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Mircette for Menopause

Mircette is a prescription low-dose birth control pill. It is also used frequently for perimenopausal and menopausal women to manage menopausal symptoms. Like all medications, certain risks are associated with taking Mircette and you should make sure your doctor knows of any health issues you may have.

  1. Why Use Mircette for Menopause

    • Mircette is composed of ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel, female hormones that prevent ovulation. It is most often used as a birth control pill and provides protection against pregnancy in perimenopausal women who are still ovulating. For menopausal women, Mircette also is used to even out hormone levels to minimize or eliminate menopausal symptoms, which occur when estrogen levels drop.

    How Mircette Works During Menopause

    • By evening out hormone levels in the body, Mircette can help to reduce sweating, hot flashes and vaginal dryness that occur during both perimenopause menopause. It may also help to prevent osteoporosis or bone loss, reducing your risk of bone fracture. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, low-dose hormone pills can provide protection from cancer of the ovary and uterus.

    How to Take Mircette for Menopause

    • When using Mircette you will be taking a pill every day according to a monthly regimen. The regimen involves taking a pill containing the hormones every day for three weeks, then a placebo for two days, then five more days of pills with low-dose estrogen.

    Side Effects of Mircette for Menopause

    • Mircette can cause breakthrough bleeding and spotting in some women. If this happens, you should contact your doctor. Other possible side effects of Mircette include things like nausea and other gastrointestinal problems, water retention, increase or decrease in weight, tenderness in the breasts and migraine headaches. Your doctor can advise you about all the expected adverse reactions to Mircette.

    Dangers of Taking Mircette for Menopause

    • Mircette is what is known as a "low-dose" estrogen pill because it has less estrogen than some other types of birth control pills. It is believed that taking lower doses of hormones reduces the dangers of taking birth control pills, many of which have higher amounts of hormones. Nevertheless, the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack is increased with all hormone therapy. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or any type of heart condition, you should not take Mircette. Prior cancers or liver tumors may also be a reason to avoid Mircette and are something to discuss with your doctor. Smoking and Mircette are definitely a bad combination, so you should not take it if you smoke.

    How Long to Take Mircette for Menopause

    • Mircette can be stopped at any time if you are having side effects or just don't want to take it any longer. Be aware, though, that once you stop, your symptoms are likely to return.

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