Zoladex

[elephant]

Im trying to work out if zoladex is safe for me as a treatment for endo from what I have read there are some women that dont come back out of the menopausal state once they finish the treatment has anyone else heard this?

Does the implant in the stomach hurt?
Is it noticable?
Where exactly do they put it?
Im losing weight will this effect the way the implant sits?

Has anyone else heard about Zoladex affecting fertility? Like making fertility worse?

Sorry for all the questions but I hope someone can answer them I just really want to be informed before I make a decision.

Please help me with your experiences if you can!

Thanks x

[mako]

Hi
I can't give you any answers to your questions but I do want to wish you all the very best.
I hope someone will pop in soon to help you.
Take care.

[Astrolady]

Does the implant in the stomach hurt? - It stings as it goes it but doesn't hurt as such
Is it noticable? - Nope not at all
Where exactly do they put it? Mine was just near my belly button
Im losing weight will this effect the way the implant sits? - Can't help you with that as I was underweight when I had my 6mths course.

Has anyone else heard about Zoladex affecting fertility? Like making fertility worse? I have gone on to have 3 children after being on Zoladex, so not in my case it didn't 2 of my 3 were conceived first cycle, my middle child was conceived in the 4th cycle.

i had actually thought using zoladex for Endo had gone out with the dark ages, from what I had read, but I guess some doctors must still do it.

Love

[LJ*]

I had Zolodex implants for Endo about 12 years ago but it did not help me at all. I suffered through menopause like symptoms (especially hot flushes) but they stopped after the 6 month treatment finished. Because you don't have AF while on Zolodex, my pain from Endo pretty much stopped, however, once the treatment ended the pain returned and continued to get worse over the years.

I was told by my current gyno/endo specialist that Zolodex does not work in the removal of Endo and that the only successful treatment is surgery. I had surgery last year for severe Endo which was successful and I now have no pain.

Does the implant in the stomach hurt? - No, the needle is big but they give you a local anasethetic first, that stings a little.
Is it noticable? - No
Where exactly do they put it? - I had it near/below the belly button, in the fatty bit.
Im losing weight will this effect the way the implant sits? - I'm not sure

Has anyone else heard about Zoladex affecting fertility? Like making fertility worse? - I have not heard this, athlough I am now on IVF. I believe this was more due to the Endo (& male factor infertility) than the Zolodex.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[elephant]

Astrolady

If Zoladex is not a common treatment for Endo anymore what is?

I have had the lap to remove my endo but I now have pain from the spots where it was removed due to my nerves endings sending messages to my brain that the endo is still there resulting in the same endo pain as before the lap.

Any ideas what I can do?

[Astrolady]

It is just what I read on other forums Elephant, so not sure what was being used to replace it

Zoladex definitely isn't a cure, just curbs it for a while. I still have 2 lap's after zoladex treatment.

[elephant]

Thanks for the info Astrolady!
I know my Dr is looking it as a last resort but we are kind of there now and I have my appt tomorrow. I am not really sure what to do but will not be making up my mind tomorrow thats for sure. She did mention last appt about some clinical trials coming up so that may also be an option?

[elephant]

I had my dr appt today and it appears that I had misunderstood about the Zoladex it was about the posibility of using GnRH antagonists. She is possibly looking at putting me on Aromatase inhibitors or Gabapentin for my endo. also have to choose between Mirena or Implanon.
Any suggestions anyone?

[Aurian]

Hi, new user here!

Found this website when researching Zoladex, which I have just had implanted (first round) and hope for minimal side effects during this six-month period! (or no period... as the case will be ;P).

I have suffered from painful endo for years, undiagnosed until 2006 - used to think that everyone simply put up with cramps etc better than I did... then the truth came out!

Like others, I fear for a lack of fertility upon finished the course of hormones (getting married in Nov., TTC in 2009) but reading your stories here on this forum give me hope! This is a wonderful place.

[ckirk1980]

I went on zoladex for a 6 month period for endometriosis...... PLEASE weigh up your options. 2 1/2 years on i still dont have a period i have no fertility and no sex drive it was the worse thing thats happened to me.... The doctor told me not to go for the surgery because it would be painful he told me i would go through menopause for 6 months and then 4-6 weeks after the last injection i would return to normal.... 2 1/2 years on and i cant have kids, my husband and i dont have intercourse because i cant handle him to touch me......... I was not told this could happen because i think my heart hurts more now then my body could have ever gone through back then Dont always trust the doctors....

[~bonnie~]

Hi,

I was on Zoladex for 6 months back in 2003. My gyn put me onto it straight after my surgery to remove the endo. It was to kick-start the healing and stop the endo coming back straight after the surgery.

I had a local anaesthetic every time (bit of a chicken with big needles!) and it didn't hurt. Once I went off Zoladex I went striaght onto the CBCP. All menopausal side-effects went away.

Like ckirk1980 I suffered with problems having sex (it didn't hurt, I just never, ever felt like it) not due to zoladex, but to the BCP I've been on (which I know because I'm now feeling much better since stopping the BCP). I guess different medications impact on people differently. So I don't think Zoladex will have that particular effect on everyone who takes it. I guess you have to weigh up your options carefully though as this obviously is a side-effect for some.

For me the zoladex was worth it. I am now pain-free and don't think I have any long-lasting side-effects from it.

Bonnie

[Aurian]

Likewise, I've just finished my Zoladex treatment and gone onto a BCP, and the return to normal function has been swift and positive. For most people, the treatment is straightforward, I'm sorry to hear that a few women here have had negative post-treatment impacts.