Going on combined pill during your early 40s / peri

[Mairzydotes]

Has anyone gone on the combined pill to delay / hide perimenopauseal period issues?

I'm 41 , having some perimenopause symptoms. Not skipping periods yet, have one every cycle, although they are closer together , and I can never be exactly be sure when it will turn up . I spot in between. Still need contraception. I was on the pill for years .

Or has anyone been on the combined pill in their 20s and 30s and still take it in their 40s?

I'm 43 and been on the pill pretty much constantly since I was 25. I asked them a few years ago if I should still be taking it and they were quite blasé and said it's fine as I'm not overweight or a smoker.

I do wonder how I will know when menopause starts as surely the pill will mask the symptoms but they don't seem bothered aboit that either so I shall just crack on.

I want it to mask the symptoms , particularly the period related ones.

They used to say the upper age was about 35, now they will prescribe it til about 50, if you meet the criteria.

I am on it for HRT and it works really well for me. Only thing it doesn't work on is hot flushes and sweating but all my other symptoms have gone. I'm 47.

That sounds reassuring. Have you been on it long?

I began suffering with awful cycle related migraines in my early 40s. I tried the combined pill for a year, but it made no difference. I switched to the mini pill and it's been quite effective, I have far fewer migraines. I have no other symptoms of peri at all. I'm nearing 50 now and my GP has suggested stopping the mini pill soon due to my age - I'm not looking forward to what that might unleash.

I’ve been on the combined pill since I was a teenager. I’m 40 now and definitely perimenopausal. Weight gain around the belly. I was having hot flashes but they seem to have stopped. Aside from when I was trying to conceive, I’ve taken my pill back to back with only the occasional break to avoid having periods. This worked throughout my twenties and thirties but within the past year, I am still taking it back to back but have spotting more often than not. I am reluctant to change to the mini pill because I have gone so long without regular periods, I am worried how the mini pill might affect that. So for now, I will stay on the combined pill to avoid having periods and just put up with the spotting.

I have been on it for 4+ years now for HRT. I don't need it for contraception as my husband has had a vasectomy. I tried regular HRT and I am very sensitive to the progesterone in it and it made me very crazy and also very itchy all over my body.

Nooo, you can absolutely stay on the mini pill until 55. Don’t listen to that GP!

I used to take the mini pill alongside oestrogel and utrogestan for HRT. It worked really well for me, I didn’t have any periods at all due to the mini pill (which I’d been on for years and years) and the transdermal Oestrogel meant cut the risk of the clots etc that comes with the combined pill.

I went on combined pill at age 40 for perimenopause symptoms (excessive bleeding etc). Dr said I could stay on till 50.

Now 50 and stopped taking it last week, not looking forward to what might happen next. Worked brilliantly for those 10 years though! Very few menopause symptoms.

I hope I don't start with migraines . I've had them a long time ago , but they still prescribed the pill . They might say I'm now not eligible due to that .

I wonder if they are trying to get you to stop the pill for cost reasons ? Are they offering hrt instead?

I’ve been on it for 20 odd years, now well into my 40s. No issue with periods, they are very short and light these days. Have other peri symptoms though such as night sweats and mood issues. Doctors take my blood pressure etc once a year before repeating prescription but seem happy to keep doing it.

I tried mini pill briefly after pregnancy and didn’t get on with it, got spotting etc.

I wonder how you can find out that you’re no longer fertile if you’re on the pill (so when can I stop taking it)?

I read that taking it back to back can lead to spotting, but then spotting seems common in perimenopause anyway . At least the pill gives the option to delay a bleed, that appeals to me

YES! i was told to stay on it till 55 Risk of ectopic is higher in older women

Yes. Been on it since age 15, now mid 40’s.

Changed from combined pill to mini pill aged 47. Agreed 50 changed to Mirena coil and oestrogel. 2 pumps a day. Best combination for me. No periods, menopause symptoms under control.

Yes , the mini pill is an option for some women, particularly if they need the eostrogen gel .

The minipill or coil may be something for me to explore if I can't have the combined pill .