Will HRT make my periods heavy again?

[TheGingerTree]

Long story short. I'm only 42 but am struggling with peri meno symptoms. Mainly random anxiety, low mood and feelings of doom. But also get random insomnia and loss of appetite.

My gynaecologist wants to start me on HRT next month. The thing is my periods are still fairly regular (well between 24 and 31 days) but they're very light now.

If I take HRT will my periods get heavier again? And will they force my body to keep on having a bleed every month, when without HRT my periods would have just stopped naturally?

All the women in my family on my Mum's side stopped having periods completely by the time they were 45.

You will have a 'period' and there is no knowing yet how heavy that will be. It may not be much more than you have now- it may not be- it depends on the amount of oestrogen and also you are still in peri so will still have some of your own.

Yes, you will always have a bleed on HRT until you go onto a bleed-free preparation which is usually only for older women.

If the bleeds are not acceptable then one option is to have the Mirena coil for the progesterone element- which keeps the lining thin and bleeds often non existant- and use a separate oestrogen- some drs regard this as the gold standard regime.

Thank you pinkfrocks that's very helpful You seem to be very knowledgeable about hormones and HRT, do you work in that area?

I don't mind having a bleed. I've had one every month for the last 33 years anyway

I didn't react very well to the Mirena when I tried it 10 years ago. It seemed to make my PMS last much longer and I gained a bit of weight.

But to be honest I could handle anything so long as the HRT takes away this horrible anxiety and low mood.

I never knew how wretched low oestrogen could make you feel. On the other hand I often get several days together where I feel very happy, almost dreamy, which I assume is when I have plenty of oestrogen in my system? This is usually also around the middle of my cycle too.

Could this be the case do you think? I can't think of another explanation for it?