Does birth control (the pill) help relieve hot flashes?

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Comment by Alison Beaver on April 28, 2009 - 2:39pm

Good question!

Estrogen therapy is a common treatment for hot flashes, and since birth control pills contain estrogen (and many BCP also contain progestin), it makes since, right?

However, "estrogen therapy" and "birth control pills" are different medications, and each needs to be prescribed by your doctor for their intended use(s).

Have you tried other remedies to help manage your hot flashes? Are you in perimenopause or menopause?

And, are you already taking prescribed birth control pills, and are wondering if they have the added benefit of controlling hot flashes?

Comment by Anonymous on May 3, 2009 - 5:19pm

I was put on Birth control about three weeks a go to try to help with my hot flashes. I do not need it for actual birth control anymore. It hasn't really helped yet. I am also trying to get my thyroid on an even keel. It was 11.03 6 wk's ago then 6.09 2 wk's ago. I will be retested in 1 1/2 wk's to check for a change in dosage with my Synthroid. So not only am I extremely miserable temperature wise but I am also constantly exhausted. 2 years ago my period was stopped and I was put into menopause foe endometreosis. Since then I have been having all of these problems.

If you have any other sugestions I would love to hear them!

Thanks,
Kerri

Comment by Kristin Davis on May 3, 2009 - 9:02pm

Kerri, I'm so sorry that you're having this issue, and I'm wondering why your doctor put you on birth control instead of putting you on a more individualized hormone replacement therapy regime. Birth control is kind of the "one size fits all" approach. Have you had all of your hormones tested (other than your thyroid)? I imagine it would be worth doing that and seeing how much you may need of which particular hormones.

Comment by Anonymous on April 30, 2009 - 9:14pm

I think it does to some extent, but the hormone levels in HRT and birth control are different (not sure which one has more), so I am sure it is not exactly the same. I actually had a really bad reaction to birth control pills, so I can't test this one out myself :-) but here is a quiz to "Test Your Menopause I.Q." Interesting!

http://www.womentowomen.com/community/survey/testyourmenopauseiq.aspx

Comment by Anonymous on July 21, 2009 - 7:51am

I started having hot flashes at age 42. My Dr. put me on Yasmin (birth control pills) and it has been a God send. I have been on it for six years now. I was told that she'll keep me on it until I'm 50 and then we will evaluate my hormone levels. Prior to being put on the pill I had tried everything and only had short term relief. Good luck with your decision. Christie

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