Menopause Symptoms While On Birth Control Pills

What Is Menopause?

First, let’s answer the crucial question: What is menopause?

Menopause is considered a life event that ensures the menstrual cycle never happens again in a woman’s life, as it signifies that she will no longer have menses. Age-wise, it varies from woman to woman, ranging between 45 and 55. 

Essentially, it is the body’s way of telling the woman to ‘move on, it’s time for a new chapter in life’. As a result of this stage, the ovarian hormones decrease, leading to the cessation of periods. Menopause is officially diagnosed when a woman hasn’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.

Common Menopause Signs & Symptoms

Menopause affects different women in different ways. The intensity and frequency of menopausal symptoms depend on other factors, too. However, the following are the most common symptoms associated with menopause:

1. Hot Flashes: Many women describe feeling warm suddenly on strange occasions as if it is summer season, often accompanied by sweating and a flushed face. 

Curious to know more about hot flashes, read Hot Flashes: Causes, Treatments, and How to Manage Them. 

The occurrence of hot flashes if you are on birth control pills is connected. You will get to know more about this in the coming sections.

2. Night Sweats: If you feel the urge to wake up in between your sleep, please remember that your bed is not a sauna; instead, you feel like you are waking up after the most gripping of hot flash episodes.

3. Mood Swings: Every one of us has been there: the time when we feel like we’re on top of a roller coaster, where a small action unveils a series of huge emotions.

4. Vaginal Dryness: Nobody ever seems to discuss this enough, but it has to be addressed. It may also create unease during intimacy or other daily activities.

5. Irregular Periods: Or should I say irregular menstruation, where a woman is unable to maintain a consistent monthly period during her menstrual cycle and feels distressed during the transition phase.

Does any of this sound familiar? These symptoms can vary greatly among women. Between women, some will have extreme symptoms, others will have mild ones, or most won’t go through any extreme or mild changes. 

Now imagine adding the effects of birth control pills to this situation. Do you wonder what changes birth control pills can add to this mix? Let’s find out.

How Birth Control Pills Work

Birth control pills are a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone and are specifically designed to manage your hormonal cycle to prevent pregnancy. Additionally, these pills have benefits such as controlling ovarian hormonal imbalance, managing pain during the menstrual cycle and controlling acne. But what happens when menopause starts creeping in while you’re on the pill?

Menopausal hormonal fluctuations are prevented by continuous exposure to birth control pills. Thus allowing women to experience relief from the consequences (symptoms) of menopause hormonal fluctuations. However, it also means that these pills can mask the natural signs of menopause, making it harder to recognise when this transition is happening.

Why Birth Control Pills Can Mask Menopause Symptoms

Here’s the tricky part: birth control pills can make it harder to recognise menopause symptoms.

Let’s explain it in simpler terms.

1. Continuous Hormonal Supply

The women using birth control pills and other means of hormonal therapy are supplemented with Estrogen and/or Progesterone. This has a few advantages:

• Delay Noticeable Symptoms: Hot flashes, irregular periods, and other symptoms may be less obvious because the pills stabilise hormone levels.
• Regulate Your Cycle: You might not even realise your body is transitioning toward menopause because the pills keep your periods regular.

In simpler terms, taking birth control pills could give the impression that a person is going through a pre-menopause phase, even if that person is nearing menopause.

2. Symptoms Management

In some cases, birth control pills can actually assist in managing the typical symptoms of menopause:

3. Managing Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

They mimic the hormone levels of the pre-menopausal phase, smoothing out drastic hormonal dips.

4. Handling Mood Swings

During these moments, the body receives a steady flow of estrogen, which can bring some emotional stability to someone’s life.

Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? However, there are some disadvantages as well.

The Challenges Of Menopause On Birth Control Pills

Life is never uncomplicated, and this phase of life will also not fall short of providing a few surprises. Birth control pills can create confusion, as it can be hard to determine whether it is the menopause or the side effects of the birth control pills kicking in. Read below to have a better idea of these challenges:

1. Hormonal Imbalances

a) Breakthrough Bleeding: At times,  a woman might experience spotting or irregular bleeding, which might make it hard to determine if this woman is going through menopause or simply is on the pill, causing these symptoms.

b) Shifts In Libido And Energy: Both of these issues may stem from the menopause or the hormones in the birth control pill. It’s often hard to pinpoint the exact cause.

2. Confusion About Symptoms

It’s easy to get confused in these situations regarding the symptoms you may feel. Is this a side effect of taking the pill? Was it connected to your mood swings during the menopause? Is that sudden heat wave actually a hot flash? Puzzles and riddles come to mind with scenarios like these.

Furthermore, the hormones in birth control pills can interact with your body’s natural hormonal changes, creating a blend of symptoms that might not fit the classic menopause profile. This can leave you feeling unsure about what your body is trying to tell you.

Managing Menopause Symptoms While On Birth Control Pills

So, how do you view this tricky situation? It’s best to assess your symptoms thoroughly and take suitable actions. The solutions are plentiful; all you have to do is choose the ones that suit you best. 

Here are some practical tips to make this transition smoother.

Talk To Your Healthcare Provider: It is very important to communicate clearly with your doctor. You can convey the following points aloud:

• Whether you should stay on birth control pills or switch to another option.
• Monitoring your symptoms to identify what’s happening.
• Tailoring a treatment plan that aligns with your needs.

After performing blood hormone tests to understand your present condition, your doctor may examine how close you are to menopause or if you are experiencing side effects from the pills.

Focus On Lifestyle Changes: It is often said that little things mean a lot. Here are some lifestyle changes that you are worth making an effort:

Healthy Diet: Research suggests that healthy nutritional intake can help reduce the symptoms and other health hazards related to menopause. 

Add calcium-dense, vitamin D-rich, and soy (phytoestrogen) foods that are likely to improve bone health and help balance hormones.

Exercise: Exercising regularly can enhance your mood and energy levels and help you prevent any chances of developing osteoporosis.

Sleep Hygiene: Stick to a bedtime routine and create a relaxing sleep environment. Avoid caffeine or heavy meals close to bedtime to improve sleep quality.

Explore Mind-Body Techniques: Besides, everything is not treated with just tablets. You might want to try:

Stress, mood, and the ultimate aim of general well-being can possibly be enhanced by yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.

Adjust Your Birth Control Usage : Do think about updating your birth control practices. 

• If full-strength pills are not required, try low-dose pills.
• Think about non-hormonal IUDs, barrier methods, condoms or other methods.
• Work with the Doctor to assist with determining how long you should be on the pill, especially if you do not require the contraception anymore. 

Signs It’s Time To Reassess Your Birth Control

How would you know that now is the perfect time to implement a change? One can look for the following indicators:  

Chronic Symptoms  

Have you been getting intense hot flashes, night sweats, or intense mood swings that feel as if they dictate your day-to-day schedule? If you feel that these symptoms never dissipate when you are on birth control, then it may be time to look for other options.  

Age Factor  

If you’re over 50, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your doctor. Continuing hormonal contraception beyond a certain age might not always be the best choice, especially if other menopause management options are more suitable for your health.

Irregular Bleeding

Have you noticed abnormal periods or unexpected spotting while on birth control? This could be a sign that menopause is approaching, and it’s worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

By visiting your doctor regularly for check-ups, you stand a better chance of identifying the right time to switch from birth control pills or various other available methods or treatments and approaches. Being proactive in this matter allows there to be minimal confusion in the process when the transition actually occurs, making it easier for you.  

When to Seek Medical Advice

Many people shy away from asking doctors for help, but there’s no reason for you to do so, especially in these situations:  

Your Symptoms Become Overwhelming: If hot flashes, night sweats, or mood swings significantly affect your quality of life, it’s time to seek help.

You experience side effects from the pill: Severe headaches, unusual pain, or signs of blood clots (like swelling or redness in the legs) are red flags that require immediate medical attention.

Your symptoms don’t match the typical menopause pattern: If you’re having some abnormal symptoms other than the typical menopausal symptoms, further evaluation may be necessary to rule out any other conditions.

Whether it’s dealing with menopause symptoms or negotiating the consequences of using birth control pills, effective support and care are required. At Nirva Health, we focus on giving services that are tailored to one’s needs for every woman at this crucial time of her life.

Nirva Health will offer you kind professionals for menopause health who care about you and understand what you are going through. This combination offers us the advantage of developing a program that is ideal for you as an individual. Contact Nirva Health today and experience menopause in a new way: full of energy, healthy, and balanced.

“Menopause was overwhelming—hot flashes, mood swings, and fatigue made life difficult. Nirva Health changed everything. Their personalised plan, combining hormone therapy and lifestyle tips, helped me feel like myself again. The team truly cared, and I can’t thank them enough!”

— Jannet (UK), Nirva Health Client

Wrapping It Up

Menopause is a normal event, and It may be difficult to comprehend how you should manage your body at this time, especially if you are on birth control pills. With the right advice, lifestyle changes and support from your healthcare provider, you will surely pass this stage. This is a moment in your life when you start paying attention to yourself and taking control of your health.

Now, what’s next for you? Perhaps it is getting a check-up, modifying your daily routine, or even starting new therapies. Anything you choose, know that these are positive changes toward a healthier and happier version of yourself. Remember, this period is just a small part of your amazing life.