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Original poster

How long to put up with bleeding from pill? [angry]

33 replies

Goostacean · 02/03/2021 21:34

So fed up. Currently on Desogestrel (a mini pill) and day 16 of bleeding. Cycles are typically 12-14 days, so basically a week-long bleed every fortnight. Last cycle was 23 days, so I thought things might be settling (this is my 3rd month of being on it) but now this nonsense.

Totally fed up. How long does one wait before throwing in the towel?! Great contraceptive btw, not having any sex as a result. But if that’s gonna be the case, might as well go for celibacy- at least I’d be feeling less disgusting all the time. Angry

OP posts:
MiloAndEddie · 02/03/2021 21:38

I had very similar. I gave it 4 months and gave up.

Original poster
Goostacean · 02/03/2021 21:41

The last pill I tried for 6 weeks, so much bleeding that I gave up. The sexual health nurse said I should give it more time- why?! Why should I accept a medicine that makes me bleed all the time?! Argh!

Anyway, sorry to hear you had the same thing. The next and basically final option (minus vasectomy for DH) is a coil which I’m super unkeen on Sad

OP posts:
ExhaustedGrinch · 02/03/2021 22:10

I had bleeding for 2 - 3 months, I was going to ditch it but decided to stick with it and I'm glad I did now. Just having my first proper period since bleeding stopped and it's been so light (previously I've had really heavy periods) I can get away with just wearing a pantyliner. I would probably have stuck with it for 4 - 6 months before giving up on it but really wanted to try sticking with it because I'm on the waiting list to be sterilized and just need something until I can get that done.

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Women's health
isobel79 · 02/03/2021 22:17

I had the same problem with desogestrel. So much so that I came off it and had the implant. Still bled quite a bit with the implant. My GP then suggested I take desogestrel one month on and one month off alongside having the implant which should at some stage ease the bleeding. Well my period last month was long. I'm just waiting to see how this month's goes...... 🙄

Original poster
Goostacean · 02/03/2021 22:17

I think 6 months is my limit... I’ve got a very short fuse with this stuff.

DH keeps suggesting a coil but- aside even from getting that sorted with the Covid situation- after sweeps, having my waters broken, and a 10+lb baby, plus smears, internal ultrasounds... honestly NEVER is too soon to have someone else faffing about in my nether regions, to be honest!

OP posts:
Original poster
Goostacean · 02/03/2021 22:18

Gosh that’s crazy. I had the implant but I got it out- can’t even remember why now. I think it was mood swings.

So frustrating. The best pill I ever took was Marvelon, but I’ve had two migraines with aura in my entire life, so that now rules it out.

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 02/03/2021 22:20

Happened to me too.

Heavy periods were the reason for taking it.

Then I bled for 5 months and had northisterone numerous times.

He coil fitted but heavy severe bleeding caused that to come out.

Had 2 months of northisterone whilst I waited for another coil.

So far that's made bleeding lighter but I'm not yet in a proper cycle and it'll take 3-6 months and possibly a year after all the various hormones.

But so far if this one stays out it's showing signs it may improve things.

Eastereggfan · 02/03/2021 22:20

I gave up after nearly 4 months of bleeding.

itsgettingwierd · 02/03/2021 22:22

Stays out that should say.

Don't want it to come out again!

Original poster
Goostacean · 02/03/2021 22:23

Argh. This isn’t promising.

My cycle and periods are reasonable (28 days, unpleasant but seemingly normal- although worse since DC2) without the pill, but I don’t want to risk another pregnancy any time soon.

How long to wait? 6 months...?

OP posts:
Notavegan · 02/03/2021 22:25

I lasted about 4 months and switched to combined pill

PinkPlantCase · 02/03/2021 22:30

I think I did 6 months and then made a massive fuss that this wasn’t good enough.

It turns out that’s there are a few different mini pills with different levels of hormones they can prescribe and I think on the 3rd go we found one that worked for me.

The one that the GP was hesitant to prescribe was one where you only have a 3 hour window to take it otherwise you can get pregnant. I think that’s why it can be so hard to persuade them to change to a different type.

We doubled up with condoms anyway so it didn’t matter so much.

Original poster
Goostacean · 03/03/2021 08:42

Yeah, I was taking Micronor for a while and that was great but then it was discontinued and the “exact same” formula in... Noriday, I think? Led to constant bleeding also.

Really frustrating. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Goostacean · 11/03/2021 22:39

Urgh, well, after 17 days of bleeding I had a week off and now it’s back again. I feel crap. So fed up, and really not sure I can get through another 3 months of this. What’s the point? Is it realistically likely to settle? Sad

OP posts:
Sjk00 · 11/03/2021 22:52

I was exactly the same, bleeding lots and really frustrated! I went to the doctors asking to change to another pill but they convinced me to try a bit longer - think mine took about 5 months to settle down but I'm so glad I stuck with it - I started to have very very light periods for a day or two but now can't remember the last time I bled at all- maybe a year or 2!! If it works for you and you bleeding settles down it'll definitely be worth it :-)

NotMyPremium · 11/03/2021 23:43

I was on this one too and after months of a 40 odd day cycle with 4 days of very light bleeding, I started having realy short cycles and bleeding or spotting almost every day. I hated it and that was after nearly a year of the damn thing. I stopped it and realised my horrific mood swings also went away. I was going through a divorce at the time so put it down to stress but it wasn't, it wa that pill. Had the implant and had the same issue. They put on the pill with it to settle it down, as soon as I stopped the pill I started bleeding again so had the implant out. Refuse to have a coil.

I had 2 migraine with aura so technically I'm not supposed to have the combined pill but as they gave itto me short term with the implant, I've argued my case and still have it (DP was awaiting a vasectomy so GP agreed as I wouldn't be staying on it). Problem is I have no break so no periods so don't really want to give it up.

I won't touch progesterone only contraception though, it does not agree with me at all.

NotMyPremium · 11/03/2021 23:43

1 migraine not 2.

Cleverpolly3 · 11/03/2021 23:46

@Goostacean

Yeah, I was taking Micronor for a while and that was great but then it was discontinued and the “exact same” formula in... Noriday, I think? Led to constant bleeding also.

Really frustrating. Sad

Noriday made me feel like I was dying I bled for 21 days straight and was flooded every day.
Original poster
Goostacean · 12/03/2021 07:13

Thanks all, it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone but I’m so frustrated we go through all this nonsense.

Maybe I’ll try and wait the full 6 months before I stop. I’m really struggling to keep my temper with the situation though. Maybe that’s due to the pill!

I’ve thought about really pushing the Marvelon point but firstly I think they’d want me to try a coil first and secondly what if I did actually have a stroke from it? That would be horrific, probably not worth the risk...

OP posts:
orangejuicer · 12/03/2021 07:14

I gave it 3 weeks. I was MISERABLE.

OhDearWhyAmIFatterly · 12/03/2021 07:28

Just in case you think you might want to try the pull. I had the mirena put in and bled for pretty much 9 months!!! It was heavy like a proper period for 3 months then different flow levels every day. I couldn't get it out because no where would remove them in covid! It's been horrendous. I'm finally getting it out next week in a family planning clinic 15 miles away.
I'm going back on the combined pill. I was on it for years with no issue at all. If they say I'm too old then I'll just buy it from superdrug. Why should we have to put up with months of absolute shit. There is no way a man would stand for this!

Alfxn · 12/03/2021 07:34

OP, can your partner not get a vasectomy? You have been through so much. Women bear too high a burden sometimes and are expected to continue suffering like this. Maybe it's his turn to take responsibility?

OhDearWhyAmIFatterly · 12/03/2021 07:42

Alfxn, my dh has and has had the snip. I need to control my heavy periods.
Woman are just expected to accept and put up with it

GetTheStartyParted · 12/03/2021 08:07

I'm just starting my 3rd month of Rigevidon.

The nurse suggested it as I have heavy periods and endometriosis. I don't need it for contraception as DH had a vasectomy. So far I have had 18 and 19 day periods, about 8 days break and back on again.

I was given 3 months worth and was wondering if it was worth continuing or not. It would be great if it works but how long do you wait and suffer until then. I mean, the heavy days were bad but my cycle was much better than this! No advice but I totally understand as I'm in the same boat Sad

mindutopia · 12/03/2021 08:12

What were your periods like before if you had a natural period? I'm going on to month 4 of cerelle. I found my actually cycle length hasn't changed (cycles only about 20 days), which is the reason I switched. I had the coil before and I was having a massive heavy flooding out everywhere period that lasted 7 days every 3 weeks. It was a nightmare. I had quite a bit of breakthrough bleeding the first two months, and last month I think I bled for about 14 days? But this month has been normal. 4 day period and no mid cycle bleeding at all.