I have been taking prometrium for 2 years, 200mg for 10 days at bedtime. I have a history of hyperplasia. The last month I had a period, but then some light bleeding and spotting,the period lasted about 12 days. I called my doctor and he said to see if it became a pattern and if I kept spotting after the period I may need another biopsy. I took the next months pills and forgot the last one and took it a day later than I should have. Now 4 days later all I have is light brown spotting. has anyone else had this experience, I don't know if I am getting in trouble with the hyperplasia again. I have skipped a period in the past on the prometrium. The periods seem to be getting weirder, but I will be 48 in a couple of weeks. I also have had a lot of sress , my husband had a bad bicycling accident where his front wheel was hit by a dog, and he ended in the trauma unit, and has had 4 surgeries. So maybe that is affecting it too. I have fibroids also. I just want to go through menopause. Any advice?

spin: Welcome to PS...gosh, I don't know what to tell you. Brown blood is a sign you're getting near the end, I think. My doctor tried to 'bring on' a period with me several times and my body just wouldn't. I'd follow my doctor's advice if I were you. You mentioned hyperplasia...where is it occuring?

I had the hyperplasia in the uterus, 2 years ago and they did a biopsy and found it. That caused 3 weeks of heavy bleedin and anemia. Then when I had a D&C and that came back hyperplasia. I started on provera and switched to prometrium due to side effects. When i had a biopsy 3 months later it was normal. So i have been on the prometrium, but now I just am unsure. My doctor always said that I would only be in trouble if I started spotting everyday like i had it two years ago where i spotted for 3 months. It is hard to know if there is a problem or just more menopause symptoms. I always thought the prometrium protects the uterus from the estrogen buildup. I guess i wil wait one more month of pills and if it is wierd I will make an appt.

Hi Spinny,

Of course I don't know for sure what is happening to you, but I just wanted to tell you that as you enter more and more into peri it seems more difficult to bring on a period, even with prometrium. Perhaps now that you are 48, you could be entering closer into the meno area.

I turned 50 this year, and last year (at 49) I was no longer getting my periods on a regular basis, even though I was using the estrogen and prometrium. Instead I would have crazy months of just spotting or nothing at all. So it could be that you are not building up enough lining for a period??? Remember that your estrogen levels have to be high enough to build the lining.

Take care, Juliann

thanks ladies for your advice, its so frustrating when you feel like a period is imminent, but it doesn't arrive. I don't think missing my last pill of prometrium and taking it one day late would mess me up, but who knows. I think I will just wait and take my pills in December and see what happens. if it is really weird again I will make an appt after the holidays.

Hi Spinny,
You're not taking any supplemental estrogen right? I think the brown spotting could be caused by estrogen levels that are too low to maintain the endomentrial lining or shed it in a normal pattern. The 200 mg of Prometrium (a relatively high dose of progesterone) could make this problem worse if your estrogen levels are too low. How do you feel otherwise on the Prometrium? Maybe you could talk to your doctor about stopping it for awhile or about having an ultrasound to check your uterine lining. A simple FSH test could help you figure out if you are beginning menopause. I get brown spotting like you describe as soon as my estrogen levels drop. If I take an extra estradiol pill at that time, the spotting usually stops.

no I am only taking prometrium, I am not allowed estrogen due to the hyperplasia. I had low progesterone and he says plenty of estrogen. That was 2 years ago so maybe it is changing now. i will wait until after the holidays and if it is still wierd then i will call my doc.