Evorel bleeding should I come off patches

[Bonsaibaby]

I started evorel sequi in August (4 50 patches then 4 conti). I started them on cycle day 20 as gp said start anytime. Got period that box 1 in 2nd week of 50. following box 2 spotting week 1 then period week 3, next box 3 period week 4 so looking like lined up with withdrawal bleed. Next box 4 nothing. Box 5 period week 1 then spotting week 4. Following box 6 spotting week 1. box 7 period week 1 and week 4 box 8 spotting week 4. Box 9 got period in week 2. So in general I seem to be getting a bit of a bleed in week 4 now but at other times too.
went to gp for a review and she wants to examine me and has referred for a scan. She said I could come off them but she didn’t want to change the dosage before investigating.

should I come off them at the end of this box and then wait to start them again when I next get a period?
What should I expect from the scans etc? Looks like HRT is causing it to me?

I’m 50 and was having periods but they were getting irregular. I was exhausted and feeling anxious more and always waking up (still do without an antihistamine).

What you seem to be saying is you're having bleeding outside of your expected withdrawal bleed. Is that right? Having spotting by week 4 is not abnormal. You'd expect a withdrawal bleed by then and sometimes it's just spotting.

Are you worried you are bleeding too often or not as much at the end of each cycle?

The guidance on this is stop for 6 weeks if you want to then start again after a scan. The scan is to check that your womb lining hasn't got to thick and showing anything abnormal. For over99% of women on HRT like you it's usually down to the HRT not controlling your own cycles so you get spotting and a light withdrawal bleed. Or none, some months.

You can stop and start again after a period- use the first patch on Day 1 - but you may have to wait months if your periods are irregular.

If patches don't suit you can try other types of hrt.

Yes that’s right bleeding at other times from withdrawal bleed after 8 months.
wondering if it’s my fault for starting patches at the wrong time. Would it be best to stop them before the scan then?

It's your choice. It depends how long you need to wait for the scan and how you feel off hrt.

Pretty much the same happened to me. I was switched to continuous and it's so much better.

I was still having periods before starting though so isn’t continuous for when periods have stopped?

Yes, that's right.

If it 's started too soon there can be erratic bleeding (it's normal to have some for 6 months anyway) and then you can get into the need for scans etc to check everything is okay.