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[JulesM]

Hi, I’m new here and hoping that someone can help/reassure me. I’m 54 (55 in just over 4 months). I have been taking the progesterone only pill for 5 years having had  coil removed as it was causing continuous bleeds. I was on combined HRT (Femoston) from 2016 but due to fibroids & pelvic pain stopped taking it in January this year. I then started using Oestrogel and progesterone pill in May this year as I was struggling with joint pain & brain fog. I have recently been diagnosed with ME & have experienced some spotting in the past couple of months. After seeing the Dr last week she has said that at my age I most likely have gone through the menopause and has asked me to stop taking the pill and the HRT, which I did last Friday. Yesterday evening I started to have ‘a bleed’ - not heavy but enough not to call it spotting. Does this mean that I am still perimenopausal, or is it stopping the tablets that has somehow caused a bleed? I have a follow up appointment with my doctor in 6 weeks but I’m a bit confused as to what is going on with my body in the meantime - any advice/suggestions would be really appreciated please? 🙏

[bombsh3ll]

"You have gone through the menopause, so you'd better stop taking HRT"

WTAF?

Taking nothing and seeing if you bleed for 12 months is the only way to tell if you are conclusively menopausal, however it is likely to make for a miserable quality of life during that time, for information that is not nearly as valuable as many people think it is.

It is perfectly possible to still be perimenopausal at 54. As you have been on hormones this could have affected your bleed pattern over the past few years.

Was your most recent treatment continuous or sequential?

[CLKD]

Welcome.   "At your age" ........  That is rather a sweeping statement from your GP without much substance.  Replacement alters our knowledge of where we might B in "The Change".

Peri are the months prior to the last bleed = menopause.  Peri can be when we notice all those odd symptoms  .  Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.

As oestrogen levels drop the body may become dry: inside and out; nostrils, deep in the ears, vagina, skin as well as muscles may become weak = aches and pains.  Over the counter medication should ease the latter, as well as a good diet, regular exercise and fresh air.  Also do check your foot wear because as we age the insteps may 'drop' so our usual shoes etc. may not be as supportive leading to pain from the neck downwards as the spine compensates.

In case I forget: and I probably will do - 

In the mean time m make a list of your worries, why is your GP asking to see U in 6 weeks?  Be aware of vaginal atrophy which many medics have no knowledge of, 4warned is 4armed.  There are threads here about that 1!

Ask away. 

[sheila99]

Given the timing I'd say this bleed is most likely to be caused by the withdrawal of progesterone.

[GraceM]

There was really no need to stop HRT because of your age so keep that in mind if you do get symptoms back.  Chances are you were just on the incorrect doses of oestrogen/progesterone for your individual needs. What dose of Oestrogel were you on and what progesterone pill?  The bleed is probably just due to stopping HRT and there may be some lining to clear out.  Oestrogen is the hormone that builds up lining and progesterone is supposed to keep it thin.