How do you know you are in meno if you take continuous bc
54F and I take continuous birth control and have done for years to avoid having a period more than once a year. No placebos. I have no idea if I am in menopause or not. I have not had any typical meno symptoms except a bit of weight gain and irritability. No hot flashes or anything like that. My OB has recommended since the BC has been working to stay on it until 55. But what then? Do I have to go off it to see if I’m really in menopause? Do I go immediately to HRT and stay on it forever?
About every six months I get breakthrough bleeding but I don’t think it’s a real period. Given the amount of hormones I am putting in my body, is there any way to tell if I’m actually still fertile or if I can safely transition to HRT. The absolute last thing I need or want at this age is a miracle change of life baby so I would like to avoid that if at all possible.
Is there any way to tell without going cold turkey on the hormones and dealing with what comes?