I'm 43 , no kids, and my last period was in October. I just recently went on HRT - the Combipatch- after I went off the deep end after 3 months of barely any sleep and round-the-clock hot flashes with adrenalin surges. My FSH was 67 when tested.

It was 45 2 years ago when I started having peri symptoms, then dropped to 12 a year later. Anything over 20 is considered post menopausal, anything over 10 is borderline, as I understand it.

Anyway, now that I'm feeling better (been on the patch for 2 weeks) and my libido is starting to pick up a little again, I'm wondering : Do we still need to use birth control anymore? My FSH is pretty high but my last period was only 3 months ago. And I'm only 43, not 53 or 63.

I'd love to be able to not have to worry about it anymore - there has to be SOMETHING good to come out of this hormone hell! - but DH (who is 55) would FREAK if I got pregnant at this point.

I have a gyn appt on Monday but I figured I'd get your input to see what you guys thought...

Thanks
LQ

Hi LQ
It is not unusual for people to get pregnant in their 40s... our last Prime Ministers wife had a very public pregnancy at 46!
You are only 43 and your last period was only 3 months ago... that means you may have ovulated fairly recently.
Your gyn is the expert and may say differently on the strength of hormone tests but the "norm" is waiting 12 months from the last period until leaving off contraception.
Many people have very erratic periods coming every few months for a few years and my understanding is if you are having periods then you can get pregnant!! Even if you are not ovulating normally with the periods one can slip in!
I am sure there are other ladies like me who had a period after 10 months without one! I was just about to leave off the birth control and there it was!!! I then had to wait another 12 months!!!
It is a bummer having to use birth control....but it will be even more of a bummer to get pregnant (unless of course you want to.......................)
Hugs Lindy xxxxx

you will need to use birth control until you have been without a period for a full year.

I was 44yo when my 2nd son was born.

Well, personally, I wouldn't risk it. I think that if you are still having an occasional period, there is a possibility that you could still get pregnant. Even thought birth control is a hassle, I know that getting pregnant at this stage in the game would not be a good thing for me.