It is common to experience some vaginal bleeding for about 6 months when you begin using hormone therapy (HT) patches.

If you’re still bleeding after this, or your bleeding is heavy, your doctor can adjust the dosage of HT to help reduce bleeding. If this still doesn’t help, they may suggest switching to another form of HT, such as a combined pill.

You should never stop HT without speaking with a doctor first.

If you are using HT patches to help manage menopause symptoms, stopping treatment abruptly may lead to a return of symptoms, such as:

A doctor can help you stop HT safely by gradually reducing your dose over the course of several weeks. This can help decrease the chance of withdrawal symptoms.

When deciding about stopping HT, weigh the benefits and side effects to determine whether it is better to continue or stop the treatment.

It is common to experience some light bleeding when you begin any type of HT. However, you should speak with a doctor if:

  • you are still experiencing bleeding after 6 months of HT treatment
  • you are experiencing bleeding for the first time after 6 months of HT treatment
  • your bleeding is heavy

A doctor can assess whether to continue HT or if there are any underlying health conditions that may be causing your bleeding.