Contraception and HRT

[Garysmum]

I'm on the pill again in my mid 40s to deal with peri symptoms and contraception. It's going OK other than the weight gain which is settling.

I feel ok on it. But I know I will be pulled off it at some point due to risk factors. GPsaid then it would be patches and POP.

Just wondering if anyone else has this combo? I had heard about estorgen gel and that sounds good but don't know if NHS prescribe that as I don't want be progesterone loaded. That is not good with me

If you have a uterus (ie not had a hysterectomy) you have to have progesterone as well as oestrogen.
The oestrogen comes usually as gel or patch then you usually have the progesterone, either as an oral capsule or as part of a combined patch.
HRT is not contraceptive so, if you still need that they usually recommend a POP alongside HRT or Mirena coil for the progesterone part of it
It sounds as though your GP is suggesting a combination patch and POP alongside it

This might help OP.

There are a couple of combined pills- one is Qlaira- which has estrogen identical to the type in HRT. It's being used now as contraception but also in younger women - you!- as HRT.

I'm sorry I dont know the name of the other type- it's very short name possibly starting with F.

Have a read up online on this :)

You can also carry on with the Pill now till you are menopausal ( 50-51) if you have no underlying risks.

As PP says if you need good contraception as well as HRT then a lot of women go for a Mirena coil plus estrogen gel/ patch.

Having HRT that includes progesterone and then doubling up with a POP is not the way to go. There are plenty of other options ( Mirena or the birth control pills that are very similar to HRT.)