Hormone Regimens

Regimen
Days per month
Bleeding*

Continuous estrogen with cyclic progestogen
Estrogen every day; progestogen on days 1–12 or 1–14
Regular, monthly bleeding in 85% or more of women, often lighter than a period

Continuous estrogen with continuous progestogen
Both estrogen and progestogen every day
Often irregular bleeding for the first 6–9 months (more erratic the closer a woman is to menopause)

Cyclic unopposed estrogen
Estrogen on days 1–25
Unpredictable spotty bleeding for first 6–12 months

Continuous unopposed estrogen
Estrogen every day
Occasional spotty bleeding for 6–12 months

Continuous estrogen with long-cycle progestogen
Estrogen every day; progestogen on days 1–14 of every third month
Generally fairly heavy periods

Low-dose regimens
Can be administered in all of the above patterns
Generally less bleeding than with standard dose

*Postmenopausal bleeding outside these parameters is not uncommon, but may be a sign of uterine problems.