Menopause or post menopause?

[firesidechat]

A bit of background first. I am 52 and have been on the mini pill for many years and as a result I don't get periods. I haven't had any obvious symptoms of the menopause, although I feel hotter generally - no sweats and no hot flushes. My skin was very itchy for no obvious reason and I did have a couple of years with some very low moods, but these were pretty insignificant.

I have just had two fsh level tests about 6 weeks apart and they both showed a level of 64. My doctor said that this meant I was post menopause and that I should carry on taking the pill for another 12 months and then stop because at that stage I wouldn't need contraception.

I've had a quick google and I'm not sure if I am actually post menopause. It's seems too good to be true and the hormone levels don't seem that high. Am I being daft to doubt the gp?

Oh and I had a previous fsh test about 2 years ago that was satisfactory, whatever that means.

That level of FSH does suggest you are post menopausal but there is also the factor you are taking hormone pills so any reading is going to be unreliable. The only way to get a true reading is to come off the mini pill . Even then, your results may not be accurate because if you are peri meno the levels vary day to day!

I suppose the main question is, what's bothering you? Why is it important to know? The rule re. birth control is use it for 1 year after a final period if you are over 50 and 2 years if under 50 . As far as I know, you ought not to carry on taking progestogens daily if you really are post meno as they can thin the womb lining too much and you may get spotting / bleeding which will then alert the drs to investigations!

You might find that any meno symptoms don't really start for a while longer. Some women (like me) found they only kick in when their periods are well and truly over (I was 53.)

I suppose I may be overthinking it a bit (symptom of the menopause maybe ). I just like to know stuff and the sooner the better. I will continue with the pill for a year as it seems to suit me and post another thread then if it all goes horribly wrong.

Hi ladies, I am new to this