Absence of Menstruation and Miscarriage

[harleybear]

Hello.  Does absence of menstruation (5 years) (see previous post by me) cause any concern for future cancer risk? Does an increased prolactin level also affect your risk? I have seen that your risk increases if you have never had children. I am 40 and have never had a child, although I had a miscarraige 2 years ago, though I am still not quite convinced it was actually a miscarriage. I had never before been able to get pregnant, even when trying (went as far as taking Clomid.)  In the ER my HCG was elevated, but I dont remember the number (low though but I had been bleeding for two weeks at this point. At first I was not concerned because my periods are irregular and heavy but then when it continued over 11 days, something was wrong) but the pathology report indicated that the tissue was not fetal or placental (It did not say if it was anything else). I had severe pain and bled heavily for 8 weeks and developed a pelvic infection?  Could this have been an ectopic pregnancy? I have seen somewhere that there are a couple of other conditions that cause an elevated HCG. Could it have been something like that?  Thanks for your help.

I also have another question relating to this.  Do repeated pelvic infections increase your risk for miscarraige or cancer? I know that they affect infertility.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
cancer risk is associated with genetic destiny. We (the scientific world) are just learning about how genetic mutations are related to risk of cancer formation. Ovarian cancer is not associated with pelvic infections, elevated prolactin, or stopping menstruation early. it does sound like you have a hormone imbalance. You would be best served by seeing a doctor who is a specialist in the field of reproductive endocrinology
best wishes