How to transition from birth control tabs to postmenopausal hormone therapy in midlife

If you are taking birth control pills, patch or ring before menopause, and want to know how (and/or WHY) to transition to using postmenopausal tabs, this video explains it all for you!

MY MENOPAUSE COURSE IS ON SALE 'The Complete Guide to Menopause" here:

The first lesson is free! So check it out today.

Watch these videos next!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also find me and follow me on:

If you would like to be a patient and see me in my menopause and midlife clinic in Massachusetts at the Brigham and Women's Hospital the number is: 617-732-9300, Option 3

If you are outside of the state of Massachusetts but would like a 'second opinion' click here:
This second option option through my institution is clinician to clinician but you can begin the process at home

As always, this is not meant to be direct medical advice, my videos are for educational purposes only. These options are my own.

[jennifermorgenstern]

Thank you!! As a health care provider I’ve always struggled with this transition for patients as I have a hard time finding evidence based guidelines. Would love a full video on post menopausal hrt doses during peri-menopause!! Thanks for helping to empower us providers to feel comfortable with hrt

[FortheBudgies]

If I went off birth control for 3 months I would be non-functional. The cognitive impacts and emotional swings plus insane hot flashes would cause me to lose my job and possibly suicidal. I'm pretty terrified of making the switch from birth control to post menopausal doses.

[michelesmith]

Yes! I would love a video on that. Birth control or HRT for peri women whose birth control isn’t working as well.

[gabriellamaddiex]

Yes, please do a video on the options for hormone therapy when you are peri menopausal. I am 55 and have been peri menopausal now for 6 or 7 years. My first symptom was I started losing a lot of hair years ago but didn’t know it was due to starting peri menopause. This year my symptoms have worsened and so has my hair loss.

[jennifertothastalos]

I was post menopausal at 45 (49 now) It was suggested to me by a menopause specialist to go on birth control to get the appropriate (higher) dose of estrogen to prevent the diseases of menopause(heart attack, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s). Otherwise I would run into the “lowest dose for the shortest amount of time” problem. And not get what my body really needs. What are your thoughts on that? She said since I went through early menopause my needs for estrogen will be greater because I have lost it earlier.

[TheSQ]

I didn’t see this video and asked a question on a different video. I was on birth control pills with no issues until 2018/ age 52. My doctor took me off because he wanted to see if I was menopausal. I was, so he took me off. Two years, hot flashes, dryness and partial hysterectomy (still have ovaries) later, I would love to be back on a pill instead of creams/gel ( bad side effects). Is there any pills I can take now being post menopausal?

[yensounta]

I would love to know your thoughts on OC vs HRT for POI (early menopause). It’s so common and I haven’t see Dan exact video on this. Thank you!

[nasso.a]

Great informative video, thank you❤❤❤❤

[andreajane]

Do you tell your patients about the side effects of birth control such as losing essential vitamins and minerals and also affecting gut health and did you know it could shrink your clitoris a little too. I was on the birth control for 10 years and didn’t know the side effects and how important it is for women to ovulate every month for natural progesterone. Birth control is synthetic hormones not bio identical

[yvonnesoto]

Can you use birth control patches for post menopausal women?

[rodburi]

Is it OK to take birth control if I’ve had a hysterectomy? Please do a video on this my levels show I am full menopausal

[faisalrahman]

I have menstrual migraines.I am 45 my dr prescribed me birth control its heather progestone only.will it hepl me?

[ChloeGraciela]

Hello Dr Hirshe. Question: do birth control pills also provide the secondary benefits as regular hrt in preventing the three diseases (heart attack, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s)? Thank you

[jennystyles]

Im currently taking 20/100 combined pill aged 50. Can i increase to 30/150? Periods are heavy & slight breakthrough bleeding. Have been on it for years & was excellent. Past 6 months heavy flow, bloating, mood swings

[jbirdie]

(This is older vid, so not sure if you'll check comments anymore.) BUT I have questions about Lo lo estrin birth control pills - this is the one that I got put on towards the end of my perimenopause (age 55) (I started having some hot flashes and sleep problems and night sweats but by far my worst problem for many years was migraines) and then soon transitioned to .05 (I think) patch (with progesterone). I mostly feel good, except I have what I will describe as PMS symptoms: mild pelvic cramping, achy legs & body, feeling like I'm going to get a headache (but not really getting one) and some overall fatigue. I don't know if I need to increase my patch dosage or decrease. I don't know if I'm having too much or too little. It's so confusing and really the doctors don't know either. Everybody says the birth control pill was higher estrogen but the packaging says it only contains 10 mcgs of estrogen, so how does this compare to the .05mg in the patch? Everything I can find to read makes me think that the lo loestrin was actually lower. I don't mind going through these adjustment periods to try to find the right doses but I just don't know how to interpret my symptoms to know if I need to increase or decrease.

[marijaco]

What if menopause but bleeding every month on bc at 44?

[angierandazzo]

Would hormone replacement help with heavy bleeding?

[dcantwell]

I would feel terrible in 3 days off the bc pills. My doctor didn’t do that. She tested me after 1 week off.

[boplop]

What if someone just wants to stay on hormonal birth control for the rest of their life?

[FortheBudgies]

It will not take months to know if you have symptoms. This 3 month magic number is unnecessary.