You might not have any symptoms of menopause while on birth control pills. Other birth control side effects may overlap with menopause symptoms, making it hard to determine the cause.
After you’ve gone a full year without having a menstrual period, you’ve reached menopause.
But birth control pills might mask menopause symptoms.
Hormonal birth control, such as the pill, can often cause menopause-like symptoms, making it hard to distinguish the transition into perimenopause.
The average age of menopause in the United States is
Sometimes, menopause can begin before you’re 45. When this happens, it’s called early menopause. When menopause starts before you’re 40, it’s called premature menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency.
The average person experiences perimenopause symptoms (the stage before menopause) for around
As you approach menopause, your periods will become sporadic. Your period may skip a month or two before returning, and you may have breakthrough spotting in between.
Birth control pills won’t affect the timing and duration of perimenopause.
Hormonal birth control shouldn’t cause any unexpected menopause symptoms. Still, it can sometimes mask the symptoms of perimenopause, especially if you don’t see your periods or see irregular periods while on the pill.
This is because the pill contains synthetic versions of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Your body may not recognize the natural drop in these hormone levels while on the pill, which is what signals many typical menopause symptoms.
Some people might not experience any symptoms during perimenopause or menopause while on birth control. Others may have mild to intense symptoms.
Some expected symptoms of the transition into menopause and birth control pills can overlap. Others are specific to menopause or birth control pills.
| Symptom | Caused by |
|---|---|
| weight fluctuation | menopause and birth control pills |
| vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats | menopause |
| nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps, constipation | birth control pills |
| weight flucuation | menopause and birth control pills |
| changes in mood | menopause and birth control pills |
| insomnia | menopause |
| vaginal dryness | menopause |
| changes in sex drive | menopause and birth control pills |
| fatigue | menopause |
| acne | birth control pills |
The table above is not comprehensive. But it includes some common and overlapping symptoms of menopause and birth control pills.
If you’re approaching menopause and are still taking birth control pills, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether you should:
- continue your birth control
- switch to a different hormonal therapy
- stop using contraception altogether
If you currently have symptoms of menopause but are unsure of whether they’re from your birth control or menopause, talk with your doctor about stopping your birth control to determine the cause.
It may be a sign of the transition into menopause if the symptoms don’t go away after stopping.
You may be able to stop taking birth control pills after age 55. The chances of becoming pregnant after this age are very low.
But you should speak with your doctor about the possibility of contraception after age 55.
Menopause is temporary, and your symptoms will subside completely once your body adjusts to your new hormone levels. But you can do several things to ease your symptoms in the meantime.
For example, you might want to try natural or home remedies to help with hot flashes.
Trying to eat more balanced meals, take nutritional supplements, and exercise regularly can also impact how you feel overall.
If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or prescribe a low dose antidepressant to help balance your hormone levels.
Birth control is not meant to be taken as an HRT for menopause.
Birth control pills shouldn’t affect the onset of menopause or cause unexpected symptoms. But they may mask some symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
The side effects of birth control pills and menopause symptoms may also overlap.
Some people may experience no symptoms, while others have mild or intense menopause symptoms while taking birth control pills.
Talk with your doctor about treatments for your menopause symptoms and whether you should continue or stop birth control pills if you’re around the age that menopause starts.