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[lou1973]

Hi.
I was told 3 mnths ago I was in the menopause at 43. I was taken off my pill 6 weeks ago and given the contraceptive implant 3 weeks ago. I had a couple of days of spotting last week and for the last 3 days I've been like a bear with a sore head- ready to kill someone!!
I wonder, does anyone know how long it takes for the hormones to settle down and stabilise after all these changes??

[Dancinggirl]

Hi and welcome to MM
Why did they give you a contraceptive implant if you are menopausal?
Is this implant just progesterone??? If it is just progesterone then this type of progesterone may not be agreeing with you - pmt type symptoms often occur with some progesterones.  Were you getting problematic bleeding?
If you are menopausal then you should have been given HRT as this is the more natural hormones you need.
Do tell us more about what you have been told and why the doctors are prescribing the implant. DG x

[Hurdity]

Hi lou1973

As Dancinggirl says - the contraceptive implant is only progesterone and if you have started peri-menopause - skipping periods, lengthening cycles, symptoms such as flushes and sweats etc - then it is oestrogen you need at your age!

There are particular protocols that need to be followed for women who are likely to go through an early or premature menopause so I am surprised at your  having this. Maybe your periods have just got closer together and you have been having heavy bleeding though? Really a Mirena would have been better as you can then add oestrogen as your own levels fall. However as you have it you may still be able to add oestrogen if this is appropriate (depending where in menopause you are).

Hope you feel better soon anyway....

Hurdity x

[lou1973]

Hi. I cannot under any circumstances have HRT due to family cancer history- I was told that my previous pill (Cerazette) which I was on for over 10 years may have caused the menopause to start earlier than it should. I was also told that I still needed protection for a while as a just in case, and that the implant released less hormones into the body than the coil. I was also told that coming off the pill might just cause a change in my hormones that would mean I may start having periods again.
I wouldn't mind the moods so much, but just prior to being told about the menopause, I was close to a 4 stone weightloss this year- since the medication changes, I've also stopped losing weight despite still following the same regime.
The whole thing is a bit frustrating.

[Dancinggirl]

Weightloss can cause hormonal imbalance, however, why the weightless? Have they investigated this - it is quite extreme? OR did you need to loose weight?

I assume you have a mother or sister with Breast cancer?  At 43 you are still young to be low on oestrogen so HRT could still be appropriate.

You may be getting an initial hit of the progesterone and this could cause your PMT symptoms - this could settle - ask you doctors..

Keep us posted

[lou1973]

Weightloss is deliberate and necesssary. 6 stone off gets me into the healthy BMI bracket. I've lost 4.

[Hurdity]

Well done for the weight loss lou1973!  That's amazing and will pay dividends for your future health

When you say you were told you were menopausal - I presume this was from blood tests, as there probably wasn't time to see if you were going to have a bleed between stopping the POP and the implant?

I am sorry to hear about your family history of cancer and if it was breast cancer then the risks do increase if you have a mother or sister who have had the disease and also if it occurred when they were younger ( I read this somewhere recently).

Depending on the circumstances HRT may not necessarily be out of the question, but would need discussing with a specialist - as Dancinggirl says you are very young to be without oestrogen, but I can understand your fears and reluctance to take it. If it is definitely out of the question then do ask to be referred to a specialist to monitor your bone density on a regular basis so that if necessary you can take appropriate medication to help prevent osteoporosis that can be a consequence of oestrogen deficiency. As you have lost the weight you will also have less oestrogen as some is stored in fat cells ( this is not an argument for staying overweight though!) so especially important that you keep a check on bone health.

I hope this helps and you start to feel better very soon.

Hurdity x

[Dancinggirl]

Bravo on the weight loss lou1973 - that is brilliant.   

You seem to be on the right road and hopefully the implant will settle things - if it is lower dose then this could be good and you will have to wait and see if your ovaries kick start again.  Weight changes can upset things generally, usually for the better, but I'm sure there are adjustments that need to settle as well so I'd see how things go over the next 3 months and if need be pop back to the doctor and ask for further blood tests to see where your FSH and oestrogen levels are - as Hurdity has sensibly suggested, ask for a referral for specialist advice about possible hormone treatment and bone density monitoring.
BTW - who in your family has had Breast cancer?  Is it you or your doctors advising you to avoid HRT?
Keep us posted.  DG x