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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on December 12, 2005, at 17:54:49
I'm curious about why SNRIs affect my menstrual cycle? This is particularly interesting to me just now as we're trying to make me pregnant (NO! Not this minute! Just in general...)
Can anyone tell me the very basics -- preferably in words of one syllable or less ;-0 -- of how neurotransmitters affect the hormone cycles? As in, "A slight increase in [neurotransmitter A] will [increase/decrease] reproductive hormone 1 by [amount]" or whatever it might be?
I know, I could probably find some of this out, but frankly? I tried to google the info, and came out with a million hits that didn't quite manage to help me, and couldn't figure out how to get the information I wanted. Therefore, I'm hoping someone here can help.
Thanks!
Posted by Colleen D. on December 12, 2005, at 20:54:29
In reply to NE and menstrual cycle?, posted by Racer on December 12, 2005, at 17:54:49
Hi Racer!
I can't tell you what exact hormones are affected, but I know from experience that different meds can affect different hormones.
When I was on Zoloft, the med shortened my luteal phase considerablly, like from 28 days without meds to 22 days with the Zoloft. My OBGYN said is was *probably* decreasing my level of progesterone which is supposed to increase dramatically right after ovulation and stay high until about 48 hours before your cycle starts. I took supplements {Prometrium) to make my cycle longer in case I would beome PG because of what the Zoloft was doing to me. While I was on Effexor for 1.5+ years, my cycles had been pretty much normal, so I assume Effexor doesn't affect my progesterone the same way Zoloft did, which leads to to think (maybe incorrectly with out more experience with other SSRIS and SNRIs) that the NE in Effexor does something to counteract the more distinct SRI action of Zoloft that made my progesterone levels lower than normal.
Have you been charting your basal body temperature to see if it jumps after ovulations and stays approx. 1 degree F higher for the last 12 to 14 days of your cycle. That's what I did and that's how I gauged whether or not my cycles might have adequate progesterone levels to support a PG and made my odds of getting and staying PG lower.
There's a great book out there by Toni Weschler, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" that may even address how medications affect your cycle in general. If I knew how to insert the link to get you to it at Amazon.com, I do it. Sorry. I bought mine at a local book store (in the sticks of N. MI) and it was incredibly informative about the female reproductive hormones.
Again,
Good luck!Colleen
Posted by 10derHeart on December 14, 2005, at 20:11:47
In reply to Re: NE and menstrual cycle?, posted by Colleen D. on December 12, 2005, at 20:54:29
Just use double sets of quotes, like this "______" around the title:
"Taking Charge of Your Fertility"
and it will look for the proper link. After hitting "Submit your post," there will be a list at the bottom of your post of the choices of titles Amazon thinks you mean. Choose the correct one, or, if it's not listed, try playing with the way you wrote the title (it's sometimes a bit finicky) or maybe seach by author's name.
It can find and link to CDs and movies(DVDs/VHS) as well. Hope that's clearer than mud ;-)
(Interesting thread, too, as I've been on an SNRI - Strattera - for 2 years with no effect on my cycle. We are all so different with these meds!)
This is the end of the thread.
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