HRT vs. Low-Dose Birth Control for Menopause Symptoms: A Patient's Question

Question
Thank you for your time - I have a question about the difference between taking HRT during menopause(which I researched on the internet and find to be very controversial and scary as regards to cancer etc.) and taking low dose birth control pills which my GYN doctor just prescribed for me to help with irregular and very painful periods. I had pretty much stopped my periods -so I thought- about a year and a half ago and started having the nastiest all-day hot flashes with depressions...so I took HRT pills for one month and stopped after doing the research...by then the hot flashes had stopped not to return to this day...however my periods returned on an irregular basis, ...and after a particular painful episode i received the birth control prescription. What if I am almost done with my periods anyhow and now the pill will not make me realize it? Is that harmful? ...cancer-causing? The reason that i think that i am well into menopause is that I also grew a considerable fat belly in the last year - for the first time in my life(!), ---also, I have a real dry mouth and feel generally old and fatigued and wrinkly...
Again, thank you for your consideration!
Hopefully the question was phrased clearly enough.
:-)
Nicole

Answer
Your periods resumed and your hot flashes went away because your ovaries are still working and making hormones.  It's true that while taking the pill, you won't know if you are truly menopausal, since the pill is taking over from your ovaries, but it's not harmful.  You could stop the pill periodically (every 3 months or so?) and see how you're doing.  Probably when your periods stop altogether, your hot flashes will return.  Many of your other symptoms are more related to getting older and slowing down, rather than to menopause.  As long as your ovaries are still making enough hormones to give you periods, you're usually better off with the pill than with HRT, because the pill takes over, whereas the HRT is lower dose, and has to compete with your own hormones, and you won't know when you'll bleed.  There are a couple sites that may be helpful.  For risks and benefits of HRT, see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hormone-therapy/WO00046  For your fat belly, see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128