TOPIC:

This study is hugely disheartening, as the pegasys/ribavirin treatment I took for six months immediately stopped my (previously regular) menses and effectively induced menopause. Yes, on top of the other crippling and ongoing side- effects.

I have also read that early menopause has only been linked/triggered in women that relapse or are non-responders to the interferon/ribavirin combo, which is perplexing but did occur in my case.

I am now thinking of extending my current daklinza/sovaldi treatment from 16 to 24 weeks (Genotype 3a). My GGT levels were slightly elevated in my pre-treatment blood test which is mentioned as a concern in this study.

Really p###ed off now. Any thoughts on this?

This is the link to the study mentioned above.

Thanks AK123
Yep same here
First hit of the poison = No more period
Don't know what menopause is like because of peginf riba tx.
How could we know when all we did was vomit lose weight lose our hair get covered in bleeding sores and lose our short term memory and feel suicidal from a toxic poison that we were told would save our lives but destroyed them permanently. I get asked about menopause and I have no idea it I ever had symptoms because of all the other stuff being so very severe. From peginf.
Nice legacy of permanent bone pain too eh? Grrr.
There's more but anyway I'm just living now and the DAAs worked and I am HCV free.
I'm doing life in ten minute bites at a time that's my way of setting small goals and achieving what I need to do, including taking respite at least once a week from my responsibilities.
It's too hard to explain it all isn't it
Sending hugs
Ariel

So, as this study indicates, women that are in early menopause (whether natural or medically induced-grrrrr) have a much higher risk of non-response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin treatment.

This leads me to ponder whether this demographic would similarly be at a higher rate of non-response or alternatively, relapse, with the current DAA's. Perhaps the hormone imbalance may make it more difficult to eradicate the HCV?

There is a rapid progression of symtoms and disease in post menopausal women too.

I feel that the S/D treatment I am on only appeared to begin working after week 10, and foolishly did not adamantly request the hospital clinic test my viral load at week 4 or 8. I have just had my 12 week blood test done, and although according to the nurse 'there is no evidence to extend beyond 12', I am considering going beyond the extra 4 weeks I purchased from Kingswood Pharmacy.

Any input would be welcome as I grapple with this scenario and continue enjoying my present state of medicated nirvana.