• Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Opioids Methadone and amenorrhea?

rhun

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Jul 14, 2012
Messages
1,434
Location
Yay Area
Since starting methadone in early September, I haven't gotten my period. My memory is a little fuzzy because I'd been doing a lot of heroin before starting on the methadone, but I think I was already a little late/or just due for my period when I started MMT.

I had a pregnancy test done at the clinic and it was negative. I've also been pregnant before so I would recognize the symptoms and none of them have appeared. Not that pregnancy was likely anyway because I have Paraguard in, which is a copper IUD and is the most effective birth control method in preventing pregnancy. BTW, it is known for causing a heavier flow during your period and is not known for causing you to skip periods. On top of that, I've had it two years now and other than the heavier flow thing I haven't had any other side effects.

A little more background... First got my period at 11 and since then, it's always been regular. It's been late maybe once or twice, and only by a week at the most. I've been on Oxycontin and heroin for extended periods of time and neither affected my cycle.

I asked the dosing nurses at the methadone clinic and they had never heard of methadone affecting menstrual cycles, only heroin. They referred me to the main nurse and she hadn't either. She was of the opinion that your period being late can be caused by something so small as going on vacation or starting a new job... But since that's NEVER been the case in 9 years I'm not really buying that.

Also checked the search engine, couldn't find any prior threads.. only ones relating to heroin. But heroin didn't affect my cycle, neither did Oxy, so wth? My only guess is that because the methadone is in my system 24/7 it's interfering with my cycle. Heroin and even Oxy were never consistently in my system at high levels. I would shoot a g of H at a time but it would fade away pretty quickly. And the Oxy I always took in the morning and slept through the WDs and took my dose when I woke up.

Anyone have any experience with this? Or even any ideas?
 
Here is a study that corroborates what your saying:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15918813

I don't know much about the menstrual cycle but while conducting my search it seems a lot of females complain of the same problem. The consensus seems to be that it only happens after initiating MMT and normalizes once it progresses.
 
I've definitely heard of long term use, especially in higher doses, causing menstrual cycle changes. It's not uncommon. You haven't been on it for too long, but your past opiate use could have something to do with it.. Most girls I know on any form of opiates get all fucked up in regards to their periods.
 
were any other tests performed at the clinic?

really..it's not worth it to wonder..
we're all so different and affected differently..
you should have a pap & pelvic done..
especially since you're not someone who seems to normally be affected by
these things..

good luck<3
 
Top