Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[sheila99]

I found this on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/types/

There are two types of cyclical HRT:

    monthly HRT – you take oestrogen every day, and take progestogen alongside it for the last 14 days of your menstrual cycle
    three-monthly HRT – you take oestrogen every day, and take progestogen alongside it for around 14 days every three months

Any thoughts on the 3 monthly cycle ladies? I'm in peri, getting towards the end I think as natural cycles seem to be 2 or 3 monthly. As I get tired on utro I would like a 3 month cycle but a bit concerned it will be insufficient to keep the lining thin.

[Dotty]

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Have a look at this link. The 3 month hrt is called Tridestra x

[sheila99]

That's disappointing, I don't want tablets. As it didn't mention a specific name I thought it was suggesting a three month cycle and no reason not to continue with oestrogel and utro.

[Dotty]

Some people do use the gel and Utrogestan on a long cycle but it's usually under a specialists treatment as it would be off licence x

[sheila99]

That's why I was surprised to find this, I haven't found any other time the NHS has suggested anything off piste. I was hoping they thought a 3 month cycle was safe now.  I have an appointment with an NHS consultant soon so I'll ask but it seems I'm being over optimistic.

[Hurdity]

A while ago there was a study carried out looking at endometrial thickness on the 3 month regime and from what I recall there were definitely instances of thickening and possibly hyperplasia - sorry I can't remember the details but I think the study was halted and the off licence 3 momth regime fell out of favour with the top gynaes at the time, and some eg Prof Studd changed to shorter duration lower dose regimes rather than long cycle  - but this can also be problematic. Lately some docs and gynaes are now permitting (ie prescribing) some longer cycles from what I hear but perhaps being more cautious with their experimentation? eg using lower dose when utrogestan is being taken vaginally, or gradually extending the cycle and monitoring endometrial thickness? If you have a sympathetic doc maybe you can try a longer cycle with their permission? As always any abnormal bleeding should be investigated.

It does also depend on the oestrogen dose so on lower doses of oestrogen,m depending on absoprtion you might be able to go longer than on higher doses. eg I used to have 50 mcg patch + progesterone x 200 mg vaginally 12 days every 6-8 weeks. My oestrogen dose is now slightly higher at 62.5 mcg so i have reduced cycle length to 5-6 weeks but I am experimenting with 100 mg only for 11-12 days. I had a scan recently for unscheduled spotting and my endometrium was thin after the bleed at 4.7 mm so it is working for me. Never assume that it will though!

Try to persuade your consultant for you to at least take it (Utro) two monthly and see if they will scan you (immediately following the bleed) eg after 6 months?

Do let us know!

Hurdity x

[Ladybt28]

I was given Tridestra and did the full 3 months.  It started out ok but when I got to the progesterone phase and the blank weeks...nightmare but I have a problem with certain types of progesterone and longer use of progesterone so don't go on my experience. Blank weeks were like really bad PMT. x

[sheila99]

Thanks for your replies, I'll see what she says. I live in hope rather than expectation!

[shrosphirelass]

Let us know, I'm really interested in this, but can't take tablets because of headaches. I am experimentng with a 5 week cycle using evorel sequi, which I will discuss with the meno clinic at next appointment. I have only done it two months but had a scan last week which came back satisfactory, so I'm guessing that means than the lining was in the normal range.