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[Focus]

Hello ladies

And apologies if I've asked this before...

But the combined pill...it just helps to *mask* the symptoms of perimenopause, wither completely or just a bit? Have I got  that right?

I've been on the CP since December (to deal with almost constant flooding/clotting). I've still had night sweats, palpitations etc since taking it, but it's not been too bad on that front, and it's totally helped with the constant heavy periods.

I noticed that my withdrawal bleeds and PMS can vary hugely since I started taking the CP this time - which is totally different to my experience of being on the CP from ages 27-42 odd. Each week without taking the CP used to be *exactly* the same.

I had one awful bout of PMS back in May. The pain was almost making me pass out it was so bad, and it lasted two days. I've never, ever had this before in my life. I usually had mild-ish cramps for one day only. And I could still go to the gym, maybe doing just some moderate cycling instead of abs exercises, but I'd still go.

Plus some withdrawal bleeds since taking the CP this time are barely even noticeable (it's almost been like not having any period at all), but some are very much heavier, more like my old, pre-pill taking period.

Is this because now I'm more in the irregular period part of perimenopause? Is this what the CP is masking a little bit?

[dangermouse]

Hi Focus,

Yes my experience with the pill in Peri was very different in that it could no longer fully control my own hormonal fluctuations, so it took the edge off of the volatility rather than flattened my cycle as it did in the past.

The breaks made me feel awful in peri so I took back to back which helped but I know you are needing to take some as you had breakthrough bleeding.

Still a much better option than HRT as it flattens to a much better degree whilst all the volatility is so powerful. It's helpful to liken it to a strong tide (which it sort of is as the moon controls our cycles) crashing about, so it's not going to be something easy to control until the crashing all calms down.

[Focus]

Brilliant, thank you so much dangermouse! I sort of had that impression, but wanted to make sure.

This is the worst 'period' I've ever had on the CP, it's painful and heavy (although nowhere near the living hell I was experiencing before I started taking it).

Last night I woke up every hour - literally - to go to the bathroom, and I also had a nightmare about having a period (the first time that's ever happened), the worry was so intense that it was going to go everywhere.

I think I'm still really traumatised by the flooding and clotting last year...

I can't wait until this is over.