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[seton]

So I called today to book my TV scan and the booking lady asked me if I was told to come off hrt.  I lied and said no (as I'm going by what I've learnt in this forum )

Two queries:
1.  Why are we being told to come off before a scan?
2.   If staying g on hrt for the scan, and ignoring what they say, will it affect the lining for readings etc?

Or is it a shortcut method to see if it's hrt causing the issue?

[Jules]

My GP told me its the guidance they have, that if somebody on HRT has a bleed then you have to stop the HRT till you have been assessed and know everything is ok. He said HRT is a contraindication for cancer! Mine wouldn't prescribe until Id seen the gyny.

[CLKD]

I would ring the Dept to ask the question directly, bearing in mind that the NHS isn't functioning particularly well: strikes, long waiting lists for appts/scan, you may be months without your regime!!

I wouldn't stop unless told by the Dept. for those reasons. 

[Jules]

I would ring the Dept to ask the question directly, bearing in mind that the NHS isn't functioning particularly well: strikes, long waiting lists for appts/scan, you may be months without your regime!!

I wouldn't stop unless told by the Dept. for those reasons.

I only waited 3 weeks for mine. Ive never waited longer than 4 weeks for an US gyny scan. But I had to go 4 weeks without the vagifem which I wouldnt want to do again. I wasnt even on systemic HRT

[sheila99]

I was told they recommend it but it was my decision. I think it's a safety issue. If you do have a cancer that's fed by oestrogen obviously stopping hrt asap is the best option but more often the not the scan will find nothing wrong.

[seton]

I was told they recommend it but it was my decision. I think it's a safety issue. If you do have a cancer that's fed by oestrogen obviously stopping hrt asap is the best option but more often the not the scan will find nothing wrong.

Ah so that’s the reason…I thought it was because it would affect the womb lining

[CLKD]

If that's the case seton surely it's better to see the state of the womb as is, rather than stopping any replacement which may alter the scan pictures?

Let us know how you get on?

[bombsh3ll]

This has never been the view of menopause specialists and thankfully the guidelines for non-specialists have now been updated so nobody should be asked to stop hormone therapy whilst waiting for a scan.

Someone posted a link to the updated guidelines on this forum within the past week.

Endometrial cancer develops over years, not weeks, and as the evidence shows that women on combined HRT are actually at LOWER risk of endometrial cancer than those on no treatment, the level of panic and over investigation of every woman on hormone therapy with a bit of spotting is frankly irresponsible and a poor use of resources in my opinion.

It is actually one of the reasons clinicians are reluctant to prescribe hormone therapy, because of every innocent bleed, which is often a result of an atrophic rather than hyperplastic endometrium, having to be referred along the 2 week wait pathway as if it were suspected cancer.

It also clogs up the system for people with actual cancer.

Anyway I am not trying to discourage anyone from getting investigated, just that in my opinion treating this as potential cancer in the absence of any clinical red flags is inappropriate, and certainly nobody needs to stop treatment whilst waiting.

[seton]

If that's the case seton surely it's better to see the state of the womb as is, rather than stopping any replacement which may alter the scan pictures?

Let us know how you get on?

Yes I think this is the case - surely they want to see the womb “as is” so to speak.  I was reading a podcast from a menopause specialist and she said the same thing…we need to see the womb in all it’s glory on HRT:)

[CLKD]

   bombsh311

[Jules]

I had a small bleed. A polyp was found. It depends why you're having a scan I suppose and once I had and something tiny dhowed up that tge radiographer thought was nothing serious, my GP wouldn't even prescribe ovestin for external use till I'd seen gynaecologist. I'm sure the break in usage set me back.