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[Berto77]

I am 45 now and have been on HRT just over a year. I currently use an Evoral 50 patch all the time and 2 x 100mg Utrogestan 12 days a month vaginally. I usually have a bleed a day or two after stopping the utrogestan. The longer I have been on HRT the lighter and shorter my monthly bleeds have got which I believe is common that utrogestan leads to "scanty" periods. This is quite a change from my life long heavy periods.

Sometimes I wonder if these lighter periods mean I am now post menopause but a couple of months ago I messed up my date for starting utrogestan and started my period naturally so I suspect not and that the light periods are just due to the utrogestan.

When do you move to continous HRT as opposed to cyclical? I actually like being on the progesterone as it seems to have mood benefits for me as well as sleep but the cycling can trigger headaches. I did ask my GP but she doesn't know and would need to refer me to a specialist but if its too soon for me then I don't want to waste NHS time. I though I heard Louise Newson say that women should transition to continous after one year and that this also worked as a form of birth control (not that I would rely on this)? Perhaps she meant for post menopausal women but if you have a monthly bleed induced by the HRT how can you know if you are post or peri still? Would I be right that the main draw back of continous HRT would be erratic bleeding triggered by my own hormones if I'm still ovulating and having periods naturally?

Any thoughts on this?

[Nik2502]

Hi
I’m a patient of Dr Ball at Newson and she moved me to continuous after a year.I feel much better on this regime x

[Berto77]

@Nik2502 Thanks for replying, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

1. how old are you?
2. are you peri or post menopause?
3. do you have any break through bleeding?
4. if you have any privately done scans to check the lining of your womb?
5. do you use the utrogestan or other progesterone vaginally or orally?
6. What schedule do you take the Utro on just 100mg every evening?

If you are able to answer any of these I'd be grateful but I totlaly understand if you'd rather not.

[Taz2]

Most GPs consider it safe to move from sequi to conti at around the age of 53 though some will consider it earlier.

Taz x

[Berto77]

@Taz2 ah ok so I'm probably still a bit too young then.

[CLKD]

Once we haven't had a natural period for 12 months we can consider ourselves in menopause.  In peri periods wax and wane then disappear, however; Nature can throw a curved ball and periods may start again.

If your GP isn't up to date on HRT then getting onto a menopause clinic waiting list might be the way to go.

[Berto77]

Once we haven't had a natural period for 12 months we can consider ourselves in menopause.  In peri periods wax and wane then disappear, however; Nature can throw a curved ball and periods may start again.

If your GP isn't up to date on HRT then getting onto a menopause clinic waiting list might be the way to go.

Something I don't understand is how will I ever know if I am post menopause if I am using HRT in perimenopause? I do have a monthly bleed when I withdraw from the utrogestan, I also had a monthly bleed one month when I didn't take untrogestan so I assume I am still ovulating but say my periods stop in 3 years as long as I use cyclical HRT will I still not have a monthly withdrawal bleed or do those stop once I am no longer ovulating?

[CLKD]

U won't.  The way some ladies find out is to stop, however: if a regime is working, most stay with it.  Why fix something that ain't broke, especially if it's taken a while to find HRT that suits.

Ovaries can put out small amounts of oestrogen even if they have been removed because the stub which remains continues to be active.  Clear as mud  .  Hopefully your regime will settle for you, it can take 4-6 months B4 the body begins to feel benefit.

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.

[Berto77]

@CLKD, ok well I guess I will stay on cyclical for now and maybe revisit this question in a few years as I don't really want to come off HRT if I don't need to just to check, especially if I am pretty sure I am still cycling naturally. My symptoms aren't too bad and I feel miles better on HRT but just thought a continous regime might be even better!

[Nik2502]

@Nik2502 Thanks for replying, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

1. how old are you? 52
2. are you peri or post menopause? Post
3. do you have any break through bleeding? No
4. if you have any privately done scans to check the lining of your womb? No just NHS
5. do you use the utrogestan or other progesterone vaginally or orally? Provera 5mg daily
6. What schedule do you take the Utro on just 100mg every evening? Utrogestan nearly killed me. I take 5mg Provera at night

If you are able to answer any of these I'd be grateful but I totlaly understand if you'd rather not.

[Berto77]

@Nik2502, thanks for answering my questions, I think I'll have to wait until I am post meno to start continuous then I guess! Glad you found a regime that suits you!