Putting 13yo DD on the pill? Will it help with her periods?

[MumbleCrumbs]

DD has suffered hugely with her periods since she started them at 11. She has sen and finds the cramps and bleeding really difficult to deal with, they are usually really heavy and knock her out for the first two days every month. Would it be worth considering putting her on the pill? Is it a guarantee they would stop them/make them easier? Any opinions would be gratefully received. She is my eldest so not been through this before!

Have you spoken to her GP?

That would be my first point of call.

Ask her GP to investigate the cause first. And no, it’s no guarantee.

If you go down this route be very careful which pill you accept. My then 16 year old was prescribed rigevidon. It really seemed to affect her mood and hunting around on the internet we found its linked to depression and worse in younger patients. It's cheap though
www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1087553/nhs-contraceptive-pill-microgynon-combined-rigevidon-side-effects-depression
In the end she went for tranaxemic acid, ibuprofen and period pants, iron tablets to supplement. Now aged 19 she seems a little more on top of it. GP says hormones usually settle down by late teens.

Our GP is not much help but we have taken her in about it before with no cause found, they said some teenagers just get them quite badly for a few years until things settle down.

Our GP gave the pill as an option, but first of all to try Tranexamic acid which we have done and has worked really well.

@MumbleCrumbs

Our GP is not much help but we have taken her in about it before with no cause found, they said some teenagers just get them quite badly for a few years until things settle down.

I was told that in my teens, I was still in huge pain in my 30s. Bit that was 20 years ago. They should do better now. Ask another GP.

Have a look at this: www.endometriosis-uk.org/Information-teenage-girls

Went to GP for similar with DD (14). She was put on pill (although also offered tranexamic acid as an alternative).

It has improved her PMT, cramps and reduced heaviness considerably, plus given her more confidence as to when her 'period' will arrive. Only slight negative is a bit of weight gain but if that bothers her, we can easily address that.

GP didn't seem concerned re possible cause, although maybe as my history is incredibly similar - only difference is I didn't go on pill until I was 19. It transformed my life and I wish I had done it years sooner.

Obviously hormonal contraception isn't for everyone, but it suited me, and so far DD, so would definitely say discuss with your DD and GP.

My periods did not settle down in my late teens and neither did my daughter’s. Besides which even if they did improve why should your daughter suffer so much now. The mini pill had great results for my daughter and as others have mentioned there are other things to try . It is horrendous to be dreading your period every month and having to cancel plans or miss school . I’d go back to the GP .

I've never heard of Tranexamic acid, is it prescription only?

Yes, prescription only. It reduces blood loss, but I never found it very amazing. Is she staring ibuprofen before she’s due on? (taking with food) It’s much harder to control the pain once it’s started.

DD's GP was reluctant at age 13.
At age 15 she did and it is great. We run up to 2.5 packets together (any more and she gets breakthrough) and then only have a 4 day break.
Periods don't seem to be particularly lighter, but they are predictable and adjustable so exams, holidays etc can be avoided.

• starting

I’m older (late 30s) so probably better things about but I went on the pill at 13 as I had horrendous periods that made me pass out. Worked for me but yes gp visit sounds like a good starting point