Stay on combined pill or move to coil and HRT?

[PoorPhaedra]

I saw my GP today to discuss a series of symptoms I’ve been having for quite a while that sound very much like perimenopause. I’m 45 with two kids. I’m currently on the combined pill and have been since I was 17.

She said that HRT is not compatible with the combined pill and if I start on oestrogen gel I will need to either move to the mini-pill or have a Mirena coil.

Years of reading mumsnet have given me an absolute fear of the coil - I don’t want my depression, mood swings, weight gain etc to get worse!

Also my combined pill already contains oestrogen and progesterone (which is what the coil and gel would give me) so I’m wondering if changing my pill and starting HRT will actually make a difference to my hormones or whether it just risks a whole host of side effects making my life worse?

Maybe I should stick with the combined pill and try antidepressants?

Has anyone been in this position and what did you do? The GP was lovely but I couldn’t come to a decision in my 10 minute consultation. She was pushing the mirena coil option but I’m so wary of making my symptoms even worse.

I found that the Mirena helped my rages and PMT, and putting this on the Menopause board might get you better responses

You don't have to have the coil, you could have progesterone in tablet form. Look up the NICE guidelines for menopause.

It's a complex area and poorly researched and resourced overall. I absolutely hated being a guinea pig, "try" this and that.

I've had 3 coils no issues.
Mirena stopped my flooding and my periods.I highly recommend it.