Post-Lupron Irregularities: Understanding Cycle Recovery & What to Expect

Question
Hello. I am looking for some advice on irregularity after taking Lupron for endo. I had a lap. in Nov. of 07 and was told that I had stage two endo. I was put on Lupron 3.75 in Jan. of 08. I only received 3 of the 6 shots because I lost my health insurance. It took about two months and my cycles returned. However, I am still awaiting what would be my second cycle since the end of my shots and I am currently 14 days late. I have been told by some that once your cycles start that they shouldn't be irregular for sometime until the endo begins to come back. I have also been told that it is normal to be irregular. Finally, I was told that if I was late it could be that I was pregnant. Oddly, I knew I was going to be late. My fiance and I have continued to have unprotected sex since last November when I was taken off birth control and continue now. I am not sure how I knew I would be late but I did. I took a home test on the first day of my missed period and it was negative. I took a second on the 3rd day it not coming. The result to both test were negative. I do not feel any different, no cramps, no bloating, nothing that would make me think the endo was causing problems. Yet there is also no sign of my cycle. Is this normal? Can I be going to irregular cycles already, or should I get another pregnancy test? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for you time.
Tiffany

Answer
Hello Tiffany,

Lupron is notorious for lasting a while after the last injection.  However, by this time, your cycles should have returned to the state they were in before the Lupron.  That is, if you were regular, they should return to being regular again and if irregular they would return to being irregular.  Of course, the response and the response time can vary from person to person.  I have had patients tell me that it took 6 months to get back to normal.  At this point, you can potentially get pregnant, if the endometriosis was the only thing preventing it, so keep trying.   However, if your cycles are irregular, that would signify that there is some type of ovarian dysfunction occurring which would prevent or impead pregnancy.  Your doctor might want to consider one or two cycles of ovulation induction with Clomid if you do not get regular within the next month.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D.
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www. montereybayivf.com