Early peri menopause-Pill or HRT?

[TreeHuggerMum1]

Help!
I’m 41, confirmed as early peri menopause. (Scans show my ovaries are already half their size)
Been suffering in silence for best part of 18 months.
3 months ago, due to awful mood swings and bouts of crying, I was given Rigevidon contraception pill to apparently balance my cycle and manage my symptoms. I was told by GP it was better than HRT but basically the same ingredients.
Now, however, I’ve gained half a stone and insomnia is ruining my life. I’ve managed 3 hours sleep last night. I feel anxious and teary this morning which I know is due to lack of sleep. It has calmed my heavy and erratic periods which is good. But I just don’t feel right!
Anyway, advice please on whether to stick on the pill or ask for something else.
Contraception is not needed as husband had the chop!

Is the pill you've been prescribed the combined pill? I can't have the combined pill and IME progesterone only contraception is no bloody use for menopausal symptoms.

Hi Bathtimebillie
Yes, it’s definitely a combined pill.

Can you ask your GP for a different pill? I'm on one called Qlaira which is good for perimenopause. It's working well for me. There's another one called Zoely which I think is similar but cheaper so might be easier to convince your GP to prescribe it.

Speak to your GP, only they can advise what is best for you.

I started hrt at 42, still on it. I avoided the pill cause hrt is considered safer after 40.

I’m on HRT and was told not to rely on it as contraception as it isn’t as high a dose as the pill. I don’t know how that stacks up with the symptoms you’re experiencing, but I haven’t had many symptoms at all on HRT, just slightly sore boobs a couple of weeks and heavier periods, but at least predictable now!

I can’t help with your decision but just wanted to say that I’ve been on HRT since my ovaries were removed at 40. 32 years later and I still feel wonderful. I have avoided the real long term horrors connected to menopause which are rarely mentioned because they don’t happen right away like hot flushes do. It can be 10 years or more before you start experiencing problems with vaginal atrophy, incontinence, osteoporosis, etc. Women put these problems down to old age but they are due to oestrogen deficiency and can be avoided by replacing the missing oestrogen.
Medical advances have meant that we have the choice nowadays to suffer from oestrogen deficiency (menopause) or continue to live life to the full.
Good luck. Hope you get things sorted out soon.

HRT is not contraceptive - sorry if that sounds really obvious just one of the replies alarmed me!

The combined pill doesn’t have the same amount of oestrogen as HRT, it’s fairly low dose in comparison and has more risk of blood clots etc - oestrogel (through the skin HRT) has no risk of blood clots, you are safer to take HRT.

I went into early menopause aged 37 due to autoimmune conditions and use oestrogel (3 pumps a day - younger women need higher doses) and one 100mg utrogestan every night and also take the mini pill for contraception - some women have the mirena coil instead of this part. The mini pill counts towards the progesterone part of HRT.

Have a google of the Newson Health clinic website and it’s sister site the menopause doctor website.

After 40 the risks of the (synthetic) hormones in the pill are higher than those for (body identical) HRT.

I’m in your shoes OP - I’ve been prescribed the combined pill (Levest) for insomnia and general rage etc, but it hasn’t helped. I’m now just bloated as well.
My GP dismissed perimenopause as a cause as she said I was too young (40). Not sure where to go from here. I just want to try some oestrogen gel!!

How are you getting on now? I’m nearly 43 and I have been dismissed as not being peri menopausal and have been told that the combined pill or /and anti depressants are my option. I only feel ok myself for 2 weeks of the month .

Wondering if anyone is still around from this thread and how are you doing?

I’m on HRT but wondering whether I should switch to the pill. I’m 41, still get regular (ish) periods but had loads of peri symptoms. The HRT has generally been good. Now, however, I’m experiencing horrible symptoms at ovulation - pain, huge bloating, irritability, depression - and am wondering if I should go on the pill to avoid ovulation altogether?

I can’t work out what’s the best option for women our age.