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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About Feeling really menstrual on the pill...?

20 replies

Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 16:37

Just that.

Taking Gedarel and have been for about 4 months now after switching from the mini pill after breastfeeding.

The weird thing is, towards the end of the pill packet (say 4 days before the end of the pack) I start feeling really menstrual- like I'm about to have a period, sore boobs and stuff too. This has happened a few times and I've even panicked and done pregnancy tests. I don't remember this happening when I took the pill prior to children, and it doesn't seem right- I can't see how my body can know I'm near the end of the pill packHmm

Does anyone else experience this?
Does it imply the pill doesn't suit me anymore? Or worse- that it's not working and I'm ovulating or something? (don't want to be pregnant again!).
Or is it just the hormones settling down after feeding/mini pill/babies etc?

Any thoughts from anyone?

OP posts:
Squirmy65ghyg · 21/07/2017 17:26

I get that and thought I was going crazy.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 18:09

Kind of relieved it's not just me, do you think it means anything?

OP posts:
VestalVirgin · 21/07/2017 18:24

YANBU.

Hormones are weird. All sort of shit can happen if you mess with them, you aren't unreasonable for feeling a specific way.

See a gynecologist to be sure the pill is, in fact, working, and discuss what other alternatives there are if you want to get rid of those symptoms.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 19:12

Bugger. That's scared me. Is there a good chance it's not bloody working?!!! Shock

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 21/07/2017 19:13

I got pregnant with my son when I was on the pill, so needless to say, I don't trust them. I'd talk to your doctor and use back-up protection.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 19:16

Too late for this month I'm afraid, Confused. Maybe I need to rethink!

OP posts:
Apricotsandjaminspring · 21/07/2017 19:33

I get this . The pill 10 years no pregnancy don't worry!

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 19:34

Thanks. I do realise it's not 100 percent effective though....!!!

OP posts:
Apricotsandjaminspring · 21/07/2017 19:34

The big risk factors of pill not working are being overweight or not taking it properly. If your panicked get a few ovulation sticks but I'm sure you're fine

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 19:43

Thanks. I take it bang on the dot every day. Haven't been sick or taken any other drugs. Not overweight. Might test out the sticks though.

Why the pre menstral feeling though? Isn't it a bit odd if there's no proper cycle happening? I could understand it if I was on the pill free week, but it's always just before, when I'm still taking it. Hmm

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyToddler · 21/07/2017 19:54

Hi. GP here. I think if you're taking the pill properly then no need to worry. Hormones do do weird things and not always easy to explain. If this freaks you out (and I can understand why it might!) then you could chat to your dr about going back to your previous pill. Were you on gedarel before you got pregnant? Or there's no reason to change from the mini pill just because you've stopped breastfeeding if it suited you otherwise. But I would generally be happy with the gedarel as long as you take it regularly (as you've said).

As an aside Vestal there's not much point asking a gynaecologist about contraception if you're in the UK. Most of them don't have much to do with it. Counterintuitive I know. But your GP or your family planning clinic are your friends here.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 20:28

Thanks so much/ great to have a reply from a gp. I really appreciate it.

I was taking Mercilon before and never had this problem. That was more than 4 years ago before kids. My gp tells me that gedarel is the same as mercilon though... just with a different brand name or something , maybe it's not...!

OP posts:
eatingonlyapples · 21/07/2017 20:37

I'm on Cerelle and get mood swings and the occasional cramps monthly. I haven't had a period since March (and December before that) but still get all the other stuff! Entirely happy with the pill as I went on it to help my irregular, insanely heavy periods in the first place.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 20:46

TBH I liked cerelle- I was taking it when I was breastfeeding- and I never had this problem. But I chickened out of using it when I stopped feeding because I read some scary stories about how the mini pill was rubbish and ineffective.

TBH I also didn't like the lack of period for months and months because I felt like I didn't know where I was and I kind of prefer the comfort of getting an actual period and having a sort of cycle. Probably I'm a weirdo in this regard!

Before anyone suggests it- yes I have tried the coil. It perforatedy uterus and I had to have surgery to get it removed!Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 20:47

Perforated my

OP posts:
FreeButtonBee · 21/07/2017 20:51

Geradel made me insane. Totally loopy. It was horrific. I cried more in 8 weeks on it than in the previous 4 years.

Am back on cerelle now. It's not amazing and I am on a campaign to get DH to get the snip but it's preferable to the carnage of Gaderel

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 21/07/2017 20:54

Really....?

You've made me think free- maybe I should just sod it and Go back to Cerelle!

I already had the snip conversation. Dh doesn't want to!

OP posts:
eatingonlyapples · 21/07/2017 20:54

I get liking having periods to know where you are, I would have too if they were reasonable! But they were incredibly irregular - sometimes twice a month, sometimes not at all - and so heavy and painful. The menstrual cup helped with the cramps but the minipill has basically stopped them for me entirely, and when I do get them they're lovely and light - I thought medium tampons were a myth, let alone light! And I have regular sex and and am not pregnant :)

ThatsNotMyToddler · 21/07/2017 21:05

There are two strengths of gedarel OP - make sure you're on the lower oestrogen one (20mcg, which is the same drug as mercilon) rather than the 30mcg dose which is marvelon by another name.

Cerelle/Cerazette/desogestrel (all same pill by different names) is not like the old mini pills. They were less effective because relied on changing cervical mucus for their contraception, hence having to be taken within only 3hrs of the same time each day. Cerelle etc stop you ovulating so are excellent contraception and have fewer risks than combined pills because they don't have the oestrogen. You don't have a period just because you're not withdrawing from the oestrogen every fourth week (which is all your 'period' is on gedarel). It is absolutely safe and find for you to stay on cerelle until your menopause if you're happy with it. And great advantage to not bleed every month / no risk of anaemia, less hassle as perimenopause starts in your 40s etc etc.

But same advice applies - if you're not happy go and chat with your GP. We like seeing women with things like this. Honestly

Ohyesiam · 22/07/2017 09:44

Way back in time, when I was taught about it the pill worked by kidding your body that it was pregnant. I imagine that is still the case.
My personal experience of the pull is of feeling premenstrual, and crying lots. Which is how I was for the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
I doubt it's an indication of it not working, but as you have lots of questions, I would go to your family planning clinic and check it all out.

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