Unexpected bleeding - Evorel conti

[chimichangaz]

I'm 56, haven't had a period since 2014. Started HRT tablets in dec 2019, switched to patches late 2020 (Evorel conti). I came off hrt altogether in April due to a breast cancer scare, and restarted in about May/June time.
Earlier this week I noticed some dried brown spots in my pants. Just noticed some again this evening. Is this anything to worry about? I think one of the side effects is breakthrough bleeding (lost the leaflet..) but I've never had any before. Seems a bit odd to be starting now?

Can't advise but sorta similar. No periods since 2019, 46 yrs old. On conti patches. Started bleeding, well brown and black last Tues and its still going. I've been on the patches for 15 months with no issues until now.

It's a bit odd isn't it @Tootsey11

Not sure whether to make docs appointment, given that breakthrough bleeding is listed as a side effect.

Just googled it and found this:

If you have bleeding that continues after this time, bleeding unexpectedly starts after you have been taking Evorel Conti for more than six months, you experience Evorel Conti heavy bleeding, or you have bleeding after stopping treatment, consult your doctor.

Update: called and spoke to the doctor today who said I definitely needed to be looked at, so I've got an appointment on Tuesday for an internal exam.

That's good, will you let me know how you get on, Im still debating what to do.

I think you should make an appointment @Tootsey11

I'll update on here with what happens. I've had to have some oestrogen cream too as I have dryness which makes internals very very uncomfortable......

That's the thing, I have vaginial atrophy and lichen sclerosis as well. I'm terrified of an internal scan as I'm in that much pain on a daily basis.

Needs investigation.

@Tootsey11 I really think you should call your doctor. Explain how you feel with the internal scan - if you're not using anything now they can prescribe something, and maybe even something to make you less anxious. I really understand how you feel - smears are agony for me. I do think though that it's important enough to be checked out and I'm sure the doc can give you something to help. Sending you

I’m glad I saw this - I’ve been on evorel conti for a couple of years and have just started bleeding. Sore boobs, spots, the lot - I had covid over Christmas and wondered if it could be linked; I still have a very swollen gland under my arm - but this has given me a further prompt to give my GP a ring on Monday.

@Fingerbobs I had omicron before Xmas too, and I was thinking the same. I have read somewhere that the ovaries are one 'area' that covid can intercept or attack so it is quite possible.

This is so strange, but I also just started some unexpected (brown) bleeding yesterday while on the conti phase and was really annoyed because I otherwise thought I was well over a year without a period! Could there be a glitch in a batch of this stuff? I have been fine for over two years on the patches (not a fan of the gel and progesterone pills).
I have only just handed in forms to register with a new surgery, can’t imagine I will be able to get an appointment any time soon. :(

@Tootsey11 ok well I’ll ask that if I can speak to someone on Monday. I have vaginal atrophy too and a bartholin’s cyst that comes and goes, but the conti helped a lot with dryness for me. I got a gynaecology referral last year but our waiting time is currently at least 48 weeks so I have caved and booked an appointment privately next month. The pain can be unbearable too

Hi. I’m 52 and have been using Evorel Conti HRT patches for 9 months now. I have been bleeding pretty much since I started using them and have to use tampons every day and night. Before using them I was having bad menopause symptoms and had not had a period for 5 years. My GP is useless. I have had two consultations with seemingly the only menopause specialist in the south east - who was brilliant, listened to my menopause symptoms and put me on HRT, then booked me in for hospital check ups on the second call when I explained about the bleeding. Now I have both hospital appointments cancelled and can’t get hold of the consultant because she is basically gold dust. My GP just tells me I’ve already been referred so there’s nothing else he can do. I am so frustrated and angry. Is this it?? Is this all I get? Either suffer the bloody awful anxiety, self doubt, night sweats and sleeplessness, or just bleed, all the time? This is madness. I’m 52 years old and bleeding through my pants. I feel like I am completely invisible and unimportant to the medical community.
Anyone else? All the forums just talk about ‘light bleeding for a few months’. I feel totally unheard.
Claire, Brighton

@Claire111 I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't offer any advice, sadly, but just wanted to let you know I've heard you and send you a

My swab came back normal but the blood test I did had a slight abnormality. No idea what but the test has been repeated and I'm waiting for results. I've had more 'bleeding'; nothing like yours, just a mucous-y brown mess.

I’m sorry Claire, that sounds grim. My gp said i’d be referred to gynaecology for an endometrial lining scan but it’s been a fortnight and i haven’t even had a letter giving a date. The whole system feels entirely designed to make you give up and keep quiet and put up with horrible symptoms and just hope you don’t have cancer. It’s shit. Do you have a number for the gynaecology clinic? I do because I’m waiting for an ‘ordinary’ referral which I got last June - current waiting time 47 weeks, nice - so Im going to call on Monday to find out what is going on. I feel angry and resentful that we’re in this position and having to chase after our own health.

Oh Claire, this is awful for you.
Okay, my thinking is, get off the Conti ASAP. They are notorious for inducing bleeding. Next you need a womb scan and possible hysterscopy to see what’s going on with your womb lining etc.

What about getting a Mirena coil fitted? Then you can have just a separate Oestrogen patch? Or there are gels, sprays or tablets to try.

Either way keep pushing for tests and an appointment. It’s shit, I know.
I’ve had this, continued bleeding for months on the Evorel patch.
In the end, I just phoned the gynae secretary daily, saying I was bleeding non stop and when can I have that scan?!

Seriously, women are being let down right left and centre, regardless hormonal health, it’s a disgrace,

Ditch that Conti, vile things 🤮🌸🌸🌸🌸

Fingerbobs, I totally agree with what you say!
It’s like “ you probably won’t have cancer, therefore we will make you wait and wait and chase your own bloody appointments”

It’s an outcry how women are being treated re the menopause.

I even had an appointment in December with some disinterested gyne locum, who refused to scan me, on the basis “ I will probably be okay” WTAF!!!

Best of luck for Monday 🤞🤞🌺

Just written a whole long post and lost it.....
Short update - seen a gynaecologist who examined me. Womb lining is fine (they check for thickening as a sign of cancer) and she thinks the bleeding is down to hrt. Has suggested I have a coil and use oestrogen gel. Still thinking about that. She offered to refer me to a menopause doctor so I'm waiting for that appointment to come through.
Blood tests showed oestrogen being absorbed well but problem with kidney function so waiting on next steps for that.
She also spotted a slight prolapse and told me off for not doing pelvic floor exercises 😳
I seem to remember there's someone who used to post about pelvic floor on Mumsnet but don't know where their posts might be - can anyone help?

Also bleeding on Everol Conti.I’ve been on it for about 5 months and am going to switch to a pump and pills on advice of nurse at the GP practice. Bleeding started after 3 weeks and has been on and off since then.

There's a couple of you on here suffering with bleeding, I've been on Conti since August & by Christmas was bleeding every 10 days.
So rightly or wrongly, feeling very fed up, and after a bit of reading up about oestrogen levels, at Christmas I cut my patch in half. I've done this ever since and it's stopped all the bleeding, and every menopause symptom I had has gone.
I'm 50 and was 18 months post menopause when I went on them. If you like the ease of the patches it might be worth trying for a month or two and see what happens.

Sarahlou did the bleeding stop immediately? I have been cutting my patches in half for a week but started bleeding again yesterday. I can't bloody bear it as I'm back to myself on HRT.

This is really interesting. I'm also on Evorel sequi/conti patches, and have erratic bleeding throughout the month, but mine is actually still much less than it was before I started the HRT. At first when I went on it, I mostly just had a period every 3 weeks or so, which was a vast improvement on my 20+ random days of bleeding (including flooding) every month that I used to have. But now I'm getting a lot more random bleeds, huge clots etc. again. I just figured the HRT was getting less effective, but most of the time I still feel so much better in myself that I was putting up with the bleeding as something I just needed to live with. I spoke to my GP today, I really wish I had seen this thread before that conversation - maybe she could try me with an alternative HRT.

Hi, just researching and came across this thread ! Just at the point of ditching the Conti patches. Nearly 3 months in ..1st 4 weeks fine and then heavy period that lasts a week , couple days spotting then heavy again all with full on PMT ! Mood swings are crazy . Spent small fortune on sanitary products . I am 56 , hadnt had a period for 18 mnths , yes sweats have gone and my aching feet 😳 but ive had enough . Doc said any probs get in touch ...cant even get a phone app !! So ...i think im done ! ...been good to know im not alone ❤

@chimichangaz

There's a very useful NHS app for pelvic floor issues. It's called Squeezy and is in the Play store and Apple app store.

I know the poster you mean, but can't remember her name, she was evangelical . I'll rack my brain...