Talk to me about the pill for dd aged 15.

[ShouldersBackChestOutChinUp]

Ddd started her periods six months ago. She was 14 and a 1/2.

They are already quite heavy and very painful. She absolutely hates them. I know nobody likes periods (!) but she seems to be really struggling.

I had very heavy periods and pain to the extent I would throw up. I really don't want her to suffer that it can be avoided.

I was wondering if her going on the pill would help her or should we wait until her periods are more established?

Don't do it! Wait until her periods are more established- and try some supplements if necessary.
The pill can have awful side effects for young girls, which will then be put down as 'normal' due to their young age and hormones.
There's also studies from 2020 to show the pill has negative effects on cognitive development. A 2018 study also showed the vastly increased risk of depression from taking the pill.
I really think it should be a last resort - despite doctors trying to fob any young girl off with period problems with taking the pill to get a fake regular period.

My DD was 16 when prescribed the pill for her acne. Sorted her skin out lovely but it really increased her appetite which made her put on weight very quickly and she now has stretchmarks which are obviously permanent 😔so she really regrets taking it. She has come off it now but her skin is slowly starting to get worse again. I also felt her mood was quite low whilst on it but she disagrees with this. Lots to look into and weigh up I would say OP.

I really dislike that the option is to stick growing teens on the pill and some research is showing it’s not always a positive thing for our bodies. Surely in 2022 we have other options for teens.

I’ve been taking the pill since I was 17 and never had any issues. It completely solved my acne issues. I didn’t have much period issues at that time but I remember at your DD’s age being in total agony, not being able to lay down or stand because of the horrific cramps and throwing up because of the pain. It was truly hell and if there’s a solution for it I would go for it.

When I was a teen with terrible period pains I tried evening primrose oil supplements and painful cramps and sore breasts turned into annoying niggles after a couple of months.

That was a long time ago, might be worth checking if they still recommend it now.

DD went on the pill for painful periods at about 15 - she'd tried tranaxamic acid before that but it didn't help enough. She then moved on to the implant when she went to uni and has had one for years.

i had horrible periods at that age. By 17, I figured out some of the problem was stress (I was at boarding school). After that, I started avoiding caffeine (haven’t had Coke since and have never had coffee). Then I just started keeping an eye on food in vs reactions. It was more a pain in the neck than a pain in the uterus for many years (and then it ends!).

But for many years my level of period of pain or lack of would be a stress barometer. It would range from mild to foetal position.

Dd is now 17 and has heavy painful periods. She was prescribed mefanemic acid as a pain killer but this didn't really help. She has now also been prescribed tranexamic acid n combination and so far, this seems to be helping with pain and the reducing the heavy flow. Maybe worth a discussion with her GP before going down the pill route?

My 17 year old daughter has been taking tranaxamic acid for about a year. It's been working well. I email the surgery for a repeat prescription and pick it up from the local chemist a couple of days later. It's free at the moment because of her age.

I did it at that age for painful periods and hormonal mood swings, it was really helpful

I think it’s definitely worth trying loads of different kinds of birth control to see if one of them could help. Everyone will have a different experience of the pill, some positive some negative. So the only real way to see is by trying it.

DD's been taking the pill since she was about 16/17yo due to heavy periods. It sort of works-they're much less painful and slightly less heavy. However what is really good is being able to move the period if it's over something really important that she needs to be at.

So what would you suggest as an alternative?

Get her to speak to her GP.

My GP was happy for me to go on the pill at 15 and run 4 packs back to back so I had a longer break between periods. It improved my life drastically. I could cope with an awful period every 3 months. Before that it felt like I was in pain for more days than not.

Teenagers often have horrible periods, it seems very 'unfair'.
They might settle .if they don't settle mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid reduce the wuantity of blood and reduce pain.They are effective but it might not be enough.If time plus these options haven't helped then ' the pill' ie the combined pill will reduce bleeding and can be taken , eg for three months and then a withdrawal bleed over four days so that the normal number of ' periods' per year is reduced.This is great if your DD's periods are significantly interfering with her quality of life.Some women cannot take 'the pill' eg if they have migraine or are on certain medications in which case progesterone only contraceptives will reduce the amount of bleeding but will not give a regular pattern of bleeding . Obviously all treatments have positives and negatives.Go and see or have a telephone consultation with your doctor.it is best if the doctor speaks to your DD and you can be present on the call if your DD agrees.

My periods from age 13 were horrendous and I missed a lot of school due to heaviness and pain. I was stuck in bed 4 days each month and vomitted from the pain. I ended up being put on the pill and it messed me up so much from the side effects.
15yrs on after having my first child i was still struggling and a different dr put me on tranemexic acid to help slow the bleeding and mefanamic acid to help with the pain. This stuff has worked super well. Wish id had it as a teenager. My periods are so much lighter and the pain so much better i can live a normal life.

I had horrific periods as a teen and wish I'd had the option to go on the pill. My dd has been on it for about a year now - she's 15. She's on Yasmin as she was getting spots. She still has bad period pain but she runs 3 packs together so she only has a period every 3 months. She can also control when she had them; so last week she had gcses and could have her period in half term week instead. I think the pros outweigh the cons. Maybe if you've never had horrendous periods you can't understand just how debilitating they are.

I had horrible periods as a teen but I think it's not a good idea to mask the issue with the pill.

There's a great book called The Period Repair Manual which has great information on early hormone health. I'd try this and supplements first, especially as the hormones settle during puberty.

I went on the pill at 19 as they got so bad and was on it for 10 years. It wasn't until I came off it that I saw how horrible it made me feel. Then spent years trying to get pregnant.

I refuse all hormones now even though I continued to have horrific periods.

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Dd is quite a bit younger and has been taking the combined pill for about five months back to back (she's had one break). She is a million times happier and hasn't had any side effects that we have noticed.

She had heavy periods and would leak overnight despite trying everything. She would cry at anything and everything for the whole week before her period and then be almost depressed for the whole week she had it and be in a lot of pain meaning she was spending 50% of her time completely miserable. For her it's been the best decision for now.

Make a gp appointment for her and let her talk it over with a dr. She can always try it for a few months and then review whether or not it suits her. It may well sort out all the issues she’s having with few or no side effects, but there’s also a risk that she might find it has some side effects that are worse than have current concerns. At some point in the next few years she is likely to want to be using some form of hormonal contraception for contraceptive purposes anyway (condoms+hormonal method is an excellent idea as a fertile young woman looking to avoid pregnancy and stds).

thelowdown.com is really good for exploring contraception options.

Lots of reviews and data on real womens experiences.

My dd tried the pill when she was 15, almost 16. A 3 month trial. At first, she was relieved - pain free and reduced blood was great. However, she realised that it was mucking about with her mood and she was permanently angry.

She stopped after the 3 months and has gone back to Menfanic Acid and Tranxemic Acid. I'm sure I've spelt both incorrectly.

One is an anti-inflammatory, the other reduces amount of blood. Makes her period bearable.