Print

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

[luna66]

Hello ladies

I've been on 3 pumps of Estrogel plus utrogestan (varying doses) and testim (a daily pea-sized blob) for two years. I've been very happy on it, but this summer started to have an extremely heavy bleed. I reported this to my gynaecologist who increased the dosage of utrogestan from 100mg for 10 days to 200mg for 12 days. It made no difference. I then had a scan which showed a thickened endometrial lining and a polyp. I was told by my gynaecologist that I would need to go to hospital asap to get the polyp removed, and that changing my HRT regime was a good idea. He suggested the mirena coil to replace the utrogestan as this would most likely thin the endometrium and possibly stop the regular bleed altogether. I had the polyp removed and mirena coil fitted today. Feeling a bit fragile!

I've had this coil twice as a contraceptive in the past. I had no major problems, although I seem to remember having the first one removed due to constant bleeding (although not heavy). It was so many years ago 'though that my memory is a bit hazy.

I'm 53. I'd gone through the menopause before starting HRT. I went on HRT as I had a bone scan showing severe osteoporosis of my lower spine. I had a bone scan recently and the osteoporosis has improved since starting the HRT, which I'm very happy about.

I was wondering if there are other women on this combination and what their experiences of it are. I'm not looking forward to a 'settling in' period, although if it does the trick then I'll be happy.

Look forward to hearing from you.

luna66 x

[luna66]

Hello everyone

I'm just bumping this up again in the hope that someone has some advice/experience.

Thank you! x

[Hurdity]

Hi luna66 - your post got missed.

The thing is your previous regime of 100 mg for 10 days is way below the licesned dose so really perhpas not surprising that eventually your womb lining thickened. The licensed dose if 200 mg for 12 days and evene then with higher oestrogen doses it might not be enough for some women especially if taken orally. I know gynes prescribe lower amounts to prog intolerant women and as such are monitored - so in your case it is good to have discovered this sooner rather than later.

Did you have any other scan from the start of this regime until you esperienced the very heavy bleed? If not these are recommended for off-licence regimes and especially for less than licensed doses of progesterone.

I am so pleased to hear that your osteoporosis has improved since starting hRT and of course you will want to continue but without the worry of thickened lining polyps and very heavy bleeding.

I presume all was well re the plyp and lining and maybe you had a biopsy too to check or maybe they will biopsy the polyp? As you lining is already thickened then you will probably get bleeding on the Mirena as your lining settles down and thins but as the gyane says after the first 6 months there should be no bleeding at all as you are post-menopause. The only reason you had regular bleeding was because you were taking cyclical HRT so once you are post-menopause and on continuous combined HRT ( which the Mirena is) - there is no regualr bleed (once the shedding is complete).

Sorry I have no experience of the Mirena but hopefully others will be along. There are lots of threads on this too if you go to the home page of the forum and do a search.

You might have to grit your teeth and bear it - but think of the benefits to your body and walk tall

All the best

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

Hello everyone

I'm just bumping this up again in the hope that someone has some advice/experience.

Thank you! x

I was just already writing my (long!) reply when you posted your bump! I noticed it had been missed!

Hurdity x

[luna66]

Hello Hurdity

Thank you so much for your lovely, informative reply. I'm aware that the utrogestan dose was below the 'norm'. I see Professor Studd. He's known for this. He eventually put me on the 200mg/12 day regime over this summer when I reported heavy and irregular bleeding, but perhaps it was too late for this to take effect. His colleague discovered the polyp/thickening via a scan a few weeks ago. I didn't have a scan at the start of the regime.

The hospital will biopsy the polyp. I only had the procedure two days ago so am waiting for results. I figure next week or so. I'm a little anxious but hopeful all will be well.

I'm generally very happy with HRT after being extremely reluctant to go on it. It was a no-brainer 'though after having the bone scan and discovering the osteoporosis. I'm hoping the Mirena will do the trick and that there won't be any downsides, or at least minor and manageable ones.

Thank you again Hurdity. Your advice is very much appreciated!

luna66 x

[Hurdity]

Ah yes I'm sorry I forgot you were a Studd patient - I think you mentioned in the past? Enough said! Hopefully the biopsy will be all clear - and at least you reported the bleed and are being checked out properly. Let us know

Hurdity x

PS Sorry for all the typos etc in my previous post - I do check over before posting but not clearly enough -  need better glasses!

[luna66]

Thank you Hurdity. Still waiting for the results but will post when I have them.

x