Switching to progesterone only pill ar 43. Anyone the same?

[Sockmate123]

I have no menopause symptoms as such yet. I suffer from migraines and one of triggers seems to be pill free week on currently contraceptive pill.

GP has suggested Progesterone only pill. Anyone any experiences? I am on the other pill about 15 years, bit nervous to swap

Any of you find it messes with your bowel movements? I’m thinking of taking it because I want to avoid periods because they mess with my bowels (which I presume is water retention related), but I'm worried it would make me more bunged up.

I was on it for years with no issues as familial blood clot issues meant I couldn’t take the combined pill, but when I realised I was infertile in my thirties I stopped taking any contraception so it’s a good decade since I last had any. And my bowel issues are more of a recent thing.

I have ibs and it’s had zero effect on me in that way - apart from avoiding periods and the side effects they have! I wish it had 🤣

I have been on the mini pill for nearly 10 years now and I love it (I’m 44). Just be aware that when you first start taking it you can have some bleeding and the odd weird period and this is fairly normal but after about 6 months this calms down. I never have any bleeding at all now. (My periods were a huge issue for me as I have lupus and autoimmune issues and they’re very heavy). I went into early menopause at 37 and take HRT alongside it now; so I have evorel conti patches as well as the mini pill and it works really well for me.

I switched due to migraines several years ago. It sorted that out and stopped my periods so no complaints here.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think i will give it a go!

Was it utrogestan you were taking? If so, estrogen along with it?

Curious as my migraines have improved on HRT, but I thought this was the estrogen rather than the utrogestan.

I have noticed I get more migraines in the time I'm not taking the utrogestan though, and I have the estrogen constantly

I changed at 42, and I’m 44 now. It suits me well I think and the best part is I haven’t had a period since! I’m pleased I changed over.

No, it’s bioidentical cream I buy privately. I don’t take estrogen with it.

Common cause of menstrual migraine is estrogen dominance, so supplementing with P can help. It’s totally changed my life, so no complaints here!(to note, you can be estrogen dominant, but low in estrogen and still need it… similarly, you might want to take the progesterone all month. I do)

Glad it’s kind of working for you. The migraines are hellish.

I started taking the POP again after a ten year break six months ago, aged 45. I feel so much better. No periods, no mood swings, no headaches, no vertigo, no breast pain. I had a couple of months of non stop low level bleeding to begin with then it settled.

I was on Cerazette from 42 until 55, and found it really suited me. No periods at all in that time, so a win for me.

Ah thank you !

I spoke too soon... migraine got much worse. I've just moved to continuous utrogestan to see if that helps, but as you say, it's the crashing estrogen levels I think cause the problems.

Sigh. I think if this doesn't work I might try POP alongside to see if I can shut off the cycles.

Yes, unfortunately, with peri and the hormone rollercoaster, I have the occassional breakthrough migraine and have one today, too! Not fun, and an awful reminder of the way things used to be for me.

Before you rush into pop, just have a read up on it. Some suggest its not great for those of us with ED. I could never tolerate synthetic hormones - but I do appreciate everyone is different. If you use FB, there is a good group called Estrogen Dominance Support, where there is a ton of information in the files.

Good luck 101. Hope your head is better soon💐

Thank you, I will read up on it. I'm v reluctant to try it as I've had poor experiences in the past.

I'm not sure I'm ED. Tons of hot flushes in periods of low estrogen, pre period being the worst, are currently my biggest other symptom.

But also can't do 18 days a month of migraine without ending up unemployed!

Hope your head feels better soon too xx

Been taking POP for 8 years, was getting 3 migraines a week, haven’t had one in 7.5 years.

i was prescribed it by a menopause specialist to address very painful and frequent periods, which meant I was spending half my life in a lot of pain. It’s stopped my periods completely and given me my quality of life back! The combined pill was no help with this.