What is causing these side effects?

[Stevie77]

48yo. Have been on HRT since March - initially Oestrogel now Evorel 75 + progesterone for 14 days + testogel. I’ve come on with what I thought was a period at the end of Oct, but have since then had nonstop spotting (very light, mix of dark and brighter red) and tender breasts. I can’t think what could be suddenly causing this as I’ve been taking everything listed above for months. The only thing more recent is the Testogel but even that has been around six weeks. Anyone had something similar?

No one? I’m not asking for a medical diagnosis, will be calling the GP on Monday. But has anyone experienced something like this?

Testosterone made me bleed fortnightly, but I also think I was on too much oestrogen As well.

have you had blood tests to check levels?

I would see gp either way as you may need to alter something or be checked

Testosterone can be converted to more oestrogen by aromatase - see what gp says.

No one knows, but research on women has not covered this or most eventualities.

The GP says the blood tests aren’t reliable for measuring hormones as they fluctuate too much. I did do them before being put in HRT, and for testosterone, which is why I was prescribed it. But no tests since starting with the HRT.

it’s all very a-typical for how my body behaves - this spotting/bleeding started as a period, at the right time, but then went and came back as brown spotting with some occasional red spotting. Sometimes gone altogether. Then today it’s back and is a bleed like a period. Very odd that it’s happening after 6+ months (except for testosterone, as I only started in Sept).

@Stevie77 From what you have described, you may be having a normal period that your HRT isn't overriding.

Your GP could send you for a womb scan and you might need to think about increasing the Utrogestan- some women on a highish dose of estrogen need 300mgs x 14 days.