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[Cocobra]

Dear All,

I did a search on the forum but had no luck on a simple question: if one goes on HRT while peri-menopausal (I'm on Evorel Sequi patches) when will one know that she's entered the menopausal stage with absence of periods in 12 months? This month I have had a tiny 2-day spotting at the time when I normally bleed (end of the patch cycle/beginning of new one), and have been wondering.

Many thanks for any advice/views/comments. All best to everyone.

[CLKD]

I don't think that whilst on an HRT Regime which works, 1 knows without stopping the treatment. 


Do U still have periods?  Spotting could be due to a burst of your own hormones.  Any unexplained bleeding after 12 months without should be investigated.  Hopefully someone will be along, otherwise put 'evorel sequi' into the search box to check the threads?  Make notes ;-)

[sheila99]

You can't tell without coming off it which most people don't want to do. You could try a conti regime but if you're not yet meno you're likely to get breakthrough bleeding.

[Taz2]

If on HRT then you won't know what menopause stage you are at. The only real way is to stop HRT for at least three months which is a bit drastic. Doctors usually consider that you are post menopausal by the age of 54 when deciding when prescribe conti rather than sequi HRT but we know that this doesn't work for every woman. Your bleeding at the end of your progesterone containing patch should continue the same as it always has though, again, it's not always the same for all women

Taz x

[CLKD]

If it's curiosity rather than a worry mayB stick with your regime?

[Cocobra]

Dear all,

warmest thanks to everyone's thoughts on this. I thought as much re. what Taz2 said: I'd rather avoid interrupting HRT at this stage, but I did not know that normally doctors consider a cut-off age to switch women to Conti rather than Sequi. Admittedly, I have not seen a gynaecologist since Covid struck and am planning a visit later this month. I wonder too whether this tiny spotting, in place of a proper bleeding at the end of a patch cycle, is also a result of high emotional stress (my mum's diagnosis of a bad endometrium carcinoma last month). Sometimes, stress can play havoc, perhaps even with how the body reacts to patches!

Thanks again and have a good evening everyone, Corinna

[sheila99]

Sorry about your mum. There's a certain amount of sh*t that seems to be believed by some medics. I've been told by a specialist that I couldn't possibly still have my own cycle at 57 (when I went on hrt) because everyone is meno by 54. Some aren't meno until there early 60s and for them a conti regime at 54 isn't appropriate.

[Cocobra]

Dear Sheila,

that's really terrible ... It is, in fact, quite difficult to find a good gynaecologist who has the full picture and understand nuances. I've found a good one by recommendation here in Italy and will go to see her soon. I'll ask her about this and the switching to Conti and report back!

All best to everyone

[Hurdity]

The other thing to think about re conti HRT is the effect of continuous progestogen - just because you can go onto conti HRT doesn't mean you have to. Some women ( like me) do not get on well with progesterone snd especislly the doses needed to protect the endometrium, and so choose to remain on a cycle, however unpalatable that may be as you get older. So sorry to hear about your mum and wishing her well.

Hurdity x

[Cocobra]

Dear Hurdity,

Warmest thanks for further advice. I didn’t know one could stay on Evorel Sequi once menopause has happened. Unfortunately the excellent gynaecologist I wanted to see is fully booked. I’ll see her when I return to my mum who’s due surgery in 2 weeks: luckily the carcinoma is localised to the uterus. 😌

All best to everyone and thanks again!