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[DaisyFrench2612]

Hi all,

New here! Nice to meet you. 

I'm 54 next week.  I came off HRT in December 2022 as I was bleeding almost every day (long story but came off in the end and I'm fine with that).  I've been on Cerelle contraceptive pill for a while.  I had my last period between Christmas and New Year last year. The GP surgery did a blood test to check my hormone levels this Autumn which showed that I was likely to be 'post-menopause', although they did say that, as I was under 55, I would need to continue with the pill until I was 55 or have another blood test in a year to see if I was definitely post-menopause.  There's not much point in the latter as I'd be almost 55 then anyway.

Last month, I decided to ditch the pill too as it's nearly a year since my last period.  Then, yesterday, I started spotting again.  To say I'm deflated is a bit of an understatement.  Mainly I'm wondering if I should just go back on the pill again or just use alternative methods of contraception until I stop bleeding.  Or, is the bleeding post-menopausal and should I see the GP?  It's literally just under a year since my last period....  Don't want to waste a GP's time.  I just thought I was through the bleeding now.  So frustrating.  Anyone else had this??

[CLKD]

I suspect that if you stopped any form of HRT or contraceptive your body will react with a withdrawal bleed.  Is there any info in the box?

We need to be at least 12 months without a bleed to consider that we are into menopause = last period. Ever.  Ladies won't know if using HRT or contraception where the body might be.  Age is a number.  Not a determination.

Wait and C how the 'show' goes.  It may stop in a few days.  Make an appt with the Nurse Practitioner for New Year, keep a diary, and C how you feel overall.

[Dotty]

Hi you can’t tell if you’re post menopausal if you’re using any form of hormonal contraception. Now that you’ve stopped the mini pill it will be a case of wait and see.

[CLKD]

Oh and    from me 

[bombsh3ll]

I wouldn't be concerned about any bleeding that occurs in the setting of recently stopped hormonal contraception.

Menopause is diagnosed after 12 months of amenorrhea in the absence of any other causes - these include hormonal contraception.

The clock starts from now if you don't go back on anything.

However just because your bleeding is not likely to be sinister, doesn't mean you just have to put up with it either, so if you are still having periods without the pill, it is reasonable to either go back on it to get rid of them or discuss other solutions with your GP.

[DaisyFrench2612]

Thanks all. I'm going to stay off the pill now and see what happens.  I'll just have to go back to using alternative contraceptives until I can safely say I'm through the other end of meno.