And now it doesn’t stop

[Snowtea]

Didn’t want my title to be a trigger warning!

in November 24 after nearly 3 years on sequential HRT (Estradot 75/oral urestogen) the doctor asked me to go onto continuous and I’ve had so many problems since

10 days a month of heavy black discharge and feeling utterly exhausted with no libido or will to live for about 5 days either side and severe abdominal pain. It’s caused trouble in my relationship as it seems like I’ve lost my desire for my partner

so a week into my cycle this month I saw the doctor who suggested going back to the same cycle of sequential. I stopped the nightly progesterone planning to go back to a cycle but l’m bleeding again.

I guess I hope it will stabilise but I just want to sit down and cry - does anyone have any advice or has experienced anything similar?

Bumping for you. I'm afraid GPs are often not well informed re dosages, side effects and alternatives. A referral to gynae may be an idea, but v long waits.

How old are you?

Often GPs are putting women on continuous HRT when they are too young.
The guidance is aged 54+ or at least 12 months with no periods- or to try continuous if they've been on HRT for 5 years.

Any sooner - if none of the above apply- there is a risk of bleeding as you've experienced. One tablet of progesterone won't control the womb lining if you have ovarian activity - so you will bleed, especially if you're also on a highish dose of estrogen.

if you're not post meno, your own periods can kick in and that could be happening now. It's too soon to make a call on a new regime- the guidance is try it for 3 months.

It is a choice to move onto continuous. It's not mandatory. I have been on sequential for many years (over 15) through a consultant, and I know a friend who's in her early 70s still on sequential, from choice.

Give it time.

Thanks for the advice I’m 53 and have moved from a very knowledgeable GP who basically just adjusted dose and moved me from evorel to estradot to
the one I’ve seen the last two times who I’m less confident about.

I think it was the horror that I could be bleeding again after less than a week of ten days of this horrible thick black discharge - it’s the patience through the pain of experimentation that I’m lacking. I wish that there was more information I’m so woefully uneducated about this

I'm just guessing here @Snowtea but black blood is usually old blood. It sounds as if you're not ready for continuous HRT because the lining should stay thin, not build up like yours seems to.

You're only 53. I didn't start HRT till then and it was sequential- no question about that- and I was on a 3-monthly cycle, bleed every 12th week (this is an option for women in late peri.)