What Causes Hot Flushes With Lighter And Delayed Periods?

I AM 52 AND HAVE BEEN TAKING BITH CINTROL PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE THE ONLY TIME I WAS OFF WAS 30 YRS AGO WHEN I HAD MY DAUGHTER. ALMOST AS SOON AS SHE WAS BORN I STARTED HAVING HOT FLASHES AT AGE 22. HAVE BEEN HAVING THEM EVER SINCE NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY SO LONG. I WANT TO STOP TAKING THE PILL BUT I DON T KNOW AFTER BEING ON THEM THIS LONG WHAT WILL MY BODY GO THROUGH. FOR THE PAST YR I HAVE BEEN STARTING MY PERIOD A DAY OR TWO LATER THAN USUAL. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIGHT AND NOW SEEMS LIGHTER. WHATS YOUR ADVICE?