Mini pill with no periods... how do I know about pregnancy?

[AnonymousX7]

Hello everyone, I don’t really know where else to go for advice so I’m just going to post here. I’m a young active female and I have been on the mini pill, desogestrel for around 6 years now. I haven’t had a period and it has been wonderful. I say this because I haven’t been sexually active and I mainly went on the pill because my periods caused me extreme pain every month and I play competitive sport which made it worse. I tried period pain killer medication doubled with ibuprofen/paracetamol andd that just got worse.

Anyway, I have recently become sexually active with a partner and I have no plans to get pregnant. I believe the pill have stopped me ovulating due to me having no periods. We also use condoms and just to be sure after we ensure there are no holes in through filling it up with water. I like to be safe. My main concern is pregnancy, I’m in no position to get pregnant but I don’t really want to switch pills as this one has worked so well with me and the combined pill has caused endless issues in everyone I have spoke to with experience. I’m just wondering whether I’m being as safe as can be and if I would know if I were to be pregnant? Forking out on a test each month seems to be a waste of money but I want to be as safe as possible without changing my pill. Would it be better to test myself each month I’m active? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

The mini pill something like 99% effective when taken correctly (allowing for mistakes I think I've seen 93%) so if you're taking it correctly and using condoms the chance is pregnancy extremely low.

I suppose if, and that's a tiny if, you were to get pregnant you'd notice something within a few weeks. But the mini pill is still a contraceptive, the 'mini' doesn't mean it's less effective.

Its really effective as long as you take it correctly. You seem extremely anxious though. FWIW, you can get withdrawal bleeds on the combined pill and still be pregnant - the hormone fluctuation causes the bleed, not the usual egg release/ lining shedding of a no-pill cycle, and it can happen whether pregnant or not. So changing pill to one where you bleed would not help.

And if you were pregnant you would most likely get symptoms - around 80-89% of pregnancies have symptoms by 8 weeks.

If you do want to test, do 1 a month and buy those cheapo ones off amazon or ebay, about £2.50 for 10.

I am on the mini pill too, rarely have periods, but I think if you are taking it daily as directed then you shouldn't really have any worries as your chances of pregnancy are tiny?

I guess if you are that concerned you could switch to another form of contraception - maybe the combined pill where you have a week off a month so you at least see a bleed? or a non-hormonal coil?

@majesticallyawkward I don’t think I’ve missed a pill or taken it out of the time frame in the 6 years I’ve been on it. This was important for me because my periods were extremely painful but the doctor never explored why just told me birth control could be more beneficial for me. Thank you for your reply. I’m just trying to be as safe as possible as I’ve only just become sexually active.

@Allthereindeersaregirls thank you for your response too. I’ve actually been curious about regarding the combined pill as I knew the “periods” weren’t really periods but more withdrawal bleeds so you could be pregnant with it and still bleed. I think I’m anxious because as I’ve said it’s my first time being sexually active and I wouldn’t be in any position to have a child. I just want to be as safe and responsible as possible. Do you think that being on the pill for a long period of time could decrease its effectiveness at all? I’ve really gotten along well with this pill and it’s done wonders for me so far. Thanks again!

I'd also say since you have been on it for so long your chances of accidental pregnancy are almost non-existent as the hormones will be well into your system.

@Bibidy thank you for your response, I don’t think I’d like to go onto combined as I’ve seen so many people I know have issues in terms of mood swings, their mental health deteriorate, weight gain etc. I know it could be the case with any pill but I’ve settled with the mini pill really well.

@Allthereindeersaregirls sorry I just read your last response after I posted, but thank you. I suppose to be safe I could test using the cheaper pregnancy tests once a month.

I think you're over thinking things. Continue the pill & use condoms. They're your best chances of not falling pregnant.

Do you think that being on the pill for a long period of time could decrease its effectiveness at all?

No. That isn't how it works. Honestly, you're all good.

Filling up a condom before using it is bonkers! You're more likely to put a hole in it doing that and unrolling it and re-rolling will perhaps mean you don't put it on correctly.

I'm on the mini-pill and don't have periods (it's wonderful) - I just do a test every other month, I don't buy expensive ones and for me the small added cost is worth it for peace of mind.

You are over thinking it. Just take it correctly, there is a smaller window to take it than the combined pill and you will be fine.

You'll be absolutely fine as long as you've taken it in line with instructions (watch it if you're using antibiotics or have an upset stomach). Progestogen only pills are v effective - I'm on one, totally love it and don't have periods, bit I take a pregnancy test every 3 months or so (I'm paranoid, absolutely not a requirement). There is no know decrease in efficacy if it's taken long term. If you're seriously worried about unwanted conception, just use a condom as well as your pill. It's seriously not a bother.

@Crinkle77 I don’t do it before, I know that would increase chances of damaging it. I mean after, we check after it has been used to make sure there has been no hole just so we have the peace of mind with me not having periods.

@Watercoloursky @Camparispritzandcrisps thank you, I think like you both I will perhaps buy some cheap tests to test every month. Not too sure which ones would be best to purchase? I love having no periods and no side effects on this pill.

Also thank you everyone for your responses! I definitely feel more at ease now.

Hi everyone. So I'm on desogestrel for about 4 months. The 1st months i started this pill i had heavy bleeding for almost 2weeks. 2nd months i had periods twice in a month . After that everything went normal and no more periods until the fourth month i noticed my breast is sore for few days. Does anyone experience the same things while on desogestrel.. just wondering.