If you're on cyclical HRT, how do you know when your periods have stopped?

[GlamMa]

I'm 51 this year and have totally regular periods and have just started cyclical HRT.

From what I understand, I will continue to get a bleed that for the moment is my period but when my periods stop, this bleed will continue as a withdrawal bleed.

I've understood that I can continue cyclical HRT till I'm 54/55. But if my period does stop in the interim, will I know or will I just find out when I stop taking this form of HRT?

I have this same question so here foe rhe answers!

I've been on hrt a year now I guess it's cyclical in the respect I take it for 12 days a month then stop and have a bleed a couple of weeks later. My periods are still every month. I'm 55. So no advice but interested in the answer

I stopped my HRT at 55 to find out if my periods were done. They were!

I'd only had two periods in 18 months. I was put on sequi patches and now they're back to 28 days like clockwork. ☹️

The bleed from a hormone pill cycle is a withdrawl bleed, not a proper period, as ovulation is unlikely to have taken place. I so wish we were taught this, but I genuinely don't believe our GPs are much better educated than us on this subject!

Lara Briden is good on the subject.

Why Pill Bleeds Are Not Periods - Lara Briden https://www.larabriden.com/why-pill-bleeds-are-not-periods/

My bleeds on sequential HRT are sometimes on day 10 of the progesterone, sometimes two or theee days after I've finished the 12 days, sometimes up to ten days after, once no bleed at all.
Bit confused by it all. 52.

@Grimchmas yes that's what I'm saying though - how will you know when you've naturally finished your periods when on cyclical HRT? Sounds like the answer is you don't know until you stop and see if one comes back!

Me too. Been on HRT for two years. To begin with it kept up my standard 28 day cycle, with the bleed coming just after the progesterone cycle. Then it became 45 days, then I missed a couple. So I could have a period just before the progesterone cycle! Now it is just random. I take the progesterone on the 25th of each month for 12 days to keep some sort of cycle going, but still wildly inconsistent.

I am only on one pump of gel though, so maybe not building up enough womb lining??

OP I'm not in UK so it may be done a bit different here. My gynae prescribed my hrt.

I first went onto cyclical pill just under 2 years ago age 51. I was having a normal period so this is what he prescribed. He said if there were plans for another, it was now or never as the egg supply was bleak then. Obvs that was a never as been there, done that.

I had a routine check a few months ago and he does an ultrasound, to see what is happening with the ovaries. From thst he could tell that I was only have a withdrawal bleed as, well the egg nest was empty.

So I then when on to sequestial and he said I may have one more bleed. I didn't, just some spotting which is normal.

I've been on cyclical HRT for a few years now. My GP did a blood test last year to see if I was post menopausal but I'm still producing FSH ( female sex hormone) at 52. I just want to get it over with!

Sorry I dont know how to edit. I'm on continuous pill now.

FSH is follicle stimulating hormone and the higher it is the closer to postmenopause you are.
I think your GP needs to do their homework.

knittedcardi I'm on three pumps and still very random and increasingly light.
Not sure what this means.

@jinsyi if you have not had a period for over 12months you should have been put on continuous HRT. Sequential is for peri or had a period within 12months

Thanks @LSTMS30555 maybe i misunderstood them?!

@Christine0708
I had probably one period in the 12 month period. So I think they were strictly following guidelines, possibly.

I had withdrawal bleeds, but after about a year on HRT they've stopped, so I've no idea! I mentioned it last time I needed a HRT prescription and the nurse practitioner did the whole "well it could be normal for you"