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

[Catsanfan]

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

Like a PP I had the implant which is the equivalent of the mini pill. Started asking around the age 42 whether I really needed it only to be told that with these artificial hormones in the blood there is no way to reliably test for menopause.

Only alternative would be to not replace the implant then test after six months, which was much too risky from my point of view.

Don't think I had any symptoms.

Stopped having implants aged 55 and have continued ok ever since. Can't help thinking there much be a better way.

Following with interest , Everol Conti plus progesterone from the pill was causing me issues . Dr swapped the Conti for Everol 50 for 3 months and all was good . Just went to get a new 3 month repeat and another Dr declined it as said I wasn’t getting enough progesterone now 🤦🏻‍♀️ They are sending me for blood tests to check hormones , but I was under the understanding that was fairly useless as guide for whereabouts I am . I’m early 50’s but mother didn’t go through the menopause until mid 50 and I’m really worried about the possibility of severe flooding like she had , if I come off the pill which is where the Dr is heading . Really don’t want a coil , as I feel if it doesn’t suit you’re a bit stuck until they agree to remove.

I'm almost 52 and have been on the mini pill for six years. At my last pill review, the nurse asked if I had any menopause symptoms (no) and she suggested that when I come off the pill at 55 I may have slid through with no issues.

Im 7 or 8 years years post menopause and have never had hot flushes, night sweats or mood swings so dont assume they will appear. Actually peri menopause was fine for me apart from tipping me from being oesteopenic to having osteoporosis. Post menopause was when lack of hormones really hit with memory loss and brain fog, insomnia, tinnitus, joint pain and just a complete lack of joy/interest/engagement in life

@MILLYmo0se would you now consider (or are you already on) HRT to combat all the issues you've noted?

Thats interesting @Justlovedogs i am 50 and still on the pill but seem to be having similar issues, i am not sleeping well at night, tired, weight gain, cant be arsed to exercise, and wake up sweating a few times, might have to contact the doctor.

Oh absolutely, on HRT now for 2 yrs and my quality of life is SO much better. Id reached the point of waking between 2-3 am several times a week, no sleep at all a couole of nights a week, and walking by 5 am the rest. For years i blamed my dp too for beibg noisey at night as to why i even found it hard to even fall asleeo, but nooe it was ne - within 3 weeks of starting hrt my sleep improved. My losing things in work and was becoming a running joke, very embarrassing, as was losing my train of thought or even wirds mid sentence. I was so stiff i d struggle pick something off the floor, i felt like i was 90 idd and im only in my mid forties. Problem was i didnt know any of these things had any to do with hormones. Once i finally copped that i went seeking advice re hrt.

That's a great update! We women really need our estrogen!!

Reading these posts I have significant signs. Last year I ended up on sertraline because I was just a raging hormone - I mean nothing was just an annoyance it was a red misted rage. I thought I was going mad. I have done the waking at 2/3/4am and not been able to get back to sleep for a couple of years but a bit later now with the meds and also I have had maybe one sweaty night a month shall we say where I wake up feeling like my body has leaked into my vest top. I Have literally gotten out of bed to strip and shower and of course then not gotten back to sleep. In recent weeks I have had itchy arms, restless legs... Oh to be born a man and not suffer from any of this shit after years of period pains and labour ones.

Next life I am coming back as a man.

I am nearly 48 and also on the POP. I contacted my GP recently to ask About HRT as I’ve been tired, not sleeping, leg pain, anxious and some other random shit. She suggested blood tests to rule anything else out and then HRT.

Tests came back showing I’m pretty low in Vit D and low in B12. I’m awaiting further test results for the B12.

Now I’m not sure whether to pursue the B12 or HRT treatment…. My FSH level was 6.4 and apparently normal but I also know it’s unreliable, my GP even said that.

This is the NHS details on this www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/menopause-contraceptive-pill/#:~:text=Stopping%20contraception,or%20other%20method%20of%20contraception.