Question for the female GCT patients or men if you may know the answer

[Theresa]

Are any of you on birth control pills? My Dr advised against me taking them due to the Estrogen. Has anyone ever heard this?

[Mona]

My doctor told me the same thing. I couldnt be on birth control, couldnt get the shot. I had the IUD put in (the copper one) since the copper doesnt have anything to mess with your hormones.

[Suzanne]

I was on the pill for about 5 years before my diagnosis. I went off of it when the process first started (about a year ago) and then just recently started again. I didn't think twice about it until recently. I know "they" THINK there might be a correlation between hormones and GCTs. Perhaps this is something I should think some more about and ask my doctors.... very interesting to know. Obviously, not every woman who takes birth control gets a GCT, but it might be something to look into!!!

suzanne

[caroline]

I have never been on the Pill but post op head symptoms dizziness ,tightness etc (my GCT was in my skull bones ) does get worse and my tinnitus gets louder during my period. I must try and mention it to the Docs at my next MRI

[Alianna]

I have a separate medical condition which causes high levels of estrogen-I've always wondered if that played a role in my getting GCT. also I'm lactose intolerant and use a lot of soy products. After recurrance # 1 I have decided it might be a good idea to avoid soy as well.

[Christina Alamirie]

Yes, my problem started after I had my son in 2003. My doctors said the tumor was probably small and would not have known it was there had I not got pregnant. While I was pregnant, the hormones made the tumor grow out of control causing extensive damage to my sacrum and right hip bone. I've had numerous surgeries, treatments, and lots of medication to control the remainder of the tumor. My doctors also recommended that I should not get pregnant anymore, very upsetting news! The pregnancy would harm any progress I had made and the baby could have a lot of problems because of all the medications I am on! Nobody in my family knows this but sure enough I accidently got pregnant and within 3 months all the work I had done to control this monster inside me was for nothing because it had grew a significant amount in just a short time. My doctors told me I had to have an abortion if I wanted to improve anything because I was just harming myself and making matters worse. Needless to say, my husband and I were devastated! Imagine a young healthy family having to abort a perfectly healthy child! Three more weeks pasted and we did not know what to do! Well, I went to the bathroom one morning and was bleeding like crazy, I had a miscarriage! This was definitely not a decision I wanted to make so it was in God's hands and he made it for me!! I opted to have 'Essure' after that, a procedure that permanately blocks the tubes so I can no longer get pregnant and cause any further damage! I hate this because my husband wanted a big family and I was not able to give him that. I still cry every now and then when I see all my family and friends having beautiful babies and big families! One of my cousins agreed to be a surrogate if we decided to go that route, how amazing and brave of her! We don't know what to do because insurance won't pay for anything dealing with fertility, so it is all out of pocket. A huge expense we can not afford right now! I don't know how bad your situation is, but I advise you to not make matters worse like I did. Maybe someone in your family or friends would do the same for you when you are ready to have kids!! Well, good luck with everything, I hope I didn't discourage you in any way, just want to help!!