Re: Lupron after hyst? / My experience with Lupron / Misogyny in Gynecology

[Guest guest]

Cailleach ( & everyone),

I think your comments about the different forms of GnRH analogs are

very interesting. It would seem really sensible to go for the nose-

spray version and then be able to stop if the effects are unbearable.

I had what I assume was Lupron or some version of it for two cycles

in 1994 previous to a hysterescopic resection. I don't know the exact

brand name and anyway I live in Germany, so the brand names are all

different. It was very definitely a GnRH analog and I had injections,

I think in the thigh or abdomen. I had suffered from heavy bleeding

for years and was severely anaemic, and the injections had the effect

of stopping my periods for two months, so that my haemoglobin levels

improved. I didn't have any untoward efects that I can remember! None

of the mood swings, hot flushes etc.etc. In fact, I felt very good,

probably due to the fact that my iron levels got better. The only

thing was that after the operation and the effects of the injections

wore off & my own hormones came back, that I was a bit weepy for a

couple of weeks. I know Lupron is a disaster for some women, but

there are some, like me that it doesn't seem to affect too badly. (I

only had it for two months though.)

The issue of misogyny in gynecology is very interesting. I cannot

understand why some gyns are so aggressively pro-hysterectomy either.

I tried to get my head around it by looking at it from their p.o.v. I

mean, they see women with menstrual problems all day, or others

struggling to find a suitable contraceptive method, or those with

gynecological cancers. They learn in medical school (even today) and

read in textbooks (the power of the printed word) that the uterus has

no function other than childbearing and to round it all up, the ones

who say " I never had any women complain about their hysterectomies "

are probably right. How many women really do write to their doctors

or surgeons and really complain afterwards, if they are not happy? So

they really do think they are doing women a favour - no periods, no

problem with contraception, no danger of cancer....

Now, if they have been doing hysterecomies for years and years (and

no women have complained) it is going to be a big job to get them to

really question what they have been doing. How many of us can

honestly say that we wholeheartedly embrace change or new ideas at

work?

I am not trying to defend gyns, heaven knows I am still very angry

after having been treated worse than badly by several myself, but I

thought looking at things from their perspective might help me find a

way forward. I think some of the problem is women themselves. If we

want doctors to understand that the uterus is a sexual organ, then we

need to start talking to them about this. Women like Carla are

showing us the way. I wrote about my sex life pre- and post

embolisation on the German-speaking forum, although it was really

hard for me. I tried to encourage other women to do so. I talked to

my IR about the subject, when I went for my follow-up and got him to

realise that IR's have a responsibility to think about the effects of

embolisation on sexuality.

I am planning to try and challenge my gynecologist on my next visit.

I am still very angry about/with her. Twice, when I asked her about

the effects of hysterectomy she stated " the only (!) effect it might

have, is that women do not have orgasms any more. However if the

women have had time to come to the decision, they have no problems

with this " . I think maybe some women indeed don't have a problem.

However, others will be grieving for the loss of this aspect of their

sexual response and maybe have not had the courage to report this to

the gyn for fear of her belittling their grief.

Happy New Year everyone

I don't deny the existence of misogyny but it isn't fair to blame all

our problems with treatment for fibroids on a male-dominated

profession treating a female condition.

Back to Lupron. Do any of you know how Lupron compares with closely-

related drugs such as Synarel, Prostap, Zoladex?

I understand Synarel is given nasally rather than by long-lasting

injection, so you can stop taking it and get the drug out of your

system more quickly if the bad effects outweigh the desirable ones.