Bleeding continues 6 months after starting HRT

[Healthworriescarryon]

Needing to say first, I've seen the GP. But I'm not confident in this young male doctor as a duty gp in my surgery. He referred me to gynaecologist. I have no gauge on how long the waiting might be.

Since I already have the coil for the locally dispensed progesterone, I was only prescribed with estrogel. I started in late March and wasn't sure how much I should use. Started with one pump and the increased to two pumps a day in the 3 months or so.

All symptoms improved. But the bleeding rarely stops. It just on and off bleeds, small amount. Periods seem to be regular. By September, I almost thought it settled, but I felt it has gone worse, as I had an entire week bleeding non stop just 7 days after my period. Then my period started and stopped around after a week. After probably just 4days break, the bleeding came back again.

I had 8 polyps in uterus and they were benign and removed. The thickened wall of the uterus triggered the implantation of the coil. I had a scan two months ago showing the thickness is 6mm within normal range.

My smear was done in 2023.

The doctor told me since I had a scan showing normal, it might be just hormone imbalance. He thought the gynaecologist might propose a change of hrt type, but I didn't get an impression that he thought further investigation is needed.

The thing is that I'm sick to see the blood trickling out everyday and feel really anxious about if something is undetected but very wrong.

I post this to seek advice. Shall I wait till God know when the gynaecologist will contact me or shall I contact gp to insist doing another smear to rule that out.

I know the uterus scan was two months ago. But since I have a history of thickened wall and polyps, I can't feel at ease just waiting for someone someday might or might not tell me why the constant bleeding.

I do have private insurance cover
But they want me justify why things can't be sorted with the primary care via the GP.

What shall I do?

Go and see a different GP my female GP referred me to another Female GP in the same surgery as HRT was her specialty.

I’m 53 been on HRT for about 12 years. On the bleed HRT for about 10 years and then moved to no bleed HRT - it took a long time to get it right. One pump wasn’t enough, break through spotting with two and finally 3 is ok. I need to put the gel on every morning about the same time 7 am and must ensure it all absorbs and must take my progesterone at about 9 pm else I get through bleeding. It’s not as easy as just increasing oestrogen it’s a balance. I have pessaries for vaginal issues, if I use those I get bleeding.

Thank you. It sounds very stressful but reassuring in another way.

For me, it guess the problem is I just don't have faith in the GP who would actually give much time or thoughts to this when their diary is crammed up with more needing cases.

I had to request for HRT myself and insisted in being given, all by my own research due to depression and suicidal thoughts which lasted for a good half year. A female GP wanted to put me on antidepressants and told me if hrt didn't show sign of improvement for two weeks, that would be what she'd recommend. But hrt will usually take more than two weeks to take effect. Fortunately, in my case, I was able to tell her it was working in less than two weeks in the second appointment.

For this reason, I want to go private. Just not sure if it's worth the trouble.

I will give GP another try. Thank you.