Bleeding after 18 months - worried

[menopauseah]

I've name changed for this but didn't want this following me around because I'm so worried and I may need to give personal info. Thanks in advance for reading.

I started on estrogel and utrogestan 18 months ago. I'm 57 and was on Mirena for 10 years. All fine, not huge changes to symptom control other than complete eradication of hot flushes. Recently have felt mood swings more acutely but not enough to concern me. Bit of weight gain but again, no big deal.

My GP is,like most, others pretty inaccessible and this week have had a phone system replaced so no possibility of contact.

On Saturday i missed taking my dose of utrogestan. On Monday I started bleeding for the first time since starting on HRT. Small clots too. Bit like periods but pre-mirena they were very heavy so whilst it's ages ago, it's not a huge surprise. I've been bleeding at the same rate since then, and it's not looking like it's slowing down yet. I've taken a small dose of aspirin (my mind going haywire and thinking blood clots etc). At what point should I get medical advice though it's likely to be NHS call centre rather than gp) or do I just brave it out? I'm not worried per se but obviously if this is unusual and not just down to missing a dose then I guess I need to be. I have no underlying health conditions and don't take other meds.

Would love to hear of similar experiences. Thanks.

My situation almost exactly mirrors yours other than that I had some light bleeding about 8 months after starting HRT. Went to GP, was referred for a scan, picked up a small fibroid but told nothing sinister going on. Then a couple of weeks ago I had what seemed like a full period. Did manage to see GP as they said you should always see a doctor with post-menopausal bleeding, and was given an appt a week later for a transvaginal scan and biopsy. I was told the pathway is to have this done within 2 weeks of a bleed; haven’t yet had results. So I’d encourage you to absolutely get seen - call 111 if no gp is available. It’s probably just an imbalance due to
missed dose but needs to be checked

Thank you @sandyposy . My instinct is to pretend to be an ostrich but I'll take your advice.

Oh and good luck with your results

You need to INSIST on an appointment.

Your G.P will put you into the 2 week pathway.

Hopefully nothing, but if it is something then very treatable if caught early.

I had a period-like bleed a few months ago after 15 months-ish of no periods. You need to contact your GP and they will refer you for investigation on a 2 week pathway. Mine actually took more like a month in the end but I had an ultrasound and a consultant gynae appointment. Nothing found, but they emphasised that any post-meno bleeding needs to be checked out.

There are lots of non-cancerous reasons for post-meno bleeds but cancer is a reason as well so it needs to be checked asap, just like if you find a breast lump.

Yes - I was quite breezy about it both times and was a bit taken aback that the gp took it so seriously. The hospital gynae that I saw last week said it’s important to check the womb lining for any abnormalities - might be that the hrt needs adjusting, might be thickened (as was mine, though only a little) endometrium, or a too-thin one. Worst case scenario is cancer but she said generally that is not the case - but it’s essential to check. Thanks a lot for your good wishes and wishing you well too. Get seen!

I had the exact same thing happen recently OP. I’d had a scan and my endometrium was a bit too thick. I was about to have a repeat scan when I had the bleeding after forgetting to take the Ultrageston.
I had a repeat scan a few weeks ago and a biopsy and all is fine.
Then the same thing happened this week, spotting just before I was due to take the Ultrageston. My Gynae has put me back on a slightly more frequent pattern of taking it , every month rather than slightly longer, but there is nothing sinister going on. I don’t have any fibroids either.
It does need checking, but it is probably just due to you missing the dose.

Thank you ladies, much appreciated.

Don’t take aspirin if you’re bleeding. Clotting is a natural response to bleeding.

Similar thing here. Taken very seriously by GP, 2 week wait referral. I had a transvaginal scan and hysterscopy and there was a large fibroid which was removed there and then. All fine since

I'm in exactly the same situation. Have had a small amount of bleeding after about 18 months on continuous HRT (oestrogel and utrogestan). Am 54 and about 6 years post menopausal. I stopped my HRT as soon as it started, and the bleeding seems to have stopped for now.

I've had an ultrasound which showed nothing other than a thickened lining (9mm) so have now been booked in for a hysteroscopy. Am a bit worried!

In case anyone is interested, it's all gone downhill. I wasn't put on the 2 week pathway and that was that. I started bleeding again on 3rd April and it's not stopped since. Saw gp on 19th April and am now booked into gynaeoncologist mid May. So not slow but not fast, and frankly desperate for a reason why I'm bleeding so profusely and for so long.
I'm tired, much poorer for all the sanitary pads and thoroughly pissed off! And work has been great but I'm definitely riddled with low mood too. Such a bummer....

Sorry sorry to hear that - did GP explain why not on the pathway?

The NICE guidelines are pretty clear on this ...