Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Starfish on September 06, 2025, 02:18:10 PM
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Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone could share advice or reassure about polyps and a thickened lining? This is all new to me and I know so many women on her have gone through this.
I’ve not had a natural period in years — I’ve been on sequential HRT, and the only bleeding I’ve had has been while taking progesterone, not after. I raised this a few times but was told it wasn’t anything to worry about.
I recently tried switching to continuous HRT, but I ended up bleeding constantly and feeling really low, so I stopped after two months.
My GP asked if I wanted to go for a scan — said it was probably fine but might lead to “further investigations.” I went ahead with it, and the scan (last Friday) showed 4 polyps and a thickened endometrium. I got a call yesterday asking if I wanted a referral to gynaecology — which of course I said yes to. I was a bit surprised it was framed as optional?
Anyway, I now have an urgent gynae appointment next week and I’m wondering:
•What should I expect at this first appointment?
•Has anyone else had bleeding like this while on progesterone?
•Any reassurance or advice from people who’ve been through this?
Thanks so much — I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in similar shoes.
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If U have been offered investigations, take them. Result will give U a base line from which to work.
Out of interest, why did U alter your regime :-\ ???
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Thanks CKLD,
My Dr suggested I was post menopause since I went into an early menopause in my early 40s, probably peri from my mid to late 30s. She thought it would stop the bleeding associated with utrogestan. I was silly to think that would work.
I had been going to my Dr about my symptoms since about 35 but told I was too young. I ran into infertility problems at this time too and I was told, due to blood tests, that I would likely have an early menopause. My mum had hers at 40. My sister was the same.
I’m sure all is fine, but I’m a little worried about the polyps and thickened lining. Worried about having to get them removed, do I have too? Blood tests consistently show my
oestrodial levels are not overly high.
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I had a polyp that bled on contact, my Gyane wanted to remove it - but I was seeing him privately and decided not to fund his next holiday ;D. At peri it shrunk, all on it's own :-*
You've been given conflicting info from various GPs :(.
Is bleeding typical with utrogestan?
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Yes, various gps just kept saying I was too young for menopause. Then the infertility consultants told me I would have an early menopause. Do you think it’s a good idea to have them removed? I’m 47 now, on hrt for 5 years
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I had repeated bleeding polyps during peri. I was up and down to hospital as I became anemic so they removed them and put in a mirena which resolved the matter. It's not a pleasant experience but it was over quickly and I was advised to take pain relief. If it's just an investigation they usually like to look and invite you back to remove them. I'm glad I went and had the mirena as it has stopped the issues with bleeding. This takes time to settle. Good luck!
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Thanks Bluebird, that’s good to hear that it helped you. I am nervous as I’ve never had polyps before, nevermind 4. The fact that I’m being seen within a week is a little worrying. suppose it would give me peace of mind too.
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Starfish, are you definitely menopausal any chance you could still be peri?
I can't help about polyps but I can say my experience with Utrogestan, (being peri).
When I was on sequi with 200mg Utrogestan on 12 days per month, like you, I always bled whilst taking the Utrogestan. For me, I bled before the 12 days was up. It never led to a withdrawal bleed as such, as in , starting a bleed a few days after I stooped it. Also for me, it never stopped my own periods, so, because I could never synch the bleeds I had both a lot of the time. Anyway I ended up anaemic.
Even though I was still peri they put me on to continuous , to take 100mg Utrogestan every day which was supposed to stop my 'bleeding' . (Long story but the doctors didn't recognise my regular predictable bleeds as periods but I know they were).
As I say this was supposed to stop my 'periods' but it didn't. I still bleed regularly, predictably, for set length with PMS beforehand and no spotting in between or anything worrying besides my age alone, so yeah, still periods.
The reason they don't recognise my bleeds as periods is purely down to age. I'm 61 now, still bleeding on continuous but they are getting lighter each time so fingers crossed will finish soon. They have just put me up to 200mg per day so hoping that MIGHT stop the bleeding.
So, just to say, IF you are still peri at all, it likely won't stop your own activity, if you still have it going on, as utrogestan is quite a weak progesterone compared to synthetic at controlling bleeding, so I understand.
Good luck and hope you get sorted! :)
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Hi Clovie,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I don’t get any periods at all. Only bleeding during the second week of utrogestan, when I had been taking it every two weeks, this last five years. I don’t get a withdrawal bleed or any other bleeding during the month. Then when I went on continuous I didn’t stop bleeding or spotting for two months.
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These procedures should never be offered without anaesthetic! It's a time issue - trying to get as many patients dealt with in a certain time! Discussion B4 U decide whether these require removal.
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Are the polyps in your uterus or cervix? I had a tiny polyp removed from inside my cervix in outpatients when I was referred after a scan. I agree with CLKD, to discuss fully before you agree to anything. I was somewhat bamboozled into a hysteroscopy and I wouldn't have that procedure again without a GA.
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Hi Starfish
Last year, when I was on sequential Oestrogel and a low dose of Utrogestan, I had a scan done to check my lining. I'd had no bleeding other than the regular Utro withdrawal bleed but the scan showed a thickened lining and several polyps.
I was then referred on the urgent pathway to gynaecology for a hysteroscopy with polyp removal. I was sent the info on it in the post, so I knew that's what would be happening. I went ahead with it with strong painkillers and local anaesthetic and it was tolerable but I know that is not everyone's experience and you should ask to be consulted first on your options, including GA. The polyps they were able to remove were sent for biopsy and they came back fine. I was happy to leave the others there but I was strongly advised to have them removed, which I had to have done under GA. I then had a Mirena coil fitted at the same time, as increasing Utro wasn't an option for me due to intolerance. I have been fine with this.
You have been put on the urgent pathway because you have had unscheduled bleeding, which needs investigating, but is most likely nothing of concern. As Clovie says, Utrogestan in a weak progesterone and not always effective at keeping the lining thin. I also did not have high oestrogen levels but I was on a lower then now recommended dose of Utro and it was not enough to control it.
I wish you luck with it, I know how concerning it all can be.
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In the NHS a 2-week pathway may well turn into 3,4,5 ..........
Let us know how you get on.
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Hi Clovie,
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I don’t get any periods at all. Only bleeding during the second week of utrogestan, when I had been taking it every two weeks, this last five years. I don’t get a withdrawal bleed or any other bleeding during the month. Then when I went on continuous I didn’t stop bleeding or spotting for two months.
It's the withdrawal of progesterone that triggers a bleed so it would be unexpected at this time of the month unless it was your own cycle triggering it. What is it that makes you think it isn't a period? If you do have your own cycle a thickened lining would be expected unless the scan was soon after a bleed.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I will have a discussion about what the next steps are. I’m scared of anything invasive as smears do hurt for me. I don’t think the bleeding on progesterone is a period as it’s every month and prior to hrt five years ago my periods were 4 months apart. Even before this in my late 30s they were unpredictable.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I will have a discussion about what the next steps are. I’m scared of anything invasive as smears do hurt for me. I don’t think the bleeding on progesterone is a period as it’s every month and prior to hrt five years ago my periods were 4 months apart. Even before this in my late 30s they were unpredictable.
Don't be rushed. I was given a consent form to sign without time to read it and afterwards I read it and it said I'd understood that no pain relief would be given. That definitely wasn't correct. I'd been told I could have gas and air and that didn't materialise. It was rushed, she wanted to get it done and I did as I was going on holiday and needed insurance. Take your time. You don't need to have anything done on the day.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I will have a discussion about what the next steps are. I’m scared of anything invasive as smears do hurt for me. I don’t think the bleeding on progesterone is a period as it’s every month and prior to hrt five years ago my periods were 4 months apart. Even before this in my late 30s they were unpredictable.
Don't be rushed. I was given a consent form to sign without time to read it and afterwards I read it and it said I'd understood that no pain relief would be given. That definitely wasn't correct. I'd been told I could have gas and air and that didn't materialise. It was rushed, she wanted to get it done and I did as I was going on holiday and needed insurance. Take your time. You don't need to have anything done on the day.
That is beyond shocking Jules.
I agree with Jules. Take your time to think and decide.
The only way I can get in the right headspace to even be scanned is that it is done at the end of my period, so my lining is at its thinnest
Also that, should I need anything doing, biopsy, hysteroscopy etc etc I would only agree if I could be IV sedated or failing that GA.
No way am I putting myself through any pain when it needn't be painful.
If you find smears painful I would definitely be having a conversation about different options. wishing you good luck x
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I'm okay with smears and I had my last baby without pain relief, so there's no way of knowing how you'll find it. I asked if it's painful. She replied "let's have a go". Some women will be fine and they'll get more done in outpatients and it's less costly. Just take your time and ask your questions
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Are the polyps in your uterus or cervix? I had a tiny polyp removed from inside my cervix in outpatients when I was referred after a scan. I agree with CLKD, to discuss fully before you agree to anything. I was somewhat bamboozled into a hysteroscopy and I wouldn't have that procedure again without a GA.
Totally agree with this and recommend that you're fully informed before decision about the procedure and given the option for a GA. I've had polyps removed on two occasions. The first hysteroscopy was performed without GA and was excruciating. Apparently I'm in the category of women likely to experience pain--no kids, post-menopause, retroverted womb--and I was still not offered a GA for the procedure.
The second hysteroscopy (last year) I was offered GA and I took it up in a flash. I read around and apparently there's growing awareness about how painful the procedure can be. I'm told that medics now HAVE to offer the option of a GA.
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Are the polyps in your uterus or cervix? I had a tiny polyp removed from inside my cervix in outpatients when I was referred after a scan. I agree with CLKD, to discuss fully before you agree to anything. I was somewhat bamboozled into a hysteroscopy and I wouldn't have that procedure again without a GA.
Totally agree with this and recommend that you're fully informed before decision about the procedure and given the option for a GA. I've had polyps removed on two occasions. The first hysteroscopy was performed without GA and was excruciating. Apparently I'm in the category of women likely to experience pain--no kids, post-menopause, retroverted womb--and I was still not offered a GA for the procedure.
The second hysteroscopy (last year) I was offered GA and I took it up in a flash. I read around and apparently there's growing awareness about how painful the procedure can be. I'm told that medics now HAVE to offer the option of a GA.
That's right. It was raised in parliament.
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I had a hysteroscopy recently (and Mirena coil change at the same time) and I chose to have it under GA. It was definitely the right decision for me. They found and removed a polyp when they did the hysteroscopy. I'm now waiting for the lab results but they said polyps are usually benign.
Ask them what anaesthetic options are available if they want to do a hysteroscopy/polyp removal.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I will have a discussion about what the next steps are. I’m scared of anything invasive as smears do hurt for me. I don’t think the bleeding on progesterone is a period as it’s every month and prior to hrt five years ago my periods were 4 months apart. Even before this in my late 30s they were unpredictable.
Don't be rushed. I was given a consent form to sign without time to read it and afterwards I read it and it said I'd understood that no pain relief would be given. That definitely wasn't correct. I'd been told I could have gas and air and that didn't materialise. It was rushed, she wanted to get it done and I did as I was going on holiday and needed insurance. Take your time. You don't need to have anything done on the day.
That’s awful Jules. @madame ovary. I hope everything comes back okay. I’m sure it will as this is the case 9/10 times. Thanks for sharing you experience Luna.
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Thanks everyone for your replies. I had my appointment earlier.
While rushed, they did arrange for the removal of my polyps and without much prompting they offered GA or mild sedation. Should be in 4-6 weeks. She more or less said I had nothing to worry about, that it was probably down to the hrt. I was told that years ago it was a lot of older women coming through with these problems but today a lot of younger women on HRT have these problems. My lining was 9mm but she brushed that off as inaccurate due to the polyps.
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That's good news. And that you were given a choice. Let's hope they've all had new guidance regarding hysteroscopy as a result of the work done on it.
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I have my pre op next Monday and the procedure on Thursday. They offered next week but it was too short notice for me. I didn’t think it would be that quick 😱
Think I will go with GA as opposed to mild sedation. Never had GA before. I’m a little nervous about it.
Thanks to everyone for all your advice
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That's very quick. There's a longer wait in my area.
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Just wanted to wish you good luck Starfish! I'm sure everything will be fine! :foryou: