question for the opiophile girls

[GoddessofRATs]

Men this doesn't relate to you, this is a female question but feel free to read it lol.

Ok ladies, here is my question. Has using opiates affected your period? The reason i ask is because I haven't had a period in ages, well... like 2 months. My period has been strange for 3 years, just about the same time my use became more of an addiction. IS that a coincidence? Sometimes i'll have my period for 15 days, that was a long time ago, last year or so. And than sometimes i don't have it all. And i know for darn sure i ain't pregnent, that would be impossible.

So i was just wondering if any of you ladies had problems with your periods because of opiates?

Thanks ladies.
GOR

[poppylove]

No opiates have never affected my periods, but always had baaaad periods...that's why they put me on opiates in the first place. Now I don't have them anymore cause I had to get a hysterectomy. But in direct response to your question, I read a lot about opiates and have never come across anything that states that they have any effect at all on your menstrual cycle, besides relieving cramps.:female:

[GoddessofRATs]

ok thanks :)

GOR

[wafflehead77]

Ive heard, but dont qoute me on this as I am not positive, but I think most drugs can change menstration. I know I have heard about this in females that abuse speed. I dont think it is really common, but I do believe it is possible.

If it is something you are worried about, you could call a random pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about it. Most pharmacists know more about side-effects than a pcp would, so you may be able to get some info by doing this.

Hope this helped a little. Im now curious, so I will do a little searching for you, and post the results.

[Thebane]

Well of course I have no first-hand knowledge, but here's an interesting study I found. It said heroin is known to interrupt menstruation. And that in this study, looking at a group of women maintained on 80mg to 100 mg of methadone, 46% had irregular periods, 8% had persistent amenorrhea and 5% had transient amenorrhea.

From what I've read of your scripts you could be taking the equivalent amount of prescription pills to 80 mg of methadone a day right? So while its not extremely common it doesn't seem unheard of. And I'm assuming if heroin and methadone do it, high doses of morphine and whatever else you're on could.

Oh heres the link to the study: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01091.x?cookieSet=1

Hope that helps some.

[wafflehead77]

This pertains to methadone, but it is a start. I'll keep looking though.

Menstrual cycle length during methadone maintenance.
RESEARCH REPORT

Addiction. 100(6):829-836, June 2005.
Schmittner, John; Schroeder, Jennifer R.; Epstein, David H.; Preston, Kenzie L.
Abstract:
Aims: While the menstrual disruption of heroin has been demonstrated, there are few published data concerning methadone maintenance and menstrual function. This study was conducted to evaluate whether cycle length was more regular during methadone maintenance.

Settings: An out-patient research treatment program in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Participants: A total of 191 heroin and cocaine-using women from two clinical trials, lasting 25-29 weeks; each woman was maintained on 70-100 mg of methadone.

Measurements: Start/end dates of each menses were collected.

Design: Menstrual patterns were classified as regular, irregular, transient amenorrhea, persistent amenorrhea or cycle restart. Repeated-measures regression modeling determined correlates of cycle length and predictors of long cycles (> 40 days) and short cycles (< 20 days). Bleeding episodes were defined as 1 or more bleeding days, bound by at least 2 non-bleeding days. Correlates/predictors examined were body mass index, drug use, methadone dose and race.

Findings: In the 133 women for whom menstrual patterns could be determined, cycle-length irregularity was common: irregular, 62 (46.7%); regular, 37 (27.8%); cycle restart, 16 (12%); persistent amenorrhea, 11 (8.3%); transient amenorrhea, seven (5.3%). Each additional week on methadone maintenance was associated with decreased risk of long (OR = 0.96, P < 0.01 and short (OR = 0.92, P < 0.01) cycles. Of 27 women with secondary amenorrhea pre-study, 16 (59%) restarted menses. Positivity for opioids or cocaine was not significantly associated with short or long cycles.

Conclusions: Cycle length begins to normalize during methadone maintenance. Menses resumption may occur. Methadone maintenance, despite interfering with menstrual function in an absolute sense, may interfere less than illicit heroin abuse.

Copyright (C) 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

[GoddessofRATs]

Thanks for the info guys. Although it's rare i do think that's whats causing my irregular periods, opiates. I had a pap about 9 months ago and it all came back fine. I'm so not doing that for a few years. I HATE GOING TO THE GYNO. Even the my doctor is a gay man, he made me very comfortable but it was still so stressful.

it's not fair us woman have to go threw that LOL

GOR

[Thebane]

You trying to steal credit for my source wafflehead?! :p

and no problem GOR, glad to help

[wafflehead77]

It is also believed that excessive exercise can lead to amenorhhea (absent period), due to increased level of enkephalines and endorphines (endogenous opiods).

So, if your bodies natural opiods can cause amenorhhea, then it would make sense that narcotics that are similar to these substances (morphine) could affect menstuation.

Google amenorhhea, and look around. You can find some information this way.

[NastyZilla]

Well, GOR, ya got the guys stirred up for this 'girls only, first hand experience please' question. :D

Funny you asked. Never had a problem until the past two months, but yeah, suddenly late 5 days (scared me shitless), then early four days, then now breakthrough bleeding which has NEVER happened to me before. No clue if the opies are at fault, my dose is very high, but hasn't changed much lately.

I'm almost 40, could be that. Are you getting close to "the change"? Could be that, ya know. Yeah, I'm just full of happy optimistic thoughts. Sorry!:rolleyes:

[doctor diesel]

GOR, was it you in some earlier thread who we were talking about the possibility of having fibromyalgia, or M.E., or am I just dreaming.
Apologies if it wasn't you and this is just a load of babbling nonsense....


Doc

[chopstix]

I have a good friend who stopped menstruating for a few years while she was smoking heroin. I know of other girls who have either stopped or had very infrequent periods while out chasing dope. I'd ask my gf but she doesn't know about this board.. I suspect it's pretty common..

[MissyAggravation]

after about a year of steady use my cycle did begin to be somewhat off.
i would sometimes be two weeks late and i would sometimes just skip months entirely.
i always saw it as being one of the benefits of being an addict though.
if any of you ladies are interested i use this website www.mymonthlycycles.com (http://www.mymonthlycycles.com) to keep track of things - otherwise i would never know if i was late or what was going on with my cycle since i have problems remembering the days that i start a new cycle.

also - since so many men seem interested in the effects of opiates on the reproductive system - i would like to add that i do know that opiate use jacks with your sperm count.
my hubby had a very, very low sperm count while he was using(around 40 mil) - after stopping for three months his count is astronomical(450 mil, average should be 150 mil) - super spermies!!!

[reddragon3668]

I must be the sperm god then... I have nine kids :speechles and the last two were conceived since I've been down with this chronic pain stuff.. taking lots of opiates to get by. Wow, that is good to know though. Thanks MIssy :D

[southernbelle]

I think opiate use does impact our periods. Since I've been on a heavy run for the last 2 years, I hardly ever have a period anymore. Which is ok by me since I got "fixed" in 99.

[zenpunk]

Because I'm on the pill I still get a period (it kind of forces me to get one I guess) but it is much lighter than it used to be thats for sure.

[GoddessofRATs]

Yea that was me. Could that be a symptom of fibro as well?

GOR

GOR, was it you in some earlier thread who we were talking about the possibility of having fibromyalgia, or M.E., or am I just dreaming.
Apologies if it wasn't you and this is just a load of babbling nonsense....


Doc

[Saint]

On heroine I had a very mild period or no period at all. However, after I switched to 'only' methadone I started my periods exactly every 28 days. And they last about 4 to 5 days with pain and heavy bleeding (sorry to be groce). I don't use the pill since I'm a smoker... too risky.
I'm on subs now, let's see if it'll make a difference..
If it's any comfort: my doc always told me that using heroine/opies can cause less frequent periods or even no period at all.

[GoddessofRATs]

Well that all makes a lot of sense. No wonder i haven't had my period. Although yesterday i did have cramps but it turned out not to be my period, i needed a good dump is all ROTFL TMI sorry.

Hey, i don't mind not having my period but what's bad is I'll never know when to expect it ya know. Thankfully my period starts rather slow so i have warning.

GOR

[wafflehead77]

You trying to steal credit for my source wafflehead?! :p

and no problem GOR, glad to help


I had afeeling we posted the same one. I tried to open it and check, but it asked for login in ID. Sorry about that; not trying to steal your thunder! lol

[SHELLEY]

for the past 4 years
i get 1-2 periods a year
because of iv heroin use

it's awesome!!!!!

[antigonemuse]

yes yes yes, long term use does cause a woman to stop menstration.

[Thebane]

I had afeeling we posted the same one. I tried to open it and check, but it asked for login in ID. Sorry about that; not trying to steal your thunder! lol

haha, no problem, i didn't have much thunder to start with.

[wafflehead77]

haha, no problem, i didn't have much thunder to start with.

Neither do I. <sigh>

[tui]

using h my period was infrequent (odd... cos i was on the pill) and on the 'done it vanished for good.
came back as soon as i detoxed though.

t

[doctor diesel]

Yea that was me. Could that be a symptom of fibro as well?

GOR


Yes yes yes, RatLady!

Fibro most definitely lays waste to the menstrual cycle, and in fact tends to cock up many hormonal things, adversely affecting, sight, hearing, taste, digestion, periods, libido, quality of hair, nails and skin, your poop-shute, sleep... I could go on at risk of being highly boring.
Fibro is a mean fucker.


Doc

[GoddessofRATs]

Speak of the devil, i got my period this morning. On top of that all yesterday i had APAP sickess/poisoning- fricking Vicodin. All i have is Vicodin to keep me well.

I'll tell the story in General Chat i guess.

GOR