Spotting Following Cortisone Injection

Posted by toromama @toromama, Feb 19, 2021

Anyone else experienced spotting following a cortisone injection? This is my second experience. Both times it started about 10 days after the injection. Just wondering how long it usually lasts. The first time was a number of years ago and I thought it only lasted a few hours. I'm now on Day 2. I'm 61 years old and went through menopause when I was 52.

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@bixphillips

Bless your heart..... the cancer scare is a real thing and I'm sorry you had to go through that. As you've read in previous comments, you're not alone. I had same experience post-steroid shots in my hip. Once you've had that cancer scare you'll do just about anything not to go through that again. Thus was my decision made to go ahead and have a complete hysterectomy. Knowing steroid shots will continue to be in my future due to arthritis, I was not about to go through the scare again. I pray your decisions in the future will bring you peace of mind.

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Thank you. To be honest if I'd known about this side effect I probably wouldn't of taken the steroid shots as the pain from the frozen shoulder was quite manageable . I do think it's a shame this doesn't seem to be very well documented amongst the professionals and we aren't informed of this as a possible side effect. Wishing you much luck with your hysterectomy. Xx

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Last August I had three steroid injections in each foot for mid-foot arthritis, for the second time. I had a steroid injection in my knee the year before. At about the same time as the recent injections, I was prescribed Estradiol cream by my urogynegcologist to help with uncomfortable dryness. I used that cream for 4 days. I started spotting for the first time (I'm 70) since menopause (roughly 52-53). No other symptoms whatsoever; no pain, no soreness, nothing. Blood tests all normal. I had a CT Scan in October which showed endometrial lining thickening (15mm). I was sent for a D&C, which came back as endometrial adenocarcinoma. I had an abnormal PAP. I'm now scheduled for a total hysterectomy.
Every doctor except for my primary said there was/is no correlation between the cortisone and my gyne issues. I beg to differ.

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@poppyp1968

I'm so grateful to find this thread.
I'm 56 and 3 years post menopause with no period in that time. I had a benign polyp removed 18months ago. On 4th December I had two steroid shots to ease a frozen shoulder. Woke up on the 19th December to what felt like a full blown period with cramps and headache. Straight to my doctor who immediately put me on an urgent cancer referral with yhe gynecologist at the hospital, I went into a full cancer melt down , all I needed just before Christmas, then I started to rationalise and think of possible things that could of caused this sudden (period) I googled whether a steroid injection could cause post menopausal bleeding and came across this and many other threads indicating that it is indeed possible.
My gynecologist appointment is the 31st December which I will absolutely still attend but this thread had allowed me a little more peace of mind over the Christmas period.

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Hi ,I just got my results from my biopsy back and it’s clear . My gynecologist said since this is the third time after a steroid shot in my back and multiple tests including a D&C that it could be caused from the steroid shots .
So in my option ,I think it’s worth having a period for a week to relieve the pain in my back . She has also put me on vaginal estrogen twice a week to be on the safe side . I have had so many operations including colon cancer so if I don’t have to have a hysterectomy I’ll take my chances . I hope that’s helped .? I still would like to know why it happens . The only answer I am getting is that a steroid shot is a hormone and it could be thinning out my uterus and causing it to act like a period . So if anyone out there knows why I would be grateful.☺️

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@poppyp1968

I'm so grateful to find this thread.
I'm 56 and 3 years post menopause with no period in that time. I had a benign polyp removed 18months ago. On 4th December I had two steroid shots to ease a frozen shoulder. Woke up on the 19th December to what felt like a full blown period with cramps and headache. Straight to my doctor who immediately put me on an urgent cancer referral with yhe gynecologist at the hospital, I went into a full cancer melt down , all I needed just before Christmas, then I started to rationalise and think of possible things that could of caused this sudden (period) I googled whether a steroid injection could cause post menopausal bleeding and came across this and many other threads indicating that it is indeed possible.
My gynecologist appointment is the 31st December which I will absolutely still attend but this thread had allowed me a little more peace of mind over the Christmas period.

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Update!!!
Been to the gynecologist today who was very familiar with this being a side effect of the steroid injection in fact said I was about the fourth case he had seen in recent months , I had an internal scan and all fine with my ovaries but the lining of my womb was ever so slightly thicker than it should be so he's taken a biopsy just to be sure. He's discharged me from the cancer pathway and is happy that my bleeding was caused by the steroid injection. Feeling relieved but a little angry I wasn't warned of this as because my frozen shoulder was improving on its own and manageable I probably would of declined the injection and saved myself all this worry and hassle over Christmas.

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@poppyp1968

Update!!!
Been to the gynecologist today who was very familiar with this being a side effect of the steroid injection in fact said I was about the fourth case he had seen in recent months , I had an internal scan and all fine with my ovaries but the lining of my womb was ever so slightly thicker than it should be so he's taken a biopsy just to be sure. He's discharged me from the cancer pathway and is happy that my bleeding was caused by the steroid injection. Feeling relieved but a little angry I wasn't warned of this as because my frozen shoulder was improving on its own and manageable I probably would of declined the injection and saved myself all this worry and hassle over Christmas.

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Hi , Iam so glad to hear that your dr was familiar with this happening after a steroid shot .Did your dr give you any indication as to why it happens ? I can’t do with out the back injections so my gynecologist is keeping an eye on me . I also have had all the test and have come up clear . However ,I would still like to know why it does that …Is it because the steroid shot is a hormone and interferes with the hormones in our bodies .? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks 😊

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@victoria76

Hi , Iam so glad to hear that your dr was familiar with this happening after a steroid shot .Did your dr give you any indication as to why it happens ? I can’t do with out the back injections so my gynecologist is keeping an eye on me . I also have had all the test and have come up clear . However ,I would still like to know why it does that …Is it because the steroid shot is a hormone and interferes with the hormones in our bodies .? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks 😊

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He just said it was to do with the steroid affecting oestrogen levels. I'm pretty certain it affects the hormones because that's exactly how I felt , very hormonal and periody (if that's a word ) I even said to my husband when I woke up the day it started, I felt like I was due a period, despite not having one for three years. I hope it doesn't cause you too many problems if you have to continue with the injections. I certainly won't be having them again unless it's absolutely vital. 🥰

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@poppyp1968

He just said it was to do with the steroid affecting oestrogen levels. I'm pretty certain it affects the hormones because that's exactly how I felt , very hormonal and periody (if that's a word ) I even said to my husband when I woke up the day it started, I felt like I was due a period, despite not having one for three years. I hope it doesn't cause you too many problems if you have to continue with the injections. I certainly won't be having them again unless it's absolutely vital. 🥰

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Thanks for your info it does put me at ease as to why its happening after the steroid shot .. it makes sense that it would interfere with your estrogen levels .. my gynecologist told me if I am still going to get the steroid shots that to contact her again only if I have a heavy period and she will do another biopsy..
Iam going to try and go longer in between shots and keep taking estrogen cream twice a week to see if it helps . Thanks and good luck

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