Anyone here in their 50's and on the mini pill?

[WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople]

I am 52 in March and last year I was diagnosed (via pelvic mri scan) with endometriosis and adenomyosis.

I also had a uterine ablation in 2022 which has failed and since then when I get my period I am in a lot of pain. Unfortunately I am still having a regular cycle so am still experiencing very light (due to the ablation) but very painful periods.

My gynaecologist has suggested that I take the mini pill to try an shut down my ovarian function. Tbh I have never taken any synthetic hormones or oral contraception and I am a little bit worried, especially as my 81 year old mum has just been diagnosed with breast cancer (although I am told at that age it is not a risk factor for me?).

Anyone in their 50's still taking the mini pill? How has it been for you?

Tell the GP your mum has breast cancer.
There are lots of risks with meds that change hormones.

I would recommend changing your diet and see how your period responds.
There is an ancient Chinese/Indian field that specialises in the food we eat and how are body responds.
So warm foods will ease your period pain.
And cold foods will make it worse.

I had terrible cramps for over 23 years and always needed pain relief. But due to medical circumstances I wasnt able to take them this month.

So I increased my warm foods and cut out cold foods that month.

Warm foods: fish, fish , fish. Chicken. Dates. Fennel seeds, cinnamon. Eggs. Fish oil capsules.

Cold foods to avoid: milk, red meat, carbs, sugars, veg grown above the ground (cauliflower, broccoli etc)
If you Google I'm sure you will find a list of warm and cold foods.

I find it really strange people being on the pill this late on, no disrespect. My doctor told me at 35 that I had to stop contraception as it was not advisable to be on it so long ( I'm 55 now). I guess he must have been particularly careful I guess.

Doggymummar I'm not sure if I've explained myself correctly in my op.
I've not been prescribed the mini pill for contraception. It's because I've been diagnosed with endometriosis and also due to my uterine ablation failing I am in agony with every period so the gynae wants to shut down my ovarian function in the hope that my periods stop and I won't be in so much pain.

My GP and gynaecologists are all aware of my mum's BC, they say because she developed it at 81 that only raises my risk a little.

Thank you for the suggestions but in all honesty I don't think that will help my issues. It is the failed ablation which is causing the issues, it causes a huge amount of pain due to trapped blood, I'm talking labour type pain. They want to stop my periods so my uterus doesn't contract every month which is causing the pain.

I already eat very well and follow an anti-inflammatory diet but it's not helping. I am slim and exercise and only drink water and fennel tea (as I suffer with IBS). I take fish oils and eat lots of salmon etc.

Nothing I do 'naturally' helps the post ablation pain (I had zero period pain prior to having ablation).

Gosh
Hope the doctors can help you!!
Best of luck Hun
X

Thank you.

I’ve just turned 50 and still on the mini pill. I’ve used it for years for contraception and just have been asking my GP if I really need it now and they said still a slim (very very slim) chance of pregnancy so they’re happy to keep me on it

That's good to know. I've read that it's safe to take until the age of 55. I don't intend to stay on that long, just hope it might stop my periods for a few months then go naturally into menopause 🤞

I’ve just turned 50 as well and been on the mini pill for 9 years to control heavy bleeding after they wouldn’t prescribe the combined pill for me any more.

it’s been brilliant. I’ve not bled at all for 8 and a half years. It can take a while to settle down and over the previous years I’ve had some bad reactions to some types but def worth it now for me.

That's good to know, thanks. They have prescribed me Cerazette.

@Doggymummar you can take the combined pill up until age 50 if you don't have risk factors like obesity, smoker, high blood pressure. The mini pill can be taken until age 55.

I admit I am not in my 50s, I’m late 40s but I’ve been on the mini pill for 15 years now and hopefully I’ll stay on it forever or as long as I can! I take it due to heavy bleeding related to lupus and it’s been life changing for me- after an initial 6 months of spotting etc I now no longer have any periods or bleeding whatsoever. It’s amazing. I now have it as part of my HRT alongside evorel conti patches (I went through early menopause aged 37 due to autoimmune issues).

There’s a lot of misunderstanding in these replies….! You can take the mini pill for as long as you like; well into your 80s or whatever if you really wanted to (I am under 3 different gynaecologists, 2 private, one top NHS one) and all agree, especially if the benefits for you are great - as they are for me. It’s the combined pill- the one with oestrogen- that is an issue long term. (If you have transdermal HRT for the oestrogen part if you need it this doesn’t have the same risks). It doesn’t have to be taken for contraception reasons…!

I'm 51 and have been taking the mini pill for years. It's brilliant not to have periods.

Only downside I can see is that I occasionally get cystic acne (which I didn't get before starting the mini pill).

For the last year or so I've been taking HRT as well.

54 and have taken it for 16 years after v heavy periods post DS2. Dr said fine to take until 55. I would rather take it than run the risk of a pregnancy at this age!!! Dr also said it would likely act to level out menopause symptoms.
im now on HRT (3 years) and plan to take both until someone tells me to stop!

Thank you. This is what I have been told by my gynaecologists (I too have an NHS and private one). They have assured me that it is ok for me to take.

My friend is on the mini pill and uses oestrogel to complete her hrt regime.

Do you take oestrogel alongside the mini pill? I was hoping once I get the mini pill under way and hopefully end my bleeding I can then introduce the oestrogel?

That's good to know, thank you.

I use an oestrogen patch (Evorel 75, there are various doses). As far as I know this is basically the same ingredients as oestrogel. I also take an additional progesterone capsule as part of the HRT.

Both the minipill and the HRT have worked out really, really well for me.

Not having periods is fantastic. Plus I'm pretty sure that I had iron deficiency without realising it when I had periods. Now my iron has built up again, I have much more energy.

@WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople I’m on Cerelle now. It was a hard 6 months getting used to it but was so worth it.

I notice someone said their friend uses oestragel alongside minipill to complete HRT...I was told his morning by a nurse that I cannot do that as the minipill doesn;t protect my womb lining from oestragen in the way that Utrogestin/HRT progesterone would. So now I am confused. Can anyone clarify?

Yes, I'm still on it.
I've no intention of coming off it any time soon.
I'm not going back to the appalling periods I had before the minipill.

The theory is that the progesterone will quieten the endo lesions and therefore reduce the inflammation and pain. It's been around for a long time, risk profile generally well understood, and if it doesn't work, it's easy to stop using it. You can try it for a couple of months and see how you feel.

Post meno there are other progesterone options, but you may not want HRT at all, especially as it can trigger endo flare ups.

cold and warm foods FFS.

NHS says to stay on contraception until 55.

I've been on the pill then mini pill on and off for 30 years plus

just over 50 and have got a repeat for Cerelle. Only difference is I can only get 6 months at a time now not 12.

Nothing to do with the pill, she just wants to check if any menopausal symptoms appear