Can you use continuous HRT if you still have periods?

[MurphysColeslaw]

Is continuous hrt a no no if you still have periods?
Would this have a connection to fibroids forming?

No. What would be the point? You'd be using a progesterone every day but you'd still have your own periods. The point of continuous is
it's bleed free for women in late peri or post meno.

HRT won't cause fibroids but they may grow a bit more if you are using hrt - either cyclical or continuous.

I was told it might stabilise my moods?

Yes you can. You would need to use both oestrogen and progesterone. I'm not perimenopausal but have a private HRT prescription for extreme PMS. It's life changing. I still have periods but it sorted out the extreme bleeding, moods, insomnia...

Edited to say I took a break from my prescription to have my third child so I can't remember the specifics on if there's a break at any point in the cycle but I'm planning on having the mirena coil and oestrogen gel when I restart

@Tightforthyme So you have normal periods even though you’re on progesterone every day?
My GP said this shouldn’t be happening and wanted to send me for a scan and a prod.
i didn’t think it was necessary but she wouldn’t renew my prescription unless I did.
That’s when they found some fibroids.

Are you already on HRT?

I was started on continuous while still having 'periods'. I was already 53 and been on cyclic HRT for 5 years. The view was that the bleeds were not periods, rather that they were induced by using cyclic HRT. They stopped once I moved to continuous.

Hmmm....this may be where my memory is being a bit rubbish. Looking back at my emails with the consultant I might have not been on continuous progesterone, apologies. I definitely still had periods, they were just substantially better than before.

Did you have a previous history of fibroids? I do and nobody has been concerned about me being on HRT.

Yes, I did.
The point for me was that I couldn't cope with the ups and downs of sequential. I struggled with progesterone anyway. I went onto continuous and my periods still continued for another 12mths, they stopped when I was 55. I've since had a hysterectomy and being able to only take estrogen is bliss.

Yes I’m on it, was still having periods at 56
Initially I started with the 14 day break from progesterone but was then put on it continuously.

@Tightforthyme I hadn’t previously been aware that I had fibroids.

Also meant to add I had fibroids , I'd had them for 20+ years, they were never an issue and didn't increase on HRT. The hysterectomy was for other reasons.

Ok, so there's a chance they've been there pre HRT. They can grow at varying rates.

Similar to PP I have a well documented history of them: had an open myomectomy pre children, and had small fibroids removed at all three of my c sections, I had some grow (and shrink) during pregnancy and post partum I now have another 5 (small) ones. My consultant doesn't seem concerned re: HRT

One thing to look into if you are progesterone sensitive (I'm assuming you are if mood is an issue but please correct me if I'm wrong!) is what type of progesterone delivery system you are using. My consultant recommends mirena or vaginal insertion if you experience, for want of a better term, pre menstrual rage. Something to do with the dosage being lower because it's already at the correct location and the liver not having to metabolise as much....

I might just come off the whole bloody lot.
I’m not actually convinced it’s benefiting me anyway.

Yes. I do

The only progesterone I could cope with was in the Evorel combined patch , which is norethisterone. Although I didn't try a Mirena because I was too worried that they'd refuse to remove it even if my moods were extreme.

...

I thought you were asking if you could go onto HRT if you still had regular periods.
.
If you're 56 and bleeding every month on continuous HRT that suggests either you are not post meno yet, or you are bleeding because the HRT isn't the right dose.

What are you on? Your GP should be adjusting the dose- less estrogen or more progesterone (if it's Utrogestan, 200 mgs a day not 100.)

Estrogen can make fibroids grow but doesn't cause them. Around half of all women have fibroids but never know and have no symptoms.

If you have low mood on HRT it's worth looking at the dose of estrogen and the type of progesterone.

You might want to think about the Mirena coil for the progesterone- has your GP not suggested that?

The guidance for continuous hrt is

aged over 54 - even if still having periods
no periods for 12 months at any age
on sequential hrt FOR 12 MONTHS at any age and trialling continuous after that

You will get a lot of posts here from women who aren't any of the above but they may have particular reasons for that. The guidance is there because used too soon continuous doesn't stop periods and women end up having scans to check everything is ok.

I'm on continuous oestrogen (patches) but have two weeks on, two weeks off with professional tablets. I've been on this for a couple of years with a recent strength increase (I'm 45) and it seems to be working well.

That is sequential HRT- not continuous.