Birth Control Pills in Menopause?
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Irene
Posted on: June 01, 2005

I have been on birth control for two years. I thought it would help regulate my monthly cycles. I am reaching menopause slowly the doctor told me. I am 47 years old. I have noticed that black cohosh helped during ovulation time in stopping some spotting I had experienced that was being caused by the birth control pills. I have just started a good B complex vitamin that I didn’t know I needed along with birth control pills. The doctor never mentioned that to me. I do not have hot flashes as I did last year. Even though I have just started the combo of herb/vitamin I notice a difference. I thought I would use black cohosh only during my ovulation time of one week and stop. As my doctor said even with birth control hormones combo are not enough. So does blackhosh kind of fill in the missing hormone strength where the birth control lacks. Birth control pills stop pregnancy but they don’t help regulate hormone loss. Am I right?

Birth control pills contain high amounts of estrogen and progestin. They usually control hormones so that a woman will not know that she is going through menopause - there are usually no symptoms. Herbalists consider taking synthetic hormones overrides the hormonal effect of herbs. I wouldn’t have thought that black cohosh would have a hormonal effect while you are on birth control pills.

The hormone content of birth control pills is much higher than that in hormone replacement therapy, and the risks greater for heart disease and some cancers.

If you are using birth control pills for the purpose of regulating hormones and not for birth control, I suggest that you search the internet for information on the risks of birth control pills, and then discuss alternatives with your doctor or consult with a natural practitioner such as a medical or clinical herbalist or a naturopath about natural methods of balancing hormones.

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