HRT & periods stopping?

[WhiteCatmas]

Hi!
Should I be having some kind of fake period, similar to the one on the pill when I’m on HRT?
I’m late 40s so knew that perimenopause was approaching.
Background, although I didn’t feel especially perimenopausal, I was under a fuck ton of stress at work which was making me anxious and I skipped a period or two. I went the GP at a very down time and she gave me Oestrogel and Utrogestan.
I tried the Oestrogel for a couple of weeks, then actually just felt better on my own, periods returned.

Periods went weird in the summer (long cycle then two close together) last month I tried two pumps of oestrogel and the utrogestan regularly. I feel pretty good. My period hasn’t appeared since October.

The Utrogestan instructions say to take on certain days in my cycle, but the wheels have come off my cycle.
What do I do?
Should there be a fake period?
Baffled
Yes, I will also talk to the GP.

You can take it continuously as well as cyclic, but speak to the GP don't as a rule take the oestrogen without the progesterone.

Just to clarify, I stopped the Oestrogel after 2 weeks in December 2023. Started both Oestrogel And Utrogestan in December 2024. No period since October after fluctuating periods.

You've not said if you're following a sequential or continuous HRT regime.

If your natural periods are still coming now and then, you should be using hrt on a cycle- that's estrogen daily and Utrogestan 200mgs (2 tablets) for 12 days a month. About 3 days after the last tablet you'd normally bleed.

You follow this pattern regardless of your own irregular periods as it will create an HRT cycle. Take the Utrogestan on the same date every month.

If you're post menopausal (no periods for over 12 months) you can take Utrogestan 100mgs ( 1 tablet) daily.

Hi!
I was intending to follow the HRT on a cycle, but now my periods appear to have stopped.
Nothing since October. I thought that the HRT might cause them to return, but here we are in February and there is nothing.
How can I take the Utrogestan regularly when my cycle is a surprise?

The bleeding after taking Utrogestan has not occurred.

HRT doesn't make your periods start. If you use HRT on a cycle then you should have a withdrawal bleed. However you said you started gel again in December, so you've only been in it for a just over a month. Not everyone has a withdrawal bleed straight away.

You start Utrogestan any time if you've not had a period for ages. Take it on the same day every month.

You said you used Utrogestan 'regularly'- what does that mean? 12 days a month or every day?

12 days a month.

Do I just count out another 2 weeks without the Utrogestan and then start it again creating an artificial 28 day cycle?

Yes, you create an artificial cycle, and stick to that regardless of how irregular your bleeding becomes. I spoke to my prescriber about whether I'll still have an actual menopause on HRT, and she assures me I will. I missed three periods in a row last year but then they came back with greater irregularity, so I think I'm close to the end now.

Quick question for any of you in the know.
I have not had a period for six months and only a couple in the two years before then, clock has been restarted twice, but I rarely have periods although have had cramps a few times.
If I am post-menopausal, is it too late to take HRT as a guard against osteoporosis and if not, which type would work. Does all HRT then cause bleeding again as cessation of actual periods is the only good thing about the menopause. Thanks in advance x

Thank you so much @LittleLegoTree &@JinglingSpringbells I shall chug along.

It’s not too late based on your recent history, no. See your GP, OP!

I'm on cyclical HRT and haven't had a bleed since September. Very irregular before that too, even on a cyclical regime.
Am just 53 and wondering whether I should move to continuous?

Yes.
But it's easier if you do a calendar month (this is fine - been doing it through a consultant for years) so that you stick to the same date - ie the 1st of a month.

@mrWise-not too late at all.
Many women don't even start HRT till years after their last period.
I've heard of women starting in their 80s!

You can use a no-bleed type if your periods are almost over