Periods starting again with taking HRT?

[Twitterwhooooo]

Just wanted to check that this is 'normal' before I contact GP. Not worried, mainly curious.

I was having regular periods up until last October. About to turn 52 and periods suddenly stopped. Coincided with Covid booster, although first two jabs hadn't affected my cycle.

Insomnia became unbearable, so I decided to fast track through 'struggling for a bit' and was prescribed HRT. Oestrogen patches and progesterone days 14-28 started mid-December.

Periods started again and have returned to previous 28 day cycle. I don't mind as my sleep is so much better. Also feeling less achy etc.

Is this to be expected? Do women continue having periods until they stop HRT?

TIA

Did your gp not explain how hrt works? And it ought to be in the leaflet with your packs. It's a withdrawal bleed and is part of the hrt regime. It's not a period as such it's to clear the womb lining each month.

Yea as I understand it the part time progesterone is to make sure you shed the womb lining built up by the oestrogen, so it’s doing it’s job.

It is annoying isn’t it, when you’ve just started to reap the only benefit of getting older but I guess it shows that the HRT is doing it’s job of taking your body back to its old self.

JinglingHellsBells not in huge detail, no, although I had done a lot of reading, had had bloods, cervical screening, mammogram etc before contacting GP. Some friends who also take HRT talk about their periods as having stopped, and it was easier to post on here than wait until I see them again to ask for more details.

RoysKeatsChestHair tbh, I don't mind. Much better than not having them and feeling terrible all the time.

I had been very ambivalent about taking HRT until my insomnia became really dreadful. Then I was so grateful that I could try something to help.