Stopping HRT

[Everyonesouttogetme]

I am suspected perimenopausal and was put on HRT about 6 months ago. I haven't felt like it had really helped and I stopped taking it at the beginning of this cycle. In addition to definitely being more irritable my periods have not yet returned. I had dropped down to a 26 day cycle and I'm now at day 32 with no sign of it appearing. Has anyone had any experience of this? I wasn't expecting my periods to stop completely for some years yet as I'm only in my early 40s!

@Everyonesouttogetme I haven't had your experience (of deciding to stop HRT) but you might find help on the Menopause Matters site. When I had questions I found the forum on that site really helpful.

can you give a bit more info about the type of hrt you were on?

Did you have a withdrawal bleed each cycle?

You can only say your natural periods have stopped after 12 months without one.

Usually, (women not on HRT) find they have longer and longer gaps - anything from 2 months to 11 months then another one appears!

I was on oestrogel and then progesterone for 12 days of the cycle. I had a withdrawal bleed in line with my previous cycle. I'd understood that peri can begin with shortening cycles before it starts going the other way. My cycles had been shortening over the past 3 years or so. I'm just a bit surprised that stopping the hrt seems to have stopped my normal cycle after only being on it a short time.

HRT won't have had any effect on your own cycle.

It's just topping up your own hormones so it can't make any difference to ovulation or your own cycle.
(Unlike the Pill which can as it suppresses ovulation.)

I wouldn't panic at the moment. It could have been a longer cycle without HRT.

Natural cycles can be anything from 21- 35 days with 28 being an average.

You might want to talk to your GP about restarting HRT if you experience very few cycles from now on, or none, as that's considered any early menopause (before 45) . HRT is advised to protect your bones and heart, even if you have no peri/meno symptoms.

Thanks. No I didn't expect it to have effected my cycle length. I've always been extremely regular and I've never had a long cycle before, just as I say a slow pattern of decreasing cycles over the past three years. My GP has zero interest because of my age, it's a private clinic that said very likely peri and prescribed the HRT. My mum went through an early menopause and I've had a very low ovarian reserve for years, so early menopause is likely.

I'm just a bit surprised that stopping the hrt seems to have stopped my normal cycle after only being on it a short time.

Not really sure what you're asking.
HRT won't affect your own cycles once you've stopped it, other than perhaps the very first one after stopping if you've just had a withdrawal bleed.

If you have low ovarian reserve, it's worth talking to your GP or the private clinic as HRT is prescribed whether you have symptoms or not.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-definition.php^Premature menopause, or Premature ovarian insufficiency, is frequently defined as being menopause that occurs before the age of 40 years, but in the developed world, it is thought that it should be defined as menopause before the age of 45 years, the loss of estrogen having particular long term health risks in this age group. ^

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/pm-management.php

I started peri menopause early with my first long cycle (2 months) happening when I was 40. I only ever had long cycles and never had a short cycle so I would imagine this is your situation now.
Regardless that you were regular with your periods in the past I think if you are peri menopausal your cycles may well start to get longer. I don't think HRT or stopping HRT will affect your ovarian reserve.
I would honestly think twice about stopping HRT if you are young. It's extremely important to replace those hormones as your body will be missing out for a much longer period of time than the 'average' woman. You'll be at big risk of osteoporosis.