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Original poster

What contraception are you on?

63 replies

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 03/09/2018 13:09

I just want peoples views about what they are on. How old they are. And how it effects your periods.

I am 43 this year. I have been on the pill called cerelle for years now and have been very happy with it. Have had no periods for 99%of that time.

But now for the last 5 months I have been getting periods that last for weeks and weeks and really heavy. So I feel the time has come for a change.

I have an appointment booked to see the doctor to discuss things on Friday.

I know my age may be a factor to what I can be put on? Is that right. What are u on and how do u like it ?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 03/09/2018 19:18

I think Combined pill can be used until age 50 in the absence of other risk factors (overweight/ obese, high blood pressure, smoker).

DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 03/09/2018 19:20

After my DD was born I was on the pill but my periods were so heavy I'd occasionally faint and feel lightheaded, bad PMT etc. I've since had the Morena coil fitted and my periods haven't stopped but they are sooo much lighter. I haven't had it removed/replaced yet (they last for 5-10yrs depending on your age) and I've heard it can be quite painful but I also heard that about it being inserted, it was a bit painful but not as bad as I thought it might be. I had some mild cramping/period pains for a few hours after it was inserted but I'm happy with it overall. I would also look into the implant into the arm personally. Lots of friends have it and have said it's fine (although I'm not sure if it makes your periods lighter/stop like the mirena coil does)

Governoress86 · 03/09/2018 19:24

I had my implant removed 4 weeks ago after having it in for 3 years.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I had an horrendous time in it. I bled constantly , my mood swings were horrendous, I put on weight, acne and greasy skin, hair falling out , made my mental health worse .

Since having it out, my periods are back to normal, I'm starting to lose the weight, I feel a lot happier and my partner has noticed a difference in me, I feel like I'm back to my normal self.

ImNotBusyImLazy · 03/09/2018 19:47

I switched to the Mirena IUD in my late 20's (currently 41). Periods stopped completely after 2-3 months (hurrah!) Had it removed to concieve first DD when I was 38. Wanted to have second child quickish after, so didn't get a new one. I'm rubbish at remembering to take pills so just used condoms as interim solutions. Just had DD2, and I have an appointment to get a new Mirena IUD next month. I have had zero negative side effects, just the bonus of no periods at all. Hoping for the same when I get the new one next month.

OhTheTastyNuts · 03/09/2018 19:57

I'm 40.

Was on the pill all through my 20s and 30s until having DC.

Now using condoms. I would never go back onto hormonal contraceptives!

Louiselouie0890 · 03/09/2018 20:06

28 on the implant can't take certain pills as I had cholestatis. No problems, it's nice to just forget about it. Is it normal for periods to just suddenly change after so long? I think you can get opinions but what works for one may be terrible for you

Racecardriver · 03/09/2018 20:10
  1. Copper coil (didn't want to use hormonal contraception). No noticeable effect on my periods. They are still fairly light.
AmayaBuzzbee · 03/09/2018 20:23

I’m 43, have been on Microgynon combination pill since 20yrs old. It was always perfect for me. Light regular periods, no side effects. I was put on ceracette after birth of my first child (at 36yrs) , but hated it. I was just bleeding constantly and feeling rubbish. Docs agreed I could stop it after couple of months. Have been back on Microgynon ever since, and no plans on going on anything else till menopause starts. I am normal weight, with lowish blood pressure and no risk factors, so I am ok on it. Docs just need my blood pressure checks etc every 6-12 months or so. That’s fine by me.

Namechange170518 · 03/09/2018 20:36

I'm 38 and had my third nexplanon implant a few months ago. I love it as I dont have periods anymore. My cycle was irregular (pcos) and it's such a relief not to have to constantly worry about when my period would arrive and how long it would last. I plan to keep using it for as long as they will let me.

mindutopia · 03/09/2018 20:45

Copper coil. It’s fine. It does cause heavy periods (I mean REALLY heavy periods), though they have settled down some. I also had it inserted 3 months postnatal so the worst of them could have just been my first periods after giving birth (despite ebf...anyway). But no hormones and I don’t have to think about it for another 10 years when hopefully I’ll be peri menopausal anyway! I’m 38. Was on the pill before this (Yasmin), which I really liked, but I just don’t want to take any hormonal contraceptives (I’m bf but even if I wasn’t). It was super simple to have it put in and I’ve had no issues with it except the heavy periods.

OrangeFluff · 03/09/2018 21:02

I was on Microgynon from 18-29 without any problems at all. Light periods that only lasted 3-4 days. At 33 I went back to the doctors to start again, but they wouldn't let me have Microgynon due to my age- my blood pressure and weight are completely fine, non smoker- but instead put me on Cerazette. I hate it! I'm 8 months in now with heavy, unpredictable periods that last for 7 days, then once it finishes it can start again only a few days later. The nurse keeps telling me that it takes at least 6 months to settle, but it hasn't yet Hmm

dementedpixie · 03/09/2018 21:11

I would try to get the combined pill again as it is not contraindicated for you unless you get migraines or something

MatildaTheCat · 03/09/2018 21:22

Almost 25 years of Mirena and no problems whatsoever. Not one period either.

maxthemartian · 03/09/2018 21:32

Condoms. Not taken hormonal contraception for years and no interest in having something shoved through the eye of a needle my cervix.

Original poster
Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 04/09/2018 06:38

Thanks for all the comments. It really does help. I just hope they recommend something else. By the time I go for my app I will have been on my period for three weeks. It is totally draining.

OP posts:
thinkfast · 04/09/2018 23:16

Condoms. I am really sensitive to medication and wouldn't touch any kind of pill with a barge pole

Sulla · 04/09/2018 23:19

48, microgynon (combined pill) it's great, very light periods, no side effects

Underthefur · 04/09/2018 23:35

Copper coil, just had my second one at 45 after years of Depo (pre DC) - multiple pills didn't suit.

Yes to heavy periods but my cycle is regular so I know what to expect and like PP when I'm hormonal at least I know it's my own hormones!

Aldilogue · 04/09/2018 23:56

Abstinence!! Terrible for the marriage though😀😀 Came off hormonal contraceptives 4 years ago and will never go back. I'm 45.

BloodyDisgrace · 05/09/2018 13:44

Hey, sorry if it's a bit to late to comment. I saw you question earlier and meant to respond.

I'm 42; was taking Microgynon for 10 years until I stopped in the early 30s. No problems/side effects. Tried mini-pill afterwards (no break between patches, forgot the name; usually the one good for smokers or over 35 y.o.) but it made me somewhat ... obsessive, in short mucked up with mental health.
The reason I stopped the pill is mainly the libido, as my anti-depressants being taken at the same time were also lowering it.

Pretty much since the age of 34 I was relying on condoms, to this day. Never had a split one, no problems whatsoever. Husband is very very careful at removing them, bless him. My periods didn't change significantly, always were light; the only change post-pill is abdominal pain on the 1st day, I take a painkiller and the job's jobbed.
Hope you'll find what suits you.

BloodyDisgrace · 05/09/2018 13:44

too late. Typo, sorry.

BloodyDisgrace · 05/09/2018 13:58

Also, have you considered that heavy periods, which, as you said, "last for weeks and weeks", can be sorted out separately from contraception, with some medication precisely for that, and then condoms can be used? You must be losing a lot of blood which isn't good and can make you anaemic so this is a valid reason to take something against that.

Hormonal contraception is good if you don't have mental health issues, such as depression.
Good luck on Friday.

Watercoloursky · 05/09/2018 14:16

I was on Yasmin (combined pill) for years, really liked it - predictable periods and it cleared up my skin too - but after a while I developed cervical ectropion which meant I was bleeding/spotting all the time. Horrible, I never felt clean - bled more heavily after sex too, so I suppose it was an effective contraceptive I that it completely put me off doing the deed!

They tried me on a couple of other combined pills - Femadol, I think, then Microgynon - neither stopped the bleeding but the latter was a disaster in that it gave me such awful mood swings. Proper black moods, I felt permanently tearful and hopeless, like being at the bottom of a well filled with ink.

Chemical treatment (the silver nitrate stuff) didn't help either so they put me on a mini pill called Zelleta (I think it's related to cezarette?) and I haven't bled or had a period since. For me, it was life changing.

There are so many different pills out there, OP, and it can be a bit trial and error but I hope you find one that works for you - it might just be a matter of finding the right one.

QueenOfIce · 05/09/2018 14:27

Daysy is my contraception a fertility monitor, have used it everyday for 2 years and had no issues. No hormones and no worries.