Menopause Discussion > All things menopause

Have to stop taking Femoston Conti!

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jasmine5:
I saw my GP yesterday regarding my second month of bleeding in a row after 5 months on Femoston Conti.  These bleeds started three months in and have occured exactly 28 days apart and lasted 7 days, exactly like a normal period.   I've also had my third episode of Thrush in 5 months and some heartburn at night so I wanted to discuss these also. 

I was quite suprised when she said that I should'nt be taking the conti type hrt at all because I am not yet 54 and I must stop immeiately!  She went on to say that I should'nt be bleeding on conti and she would refer me to the Menopause Clinic and for an ultrasound scan.  She wouldn't prescribe any more until then as she said "she wouldn't be doing her job properly". The other GP who originally prescribed said that as long I had not had a period for a year then I was safe to take it?  I'm now totally confused.

I'm also gutted That I have to stop because I have been feeling really good and sleeping well on this particular hrt and don't want to stop taking it. I'm now wondering if the thrush and heartburn are a symptom of too much Oestrogen perhaps? 

Does anone have any idea how long I will have to wait for an appointment at the Meno Clinic?

Jas x

Hurdity:
Hi jasmine

Sorry to hear of your problems

Yes it is usual to give period-free ie conti HRT to women over 50 who have been period free for a year - but this is two years if under 50 ( think that's right). It's only if you have been using HRT sequi before the age of 54 for at least a year that you are allowed to go over to conti as this is the age at which most women are post-meno ( having said that I only started HRT at almost 54 and had not gone a year without a period - so was prescribed sequi HRT).

Also  I have read on here recently of several women who have gone almost a year without a period and then had one and then another period a year after that - so we are all different. It could well be your ovaries having a last fling and perhaps the HRT kick-started your cycle again. If that was the case then your own cycle could be over-riding the HRT and the drop in (your own) prog would stimulate a bleed.

Either way she is only doing her job by referring you for a scan just to establish whether it is your cycle causing it or not - so probably nothing to worry about especially as you say the bleeds have been regular like a period!

I haven;t taken tablets ( I use patches) but some women report digestive problems with tablets - so you mught be better off using a patch.  Unlikely to be too much oestrogen as femoston conti is a low dose.

Are you using a vaginal oestrogen such as Vagifem or Orthogynest? Thrush like symptoms are often an indication of oestrogen deficiency although if you are having periods too this might not be the case.

Definitley bring all of this up at the menoclinic - but apologies I have never been to one so can't help there,- I expect it varies depending on where you are

Hope this helps

Hurdity x

jasmine5:
Yes thanks - that makes things a lot clearer.

I will be 54 in June and was well over a year without periods so I'm still a bit confused as to why I shouldn't be taking it?  I'm also now a bit worried about stopping 'cold turkey' and I'm really hoping that the dreaded night sweats (which caused me sooooooooooooo much misery) don't return with a vengance!!  Is it ok to just stop or should I cut them in half for week or two?

I would prefer to use the patches and have tried using them in the past but I found that they just weren't making total contact with my skin and after two days they would just drop off - very frustrating!!  I haven't been using vaginal oestrogen at all but I have been prone to thrush in the past, although oddly enough when my natural periods ended I never suffered at all until now?? 

As this is my fourth attempt at hrt, I really thought I had found the one that suited me best - but alas it looks like it's not to be!!  Oh well - I hope I don't have to wait too long for my appointment at the Meno Cliic.

Jas xx

sweatybet:
Hi Jas

I would say the GP you saw is lacking in information.   You can start a conti version of HRT at any age after a year period free.   You were, so no problem there.   Bleeding can be a problem as we know in the first six month it may be due to the progestrone you may need a bit more or less to keep the bleeding at bay.   Ideally the GP should take you off the HRT for six weeks to see if the bleeding continues before referring you.   Most GP's are not aware of the protocol and refer women simply because they don't know what else to do.   There are two schools of thought for stopping HRT some Drs think its OK to just stop some feel it is better to do it slowly.   A trip to the meno clinic where we would hope the Drs know what they are talking about is probably your best bet!

Good luck keep us updated.

Sweatybet

honeybun:
I am 51 and have been on conti patches for just over six months.

I have to admit I was wary of a conti patch as I though I had to be older or period free but as I had been on a sequi for a few years it would have been difficult to tell.

My GP told me it was fine to use a conti because it was not necessary to have a bleed as long as you protect the womb lining from a build up with prog.

I did have the occasional spotting and two full blown periods. I have now cut the patches in half and that has all stopped.

Dr Heather Currie has also stated it is safe to use this kind of HRT as a bleed type is not necessary.

Perhaps try cutting your patches down and see what happens or ask for a change to Evoril to see if that suits better.
I would imagine that the ratio of estrogen to prog might not be suiting you. Its very difficult to get it just right as we are all different and we get a one size fits all patch.


Let us know how you get on.

Honeyb
x

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