Megestrol for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding User Reviews

• Ms D
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

"I have experienced excessive uterine bleeding for about a year now! I am 56 years old and still perimenopausal. The bleeding and clotting became unbearable! I was told early on that it was normal and a part of transitioning to menopause. I finally sought help from a gynecologist because I refused to believe it was normal. I was prescribed megestrol acetate, 40 mg twice a day. It was like a miracle! The bleeding decreased immediately, and now two weeks later, I have not seen any blood at all for two consecutive days! Yes! I feel liberated! Heavy bleeding controls your life, and I haven't felt this way since before the issue started! So I'm thinking, after reading others experiences, maybe the dosage was too low! Ask your doctor if it is possible to increase the dosage to twice a day instead of once. I love this drug and am so thankful to my doctor for prescribing it! Hope things get better for those of you who are still suffering!"

• My mi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2019

"Was on a straight period for 3 months, not just a regular period either. I went through about 10-14 pads a day, and I had to double them so over 20 pads a day, heavy clots. I was white as a ghost, constantly sleeping. So I finally went to the hospital and they admitted me instantly. I had 3 blood transfusions within the first 24 hours being there, my level was a 3! I started the megace the next day and my period stopped that night. Well, I just had a D&C done 4 days ago and I just started bleeding and cramping so bad. This medicine is amazing and I highly recommend it. But now I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow morning because my Dr is afraid of me losing too much blood, and I am having a partial hysterectomy (soon). The megace actually made me lose 10 lbs within the first couple of weeks! Also, it's been 2 months I've been on the medication twice a day. I'll update after my hospital visit tomorrow."

• Ame
• August 25, 2010

"I began using this medicine after having very heavy bleeding for 2 months straight. My periods were pretty regular until then. I was in tears when I went to see my doctor. He gave me this pill, and it stopped the bleeding within 1 day. It was great. I took it for about 5 days. It has now been 4 weeks, and I have not seen a sign of its return. I did not have any severe side effects on it, except that I was a little emotionally edgy for about 3 days or so. I just kept to myself and made no important decisions for the week. Hope this helps."

• Lovelyk
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2018

"I was prescribed megestrol 40 mg, 2 pills a day, after having a very heavy period for 3 months straight with tennis ball-sized clots and horrific pelvic pain. I’m now on day two, and the bleeding is almost non-existent! I'm down to just some very light spotting. I will take the tummy ache, headache, and gassy feeling over bleeding to the point of soaking through an ultra tampon and overnight pad in 30 minutes. My hysterectomy will be my long-term fix, but we had to stop the bleeding before the surgery. Can’t wait for October to permanently end periods once and for all."

• Pdenn
• December 14, 2019

"I'm going through perimenopause. I had a period for 11 months straight. I ended up in the ER hemorrhaging. I was given 10 units of blood. I was passing blood clots the size of basketballs. I thought I had cancer. They gave me a D&C preparing for an emergency hysterectomy. The D&C stopped it. Praise God. They sent me home with megestrol. It worked for a few weeks until my prescription ran out. My doctor put me back on it, and I continued spotting. Nothing ever heavy. She kept changing my prescription: 3 weeks on, one week off, 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I was getting frustrated it wasn't working. It wasn't causing any bad side effects. No weight gain. I felt great. At one point, I bled a regular period for 72 days straight. My doctor was going to switch my medicine. Something told me to continue to stay on megestrol. Finally, after being on the pill for 4 months, it finally worked, and I'm 3 cycles of a normal period. So don't give up if it doesn't work right away."

• Anonymous
• August 22, 2019

"I have had a heavy period all month of August. I couldn’t take it anymore and went to the doctor yesterday. She prescribed megestrol, and I took it standing in the pharmacy, it instantly stopped my flow, and I am so thankful for this med."

• Julie...
• April 22, 2014

"I have large fibroids and had such heavy bleeding that I had to have a blood transfusion. I have been taking Megestrol for 7 months and it has reduced my period to just spotting for a few days. A Godsend, since my iron and blood levels have gone up to normal. I cut the dose in half to 200 mg/day and it still works. Unfortunately, I have experienced weight gain, depression, fleeting pains in my body, worsened vision, joint stiffness, and more susceptibility to Candida. On the higher dose (400mg/day), I had some spontaneous bruising and ankle swelling. I am having a hysterectomy soon and will stop using this but thankfully the benefits outweighed the risks for me--at least short term."

• Bonni...
• March 4, 2009

Megace (megestrol) "I have been on Megace for the past three months. I have just finished it and have had no side effects at all except a little rash under my left breast line, but that could also be the dry electrical heating. Otherwise, I haven't had any breakthrough bleeding, weight gain, or anything else. I am going back to my doctor on March 20th, 2009, in two weeks, and we will see what she says. I guess I went to her because of severe lower back aches, frequent bleeding, and a lot of abdominal pain. I had no problems at all on Megace."

• KDano
• November 7, 2019

"Feb 2017, I started having abnormal uterine bleeding. Huge clots, bright red blood. After 10 days of increased bleeding, I saw my OB. I was put on megestrol and told I needed a biopsy to clear out cancer. It was highly suggested that I get a uterine ablation. I did months later, which did not work. I had to continue on the megestrol. It did sometimes stop the bleeding in the very beginning, but then from time to time I would get some very light bleeding. This summer, I decided to stop taking the Rx to see what would happen. For about 2.5 months, no bleeding and no pills! I was so excited and thought it was all behind me, and then one day the blood showed up again. I tried not to panic and waited 2 days before resuming the pills. It's Nov 2019, and I am still having bleeding issues. It seems the megestrol does not completely work anymore. I still bleed sometimes light and sometimes a little more. It's so frustrating to deal with this."

• K Ellen
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2020

"I've been on 40 mgs Megace a day for the last 3 months for endometrial hyperplasia. I'm 61 years old. I'm not seeing any difference in bleeding. I had a constant period since I started, and they are very heavy sometimes. I'm trying to tough it out until my next biopsy, but don't have high hopes. I've been more depressed since I've been on it too. I wish I could have the positive experience others have shared."

• JayeD
• April 24, 2016

"I had heavy bleeding for several years, but within the last 3 years, I ended up in the hospital twice, in which I had to get several blood transfusions. I have only 1 fibroid, the size of a dime. I've had a DNC and ablation surgeries. I was prescribed megestrol in January after leaving the hospital. I was told to take 2 pills a day instead of 4. In February, when my menstrual came on, it has not gone off since, even though it is light. So I was told to take 4 a day, no change. I am getting tired of wearing pads every day. The side effects are some mood swings, every night, about 3 times, I wake up drenched in sweat. I've gained over 20 lbs. I really do not want a hysterectomy, but it seems I have no choice."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2012

"This medication has taken me on a roller coaster ride. I am oversensitive, moody, hypersensitive. I can't sleep and I have gained 8 lbs in 30 days. It does control the bleeding, but it is not worth putting up with the side effects."

• Storm
• April 1, 2017

"I was prescribed this because of heavy bleeding with my period because of a fibroid. At first, I was amazed because as soon as my period started, I took them, and it stopped within a few hours or a day. Then I started bleeding again after two weeks. I took it again. Two weeks later, spotting again. Now my period was heavy, but it was predictable before Megace. The only time I was ever late was when I was pregnant. But now, it's all over the place, when I don't take the Megace at the start of bleeding, it will be nonstop. I've had a light period for the past two weeks! Doesn't work anymore and causes weight gain. I hate it."

• Carm
• December 8, 2019

"I've been experiencing extended cycles. I'm pretty proactive, so when it lasts longer than 10 days, I contact my gyn. She put me on Provera, which works well for the most part, but sometimes spotting would return, and when it's gone, bleeding returns with a vengeance. Because of all that, she put me on Megestrol to see if it works better. Last night was my first time. It worked quickly, and the bleeding went from excessive to minimal. However, this morning full return. I've taken it again, and I'm waiting to see if it stops. I'm only on 20 mg once a day, so no side effects. I just really want the bleeding to stop and figure out why. I do have polyps and have had them removed, but we suspect a return. Doing a biopsy, then hopefully D&C or polypectomy. If anyone has any advice or input, it's much appreciated. Thanks to all who shared. I don't want a hysterectomy. PCOS is also a high potential, but no exact diagnosis."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2016

"For several years, I have been experiencing very heavy and clot-filled periods, sometimes lasting as long as 21 days (the heavy part would occur from day 2-4), and I was bleeding past super large tampons and pads every 30 minutes (I would wear both). I was also experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath, which forced me to the hospital a few times. There were no heart issues, however, I was severely anemic and received several blood transfusions, my lowest blood level being 5.4. An ultrasound determined that I have fibroids and was prescribed megestrol acetate, and although I have light daily spotting and headaches, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. When I do have a period, it's just slightly more than spotting."

• Rebecca
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2018

"Prescribed for heavy bleeding with large clots. Bleeding went on for 15 days, lowering my hemoglobin. I went to the E.R. and was administered 3 units of blood. Megace was the only thing to work to stop the bleeding. That being said, it has lowered my blood pressure significantly, caused stomach pain, insomnia, gas, and constipation. I am not comfortable using Megace, but it has stopped the bleeding. I do not like the medication and wish I could take something else."

• Lady
• January 8, 2016

"I usually never write reviews, but this medicine was great!!! I had been bleeding for two months, heavy bleeding and clotting!!! Thought I was dying! Prior to the day I was prescribed this medicine, I woke up in a pool of blood. I ran to the bathroom to clean myself up, and blood clots started coming out. My boyfriend rushed me to emergency. I was weak and exhausted from losing so much blood over those two months. My blood levels were very low. Of course, they kept me. They started me on Megestrol, and my bleeding slowed down that day!! After going home, my bleeding was completely gone by day three. And didn't return. I just saw my OB and was inserted an IUD (Mirena). So far, it sucks!"

• CeCe
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2019

"Ever since I got on the Depo shot, I've had issues. I've been bleeding heavily for months, now have blood clots, and the amount of fibroids has increased. I started 40 mg of megestrol once a day a week ago. It definitely slows down the bleeding, but it seems to wear off. If I take it early in the morning, I have no issues all during the day, barely going through a tampon, but come nighttime, it's heavy again. I just emailed my doctor about this. Maybe I need to use it twice a day, although I don't like the idea of adding more of this chemical/hormone to my body so as to not cause a higher risk of side effects. I'm very much considering ablation or even hysterectomy to just be rid of it all, I am terrified though."

• blueq...
• January 15, 2017

"Got to say that this medicine was worth it so much. I was put on megestrol 20 mg for 20 days, and I had no side effects to this medicine. I started taking it, and by the 5th day, the heavy bleeding had stopped. This is the second time being put on megestrol 20 mg. I know everybody has a different opinion on this medication, and for what it's worth, I'm happy with the outcome every single time."

• Cshells
• May 13, 2020

"After 2 years of dandc, IV iron, and blood infusions on progesterone with no help, a fill in dr wrote me a script for megestrol. It changed my life. The other one made me emotional and unreasonable, carb craving and food obsessed all day every day to where I put on 20 lbs, bloat and gas and an odd smelling discharge. On this one I have stepped down to 10mg a day from 20mg 3 times a day and its changed my life. No bleeding, no mood swings, my appetite is back to normal and the bloat is gone. It's like I'm not taking a progesterone at all. I understand that if you quit taking it, the second time doesn't work as well so unless something drastic happens I'm staying on it."

• Kutsa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2022

"I am almost 39 years old. I have always had heavy periods with large clots and bad cramps. I was always told it is normal because paps were normal. Until March of 2022. I thought I was ovulating but it turned in to spotting then bleeding and huge clots...but surprisingly barely any pain. Cramps were mild. And it kept going until day number 13 when I went to the E.R !! At this point the bleeding was NOT stopping. I was in the restroom every half hour. I was prescribed Magestrol 40mg once a day. It stopped the bleeding at 95%... Some days I still have spotting pink / brown. As for side affects: NONE. I am very emotional and full of anxiety but that is because I am waiting on a biopsy result. I haven't gained any weight bc I have been so stressed. For me this med is a 10 out of 10, although it only acts as a band aid. I HAVE READ Everyone's REVIEWS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES. Because it has helped me so much and made a mentally stronger!!!"

• Lucy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2018

"I was taking Megestrol last month for bleeding associated with a fibroid. It worked perfectly. Bleeding stopped. I stopped taking it. Bleeding started back, I started taking it again. It's not working. I have a terrible stomach ache and gas."

• Caren
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2018

"I started this drug exactly 4 weeks ago for stage 1 endometrial cancer. I’ve gained 17 pounds, mostly water. Trouble breathing, wheezing terribly. 4 doctors agreed this was the only option, now they are pushing me off of the other since my side effects started. Vision is blurred, and headaches are terrible. I was healthier with the cancer. This drug is horrible. It can cause scar tissue in your lungs on top of so many other things. It’s a very dangerous drug. Be careful. Pulmonologist in 2 days to go for a CT scan with contrast. This drug should be taken very seriously. The ER doctor said it could very well be a blood clot, but still wouldn’t do the CT scan. Ugh! It’s frustrating. Good luck."

• maryl...
• March 2, 2016

"I was prescribed 20 mg Megestrol tablets by my gynecologist for heavy uterine bleeding. I was to take 2 tablets a day. By the finish of the first day, I had slowed down to almost nothing. I took one pill the next day, and my bleeding stopped. It did its job, but not without causing me chest pains and making me feel awful. After the three pills, I stopped taking it, and my bleeding has not returned nearly a week later. Chest pains stopped after I stopped taking it. My doctor told me to resume use if bleeding starts up again, pending testing to see why I'm bleeding."

• mrsja...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2016

"After the second week on this medication, I ER from having a 7-10 day cycle to bleeding every day with clots. The doctor increase dosage and I got worse. I stop taking it and now I'm almost always hurting. The bleeding hasn't stopped and I'm miserable. The worse thing ever was taking this medication."