Menopause: Woman with endometriosis shares medication story

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Prostap suppresses a woman’s ovarian function, halting the production of oestrogen – which feeds endometriosis – as well as progesterone and testosterone.

It puts them into a temporary menopause, but is not a cure for endometriosis. It is often used to test whether that is what is wrong, before embarking on invasive surgery.

But oestrogen can be needed for other things, including a healthy heart, brain and bones.

Treatment such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be offered to women going through menopause, whether naturally or chemically, to add oestrogen back into their system.

But with endometriosis feeding off oestregen, it can be difficult to navigate.

Emma said she was only offered a “generic HRT” to combat the Prostap side effects, but was not told it could exacerbate her condition so decided to stop taking it.

She said the common association of menopause with older women left her feeling isolated and unable to share what she was going through, even with close friends.

“I felt very alone and very vulnerable.

“There’s so many ways people go through menopause… it can be OK for some people but it can be pretty brutal for others, so it’s breaking down that taboo.”

When it began for her, she had just met her now-husband Dan, and wanted to be enjoying life like her peers.