Advice please - impact of contraceptive pill on perimenopause?

[Donm999]

Just looking for some advice…

Am thinking I’m having some peri symptoms (sleep, weight gain, irritability etc) but am currently on the mini-pill (progestogen only) which stops periods. Last time I was off it was 3-4 years ago, at which point periods were lighter but still regular. I’ve just hit mid forties.

Am tempted to come off the pill to see what things look like now. However, am a bit worried that it’s going to unleash hormone hell 🫣.

Anyone has any experience with this? Not sure what if anything this small dose might be doing of benefit…

Do you not need it for contraception?

Would plan to use alternative methods in the short term, with a view to potentially restarting after a few months.

Why bother. You're likely to be perimenopausal or there abouts so if the pill is working well and you need it for contraception I'm not sure what benefit you get from seeing what happens without it.

GP prescribed me the mini pill (cerazette I think it was) for terrible perimenopause symptoms. I assumed I had PMT but looking back it was peri. After I stopped taking it to see what was happening I had a period which lasted for about 20 days and ended up with anaemia.

I went on to the mini pill to manage heavy peri bleeding. I now take it a couple of times a week alongside hrt patches (I don't need it for contraception, dh attended to that).

Thanks, some useful things to consider.

Im considering a break as wondering how much rubbish sleep, anxiety and low energy could be peri and what is just lifestyle. Was thinking if I could see where thing are at in terms of cycle, this might give me an indicator. Maybe that’s a silly idea though and I should just assume it is peri 🤷‍♀️

I'm on the mini-pill for contraception for years,had horrendous peri symptoms while on it which only adding HRT fixed.