Still normal monthly bleed on continous ultrogestan

[Ladybird3355]

Started taking HRT sequi 6 years ago at 44 and everything was good. Had bleeds as normal then last summer advised to keep everol 75 patch but take ultrogestan continuously so no bleeds etc. Every month since have had normal 25-32 day bleed but have not felt good as time has gone on. Before I would just get a bleed,no pain or symptoms but now I have 10 days of bad pms symptoms (really sore boobs, headaches back, achy joints, acne, tingle hands and feet, 3 days of night sweats) It's like my own system is overriding everything. It's now 6 months and I feel like I just want to stop but not sure if I can go back to full months of the symptoms I had in the first place. I have always had bleeds so I'm not sure if that classes me as post menopause etc. Much preferred the 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. I really don;t want the coil but wondered if anyone else had had a similar experience

It sounds as if you've been put onto continuous combined too soon.
The bleeds are normal periods from what you have described.
What was your Dr's reason for switching you?

Not all women are post meno by 50 by any means.

You can swap back to sequential. It's a choice, after all, not a rule.

This is the medical advice.https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

POST MENOPAUSAL -
Continuous combined therapies.
"Period free" or continuous combined therapy can be used by women who are 54 + yrs, or more than one year since last period at any age. The criteria should be fulfilled in order to offer such treatment to women who no longer have a continuing ovarian cycle, so that steady levels of both estrogen and progestogen can be achieved. When there are steady levels of estrogen and progestogen from daily administration of both, the womb lining stays thin. Although some bleeding in the first 6 months of therapy is common, there should not be bleeding after that and the lining does not go through the stages of stimulation and then shedding as it does during a normal cycle and with sequential therapy. Start with low dose preparations and increase as necessary for symptom control. The products marked * are licensed for osteoporosis treatment/prevention.

I stopped cyclical hrt in the summer last year after 18 months as I just couldn’t get the levels right. It felt like my own cycle was competing in the background with breakthrough bleeding and pmt symptoms whatever dose I was on. I have fairly regular periods, although the gap is starting to be sporadic so that’s a change. I am 55..my symptoms are manageable but I don’t want the coil either. I was advised that a coil was my best option to stop my sometimes heavy periods..too invasive for me.

@TicketyBoo11 The OP isn't on cyclical though- she's using a continuous type.

I know. I was commenting really on that feeling of your own cycle working in the background.

Thank you both. I was wondering if I could go back. They didn't give a reason. I asked for some norethisterone to take while I went on holiday just so I didn't bleed and she said take the ultrogestan continuously from now on so no more bleeds. This hasn't happened. The pmt is far worse now, like before I started hrt. Was also wondering if I needed more estrogen? I'm on everol 75 now but felt great when I went from 50 to 75 last April with the fortnightly ultrogestan but slowly things are creaping back. I have an appointment on 12/2 so hopefully I will get some answers. Thank you 🙂

You were put on hrt pretty young. I clicked on this because I thought "me too" but I'm 53. On estradiol 3.75 twice a week and utrogestan continuously, 100 every day, and I've had 3 periods in the last 9 months since I went on hrt. Before that I'd been on progesterone only mini pill back to back for 3 years and periods stopped completely do that was nice.

I wonder does the body react to new oestrogen to cranking out a few more periods? I was "done" on the mini pill back to back, and didn't miss periods.

now on hrt, (oestrogen+ progesterone) ,
I keep thinking I must be done then 3 months later...... back to buying sanitary pads

It's such a minefield. I did start my periods when I was 10 and the symptoms were definitely peri. One Dr gave me antidepressants but I didn't need those and it didn't help at the time with the crippling headaches and night sweats. The next Dr said get rid of those, it's all peri menopause and the last few years I have been great. Going to everol 75 last year made a big difference and I was settled until the continous progesterone (4 months in everything came back). You say you are on 3.75 but do you know what that is in relation to my everol 75? Is that a tablet? Thank you

I don't know @Ladybird3355 I'm going to google that now, but gp told me that she was starting me on the lowest patch of oestrogen.

Ah, i just googled that question

''Evorel 75 is marked 'CE75', has a surface area of 24 sq cm. and contains 4.8 mg estradiol corresponding to a release rate of 75 micrograms of estradiol in 24 hours.''

So I think you're on the middle dose. Does that sound right to others in the know?

Ah ok, yes, I did start on low everol 50 now on 75 so that sounds right. Just wish the regular bleeding would stop, thought that was going to be the case when she said take continuously but it's not the case. Will see what she says in a few weeks and maybe go back to 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, who knows. Thank you for replying