Should I be on continuous HRT? I'm really confused

[imstilljenny2]

I'll keep this brief as possible. Started skipping periods at age 40. I got hormone blood tests age 43 which showed I was peri menopausal so started cyclical HRT at this point and had a period every month with this (oestrogen withdrawal?). I'm now 47 and at my recent HRT review my GP suggested continuous HRT so I don't get a period. I've been on this for 3 months and really enjoying not having periods.
However, my friend who is 57 is still on cyclical HRT so still has periods. She recently had a private consultation with a gynaecologist who kept her on cyclical.
Should I be on continuous at my age?
Also I'm wondering how I get endometrial protection if I'm not shedding the lining every month.
I could ask my GP but my next review isn't till March.
Thanks

It's got nothing to do with your age.

It's how long ago your final period was. For continuous it has to be one year or over 54.

At 47 it's unlikely you are post menopause unless your periods stopped before and you won't know while using hrt.

The period comes after progesterone withdrawal- HRT is estrogen daily and progesterone half the month (like a natural cycle.)

The 'risk' of using continuous too early is you can get breakthrough bleeding as the dose of progesterone in conti is low and only enough to balance the estrogen in HRT- not if you are in peri and have your own estrogen as well.

With continuous you don't bleed as the progesterone (daily) reduces the growth of the lining so it doesn't build up.

Your friend could be on sequential for many reasons. I am, and more than 10 years post meno.

I don't like taking daily progesterone and some research shows that conti has a slightly higher risk of breast cancer as it's both hormones every day.

BTW at 47 you are not at risk of anything re HRT as the risks only kick in after 50- at the moment you would normally have estrogen at your age.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells. I've not had a proper period on the conti HRT, just a little bit of bleeding that I've noticed when I'm in the loo and not enough to need any tampons with. Thanks again for putting my mind at rest a little!