birth control pill

I am 50 years old, about 4 months ago started experiencing insomnia, extreme anxiety and depression. Up until then I was a very happy go lucky person. It just hit me like brick. After seeing my p/c doctor and she has tried me on antideressants with no  success. I had a horrible reaction to Celexa. I went to my gyno. After blood test were given it shows I have an FSH of 47. He says I should be in menopause, but I still get my period, although there are irregular. I am having a biopsy in 2 weeks. Then they would like to put me on a low dose b/c pill. What will the pill do for my symptoms? I plan on asking these questions when I see them, but until then I need to put my mind at ease.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

The fact that things changed suddenly could mean several things. One is that some illness is affecting you that didn't exist before, something happened in your personal like that didn't exist before, or that your hormone levels due to a natural menopause finally got low enough to have a major impact on your mood and life in general. The FSH of 47 doesn't mean you are "in" menopause, but that you are "near" menopause. This window of life can last for up to 10 years though in your case it might well be a good bit less.

The lining test will only check the lining and tell if there are any precancer cells or other possible causes of abnormal bleeding. It will not tell the cause of your anxiety, insomnia and depression. If the cause is menopause or perimenopause (the time around menopause) a low dose pill or other form of estrogen/progesterone will provide you with estrogen levels that will possibly help you sleep better. That alone can reduce anxiety and depression and improve your state of well being. If that works, you might not need Celexa. If you do not feel better on the estrogen/progesterone, it is best to see a mental health person to try and understand if some other cause is the reason for your change of life quality.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD