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How Effective Is Progesterone Treatment In Stopping Postmenopausal Proliferation?

Posted on Sat, 1 Aug 2015

Question: I am 52 and weigh 113lbs and am in good health with no file history of cancer. I had my last period 9 months ago. My OB performed a blood test and determined I am in menopause. I had minor vaginal bleeding 2 months ago. My OB order an ultrasound which measured my endometrium at 4.3cm. He performed an endometrial biopsy which determined I had proliferative endometrium but no cancer or pre-cancer. He has put me on progesterone for 6 months (10 pills each month for 6 months) and will then have another biopsy. How successful is progesterone treatment to stop postmenopausal proliferation? Will I need to remain on progesterone if it initially stops endometrial proliferation?

Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Right treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hello mam, thanks for trusting health care magic.
You have been given the right treatment and all your tests are within normal limits with slight proliferation of endometrium.
This proliferation is common in perimenopausal transition and will be very well taken care by the progesterone given in cyclical fashion.
Right now it will be best to take progesterone as prescribed and wait for repeat biopsy.
In case the repeat biopsy is also normal then there will be no need to continue with progesterone for long.
But if at all you take this cyclical progesterone for an year or two then your menopausal transition will be very smooth with no erratic bleeding and of course no extra proliferation of the endometrium and indirectly prevention of endometrial cancer.
Take care
Regards
Dr Manisha

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (40 minutes later)

Why do you consider me perimenopausal when my OB has concluded that, based on blood test, I am in menopause? He labeled my minor bleeding 2 months ago as postmenopausal bleeding.

Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
To be extra cautious

Detailed Answer:
We take a period of 3-5 years around the time of menopause as perimenopausal period.
Since your hormones are in menopausal range but the bleeding occurred within 1 year of cessation of periods it can be a post menopausal bleeding or just the transition.
Just to be extra cautious we are managing your bleeding as postmenopausal bleeding only so as to avoid missing any pathology if at all there.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (40 hours later)

One concern I have with taking progesterone is possible impact on a breast cyst my OB is aware of. I have annual breast ultrasounds and mammograms so it is being monitored but could progesterone impact cyst growth?

Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can take progesterone

Detailed Answer:
I understand your concern but progesterone has no effect on breast cyst so you can take tablets as advised without any reservation in your mind.
Take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar