Menopause and the pill

[agapanthus1979]

I've got some (probably really daft) questions and would really appreciate your wisdom!
I'm heading towards 43 and pretty sure I'm perimenopausal. Early stages, I think, but I have certain symptoms: increased anxiety (not awful by any means, but more so than before); issues with sleep; skin changes; AWFUL forgetfulness and brain fog etc. Nothing dreadful by any stretch of the imagination, and part of the rich tapestry of womanhood, I'm sure 🤣
I am curious, though, about the period side of things. I'm on the combined pill, with no intention of coming off it unless necessary. How, then, will I be able to tell if my periods have changed in terms of heaviness/frequency etc? Or is it the case that the pill will sort of balance this part of it all out?
Sorry for my naivety- I probably sound like a young Victorian woman on the cusp of marriage wondering where babies come from 🤣🤣

Hopeful bump....

Post in the menopause section? At mnhq to move for you ?

I am following this as I wonder the same thing. I am 40, been on the pill for years and don't want to stop but I do wonder how you know you're menopausal when your hormones are already being altered.

I have no symptoms but I wonder if the pill will mask them (and if it matters).

I’m 52 and went on the pill at 48. Came off it about five months ago to see what would happen. Had two periods and then nothing. Up until being 48 I was regular as clockwork and only went on it as my hormones were causing me to disassociate. So am assuming I’m now peri, although will obviously have to wait and see. But, as I say, I’ve had to come off the pill to see what happens.

Im 47 and i was sterilised 12 years ago. When TTC my periods were irregular so i had to test every 4 weeks to see if i was pregnant. Once sterilised i became regular, then 4 years ago they became heavy, lasting for a week and every 3 weeks. So i went on the minipill.

I get symptoms (flushes/weight gain/sleeping issues). Im not ready to come off the pill to see how my periods are. I don’t think its worth it.

I am fortunate in that using the pill for contraception apart from 4 planned pregnancy breaks was OK for me physically and I did not have any adverse experiences as others report re emotions/libido.

I continued on the mini pill for what would have been my menopausal years. Stopped around age 52. Periods never returned. Generally I would say that I had no significant reported menopausal symptoms. Definitely no sweats. DH says I was a bit 'shouty' occasionally!

I do think it is a very under investigated area of medicine but maybe times are changing.

I'm nearly 53 and am still on the mini pill, I'm just about to go and have a chat with my doctor next week to ask this very question. I haven't had a period for week over 10 years because of the pill but am most definitely having hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, joint pain, brain fog, and forgetfulness!
I guess the only way to tell for sure is to come off the pill and see what happens, but having a chat with the Dr first!

I went on the mini pill in my forties (which stopped my periods) . GP offered me FSH tests at 51 which came back with levels saying I was through the menopause. She told me they would treat that as the day of my last period and advised me to take the mini pill for 0ne more year "just to be sure" which I did. I never had another period, didn't even have a withdrawal bleed from the mini pill.

One other thing im confused about is the sleeping issues, nerves etc. im on 8 weekly B12 injections, so those symptoms could be the B12 levels going down.

I'm on the pill (it resolves all my endo pain) and just started HRT as had peri-menopause symptoms. Am 45. My GP said I just stay on the pill for the next few years and then we can reassess.

Thanks for your replies.
It does indeed seem to be an under-researched area.
I'm now sort of hoping I can stay as I am, keep taking the pill, and possibly avoid the period-related symptoms of menopause....

I'm 50 and also on the mini pill. I've not had a period in the four years since I started taking it. I understand you can continue taking it until you're 55. However! I have frequent hot flushes and I don't understand why if my hormones are being controlled by the pill. I've not spoken to any HCPs about it but am intrigued.

So am I understanding this correctly, it’s possible to switch from the combined to the mini pill and thereby manage to skip the menopause? Your periods just stop? Why isn’t this more widely discussed? It sounds perfect!

My periods took 6 months to stop on the minipill. Been on it 18 months and its great! I was losing so much blood my iron levels were very low. Combine this with low B12 and I wasn’t in the best of places. Now im not bleeding and getting B12 its great!

Im happy to continue this until m told by the GP im bot allowed the pill anymore

What is the mini pill? I was on Desogestrel. I realise that my previous post makes it sound like I’d purposely come off the pill to see what happens! In reality it was because I had an injury which meant I couldn’t drive - and it’s a 40 mile round trip for me to go and get the pill. So I decided i might as well see what happened!

You can order desogestrel tablets online to be delivered, no need for prescription

Or you can buy direct from some chemists eg Boots

This is an interesting thread. I'm 44 and came off the combined pill at around 40 due to concerns from the doctor about my age and being a smoker. I'm considering going back on some form if contraception because my periods are starting to become more problematic. I get what I assume is ovulation pain around the middle of the month then a few days before the start of my period I feel so exhausted, have headaches, backache and just generally feel like shite. Thinking about trying the mini pill cos Im so sick of feeling like shite for 2 weeks of the month.

@FestivalFancy7 - I never realised that! I’d have had to order them online as back then I couldn’t drive and am in the middle of nowhere so no nearby chemist. Really annoys me that I’ve had to trek so far for them over the past few years.