PCOS AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

[kittykitty]

Hi. I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome when i was 16.During my teens and early 20's i hardly had any periods at all and when i did they were heavy and painful.Now i am 29 they are more regular but still heavy and painful.

I have never had any treatment and now i am turning 30 soon i am getting worried about endometrial cancer and the damage that might already be done.

Have i left it too late to ask for some kind of treatment? and do you think there might be a lot of damage done at my age?

I'm really scared and worried about this, i really hope you can help and hopefully put my mind at rest.

Thank you

[crystalwitch]

It's never too late to ask for treatment! I'm no expert so can't really comment on how likely it might be for you to get endometrial cancer - that would be something that you'd need to speak to either a gynaecologist or endocrinologist about - someone who is a specialist in treating PCOS.

It's my understanding that you are at a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer if you don't have regular bleeds (either natural or 'induced' by taking something like Provera), but I'm not sure how much higher risk we are than someone who doesn't have PCOS.

I'd say your best bet is to make an appointment with a sympathetic GP at your practise, tell them that you're concerned, and see what they suggest. Good luck!

[shinycat]

As I understand it you only need to have 3 periods a year to reduce your risk of endometrial cancer. Even if your periods were very irregular in your twenties, you were still having some and so I doubt you have been at any increased risk. If you are very worried about this the best thing to do is to either go on the pill to get regular bleeds, or ask your GP to prescribe you provera every 3 months to induce a bleed. But as long as you are having some periods now I really wouldn't worry about it.

[kittykitty]

Thank you very much for your advice.

I am going to see my doctor later this week to see what she can give me to regulate and control my periods.I haven't had a period for about 4 months now so think i need to do something.

I do have some periods so i hope my chances of getting cancer are reduced,Thank you so much for your help

This site is amazing and everyone is so helpful, i hope i can help some of you in the future.

best wishes

[shinycat]

You're very welcome

I had no periods for 11 months last year and asked my consultant if this was a problem and he didn't seem remotely worried. Obviously if I only had one period a year all the time I think the situation would be different, but he said a one-off gap of one year is nothing to worry about.

[kittykitty]

That is a big relief, thank you.

I may ask my doctor to refer me to a consultant because i can't really talk to her about things as she doesn't speak much lol.

Thank you again

[Kirky]

My understanding is the same, I was told as I was having virtually no periods at all that my chances would be increased but my doctor and consultant both reassured me that by putting me on dianete to induce periods would significantly reduce the chance of developing cancer. Its something to do with that even if your not having periods the cells in the wall of your womb may still be stimulated so you need to put this stimulation to use i.e. have a period.