I'm on HRT (have been for about 3 years, am 51, perimenopausal and think if I wasn't on HRT I would probably still be having the odd cycle) - currently 3x 0.5mg sachets of Sandrena and 2x Utrogestan capsules for first 12-14 days of my cycle, and I'm also trialing testosterone (Testogel, one sachet spread over 8 days). I've been on testosterone for about 4 weeks.
I was referred for a non-urgent scan last summer and for various reasons missed the appointment. I had been getting weird 'smelly' periods (can't really describe it but it smelled like off meat!) and a GP thought it was worth checking out. They stopped of their own accord and having missed the scan, I didn't rebook the appointment, but in recent months I've experienced some urinary incontinence (not massive, but a bit more than a stray drop at times) so another GP suggested I get rebooked for a scan, 'just in case'. In the interim, I finally got round to downloading the NHS 'Squeeze' app for pelvic floor exercises, and I'm using Oevestin cream. The annoying occasional dribble has almost stopped, hurrah!
However, I had the rebooked pelvic/internal scan a few days ago. Today (2 days after the scan) my GP rang me to discuss the results. She says I've got a thickened lining over what they'd like to see (7mm) and while it's not thick enough to send me off for a 2 week wait hysteroscopy, she's referring me to a gynaecologist who will assess whether that's what I need, or how to go from here.
I asked whether 7mm was significantly thickened, she said it was below 10mm so not too bad, but they wanted to see 3 or below. (I have no idea if the point in my cycle at which I was scanned makes any difference - scan was on 23rd and I would have had my 14 days of Utrogestan from the 1st, then started my withdrawal bleed maybe a couple of days after that course ended ... so I guess I was pretty much mid-cycle.)
She asked if I've had any recent odd bleeding or mid-cycle bleeding. I do get a pinky-red discharge at point of ovulation (which I think still happens) but have had that for years - she wasn't bothered by that. I also get a sort of 'false start' period about 4 days before it starts properly - sort of starts then stops. She wasn't worried about that either, and I haven't had any bleeding that starts up mid-cycle. (of course this is now getting me worried and doubting my memory of what happens...)
Anyway, she said the referral is non-urgent, I'm not to worry, but in the interim I should either reduce my oestrogen or stop HRT altogether. I'm happy to drop a sachet of the Sandrena which would take me to 1mg daily. But now I'm dithering about whether I should just stop.
This is pretty common, right? I'm trying not to freak out but I do have health anxiety.