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[HaRuHaRu]

I use Sandrena gel & Cyclogest for perimenopause & PMDD. I was on 2 sachets gel + 200 Cyclogest sequentially.

I caught Covid in December 2023 and it was during my period and I had the most severe period pains which have continued to be severe each bleed this year. I’m debilitated by the pain. Also I keep getting very dark thick blood between bleeds.

I was seeing a private specialist to start with but I couldn’t afford to continue. I’m waiting to be referred to a gynaecologist on the NHS for investigations. But no idea when that’s actually going to happen. The doc I spoke to thinks it sounds like endometriosis.

Although it seems to be helping my PMDD, I took it upon myself to lower my estrogen incase thats contributing to severe pains. I went from 2 sachets slowly down to now just taking 1/2 sachet. So far that’s not made a difference to the pain. But it’s made the build up to my periods worse.

I decided this month to go to continuous progesterone in case that improves both PMDD & pains by levelling out hormone fluctuations. 

I think I might have done it at the wrong time. I just continued using Cyclogest while I was bleeding (100 instead of 200). But now I’m still lightly bleeding on day 10.

Should I stop progesterone for a few days when my next bleed starts, to let the bleed happen and then start a few days later? So hopefully that will stop the continuing bleeding?

Also should I be pushing for a scan asap due to pain and bleeding or wait for when I’m revered to a gynaecologist? If I should be pushing then what should I be pushing for?

This whole business is so confusing I feel like stopping HRT all together but then I remember the state I was in before I started and I can’t go back there. But I can’t continue like this either. 

[bombsh3ll]

Has a GP actually examined you and is your smear in date?

New onset heavy intermenstrual bleeding and pain does need prompt investigation so I would definitely chase that up and be as assertive as you need to.

In the meantime is a stronger progestin out of the question to shut you down?

Either as a combined pill or a standalone treatment with which you could continue your estrogen gel?

[HaRuHaRu]

Thanks bombsh3ll, thanks for your reply - sorry for my slow reply - been feeling v rough

No i've not been examined though I've had a smear in Feb which was negative.

There so much going on with my health that its overwhelming and i've struggled to advocate for myself and push for support and brain fog isn't helping - but I'm speaking to GP today and am going to push for a scan asap for the bleeding and pain.

I will look into a progestin like provera - maybe thats a better option thanks. Ive had bad experiences when I was younger with the pill making me very unwell so it concerns me but clearly I need to do something. I need to be under the care of a gynocologst on the NHS - I wish I could afford to be cared for privately but its to an option atm

Thanks again

[bombsh3ll]

Provera is a good option for stopping bleeding, especially short term. At a high enough dose it will shut an elephant down.

However it is not the kindest agent to use particularly relating to mood symptoms, and longer term it is less metabolically favourable than other progestins.

Desogestrel 150mg (2x cerazette pills) taken daily is a good alternative, and often very easy to get a prescription for from your GP.

Like provera, this is also supported by the BMS for use as endometrial protection alongside your estrogen.

[HaRuHaRu]

Thank you so much for your help. That’s good to know about Provera. Something that could shut an elephant down is probably not gonna be great for sensitive me! And I definitely don’t want to take something that could mess with me mentally. I have made a note of Desogestrel thank you.

My GP is sending me for an urgent (2-3 weeks time) scan and wants to see me to examine me in a few weeks. So it’s a start.

I’m tearful from exhaustion atm so that’s as far as I got. But will be prepared for the next appointment best I can.

Thanks again.