Does the contraceptive pill mask the effects of menopause?

[ladylouanne]

I'm 48 and have been taking Qlara for the past 18 months or so. This was initially a last ditch attempt to minimise the effect of heavy periods (I have fibroids that didn't respond to resection) but I now also need it for contraception.

I know I need to stop taking it when I'm 50 but I've recently noticed real mood swings and other symptoms. Is it possible to feel menopausal whilst on the pill?

[TroysMammy]

It's a question I need to know the answer too. I'm 48 and on cerelle and don't have periods. I don't have mood swings although people get on my tits from time to time but that has been a regular occurrence for years. I kick about at night, feel hot on occasions, no whoosing f loo ushes and have recently started aching like I imagine someone 30 years older does. My memory is exceptional though, I don't know where I store all the information.

[TroysMammy]

It appears my fingers have got fatter too. That should read whooshing flushes.

[Joannebrent]

I've been on the mini pill for years! So haven't had any periods but could never sleep for more than 5 hours? I am 49 and decided to com off the pill in January and have had heavy periods every 4 weeks since..... But this month it's been 5 weeks and nothing?...... Is this it? Or just the pill that had masked the menopause for years? Or just the start of it????

[whatevva]

I was on it until 49. It masked period problems, but not night sweats and not urogenital problems - they were worse during the week off and got really bad about 6 months after stopping it.

I used to get a bad withdrawal headache during the week off, if I got the least bit thirsty.

[TroysMammy]

I did stop the pill in 2013 but my periods were erratic. 83 days between them, 21 days, 14 days, 50 odd days. I was fed up nipping to the loo checking and carrying around sanitary protection so the Doctor allowed me to go back on it. Who knows that may have been the beginning of the menopause. As I take cerelle constantly, there are no breaks, I find towards the end of the pack I feel more tired and I am like a human dustbin. Any edible crap I find just gets scoffed. Chocolate, salty crisps, biscuits,pasties. I can't stop myself. Few days later no, interest in them whatsoever. Luckily no weight gain.