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Original poster

Mini pill, how will I know when I'm menopausal?

36 replies

Catsanfan · 17/08/2023 17:18

Hi there

I'm on the mini pill and as a result do not have periods as there is no week off.

I have been musing over how I will know when I'm menopausal?

I have kept going hot today which got me wondering. I'm 41.

Many thanks

OP posts:
FionnulaTheCooler · 17/08/2023 17:20

Marking my place to see what the answers are, I'm in the same situation and also in my 40s, although I've not had any menopausal symptoms as of yet. Does staying on the mini pill through the menopause have the same effect as HRT? I'm a bit clueless about it all.

TheFlis12345 · 17/08/2023 17:23

Another person in the same situation keen for answers!

Throwawayme · 17/08/2023 17:40

Me too. I've wondered this recently so watching with interest

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Menopause Women's health
zobalina77 · 17/08/2023 17:45

Im 46 and my doctor just went off my (numerous) symptoms and put me on a hrt trial. I had night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, aching wrists, sore breasts and the last goes on! I'm still taking the mini pill and 100mg utrogestan a day and 2 pumps of Oestrogen gel and it has done wonders for me, almost all symptoms gone.

atomicnotsoblonde · 17/08/2023 17:46

zobalina77 · 17/08/2023 17:45

Im 46 and my doctor just went off my (numerous) symptoms and put me on a hrt trial. I had night sweats, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, aching wrists, sore breasts and the last goes on! I'm still taking the mini pill and 100mg utrogestan a day and 2 pumps of Oestrogen gel and it has done wonders for me, almost all symptoms gone.

Have you put on weight with that combo? I put in weight and felt very sick with the combined pill, wondering (hoping!) if there is a magic combo?!

Ilikewinter · 17/08/2023 17:48

Im also joining in!! I. 46 and dont think I've got menopausal symptoms yet, although I do get bouts of brain fog and defo more anxious about certain situations....but its not constant so haven't put that down to the menopause.

zobalina77 · 17/08/2023 17:48

I've only been on hrt 2 months but I've lost weight as I'm on ozempic.

Shurleyknot · 17/08/2023 18:10

I am 46 and have been on the mini pill a few years now as I did not want to get pregnant so not sure if it is doing anything to help with symptoms. I was still getting a monthly period till I went on it. I am also on sertraline though for anxiety.

RunAwayNow · 17/08/2023 18:16

I'm 44 and had lots of classic symptoms. Tried patches with progesterone and oestrogen but found the pill + patch was more progesterone than I could cope with. Shifted to the mirena coil for progesterone + oestrogen gel and seems to be working well. Interestingly mirena is deemed to be fine for the progesterone element of hrt but the mini pill isn't.

Berlinlover · 17/08/2023 18:20

I’m 47 and have experienced hair thinning but that’s all. I’m afraid to go off the mini pill as I have fibroids and if my periods returned I’d be haemorrhaging.

CeriB82 · 17/08/2023 22:06

I went on the minipill as my periods were irregular (too often and heavy and long). Then I thought i was peri so got patches. But after 6 months they gave me rages.

so i went back on the combined pill and i dont have breaks. So i have no idea where i am!

YorkieTheRabbit · 17/08/2023 22:15

I had been on the mini pill for years, peri menopause gave me the delight of night sweats, by god I never knew I could sweat so much 😱
Anyway, that’s how mine showed up.

PriamFarrl · 17/08/2023 22:17

Same here. When I’ve asked about it I just get shrugs. I finally spoke to the doctor and she is referring me to the menopause clinic. Apparently they can’t test to see if you have had it or not so they leave you in the pill until you are 55 and then just assume it’s happened.

Frosty1000 · 17/08/2023 22:25

I asked my doc that exact question as on mini pill for various gynae issues but was feeling terrible no hot flushes or sweats but just didn't sleep, was soooooo angry and was a nervous wreck with anxiety.

Was offered hrt in case I was peri but I'd be kept with no periods until mid - late 50s and they'd see then.

Didn't do hrt as just didn't want to yet until fell blown flushes etc started but reluctantly accepted an anti depressant that wasn't an SSRI and I'm a new woman 🤣

Just got to wait 15 years until they may take me off the pill

ISeeARedDoorAndIWantToBreakIn · 17/08/2023 22:29

I’m 51, have had the implant for about 18 years (not the same one all that time!😁) and don’t know how I’ll tell. I’ve not noticed any symptoms yet….touch wood.

Gettingbysomehow · 17/08/2023 22:31

Trust me you'll know.

hannahwaddinghamsbiceps · 17/08/2023 22:47

I had the same thought at age 48. As my mum had become menopausal at 45, and I hadn't had a period on the mini pill for 5 years, thought I'd stop taking it.
Big mistake, huge! Flooding, 10 day periods every 3 weeks, then gaps of 50 days.
Joint pains, palpitations, night sweats, an ovarian cyst! You name it. All was fine til I stopped taking the pill.
Now 53 have the mirena and use patches, and have had no bleeding since Christmas. So fingers crossed I'm actually now menopausal.
My advice, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. Stay on the pill if it suits you.

Iloveacurry · 17/08/2023 22:51

I’m 50 and still on the mini pill! Wondering the same thing

FijiSea · 17/08/2023 22:54

Ive been thinking about this too.

Justlovedogs · 17/08/2023 22:56

I'm 51 and have been on the mini pill for years.
You still get symptoms of menopause despite the pill. They will vary for all women but personally I've had tiredness, weight gain, aching joints, brain fuzz and some form of night sweats, probably others too. Been driving me mad recently so had an appointment with the women's health nurse at my GP surgery. She sent me for a blood test with the upshot being that I can stop the pill in 12 months time and I'm currently trying HRT patches (too early to tell if they're doing anything, though!) so I am essentially through menopause and need to get everything to settle down into my new normal.

Astridastro · 17/08/2023 23:11

Going through this just now, I started getting breakthrough bleeding on the mini pill after nothing for about 10 years. That was a shock. GP advised stopping taking it to see what my true periods were doing (I was 46/47 at the time) true periods are horrific, heavy, irregular and painful. Started HRT patches 9 months ago they’ve not helped. GP sent me for tests and gynae appt nothing sinister “just” the menopause, next thing is I’m now to have a mirena coil fitted and have HRT oestrogen only patches. I’m at my wits end with the mood swings, brain fog, mad periods, forgetfulness, insomnia but I have fibromyalgia and the two together have made me practically suicidal. I’m at my wits end.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 17/08/2023 23:14

I'm 49 and have been on mini pill for 10+ years. Last year I had night sweats, hot flushes, absolute rage over nothing and terrible insomnia (which to be fair I've had for years) I had tried the mirena coil years ago and didn't like it at all so really didn't want it. So the doc was happy for me to stay on the mini pill and I take Utrogestan every night and use estrogen patches. Felt an immediate improvement in everything but my sleep.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 17/08/2023 23:15

Oh yes I also had breakthrough bleeds last year, first time ever.

Shurleyknot · 17/08/2023 23:19

Is fidgeting a symptom? I recently flew over to see my father who lives abroad and he mentioned me fidgeting more than a few times. I do not notice it myself but as he has raised me surely he would have noticed this before so it must be a new thing.

Lucinda7 · 17/08/2023 23:57

When I was 52 I had to have a blood test to see if I was menopausal or not or whether it was imminent. I was taking the mini pill so had no periods. If you continue taking the mini pill post menopause it can cause osteoporosis. I wasn't even pre menopausal according to the results. I was asked to have the blood test again at 54 and the menopause had been and gone. I only felt a bit too warm occasionally so I didn't really notice the menopause! The risk of osteoporosis is the reason you need to know. That's what they said.