Britain’s top menopause specialists have issued a warning to women who experience bleeding while taking high-dose hormone replacement therapy.
The reason for this is the increase in the number of patients taking these drugs and being referred for cancer screening.
The British Menopause Society (BMS) reassures women that bleeding is a common side effect within three to six months of starting or changing HRT.
However, the document states that unexpected bleeding can be a warning sign that the HRT dosage is not quite right. Women are advised to speak to a GP or specialist about adjusting the amount or type of medication.
The increasing use of HRT – and the risky prescribing of high doses – is thought to be behind the rise in the number of women reporting unexpected bleeding in recent years.
The British Menopause Society (BMS) reassures women that bleeding is a common side effect within three to six months of starting or changing HRT. (Stock image)
The guidelines clarify that any bleeding should be reported to a GP, as this may require an adjustment in HRT dosage. (Stock image)
Instead of going straight to a gynecologist, women are advised to monitor their unexpected bleeding. (Stock photo)
The increasing use of HRT is thought to be the reason for the rise in the number of women reporting unexpected bleeding in recent years. (Stock photo)
The new guidance is the latest attempt by British menopause experts to reassure women and ease the pressure on health services. (Stock photo)
Although irregular bleeding after menopause is usually harmless, it can also be a sign of womb cancer. In the UK, more than 9,700 women are affected by this condition each year.
As a result of the ‘trend’ of prescribing high doses by some private doctors, experts warn that dozens of women have been referred for cancer tests – in most cases unnecessarily.
Apart from the concerns this causes, the tests are invasive and time consuming. Over the past three years, there has been a 43 percent increase in patients being tested for uterine cancer – despite no increase in the number of cancers diagnosed.
The new guidance is the latest attempt by UK menopause experts to reassure women and ease the pressure on health services, following the launch of clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals earlier this year.
Instead of immediately going to a gynecologist, women are advised to monitor their unexpected bleeding and are reassured that the symptom “probably does not indicate a serious problem.”
The guidelines make it clear that bleeding should always be reported to a GP, as the HRT dosage may need to be adjusted.
Menopause specialist and BMS advisor Dr Kristyn Manley said: ‘Unexpected bleeding is worrying and there are long waiting lists for these tests and procedures, which adds to the stress.
‘Although irregular bleeding is always unpleasant, it is important to prioritize investigations in patients with a possible increased risk of uterine cancer over investigations in patients in whom uterine cancer is unlikely.’
HRT patient Karolyn Andrews said she experienced unexplained bleeding because she took the wrong dose.
“It wasn’t until I read about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bleeding that I realised that taking my HRT incorrectly was contributing to it,” she explains.
‘With these guidelines my GP would have been better equipped to treat this without the need for investigation. I would have avoided the anxiety, discomfort and time away from work that comes with referral treatment.’
