Hi Sazzy
Just catching up with the forum as have been busy for a few days -so
![welcomemm :welcomemm:](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/welcomemm.gif)
from me too!
Lots of issues have been raised here as well as your story.
To me the bleeding is a separate issue from everything else and may need to be treated aside from the HRT for menopausal symptoms.
I am also very surprised to hear that your meno consultant advised (bullied you say?) to stop using HRT especially at your age - as has already been said - if you are advanced in menopause. However if you are still very peri-menopausal then the urgency is less (to take extra) ie you may be one of those that experienced symptoms early on in the journey while your oestrogen levels only dropped a little.
The only way you would know as Dancinggirl says is to stop HRT for a few months and see what happens (re periods) - but unfortunately if you are sensitive to a small decline in oestrogen then your symptoms may return very quickly.
As an aside have you read the excellent article on peri-menopause on this site? here is the link:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.phpThe heavy bleeding may well be a combination of the extra oestrogen you are taking to control symptoms, as well as the possible lack of progesterone during cycles when you don't ovulate when heavy bleeding would be expected anyway, but I would say any unusual episode of painful heavy bleeding that is as painful as you experienced would need investigation. I haven't come across what you describe about polyps being passed, nor this being a side effect of HRT - never heard of that.
I am a past Cyclogest user. They can be used as suppositories - less messy but the remains will be passed next morning! I used to get migraines from them because I think the dose generally prescribed by those that will prescribe them for HRT is too high. I used to get a withdrawal migraine too fairly regularly so I sympathise with your problems.
Someone mentioned the 3 month cycle - actually I think gynaes do not favour this because of endometrial thickening - I think there is some research ( maybe Sweden - apologies for vagueness on this) where this happened. Gynaes like Studd would go for a normal length cycle usually but a shorter course of progesterone where women are intolerant. There is still a danger of thickening but it needs to be monitored, and the period of unopposed oestrogen is shorter. I am on a long cycle but it's not ideal - even though I am post-menopausal. eg if you have small fibroids ( I have one) then they can grow.
I use Utrogestan 200 mg vaginally for 12 days every 6-8 weeks (along with Estradot 50) and get a bleed. It is difficult to work out what's best when you are still peri-menopausal though.
The weight issue is something lese - often discussed on here - it is possible to be on HRT and not put on weight - you just need to control what you eat and exercise more - your shape and fat distribution will be changing because you are approaching menopause. The bust size is probably due to HRT I agree.
Blood tests are unreliable around menopause and you would need several really. If you stop HRT and are experiencing symptoms and your periods do not return then you are peri - or menopausal as Dancinggirl says - but they do fluctuate during peri-menopause.
This has turned into a ramble - I often do this but hopefully it is helpful alongside the good advice you've already been given!
Hurdity x