, Kristenann -- it's very timely for me.

I'm glad to hear from some other premenopausal women on what your experiences have been, though my issue right now is just the opposite:

I'm 41, and nowhere near natural menopause -- my period came back regular like the sun after chemo, I started Tamoxifen about 9 months ago, still having periods you could set your watch by -- then, this month, it seems like Aunt Flo got lost on her way to my house, 'cause she ain't visitin'.

Maybe she's at your house, Sally? :-)

Traci

Aunt Flow Hasn't...
LOL Traci! Aunt Flo hasn't visited since last October. She's mad at me?! LOL.

Seems like the past couple of years she's decided to visit less often. I'm 44 and wondering if "real" menopause is inching closer. The past several months the hot flashes and trouble sleeping has REALLY gotten worse.(thus why I'm up at 5:00am wandering the web!:))

Never really minded Aunt Flo not visiting! She's one of those kill joy people:) LOL.

27 more days and the Tamoifen is DONE! Amen! Whoo-hoo:)

Sally

TraciInLA

sal314 said:

Aunt Flow Hasn't...
LOL Traci! Aunt Flo hasn't visited since last October. She's mad at me?! LOL.

Seems like the past couple of years she's decided to visit less often. I'm 44 and wondering if "real" menopause is inching closer. The past several months the hot flashes and trouble sleeping has REALLY gotten worse.(thus why I'm up at 5:00am wandering the web!:))

Never really minded Aunt Flo not visiting! She's one of those kill joy people:) LOL.

27 more days and the Tamoifen is DONE! Amen! Whoo-hoo:)

Sally

Bumping this up
Just bumping this up for any other premenopausal women who may have Tamoxifen-period issues to share...

...and for Aunt Flo: Where are you? I know you're mad at Cousin Sally, because she never calls, you never get a card from her at Christmas...but what about ME?

:-) Traci

alexlib_mom

TraciInLA said:

Bumping this up
Just bumping this up for any other premenopausal women who may have Tamoxifen-period issues to share...

...and for Aunt Flo: Where are you? I know you're mad at Cousin Sally, because she never calls, you never get a card from her at Christmas...but what about ME?

:-) Traci

Traci -

I was happy to see your post because my period came back with a vengeance after chemo and I start tamoxifen this week (ack). It's helpful to have some idea of maybe what to expect. I too am nowhere near natural menopause. So, thanks for the post!

Stephanie

Sally5

alexlib_mom said:

Traci -

I was happy to see your post because my period came back with a vengeance after chemo and I start tamoxifen this week (ack). It's helpful to have some idea of maybe what to expect. I too am nowhere near natural menopause. So, thanks for the post!

Stephanie

Tamoxifen....
Thanks. I am concerned about this, too. I have had a history of very heavy periods... before BC. I had been anemic and was taking birth control pills to finally get it all under control.

After being diagnosed, I had to stop (birth control pills). I am borderline anemic again.

Just started Tamoxifen 7-2-10. The only good side effect I can find, is that I have not had (as Traci calls it) a visit from Aunt Flo. I am at Day 56.... but who is counting. (I hope I didn't jinx this). <---

** Traci --- Am I reading this correctly?? Are you really missing your Aunt Flo??

Thanks for the topic.
Merry (Sally5)

TraciInLA

Sally5 said:

Tamoxifen....
Thanks. I am concerned about this, too. I have had a history of very heavy periods... before BC. I had been anemic and was taking birth control pills to finally get it all under control.

After being diagnosed, I had to stop (birth control pills). I am borderline anemic again.

Just started Tamoxifen 7-2-10. The only good side effect I can find, is that I have not had (as Traci calls it) a visit from Aunt Flo. I am at Day 56.... but who is counting. (I hope I didn't jinx this). <---

** Traci --- Am I reading this correctly?? Are you really missing your Aunt Flo??

Thanks for the topic.
Merry (Sally5)</p>

Let me be clear
Merry, no -- I most certainly don't enjoy Aunt Flo's visits -- she's SO high-maintenance.

But here's my dilemma: As I said, my periods have been completely regular and normal since I finished chemo and started Tamoxifen 9 months ago. My gynecologist stressed to me that she wanted me to call her if I were to have ANY bleeding between periods.

But...if my periods are now going to be sporadic and/or unpredictable, how do I tell the difference between a period and irregular bleeding?

I'll talk with my oncologist about this when I see him next week...[sigh], it would just be easier if Aunt Flo just showed up when she's supposed to, and got it over with....

Traci
(Day 38 and counting)

CypressCynthia

TraciInLA said:

Let me be clear
Merry, no -- I most certainly don't enjoy Aunt Flo's visits -- she's SO high-maintenance.

But here's my dilemma: As I said, my periods have been completely regular and normal since I finished chemo and started Tamoxifen 9 months ago. My gynecologist stressed to me that she wanted me to call her if I were to have ANY bleeding between periods.

But...if my periods are now going to be sporadic and/or unpredictable, how do I tell the difference between a period and irregular bleeding?

I'll talk with my oncologist about this when I see him next week...[sigh], it would just be easier if Aunt Flo just showed up when she's supposed to, and got it over with....

Traci
(Day 38 and counting)

That is a dilemma. After
That is a dilemma. After tamoxifen, I went through real menopause which started with intermittent irregular bleeding.

Before all of the bleeding completely stopped, I had had 3 endometrial biopsies (one of my most hated procedures) and 2 vaginal ultrasounds. We were going to do a hysterectomy but then presto all bleeding stopped. That was about 12 yrs ago and I don't miss Aunt Flo either!

Sally5

CypressCynthia said:

That is a dilemma. After
That is a dilemma. After tamoxifen, I went through real menopause which started with intermittent irregular bleeding.

Before all of the bleeding completely stopped, I had had 3 endometrial biopsies (one of my most hated procedures) and 2 vaginal ultrasounds. We were going to do a hysterectomy but then presto all bleeding stopped. That was about 12 yrs ago and I don't miss Aunt Flo either!

Thanks for clearing that up.
Traci - Thanks for clearing that up. I am so glad you explained. I agree. How can you tell the difference.

** Oh, I was meaning to tell you. I tried that tonic water. Correction, toxic water... yeck. It is toxic water. Not sure it worked. I don't know if I was able to drink enough....

Merry (Sally5)