HRT and returning, long, periods

[spottyumbrella]

I started evorel conti patches (50) 13th June. I last had a light period in January, before that the previous summer. I was glad they'd stopped as I used to get horrible urinary urgency symptoms in previous years during periods (probably due to endometriosis). I started a period on 6th July - following usual old pattern of heavy bleeding and pain initially (no urinary pain or urgency though) then tapering off to light spotting. Except the lighter spotting didn't stop, then yesterday it changed to day one pattern of a new period, with heavy bleeding and pain.

Anyway, the GP said it was possible my periods might return with HRT but couldn't say for certain. But is this normal with HRT? I took it to help with sleep (no improvement at all) and hot flushes (definitely some improvement) and anxiety (not really), but this constant bleeding is a nuisance.

Any advice or insight would be appreciated.

Anyone ?

Anyway, the GP said it was possible my periods might return with HRT but couldn't say for certain.

HRT doesn't make periods resume.

If you use sequential, then you will get a withdrawal bleed each month (just like on the Pill.)

As you are using conti, then you won't as it is the 'no bleed ' type of hrt.

However, for the first 6 months of using conti, there can be some bleeding until everything settles down. (Have a Google for this.)

The other point is that conti is usually for women who have had at least 12 months without a period (you were only 5 months.) So it's quite possible that you aren't post-menopause and you will still get periods (as you would be anyway, not on HRT.)

I swapped from gel/utrogestan to the Conti patches a few months ago. Had a bleed about two weeks after changing my HRT then another much lighter one around two weeks after that. I’ve been bleed free since then though so it’s worth persevering with if you can. I feel much better on this regime.

Thanks both. Hopefully it will settle. I don't know why I was prescribed conti then, but my last period before January was possibly last July or August (I'd have to check my calendar).

Though 'sequential' just rang a bell. On the pink evorel conti box there's a printed pharmacy sticker (the one where they print your name and instructions) and the printed label says 'Evorel sequi patches, apply once or twice weekly'. Is that a possible mistake 🤔

On the pink evorel conti box there's a printed pharmacy sticker (the one where they print your name and instructions) and the printed label says 'Evorel sequi patches, apply once or twice weekly'. Is that a possible mistake

Maybe!

I've never used patches, but are the ingredients of the patch printed anywhere on it?

My understanding is that in a conti box, every patch would be the same, and contain estrogen and norethisterone.

In a box of sequi, you'd have 14 estrogen only patches, and 14 with estrogen + norethisterone.

If you aren't sure, take the box to the pharmacy and ask them.

This is the box and contents 🤔

Seems it’s a mistake. Those are the same as mine and I’m on a continuous regime. The label doesn’t tally with the contents. Do you know what you were prescribed by your GP?

All the patches are labelled Conti.

I don't know what I was prescribed. It was a brief telephone consultation and I think the GP said something about combined patch.

I didn't think anything of the label until a poster here mentioned sequential patches.

Sequi that is. I remembered that was on my label

The patch seems to say it contains estrogen + norethisterone .
This is a conti patch if all the patches are the same.

The label on the box appears to be wrong.

The bleeding must be your own periods.

Unfortunately, this can happen when conti is prescribed too soon.
I hear what you say about the gap being 6 months between your last 2 periods, but this is how it can go and then you might have a run of them coming back more often.

The conti patch sometimes doesn't control the womb lining enough if you are not post meno.

The medical advice is 12 months with no period or age over 54 before using conti.

Do you not need to be on progesterone pill as well as patches ?
There was a shortage of progesterone tablets and I could not get my normal prescription for over a week so was just on patches for that week and I started to bleed , collected prescription and back on pill and now bleeding has stopped

ah just read conti patches include both ,