Mini.pill acne nightmare and what to use next for contraception at 40!

[jellybean321]

Hi.looking for some kind advice. Ive been.on the combined pill for many years and very happy with it but had to come off it a year ago as doc said I couldnt have it after 40.also my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer so not sure if that was a factor? Ive been.on the.mini pill for 12 months and was fine but now the acne has come ..I look like a bloody teenager with big boils on my neck and shoulders. Its getting me down.so ill have to come off it...but where next...any good experiences of the copper coil? I darent take the minera as had it once many years ago and had acne all over my back! Can.I come off the pill.mid pack as have had enough? I really dont want another baby but dont like sterilisation and other half not keen on snip...any advise. Thanks

[nuffsenuff]

Have you looked into the natural cycles app? It's literally given me "me" back after years of trying everything going.

[jellybean321]

Hi.dont fancy that as really dont want t get pregnant but thanks

[Rufus27]

Ask your doctor about Qlaira. It’s a much less potent combined pill with bio identical estrogen, so the risks tend to be lower. For that reason, I’m on it despite being 46 with a history of strokes in my family (early age) and despite the fact I have migraines. It’s very expensive so most GPS will only use it as a last resort. It’s been super for me. It was specifically designed as a contraceptive for older women especially those in peri menopause.

[JennyOnAPlate]

I don’t know the answer but I’m watching in the hope that someone else does!

I had my implant (Nexplanon) removed a few weeks ago because my skin was awful with it. I’ve had a copper coil before and it made my periods so heavy I couldn’t leave the house for two days every month. My gp tried to convince me that a Mirena wouldn’t affect my skin because the hormone is localised within the uterus, but google tells me plenty of women don’t agree!

[eyeoresancerre]

I've got the copper coil and really happy with it. Took a few months sort out cycle length and periods were initially a bit heavier but fine now. Periods gone from 4days to 6 days but super light for first and last.
Easily the best contraception I've used in 25 years and now I'm covered for 10 years all being well. Let me know if you need more info.

[jellybean321]

Oh rufus27 havent heard of that but will def look.into it. Do you know if its ok for acne prone skin as this minipill is seriously messing up.my skin. I feel embarassed to.go out! Jennyonaplate I.know what u mean.about lots of contraception.messing with your skin.and I can definitely say the minera gave me terrible acne all over my back. Shame you didnt get on with the coil. It does worry me as ive heard so many nightmare stories but eyeoresancerre glad you have a positive story as it might be my only hope! With a full time teaching job I.do worry if it really starts being a problem trying t rush t the.loo etcc

[Rufus27]

Sorry, meant to add that it’s massively helped my skin. I no longer take antibiotics for my acne which I did previously. I had a nightmare with my hormones before taking Qlaira and it began to affect my job (am a teacher, like you). Qlaira took a few months before I felt the benefits, but now I wouldn’t be without it.

SiL had the Mirena fitted and it left her covered in boil like spots, so there was no way I would risk it. I knew I needed something with estrogen in to balance the progesterone side effects.

[Ollivander84]

Copper coil for me, I'm on my second. Periods maybe a day longer, no heavier but they were heavy anyway!
No side effects

[Bert2e]

Copper coil here too - love it and 9th lasts 10 years so my next one will probably be my last.

[jellybean321]

Wow its good to hear positive stories about the copper coil and great news about Qlaria rufus27. Thanks I really thought my only choice at my age was now condoms and that worries me as im happy with the family I.have. ill def go about both. My doctor wont offer.me the combined pill anymore due to my age so might have to go to family planning and ask.

[jellybean321]

eyeoresancerre can I ask getting the coil fitted...do you need someone to drive you home afterwards and do you struggle with pain the next few days?thanks

[eyeoresancerre]

Hi Jellybean - I drove myself. The insertion was very odd and not painful but certainly uncomfortable. I think I was expecting it to be really bad but maybe a bit more uncomfortable than a smear. They monitor your blood pressure as it can go low or high. Then they make you wait 10 mins in the waiting room to check your ok.
The first couple of weeks there were cramps as it bedded in but not doubled over pain just period cramps really. But for bleeding for a couple of weeks but I just kept thinking "I don't have to go through this again for another 10 years!" So for me definitely worth the hassle.

[eyeoresancerre]

Just as an add on. I went to my GP first time to get it put in but she said she doesn't do many and she couldn't get it inserted so that was disappointing.
So I went to Family Planning and because they do lots of insertions the GP was much quicker and more practised so maybe worth thinking about.

[jellybean321]

Thanks very much for the reply eyeoresancerre I was thinking myself to go to the family planning clinic to ask about it. Like you say the perform more of them which is reassuring. I know what you mean about thinking at least its sorted for ten years...def think thats the best way to think about it all:)))did yr bleeding settle down after a couple of weeks?

[Ollivander84]

Second family planning. The woman who did mine used to be a midwife for about 20 years and whipped it in faster than I could blink. I did have instilligel which is a local anaesthetic gel (no injections, they just apply it)
Mine is a 5 year one as I couldn't fit a 10 year. Drove myself there and back. Personally I like having it done in the morning and then a sofa day!

[jellybean321]

So is gel worth asking for im guessing? Was everything ok afterwards ollivander84 and has your bleeding patterns not been to terrible? Im thinking family planning is def the best option:))

[Ollivander84]

All fine, regular cycle and periods, had some bleeding after but was back to normal cycle that month

[expatinscotland]

Both the mini-pill and Mirena gave me awful acne.

[eyeoresancerre]

Jellybean -yes it stopped completely and then had a period a week later then all fine after that. My friend had spotting for 6 weeks but she was all fine after that too. As a poster above said a sofa day is a good idea. If your worried do it on a Friday morning then you have the weekend too.

[jellybean321]

Ollivander84 thanks for that makes me feel more positive about it. Eyeoresancerre thanks for your advise and fri morn sounds the best plan :)) expatinscotlandi know what u mean bloody nightmare acne with both!

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

Has your GP tried you on different brands? They do have slightly different proportions/ makeups of the hormones in them? I would suggest that as a first port of call if you have any hesitation about other methods.

[jellybean321]

Thanks thehodgeofthehedge but I give up on mini pill as had enough of this acne and dont want t it anymore. Ive read up and no good experiences of minipill and acne control that ive read.

[Rufus27]

The mini pill is progesterone only, so acne is a common side effect, regardless of brand. The progesterone in the combined pill differs, some being less powerful. The Bristol Pill Ladder (a sort of combined pill ‘grid’ - google it) demonstrates this really well, though new pills like Qlaira and Zoeley (both designed for people who may not normally be able to take the COC) are not featured on it. Levonestrogel is one of the most powerful progesterones so is more likely to lead to acne. However it is lower risk and very cheap, so the one GPS usually opt for first. This is the same progesterone that the Mirena has.

[Rufus27]

Didn’t explain that well. What I mean is, the estrogen in the combined pill balances the progesterone so is less likely to cause acne than a purely progesterone pill (especially in women heading towards peri menopause when your own estrogen is reducing).

[jellybean321]

So the Qlaira pill is combined which should help with acne and supposed to be safer for older women? My gp surgery will im.sure not offer it as their policy is not to issue the combined pill to women.over 40:( but maybe family planning clinic will