Taking the Pill for perimenopause symptoms

[Kontiky]

I still have regular periods but they have been very light for the last year. I've also been suffering with poor quality sleep and sometimes full blown insomnia which is horrible. I've also been getting very achy joints especially my ankles.

No hot sweats yet, but I am often crippled with depression which just comes and goes out of the blue. I'm also suddenly suffering with anxiety which I have never had before.

My GP started me on HRT just over 2 months ago. Estradot 50mg patches and separate Utrogestan for 12 days a month. So far I am not that impressed. I'm still getting poor quality of sleep and I'm still suffering with stretches of extremely low mood which can last from 1 to 7 days at a time. Then I feel fine again. Still getting some anxiety but at least the achy joints have gone away I suppose, but that's all.

Basically I'm no different to how I was pre HRT and it's driving me mad as I never know how I'm going to feel from one day to the next.

I have read on the Internet that the hormones in the Pill are stronger than those in HRT and are better at stopping your own hormones from fluctuating so much and causing all these bastard problems. I haven't taken the Pill in over 10 years but I'm desperate to find some peace of mind again and to feel balanced and calm.

Has anyone tried this method?

Sorry, I see you were on it for 6-8 months. Whoops. Should read carefully. I'm 11 days into a real low period. If I could lie in bed and cry I would.

The main point about Qlaira (CCP), as well as containing bio-identical oestrogen (like most HRT tablets) is that there are ony two tablet free days so those who use it should not experience the same crash of hormones (oestrogen) as on other CCP types which have 7 tablet-free days. The dose is similar to the higher dose tablet HRT but as DayLillie and Cantwaittogonholiday said the dose varies throughout the month to mimic our natural cycle. The main difference also is the high dose of progestogen - which enable it to act as contraceptive too. Some women still get some mood changes from the progesterone withdrawal for a few days - but there should be less pmt than without any form of hormone replacement.

That's interesting Bellaciao.

I was on the Pill for years and years back in my late teens and twenties. I would always get PMS the week before my period was due. But it was just the usual irritability and the Rage and the moment my period arrived I would feel so much better.

If I went back on the Pill now I would be perfectly happy to be affected the same way by PMS. At least I would know when to expect it and how long it would last.

But at the moment on HRT I am getting randomised very low mood and anxiety at any time of the month. No way to prepare for it or know how long it is going to last.

So I am hoping that going back on the Pill will put a stop to all these up and down mood swings and hopefully just make me cross and grumpy again for a few days each month.

I never ever thought I would dream of getting just 'normal' PMS again. But how my hormones make me feel now is so much worse than old style PMS.

Hello. Sorry to ask a question on this thread. I have been on another thread looking for any possible answers but it doesn't look promising in regards to Peri. I have had tingling in my face (6 months) and the last month buttock pain (not had for years), pelvic pain (not had for years) & now ankle pain & tingling in hands & feet. I'm not dealing with it very well it's like every injury has reared its head. , I have horrendous anxiety, terrible thoughts, waking up in a sweat. I'm 49 1/2 & felt great at 49! I can't see how it is bouncing round my body Seeing gynae for a scan on Wednesday. He thought pelvic pain maybe come back because of hormones. Any possibility peri menopause? If I was offered HRT I would take it or I think I will have to take. An AD because these symptoms are so hard to deal with.

I'm vit d deficient & anemic too