To stay on contraceptive pill until menopause?

I stayed on the pill until I was 51.
I originally went on it to cope with really awful periods age 16 rather than for contraception and every time I stopped it (except while pg) the symptoms came back. I tried to come off it at around 48/49 but had one period and thought "nope".
I tried again about a year ago and no periods so I don't take it now. I do wonder if its why I don't seem to have really had any issues with menopause apart from being a bit warm.
I didn't even bother my GP I just bought it online

I highly recommend reading 'How the Pill Changes Everything' by Dr Sarah E. Hill. 'The Hormone Repair Manual' by Lara Briden is really good too, she gives a good overview of female hormones beyond 40 and the impact that the pill can have.

One thing to consider with the pill is that you don't get the benefits of natural estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal contraception uses synthetic estrogen and progestins, which can have an inflammatory effect for some women. There are some academic research papers too which suggest that the contraceptive pill has a negative effect on the liver.

@shrinkingthiswinter they really are! I hear this from most women! I went for the copper. I had decided and she tried hard to sway me off. And said I would regret it and come back to switch to mirena! I have had it for 3 years. I told her I wanted the copper as after some good years on the pill I started bleeding for 3 weeks of the month. It was awful. So her solution was to keep the hormones in my body permanentl🤔

I’m mid-40s and on the mini pill. Have been for years. Means I don’t have periods which is brilliant. Drs are obsessed with trying to get me to have a mirena coil, but this works for me.

If you were fine in the pill, go for that (assuming no medical contraindications- ask your GP). If they say you cant take the combined pill, consider the mini pill. I’m on the mini pill and it’s great- no side effects no periods.

I (46) have stayed on pill for 2 reasons. I don't have periods when I'm on it and def don't want them and I'm actively planning to stay on for as long as possible to help with peri-menopause symptoms. Even if DH had tge snip I'd still want to take it.

I'm still on Cerazette despite being over 50, the doctor has said unless something changes healthwise, she will prescribe it until 55.

I have the copper coil. I'm 33. Have 4 kidd and I don't want any more hormonal contraception. Nor do I want dh or i to have unnecessary surgery. Only down sides are it can be painful inserting and periods can be heavier. But plus side is it lasts 10 years. So I will only need one more before I am menopausal. Whereas the mirena is every 5 years and is still hormones.

I was on the pill gedarel until I was over 52. Then put on the prostregen only pill which I only took for 2 months because I became very depressed since my periods which were regular stopped. I started a 3 month supply of Marvelon and my mood changed, regular bleeding. I was unable to get any more of the combined pill when I was 52 and a half months old. My periods have stopped and I am always in a bad mood, depressed, and feeling down. I have just turned 53.

I had Depo Provera injections every 10 weeks, went straight through the menopause without noticing! Came off the injections when I was 52. So easy, no issues, no side effects. I tried the mirena coil but despite everyone saying how wonderful it was it really didn't suit me, I had a lot of stomach cramps and random bleeding. Be guided by your doctor but imho there's no problems with what you're proposing.

Following as I’m considering this too!

If you have definitely finished with babies, maybe ask the doctor for a sterilisation? You may have to ask a couple of times. Or the implant, coil, injection?

Hormonal coil is a lot more reliable than the minipill and has lower stroke risks than the combined pill. Also often removes or reduces periods which is a bonus.

I've got a mirena, certainly much easier than the pill and helps with peri menopause I think

IME the doctors did try and get me on the coil. I genuinely think there's some kind of financial incentive for them. But I really didn't fancy it so stuck with minipill.
Have a look at the NICE guidelines concerning older women/ the pill/ contraception/ menopause. They'll give you the NHS guidelines and recommendations that GPs (should) follow.

I stayed on the minipill until I was 52. Came off ...and... nothing! Menopause had happened without me noticing.
It wasn't a problem to not know that it had happened. It was marvellous.
I don't see any disadvantage in not knowing! I was blissfully unaware.
For most women there could be lots of other symptoms that tell you you're in menopause besides what's happening with periods- poor sleep, brain fog etc

stop over 35 if smoker yes, but otherwise benefits outweigh risks up to 50 unless another contraindication such as BMI over 30. advice now is to take continuously or just a 4 day break every few months, no need for a 7 day break each month. I'm planning to stay on it til 50 then straight switch to HRT.

There are two types of pill.
The combined pill ( Take for 21 days then have a break Eg Microgynon) does increase risk of breast cancer and blood clots so generally advised to stop over 35 especially if overweight/smoker.

However the progestogen only pill (Take every day no break Eg Cerazette/desogestrol) is much safer and can be continued to menopause.

I am on the latter since kids. No periods. Love it!

risk of breast cancer is a major problem. ocp generally associated with a fair amount of risk with LT use. you can try the copper coil as that has less of a risk profile. or even the mirena coil. implants are worse than ocp as higher doses of hormone. the mini pill is also slightly lower risk than the combined ocp and less side effects. I would recommend a discussion with GP. the fact that it has become a social norm that women have to take the responsibility for contraception by filling their body with pregnancy hormones and accepting the risk boggles my mind.

I’m now 50. My GP advised against it for me after about 40 (possibly due to being overweight although I also had the impression it wasn’t advised after a certain age - could be wrong). I had the mirena coil which was fantastic, no bleeds and no remembering to take a pill).

It is what I intend to do, I am on combined pill and will be staying on it until aged 50.

I'm considering this, mini pill, age 43. How do you know if you go through menopause though? my mum stayed on the pill and didn't notice so not sure when/how you check

fine until 40. But my GP and the nurse at my surgery kept cajoling me to come off it because of the increased risk of clotting/ health complications as you get older.

I’m very fit, Lower end of BMI and non smoker. But the advice was still to come off combined pill.

mini pill safer for longer though. But it doesn’t agree with me.

Coil is a good option. Condoms?