Still bleeding, will it settle after change of dose?

[Ladybird3355]

I am 51 and have had various levels of HRT for the last 7 years. I changed back to a 50mg patch and a daily progesterone tablet at night in January this year. Last year I changed back to the same dose and I bled for 7 months on and off but the scan I had was fine. I upped my estrogen towards the end of lat year but decided to return to the 50mg patch in January this year as I felt better on the 50. I am still having normal periods about 4 days long and every 4-5 weeks. I get the spotty skin, the tiredness and other PMT symptoms like a used to so I am not worried. I have an appointment again to discuss with my DR but has anyone else had this and did it settle eventually?

Any change of HRT might cause bleeding for the first few months. If you are on a continuous regime but still in perimenopause with fluctuating hormones , this can also be causing the bleeding. As you move towards post menopause, the bleeding should then stop. If anything else has been ruled out like polyps or fibroids maybe consider having a Mirena coil installed which might knock the bleeding totally on the head. It did for me.

If you are having natural periods AND on a 50mgs patch you would expect to bleed. The dose of progesterone is not enough to control the womb lining (and your natural cycle) when you have your own estrogen and HRT estrogen.

I'm very puzzled why your GP has put you on this type of combined continuous HRT.

The guidance is that women who have used HRT for a year can TRY continuous but the outcome is often what you are experiencing.

You really should be on sequential, with a monthly withdrawal bleed.

OR if this is not what you want, have a Mirena coil and that will constantly thin the lining so you have no or little bleeding.