What is going on?

[Notthinkingstraight]

Hoping someone can help me calm down, feel like I'm driving myself mad!

I am 50 years old and assumed perimenopausal. Some menopause symptoms including night sweats, waking in the night, (major) anxiety plus mood swings.
I went on HRT (Elleste Duet 1mg) for a year but really didn't feel like it was working so came off it start of April. I was going to wait 3-4 months and then try another type of HRT.

Periods were very regular before HRT and obviously whilst on it. I then had a period 4 weeks after finishing HRT but nothing since. So about a week or so 'late'.
I am never 'late' so I am panicking big time. We do not use contraception except for the withdrawal method (sometimes) because I am infertile and have had IVF in the past (but 1 DC was naturally conceived). So I know rationally I cannot be pregnant but I am panicking - think of normal 'don't want to be pregnant' combined with menopausal anxiety - can't sleep etc.

I can't talk to anyone in RL about this so please can someone help me think about this rationally. Also what did you do when you first started missing periods? I suppose most people are on normal contraception so not a problem.

Have you taken a test? How late would period be if regular?

If you conceived one dc then surely you aren't actually infertile or have I misread ??

If you're peri your periods are likely to be all over the place ime. I'd didn't have a period for nearly year, then was regular again for a bit and now I'm 60 days late . 🙄

Take a test .

Thanks all. Thought I was mad to buy a test. Usual cycle is 26 days but on HRT 28 days so I'm a week late or more.

Forgot to say but FSH was normal 2 years ago. I was infertile with blocked tubes but had a miracle - after a number of failed IVF cycles - plus we haven't exactly been vigilant with the contraception.

So I will get a test and hope that this is just the next phase of the menopause rollercoaster.

I suppose I should also get some contraception - which seems ridiculous but I can't go through this stress again!

Does anyone have any suggestions what might work best at this stage? I will obviously talk to my GP but thought having some idea beforehand would be sensible.

It is quite possible you could be pregnant because in peri the ovaries can work overtime to push out those last few eggs.

If you are a non-smoker and not overweight, you could go on the combined Pill for another couple of years, or the mini pill.

OR the better option might be the Mirena coil which will also give you the progestogen part of HRT and you'd only need estrogen (pill, patch or gel) with it.

Thanks Jingling

I have bought a test (on Amazon). I was feeling better when I wrote it all down and realised how ridiculous it sounded.....but now feeling really stressed again.

Going to the GP on Wednesday to talk through contraception options. Can I take the combined Pill with HRT? Mini pill sounds ok, assume I would get oestrogen from HRT.

I don't think you can take the combined pill with HRT- too many different hormones.

Mini pill you could as it gives you the progestogen part (but you would need to increase the dose, not just 1 pill a day- might need specilaist advice there.)