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Original poster

Desogestrel and bleeding

41 replies

Wilkarotin · 01/12/2021 10:48

Posting for traffic.
I started taking desogestrel (progesterone only pill) around 7 months ago whilst breastfeeding my son. I stopped BF around 3 months ago and periods seemed to go back to normal (had a little spotting while still BF).
But I've now been on my period for just over 2 weeks! I stopped taking the pill on Sunday hoping that would help but now on day 4 with no pill and still not stopped 😬
Anyone else have lots of bleeding while on it? Side effects include irregular periods, but surely 2 weeks is a bit much!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wilkarotin · 01/12/2021 21:08

Looks like I'm one of the unlucky ones that has to put up with more bleeding on it then. Thanks for all the replies, has at least put my mind at ease that it's a common side effect. Now just to decide whether to let it settle or switch to a different contraception.

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Waxonwaxoff0 · 01/12/2021 19:34

I've been taking desogestrel non stop for 7 years and haven't had any bleeding at all.

bowerino · 01/12/2021 19:25

I would speak to your GP. I bled extremely heavily for 6 weeks on desogestrel and ended up needing tranexamic acid to force the bleeding to stop. Though they subsequently investigated and found it had triggered an underlying problem I didn't know I had

user3193 · 01/12/2021 19:09

I am 10 months post partum. Started off fine on this pill. But in the past couple of months I have been having regular heavy bleeding outside of my period! So frustrating.

Harrysmummy246 · 01/12/2021 19:03

Shouldn't matter which brand but I found it did. Was on cerazette for a long time pre DS, little bleeding and not very often. After DS, I was given cerelle. On the box, exactly the same, but bleeding like you describe and despite running 100+km a month at that point, not losing any weight.
Cerelle is now the standard NHS issue as it's cheaper, but I asked to change back and, although I have to remind them every 3 months that yes I really do mean cerazette not cerelle and they agreed I could change, it's definitely better for me.
But tend to get bleeding if I don't take it similar-ish time each day (12 hours window for staying safe contraception wise). Reminder in phone for that and my SSRIs helps.

Bagelsandbrie · 01/12/2021 18:53

I’ve been on it for 8 years - had bleeding initially on and off for a few months which was annoying but kept on with it and haven’t had any bleeding at all or periods for about 7 years now. I love it.

boymum88 · 01/12/2021 18:50

Was on it for maybe 7 yrs love it stopped all bleeding for maybe 6yrs then started spotting all the time, came off it tried other pills same problem, so now have a coil, bleed for maybe 3 weeks then so far nothing 🤞 (only had it six weeks mind)

Hello6732 · 01/12/2021 18:49

Just felt like I needed to add for some people it stops their bleeding completely and is bliss. It can take months and months to settle for some people though, and for others it doesnt seem to settle at all (like me!)

Hello6732 · 01/12/2021 18:43

On the progesterone implant I bled every day for 9 months but was mostly spotting
On the progesterone only pill I bled bright red blood every day for 5 months
On the mirena I still had a regular cycle and bled two weeks at a time and then stopped for 2 weeks over and over.

It's mad isn't it.

You definitely need more than 4 days for your body to get used to the change of hormones again. But prolonged and irregular bleeding on progesterone contraceptives is definitely common.

sassbott · 01/12/2021 18:24

Yes. Been on it 4 months and the bleeding/ breakthrough bleeding / heavy periods is beyond rubbish.
For me it was either the pill or the mirena coil - prescribed to treat a separate issue. I opted for the pill and am told to give it time to settle.

Original poster
Wilkarotin · 01/12/2021 18:11

@LouLou198 it just says Desogestrel on the box so not sure on the brand.
@EdHelpPls that's not a bad idea, I'm pretty rubbish at taking it at the same time too (although usually within a 2 hour window) so I might try that too. Just more hassle than it's worth!

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EdHelpPls · 01/12/2021 18:03

I started a few months ago. First month period pretty much as usual, next month just needed a panty liner, 3rd month nothing, 4th just a panty liner....but it's lasted just over a month now! I've been rubbish at taking it at the same time each day so I've set an alarm to remind me and hopefully that might stop it.

LouLou198 · 01/12/2021 17:45

What brand are you using? I started Cerezette in August and haven't had a period since.

Original poster
Wilkarotin · 01/12/2021 12:59

Thanks for replying. So I may still have a while left then 😩
It is rubbish that we have to deal with crappy side effects just so we don't get pregnant. Hopefully won't be too much longer for me though as DP is going to have a vasectomy so I can finally get off all these extra hormones!

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Goosethemoose · 01/12/2021 12:42

Yes. I think I took it for six-ish weeks, which mostly included bleeding, and stopped. They’d never give a man medication with a side effect of constant bleeding from his genitals and tell him to “wait for it to settle”, why should I suffer? Sorry to hear you’re having trouble with it as well.

Original poster
Wilkarotin · 01/12/2021 12:40

Hopeful bump Smile

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