{"id":633957,"date":"2025-10-28T09:30:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T13:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=633957"},"modified":"2025-10-17T12:28:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T16:28:24","slug":"best-contraceptive-pill-for-perimenopause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-contraceptive-pill-for-perimenopause\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the best contraceptive pill in perimenopause?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re a woman in your late 40s experiencing <\/span>irregular periods<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>weight gain<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>sleep<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>mood disturbances<\/span><\/a>, there’s a good chance you’re in perimenopause. Defined as the transition into <\/span>menopause<\/span><\/a>, perimenopause can be confusing because hormone fluctuations cause different symptoms at different times. The good news is that birth control pills protect against pregnancy <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> often help alleviate some of the symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s what you need to know about <\/span>hormonal birth control<\/span><\/a> as you approach menopause, including the best contraceptive pill in perimenopause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding perimenopause<\/span><\/h2>\n

Perimenopause<\/span><\/a>, also known as the menopausal transition, refers to the time leading up to menopause. It is a years-long, gradual on-ramp toward<\/span> menopause<\/span><\/a>\u2014a milestone clinically defined as 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual period. Perimenopause typically occurs between the ages of<\/span> 45 and 54<\/span><\/a> and lasts<\/span> an average of four years<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

During perimenopause,<\/span> changing hormone levels<\/span><\/a> cause a host of seemingly unrelated symptoms, including hot flashes, weight gain, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep problems, lower sex drive, joint pains, and irregular periods.<\/span> Research<\/span><\/a> shows that at least 20% of women experience this collection of symptoms to a degree that affects their quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why birth control matters during perimenopause<\/span><\/h2>\n

Birth control is still important during perimenopause. Many women who have not yet reached menopause still need an effective way to prevent pregnancy, manage their cycles, control vasomotor symptoms of perimenopause caused by hormone fluctuations (hot flashes and night sweats), and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnancy prevention<\/span><\/h3>\n

It’s a myth that contraception isn’t necessary for perimenopausal women with irregular periods during perimenopause. If <\/span>ovulation<\/span><\/a> happens, so can pregnancy. Any female who has had a menstrual cycle within the last year, is sexually active with a male partner, and does not want to get pregnant should use some form of<\/span> birth control<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hormonal contraceptives<\/span><\/a> aren\u2019t the only way to prevent pregnancy, but birth control pills are popular for a reason. Contraceptives are available in a daily pill (either with estrogen and progestin or progestin-only pills), weekly patch, monthly vaginal ring, injection every 12 weeks, arm implant every 3 years, or intrauterine device changed every 3 to 10 years. There are contraindications to estrogen-containing contraceptive methods, such as hypertension, migraines with visual aura, or nicotine use. These hormonal birth control options have been widely studied for safety and effectiveness, cause limited side effects and notable health benefits, and tend to be widely available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing irregular periods<\/span><\/h3>\n

About<\/span> 9 in 10 women<\/span><\/a> experience irregular periods in the years leading up to menopause. Unpredictable periods can be frustrating from a practical standpoint, but they can also make it challenging to track your cycle for birth control purposes or to track ovarian function.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, birth control pills<\/span> can help<\/span><\/a>. “I’ve had many patients tell me that their biggest relief is not having an annoying period showing up at inconvenient times,” says<\/span> Rachel Miller, MD<\/span><\/a>, FACOG, a board-certified gynecologist and clinical consultant. Placebo birth control pills can also be skipped, and therefore, a menstrual period can be skipped that month. After having menstrual periods for decades, many women like this function of the combination oral contraceptive pills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perimenopause symptom relief<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cBirth control pills can be really helpful for smoothing out a lot of the ups and downs of perimenopause,\u201d says <\/span>Barbara Sparacino, MD<\/span><\/a>, a triple board-certified healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> shows that taking hormonal birth control\u2014combination pills, specifically\u2014can relieve hot flashes and <\/span>night sweats<\/span><\/a>. Dr. Sparacino says combination birth control also eases mood swings and irritability caused by fluctuating estrogen, while Dr. Miller reports that some patients even notice improvements in hormonal <\/span>acne<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reduced risk of certain cancers<\/span><\/h3>\n

Whether a woman is in perimenopause or not, taking birth control can reduce her risk of certain cancers. One<\/span> meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> found that women on combination birth control have a reduced risk of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, and that the protective effects last up to 30 years after the pill has been discontinued. Oral contraception can also<\/span> lower the risk of colorectal cancer by about 20%<\/span><\/a>. However, oral birth control<\/span> has been linked<\/span><\/a> to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer and venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the legs and\/or lungs).<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, it’s not too late for someone in perimenopause to start taking birth control pills or change to a different pill. There’s no right or wrong time to ask your healthcare provider about taking the pill for perimenopause. Unlike<\/span> hormone replacement therapy<\/span><\/a>, which is intended to<\/span> treat menopause<\/span><\/a>, hormonal birth control can be prescribed to younger and middle-aged women.<\/span> Statistics<\/span><\/a> show that in the United States,<\/span> 14% of women ages 15 to 49<\/span><\/a> use the pill.<\/span><\/p>\n

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