Early menopause?

[swiftjo]

I’m 44, last year when I was 43 I came off the pill. Since then my periods are regular but they are so light they literally last less than 24 hours. Having terrible fatigue, brain fog, low mood, no sex drive, irritability. Mostly OK for the first two weeks of my cycle, symptoms awful for the last two weeks. Feeling like my hormones are totally out of kilter.

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

🤔 Many people of all ages use hormonal birth control, including those who are in perimenopause, which is the time leading to menopause.

People do not reach menopause itself until a year after their last menstruation.

They may get the typical symptoms of menopause at this time, including hot flashes, irregular periods, and sleep problems. However, the use of hormonal contraceptives can mask these symptoms, or cause side effects that people may confuse with natural hormone fluctuations.

Read on for the answers to some common questions about how birth control pills can affect the symptoms of menopause.

Why do birth control pills affect symptoms?

Packs of birth control pills for menopause symptoms

Birth control pills contain synthetic versions of hormones that decline during menopause.

Menopause occurs due to a decline in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are the two hormones responsible for a person’s menstrual cycle. These hormones also help to support a developing pregnancy.

Birth control pills contain synthetic forms of one or both of these two hormones. Combination pills contain both types of hormone. Taking these hormones can prevent the body from recognizing the natural decline in estrogen and progesterone that occurs during menopause.

As a result, the symptoms that a person typically experiences during perimenopause may not be as apparent or noticeable if they are taking birth control pills. One such symptom is an irregular period, which is extremely common during this stage.

However, a person who is taking the minipill, which only contains a synthetic form of progesterone, may be more likely to experience irregular bleeding and hot flashes during early menopause.

Will I still experience regular menopause symptoms?

The hormones in combination birth control pills will help to regulate the menstrual cycle and hormones, which will prevent many of the symptoms of menopause.

It is possible, however, that the pill will cause side effects that are very similar to the symptoms of hormone fluctuation. These can include:

mood swings

decreased libido

changes in appetite

People may also experience irregular periods or spotting between cycles, especially if they are taking the minipill.

It is menopause or birth control causing the symptoms?

Menstrual cycle being tracked on calendar with period app and tampon.

Share on Pinterest

After a person stops taking the pill, it may take a few months for hormones to readjust.

It can be hard to tell if some symptoms are side effects of the synthetic hormones, or are due to natural hormone fluctuations in the body.

One way to check would be to stop taking the birth control pill to allow the body’s natural cycle to resume. It can take some time for the natural hormones to kick back in and for regular menstrual cycles to begin again.

If symptoms continue when someone stops taking the birth control pill, including irregular bleeding, it is likely that they are going through perimenopause. Conversely, if the symptoms go away, these were probably side effects of the pill.

When coming off the pill, it is essential to wait at least a few months to give the hormones time to readjust.

It is important to recognize the possibility that the birth control pill was masking perimenopause or menopause. If this is the case, then menstruation will no longer occur if a person stops taking the pill.

How can I tell if I’ve reached menopause?

If a person is on birth control, there is no way to know for sure. Someone who is taking the pill may still have regular periods because of the hormones in the medication.

The average age of menopause is around 51 years old. Some doctors may recommend that a person stops taking the pill around this age to see if they have reached menopause yet.

However, someone stopping the pill at this age should still use contraception during sex until menopause is confirmed.

Copied from medicalnewstoday.com

[Danteswish]

I was 3 months away from my 39th birthday and after continuous bleeding my blood test showed I was going through menopause. My mum was 50 so no family history of this.

[sweetsusie]

Your hormones are disappearing and need to be replaced by HRT...tell your doctor to let you try them.....they will make you feel like a human being again...

[Artattack1]

I'm 46 and believe that my menopause started 3 years ago.... very gradual. There would initially be reprieves, breaks in symptoms and then they would be back with vengeance. I did think for a while they were in sink with my teenage daughter! I cant tell you about my periods because I had a endometrial abolition about 3.5 years ago due to heavy bleeding. Its taken 3 years to build to consistent and persistent symptoms.... everything you described. I couldn’t cope anymore so……I am now 9 days in to HRT! The flushes which were the most debilitating part of my menopause have more than halved so far. I even slept through the night last night!!! Wow! I’m yet to go back to work to see how my brain might be functioning but I’m happy so far. No apparent side effects... Its not for everyone but so far so good for me...

[swiftjo]

Thank you 😃