Perimenopause and the pill

[rayray246]

I'm 38 this year and have all the symptoms of going through the perimenopause. I went to see the doctor to discuss options and she suggested the pill before HRT. I agreed but concerned (like last time) it will make me emotionless and gave me migraines. I'm wondering if anyone found a pill that really helped with their symptoms? Thanks

It might be a case of which pill to try OP, what were you on previously?

If you are perimenopause though then the pill in isolation won't solve it but depends what type of pill you would have.

Following this thread as I am in the same situation

Have a google of body identical HRT. For many women in perimenopause where a risk of pregnancy's exists, you would take a combination of the pill, oestrogen and progesterone, but exactly what combination depends on the type of pill you are on.

Then over time you drop the pill when you are post menopause.

You can also look at specific vitamins, the biggest non HRT (I've not started yet) for me has been 600mg of magnesium every day and B6 - it's solved my sleep issues/ insomnia so I am generally feeling better, brain fog has eased, energy levels good.

So it's also worth considering what your symptoms actually are and non HRT solutions that might help in the first instance.

Is it ok to stay on the combined pill throughout menopause , if it happens pre 50 and the doctors are happy for you to stay on? Can the pill help symptoms? Just wondering as I’m early 40s and still on the pill and trying to get clear on future options!

@StealthMama is B6 in tablet form or a supplement? I'm just about to start magnesium to see if it helps with sleep and night sweats disruption...

No was told You can stay on combined pill up to 50yrs old then switch to progesterone only if still needed. This is risk management for stroke etc after that age increases.

They put me on the mini pill (progesterone only) rather than the combined. I'm not sure why. Anyone have any ideas why and the pros and cons to this?

@harriethoyle yes tablet form just over the counter.

The magnesium needs to be quite a high dose to get the right effect so combined vitamins don't contain enough, separate is better.

I felt better and was sleeping better by the end of the first week, that was about 6 weeks ago.

Also if you take the pill, be really strict with taking it at the same time of day as it will help balance your hormone, and evening time is better because our hormones drop throughout the day so it helps rebalance you.

Mini pill was great for me as no periods and no menstrual migraine.

However not sure what it is supposed to do for peri symptoms - what symptoms were you worried about?

Just levelling out my hormones and in turn my emotions. I'm hoping it'll make me less reactive, anxious, angry, sad etc. I read somewhere it balances your hormones and gives you the correct amount of hormones to stop symptoms where HRT adds to the hormones you have and so possibly could add too many hormones when going through the perimenopause if that makes sense!)

38 would be young for peri.

If you don't have symptoms of hot flushes, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, insomnia and so on I can see that your GP would not be thinking of HRT.

Thanks @StealthMama that's really helpful

HRT doesn't stop physiological changes only replaces hormones and in turn makes a person 'feel better' the pill is recommended for those under 40 with symptoms. Yes I have the physiological changes too but there's little that can done for that.

@rayray246
It can be for lots of reasons, I'm on progesterone only also and have been for 15 yrs.

You can stay on it for longer after 50, it's better if you have a history of headaches, migraines or hypertension. Or any familial history of stroke or clotting issues.

It often stops your periods completely, so some of those monthly emotional side effects ease off, which would be the case whether menstrual or menopause.

When did you start it? You need a good 3 months to assess any change I think.

Same re vitamins re your sleeping and hot flushes, and vaginal dryness you can try an emollient wash like Epaderm or Hydromol which can be used as a wash then applied afterwards. Not the cream version though that's different.

I was on Qlaira for a while before starting HRT. It was pretty good. It might be worth asking your GP if they'll prescribe it (sometimes they're reluctant because it's more expensive than some of the more commonly prescribed ones). It's often recommended for perimenopause.

Go back and say no thanks. If the doctor has ruled out other causes of the symptoms then it needs to be hrt and its OK for you to assert that.
For example at 42 other causes of my symtoms were ruled out by an appointment to a neurologist, an mri of my head and neck and an audiology appointment where they checked my balance and hearing plus blood tests.

@rayray246 Hello. Just wondering how you got on? I'm in a similar position and it's being suggested that I do the same. Would be keen to hear what you ended up taking and if it helped?

Hi. I have been on mini pill since this post and I haven't seen much change. I'm still having periods on the mini pill and so still get some pmt before I'm due on. I've come off the pill this week to see what my periods are like and whether im naturally having shorter cycles and lighter periods or it's the pill doing that. My next step is to discuss HRT with the doctor or go on more natural hormones. Hope this helps.

@rayray246 Thanks very much for getting back to me. Always good to hear experiences of others :)

I’m on the pill Yasmin at 48 and my doctor doesn’t tell me to come off. I’m fit and healthy so that probably helps.
im beginning to get signs that things are changing in the background and the idea of coming of it scares me as on it I’m managing to be really active and do some pretty intense work at work. I worry if I come off I’ll start to fall apart!
id be interested to hear others’ experiences of the spill and perimenopause

Hi @rayray246 It would seem I'm going through a similar process to you all but a couple of months behind. I'm now on the mini pill but don't really feel that it suits me and am going to come off it. I see you came off it when you replied to me last time. How are you getting on?

Hi have now been put on HRT and it has made the world of difference! Trust your gut. If you think it's peri then it probably is.

@rayray246 that's great news! I'm thrilled for you! Sounds like you have a really good GP. Do you mind me asking what your symptoms were? I'm struggling to get my GP to take me seriously. Have a neurology appointment in 2 weeks to rule out tingling sensations and pins and needles causes. If that comes back clear I'm convinced all my issues are due to hormones. Would be good to understand what your symptoms were?

For me it hit me at the beginning of this year. I felt so unbalanced like it was my hormones. The horrible rage, sadness and anxiety. Catastrophising everything and low libido. Search dr Mary Claire on instagram and others who discuss perimenopause. You'll soon see 37-38 is perfectly normal! My old doctor tried to put me on antidepressants (typical decision from doctor who know nothing!) so I decided to change doctors- my new one is fantastic, she listened to me and said let's try HRT- the worst case it doesn't work for your symptoms and then we'll have to go down another route. Are you UK based?

@rayray246 thanks for replying. I am experiencing all of the above alongside joint pain (currently spending a fortune on physios). This month my new one is I just keep waking in the early hours of the night and can't seem to sleep straight through. Alongside periods of awful tingling. I'm convinced it's peri but am going through neuro to have any other conditions ruled out for this.

I am in the UK yes. I follow Louise Newson and Naomi Potter but not Dr Mary. Will look her up thank you ☺️