Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[tra72]

Hi I am nearly 47 I am on cerazette mini pill i normally get about 3 days of slight spotting on tissue every 28 days but this month Has been different. I have had brown discharge on tissue for about six days. Which started on day 24 this month It keeps stopping and starting yesterday I had a Thick brown long string Come away, which I have never Had before. I am unsure whether this is the perimenopause or I do have a fibroids I have also had for a few months, tearful tiredness, hot flushes, achy leg Anxiety.

[Ayesha]

It sounds very perimenopause to me but I am sure others will post who are more informed.
In the meantime put some relevant words in the search box, so many posts here that will help.

[Hurdity]

Hi tra72

AS you are on the mini pill, you won't know when you reach peri-menopause, but this pill (containing desogestrel) does suppress oestrogen production and I understand this can cause oestrogen deficiency symptoms especially if used long term. It sounds like you are beginning to experience them - potentially as the beginning of peri-menopause

If you are concerned about changes in your bleeding then best to consult your doctor.

In addition, you might want to consider changing to a different regime given your age and per-menopausal symptoms - for example one of the combined pills designed for peri-menopause which contain oestrogen in the form of estradiol ie bio-identical. (Zoely or Qlaira). Alternatively, the Mirena coil and you could then add oestrogen at whatever dose you need as either tablet, patch, gel or spray. All of these would provide contraception as well as additional oestrogen.

Huridty x

[bombsh3ll]

Irregular bleeding or spotting is considered normal on progestogen only contraceptives and doesn't on its own require investigation or to stop the treatment, unless you want to.

I would make sure your smear test is up to date though.

As others have said, the mood symptoms and aches may well be due to declining estrogen levels.

If you need contraception, you can start hormone therapy with estradiol and progesterone alongside cerazette.

An estradiol based combined pill is also an excellent option for perimenopause - I take Zoely continuously so am bleed free and hormonally stable - however if you are on cerazette I am guessing you may have a contraindication to the combined pill.

[tra72]

Thanks for all your help it’s much appreciated I have been on cerazette for over 20 years as I tried combined pill and it didn’t agree with me I also only have 1 tube as before my first child I had a etopic pregnancy at first I didn’t get periods then they changed me to cerelle the cheaper version which didn’t agree with me so when I went back on it i have a bleed every 28 days for 3-5 days the last couple of months have been heavier than normal so a few months ago I went to the doctor to ask if it was peri-menopause as I had ache in my thigh periods where different very weepy hot flushes difficultly sleeping  then really tired had blood tests which came back normal  tested for blood clot and had smear which where normal went for a scan one outside and internal which has picked up a small fibriod .this month is so different I am still spotting 8 days later it started on day 24 and is still there you think it’s stopped then go to toilet and it has brown Discharge on tissue the other day it was a long brown thin string that came away not sure wiether this is normal for fibroids or peri-menopause and when it will stop

[bombsh3ll]

With a normal scan and smear this is not medically concerning at all.

Large fibroids can cause heavier periods but don't tend to change bleed pattern. A small one wouldn't be expected to cause symptoms.

Blood tests don't aid the diagnosis of perimenopause and are not recommended for this purpose in women over 45. It is a clinical diagnosis based on history and age - it would be a very rare woman who WASN'T perimenopausal by 47 (although not all have symptoms).

EDIT BY EMMA
Medical advice removed. See your GP for medical advice.

[tra72]

Thanks for your help much appreciated do you get irregular bleeding on hrt? I am not on it yet wondering what benefits would be if you have hrt and mini pill thanks

[Hurdity]

In their paper on Progestogens and Endometrial protection, (Tools for Clinicians) the British Menopause Society say this:

"Earlier studies have reported that desogestrel 150 micrograms is effective as the progestogen component
of HRT with no increase in the risk of endometrial hyperplasia.33-34 There is lack of evidence on the use of
desogestrel 75 micrograms as the progestogen component of HRT. If desogestrel 75 micrograms is used
as contraception in women receiving HRT, it would be recommended to add further progestogen (e.g.
Utrogestan 100 mg daily or 200 mg for 12 days a month) to provide adequate endometrial protection."

So one option which would be off-licence, would be to take 2 Cerazette along with the oestrogen component of HRT, as per the above - in consultation with your specialist. There have been women on this forum who have been properly prescribed this combination and this dose.

Some women find that taking additional progestogen as part of HRT along with the mini-pill gives them too high a dose of progestogen, if they are sensitive to the side effects.

Re irregular bleeding on HRT - this depends on your underlying cycle ie your stage of menopause, the condition of your uterus (eg any fibroids or polyps), and the dose of oestrogen and progesterone ie type and dose of HRT. I never got any abnormal bleeding after starting HRT, for the first few years because I started in late peri-menopause and my cycle was very infrequent (have had a couple of other eposides of spotting which have been investigated, but nothing to worry about).

Hurdity x