One period a year - so annoying

[RitaFairclough]

I've been on HRT for ages and my periods have virtually stopped (I'm 'only' 45 so have had a fairly early menopause - my symptoms started when I was 38).

I didn't really pay attention to when I had my last period before a long break but I knew it was before we'd had our bathroom done which was April 2017 so I counted from then. So by March last year I was thinking I'd almost gone a year. Then I had a period.

Same again, have gone almost a year. I've had dreadful sore boobs for a few weeks, and then yesterday - BOOM - a period. Which lasted one day (and to make it extra special, I was at a spa yesterday with a friend as a thank you for some help I'd given her. I never go to spas.)

I know they count menopause as when you've gone a year without a period so I guess I'm not there yet.

Anyone else experienced this annoying once a year thing?

I'm slightly puzzled- what HRT are you using?

Had your periods stopped altogether when you started HRT?

Sequi HRT always gives a monthly 'period' which is a withdrawal bleed, not a real period. A few women don't get these, but if you are still having your own periods you ought to be using sequential HRT which gives a monthly bleed (usually.)

Are you on sequi or conti?

If you are on conti, then it's likely to be your own cycle breaking in which can happen to women who had a premature menopause.

I'm on Elleste Duet - not sure if that's sequi or conti?

My periods hadn't stopped completely before but they were very sporadic. They did 'come back' when I started HRT and I had regular monthly withdrawal bleeds, but then they stopped again after about 18 months.

I'm a bit confused.

The periods you had when you said they came back -they were withdrawal bleeds?

So you are still on Duet and not having a withdrawal bleed?

You aren't having a period - it's withdrawal bleed as long as it's coming 2-3 days after you finish the pack. 85% of women have withdrawal bleeds all the time on sequi regimes.

It's important you know what you are taking- have a read about the difference with sequi and conti- the ingredients of the HRT are different and it's listed on the leaflet.

Yes, Elleste is sequi. Sorry, i’ve never heard those terms before but I know what’s in it.

I did mean that the ‘periods’ I had before were withdrawal bleeds. The GP said it was good to have regular bleeds if you’d had an early menopause. When they stopped I went back and she said it would happen eventually and it was normal.

I actually finished a pack of pills on Thursday and started the new pack yesterday.

It's a bit confusing.

If you aren't having a bleed as a withdrawal bleed you are in the minority. Sometimes it means that the amount of estrogen you're using (in HRT) is very low for you at the moment and there is not enough to make the lining grow. Women your age often use the CCP as HRT as it has a higher dose of estrogen.

If you are having bleeding outside of the normal 'pack' cycle then it sounds like your own period.