Combined Pill

[Shelley1974]

Hi I have hit 50 years of age and been on combined pill for last 10 years.
Not hit the menopause yet.
Dr advises changing to progesterone only pill but I know I need the etrogen. They have said I can take combined pill for another year so long as I know the risks
what age have you taken combined pill until and did Dr agree ? thanks

I switched to the "mini pill" in 2019, so I would have been just coming up to my 40th birthday. I asked to switch because I was/am overweight and I knew there were risks with the combined pill. But actually the real reason I asked was because I'd seen people saying that their periods stopped completely with the mini pill. I desperately wanted that.

I have been extremely happy with my choice - and obviously it has reduced health risks for me.

Would HRT as well as the mini pill be an option for you if it gave you the hormones you feel you need? I'm not sure of exactly what is in it, but I'd have thought this is exactly what it is for?

I came off the pill late 40s and straight onto the mini pill and HRT - like you, I didn’t want to be without oestrogen, but gel/patches for that are lower risk of blood clots than tablets.

(My GP would have preferred I made the switch to POP mid 40s, but I took my own view of the risks and benefits)

By the way, I don’t think you can really know where you are in peri menopause/post menopause whilst on the pill, because it enforced regular withdrawal bleeds, which are not the same as periods.

hi thanks
what mini pill do you take ?

It’s called Desogestrel.

I also take this, with the HRT

I switched to the mini pill when I was 36 after I had my daughter and was breast feeding.
Peri kicked in around 48/49. Various symptoms. I've always had regular periods on the mini pill until 7 months ago when they stopped.
Not feeling the need for HRT just yet, am just about keeping the anxiety under control, given up keeping an eye on the sugar cravings though.
I'm 53 in January and will lose the mini pill at 55.