Progesterone - GP has recommended switching to continuous

[Boxfuls]

And I'm worried.

I've been on HRT about 18 months, currently taking 3 pumps of Oestrogel with 200mg micronised progesterone for 12 days each month.

I went back because I'd realised that I feel dreadful in the 2nd week of the progesterone. Some of the worst "PMS" I've ever had.

GP has said to switch to continuous progesterone (which is something that should happen now anyway?)The same tablets but take 100mg daily.

I'm really worried this will just make me feel dreadful everyday. He said the lower dose should avoid that...?

Hi, how old are you? Are you still having regular periods?

I'm 56.

I was having periods every 70-90 days when I started on the HRT. Now I have a light bleed for 3-4 days on day 10 of the progesterone. I assume that's not really a period.

I did this about 3-4 years back - really really helped, as I was having huge mood swings and sometimes two bleeds a month. It took a few weeks for the bleed to settle down but then I felt loads better. It’s the consistency, without the swings.
My GP did say to come back if the bleeding became unmanageable but it never did, got lighter if anything.

Of course this is just my anecdotal experience, everyone has their own response to changes in hormones.

Yes, go onto continuous progesterone

You can always go back if continuous doesn't work for you. I've just gone to continuous (aged 56, periods regular until I started HRT spring 2024. I have another medical issue that my cycle isn't helping so Newson have recommended continuous in the hope that it reduces the hormonal swing which is problematic.

I went with a Mirena as I couldn’t cope with tablet progesterone any more, too many mood swings. A low continuous dose was better for me.