Experiences of progesterone only pill for early perimenopause symptoms and skipping the monthly hormonal rollercoaster!

[Sleepy21]

I did post this on women’s health a few days ago but reposting here in case I can get anymore insight!

Hi there, I know we are will react differently but I just wanted to ask of your experiences with the Progesterone only pill? I am 43 and having so many symptoms during ovulation and periods that I never used to have quite as bad - I did try HRT but had horrible anxiety feelings and poor sleep as a side effect, I perhaps didn’t give it enough time as I stopped it quite quickly after starting but perhaps think I am maybe not quite ready for it. I just could do without the monthly ups and downs that come with periods now, they are also heavy for first 2 days and I have low iron so might also help with that? Currently taking iron bisglycinate to try to bring back up. Would welcome any of your thoughts, experiences and comments. Thanks for reading

Gave me horrendous anxiety, worse than I was not on it. Took it just under 3 months. Got worse over time, sort of crept up on me weirdly, until one day I struggled to get out of bed I felt so depressed. Back to my usual self within days of stopping taking it.

I have heard that quite a lot - did you take the combined pill instead? Thinking maybe that?

No, I'm never taking hormonal pills again. A decade ago the mirena coil had the same effect, just took longer for the depression to creep up, but I spent a month in my room crying before someone said they thought it might be the coil.
I had sworn off hormones then, but the doctor persuaded me to try again.

Im in peri (41) and have been on slynd mini pill for 6 months, after spending ages faffing around with oestrogen patches and micronised progesterone and still feeling awful. It took me a long time to realise the hormonal swings were the issue (migraines, anxiety, heart palps, muscle aches) and slynd has been a godsend! As it’s stopped ovulation I no longer have the hormonal changes and I feel so much better! I thought I needed oestrogen but actually at the moment it just made things worse for me. I really struggled with progesterone intolerance and had tried other mini pills like cerazette in the past that really affected my mood but slynd has been fine, a bit rocky at first but settled after a few weeks.
Worth a try!

Also just to add, after a bit of spotting at first it’s completely stopped my periods and my ferritin level has gone up for the first time in years!

Complete opposite experience with Slynd and had to stop taking it after 6 months of getting worse and worse on it. Made my mood very low and negative, didn't want DH anywhere near me and bleeding constantly. I felt so much better when I stopped it!

Oh and I felt absolutely exhausted on it as well. I was really hopeful it would work for me as didn't get on v well with utrogestan either. I feel like I just can't tolerate any form of progesterone.

I did try HRT but had horrible anxiety feelings and poor sleep as a side effect,

How long did you try HRT- what sort and what dose?

Medical guidance is give it 3 months, then try other types.

Did you experiment with different types of progesterone? Did you only try Utrogestan? There are lots of other types.

HRT normally helps sleep and anxiety.

The POP won't help peri.