Pill and peri menopause question.

[Zoraflora]

Im 45 and have been on the pill for the last 4 years to treat peri menopause symptoms.
I take 3 packets consecutively then a break for 4 days where I have a period like bleed.

The pill has really helped with heavy frequent periods, hot flushes, joint pain and mood swings.

My question is how do I know if Ive gone through the menopause unless I stop taking the pill or do I take it until Im 50 and then move to hrt?

Anyone else in similar situation?

While the combined pill can help peri symptoms it's not the best way of treating them, either in terms of the forms of hormones (non-bio-identical), the delivery route (through skin is safer than pills) or the dosage (the pill is I believe higher than most women need). Some women under 45 end up on the pill because GPs are strangely less nervous about prescribing the pill than HRT despite it being generally a lower risk option. Now you're 45 I would suggest going onto HRT properly.

When I went to my GP initially with my frequent heavy periods, she wouldn’t even consider hrt she told me that because I was getting regular periods I couldn’t be anywhere near menopause.

Might ask about hrt next appointment. Would hrt stop periods or re start my natural cycle?

I dont want to go back to crazy heavy periods.

I have the Mirena coil and gel, haven't had a period since the cycle after the insertion. Having not had a natural period for over a year I think means you could go on noncyclical HRT which also doesn't involve a regular bleed. Perimenopause can last 10 years and irregular cycles can start happens at different times so you may well be in peri.