HRT questions!

[TerfTerf]

There's some incredibly knowledgeable women on here so I'd be grateful for your input please.

I'm 53 and was still having (light) periods every 2-3 months until I started HRT in late August to deal with the hot flushes and exhaustion. I take 2 pumps daily of oestrogel and 2x100mg utrogestan for 12 days per month.

I'm now 2 months in to the regime and have these questions

1. The withdrawal bleed is very heavy (for me) - 3 mooncups full per day for 4 days. Normal?
2. I have awful cramps for 3 of those days. Have never suffered PMS before. My GP friend suggests taking the utrogestsn for longer. Would this help?
3. I can't have a Mirena coil so have to take the pills
4. Have had scans and a hysteroscopy and there's no abnormalities with uterus/ovaries
5. I haven't been sexually active for 3 yrs and have no contraception. I am likely to start having sex again soon (!!) and we will both have an STI check first but I wonder how likely are my pregnancy chances?
6. And is there a "safe" time of the month like there is when you have regular periods at a younger age. (Obvs I don't want a baby or to have to have a termination and would prefer not to use condoms) I am almost certain I am no longer ovulating (I used to have ovulation pain every month but haven't had that in about 2 yrs)
7. I'm still a bit unsure about why I 'need' to have a withdrawal bleed every month until I'm 55 - any ideas? What would happen if I just take the utrogestan every day? My registered GP is ok but not a specialist. And my GP friend is more knowledgeable but incredibly busy and I don't like to bother her!

Thank you

I can't answer most of your questions but wen I went recently to have my Mirena Coil replaced, I'm 54, they said that as I'd had a period within the last year, I could still get PG and they do see it happen.

Try to get through all your questions...

Some bleeds are heavier on HRT - it's just a thing that happens. (mine are.)
You could try 14 days of Utrogestan and that might help (progesterone kind of 'whacks the estrogen on the head' - makes the lining less receptive to it.)

You could try continuous (Utrogestan daily ) as this is for women aged 54+ because almost all will be post meno by then.

If you use continuous too early, it makes it harder to control the womb lining (as it's a low dose daily) and you may get spotting every day or irregular bleeds.
(You can always try it and see.)

It's highly unlikely you would conceive at 53 and more unlikely the pregnancy would go to full term. Most end in miscarriage at older ages.

However, it's your choice and science is never 100%.

You can use the mini pill alongside HRT so maybe that's an option for a few months?

Good luck with the new relationship :)