worried about REALLY long period?

[blueskydays]

Hello all...

I’m early 30s, no kids, and have had a contraceptive implant for nearly 7 years now (I had my third one put in last spring). In most of this time I’ve rarely had periods (maybe one every 6 months and then only very light spotting).

Previous to having the implant I did have infrequent periods for a couple of years but that was possibly put down to being underweight (which I’m now not!)

Anyway... that’s all background. I’ve now been on my period for two months (started around 12th Nov). It’s never been super heavy and some days it’s just a little spotting, but it’s relentless.

I’ve been to the GPs a couple of times and she’s done some blood tests plus an examination... and I’ve got to do some swabs (if it ever stops bleeding). She’s also put me on a low dose combo pill for 3 months to see if that resets me.

So I’m really just looking for anyone who might have been in a similar situation for (hopefully) some reassurance that it will be okay. It’s getting me down a bit because it’s so frustrating and I can’t help but worry a little what’s causing it.

This has also been an opportunity to have a mini rant to someone other than my DP, who is supportive but limited in full understanding as he’s never had a period!

Thoughts and stories welcome...

Anyone?

Im not sure how a low dose pill will reset you. Did the doctor explain. The pill stops ovulation - so you don’t get a period.
I’d be asking for a referral to a gynecologist.
Also ask to get your iron levels checked to be sure you are not anemic - this can make bleeding worse.
I hope you get a solution OP it sounds very difficult.

Thanks @Epiphany52 - the GP was following the general advice for women experiencing bleeding while on the implant - ticking off all possible options. She’s actually been really great so I didn’t want to keep going back without giving the full three months of them pill a go... but it’s not much fun.

I had that problem with the implant but it happened as soon as I had it put in (I only had it once). I ended up making them take it out at around 9 months as it was so bad. They wanted to give me the pill but I didnt want more hormones to try fix the extra hormones from the implant. Even now 10 years later I still get the GP asking if I've thought about it!

I had an similar issue while on the pill. GP was useless (wait another x months and come back, did not even feel my tummy to check for cyst). I bit the bullet and paid for a gyneco and in one single session she sorted it out. I was on the wrong hormonal mix. She changed my prescription and all fine since.

I was on the implant for 9 years and I have had this happen twice. Most of them were about 2-3 weeks with about 2-3 months off. It sounds fairly normal but always worth checking when things change so drastically. I've come off it now because I've had enough of the side effects and I'm going hormone free for a bit to figure out who I actually am and work through some mental health issues.

Prior to starting the contraceptive injection, I had normal periods. When I had the first injection, I didn’t bleed for 2 months and then IT began. I bled non stop for 3.5 bloody months! Yes, some days were lighter than others, but it is definitely relentless as you say. Your quality of life detoriates when you’re constantly wearing/buying santitary products and of course romantically - so I emphasise with you. It’s awful.

I was prescribed tranexamic acid and was given my next injection slightly early. Intermittent bleeding for me was caused by a hormonal imbalance.

My friend had the same problem on the implant. Nothing for ages and then a few months of spotting and bleeding. Sadly these kinds of contraception can eventually just not agree with your body anymore so maybe it's time to think of a different kind of contraception, get off the implant for awhile and give your body some time to reset x

Eugh sorry to hear others have struggled with this (although also reassuring it’s been sorted for you)

@PixiKitKat - I totally know what you mean about having to use more hormones. In an ideal world I wouldn’t be changing my natural body rhythms at all - having said that, it has been nice not having to deal with periods up to this point. Maybe it’s just karma

@livs1987 - 3.5 months is crazy! You must’ve been SO fed up. And yeah, romantically it’s not great - not just the bleeding itself but generally just feel a bit yuck

I’ve managed to get another appointment with the GP this afternoon... mainly because I still haven’t been able to do the swan tests she gave me to do when I last saw her before Christmas, as I haven’t stopped bleeding long enough!

@AvocadoYUK hmm yeah unfortunately that may be the case... but it’s so convenient... I mean, up until November!

I had a period for 4 years now that was long! On the mini pill now and all sorted!

@ArnoldBee - oh wow, that really was long! Did they ever work out why, or just one of those things?

livs1987 I had a similar experience with the Depo injection. Best part of 4 months bleeding, I didn’t get it again after that. Not sure if it is connected or not but that last injection was really painful (the others weren’t) and I was sore round the injection site for a good week afterwards.

I had a period for six months, it coincided with taking the pill, my doctor told me to keep trying it to see if it stops but it never did. I stopped taking the pill and the long period stopped.

I have the implant and generally get two bleeds per month. My gp said it’s just they way it goes with the implant and it’s difficult to predict how it will affect your periods. It’s very annoying though because there’s not really an alternate option for me (can’t have coil or pill).

Basically they figured out that I wasn't ovulating which caused my hormones not to work as they should. They said it's quite common.

@ThanksForAllTheFish can definitely see why you decided not to get any more injections! I still get intermittent bleeding from time to time but the thought of going through the depo withdrawal process has stopped me - did you get another long period when you stopped having it? Yes sometimes it hurts, sometimes it’s fine...I find that the nurse does a much better job at administering the shot vs GPs.

OP - Yep, just feels yucky. As the flow was light most days, I was stuck wearing sanitary towels literally 24/7. It’s genuinely makes you feel gross constantly just....leaking! Hope your appointment was fruitful!

@livs1987 my period started 2 days after the last Depo shot was administered and continued on for 4 months without a break - so maybe a month after it wore off before it stopped. Then of course I was anemic after all that blood loss so had to take a 3 month course of iron tablets to get back to normal.

I was fine for the first 12 months of Depo then it all went wrong. I wouldn’t got back on it ever again after experiencing that.

I worry about the injection because if I did react to it, there's not much I can do about it until the first one wears off. I was nervous about going back on the pill to try and sort this implant issue out because I had such awful headaches when I first tried a couple of different ones about 12 years ago.

Just got back from the GP, who has given me some replacement swabs to use when/if I stop bleeding, and given me some reassurance to keep going. Basically I have to stick with the combi pill for the full three months, and only go back before then if there's any significant change (e.g. pain)

Thanks for sharing everyone - if only there was a perfect contraceptive (other than, you know, not having sex )

I had the same and I was told by a gp sometimes a hormone in the implant can run out early. I didn't believe it but had it changed and have been fine since.

Just to add my experience.

I ad a period that lasted 2 years, like you here were heavy days and spotting days, but I had to wear pads everyday. After a lot of blood tests, being put on hormone tablets and some scary instances of passing huge blood clots that led to me going to A+E I was eventually diagnosed with PCOS and had the Mirena coil fitted. I had not had issue so since then, my period are now a regular length of time, thank heavens.

My advice is to keep on at the doctors, don't let them fob you off, and ask to be checked for pcos. Good luck!

Sorry for the delayed reply!

@Mrsidgaf - it's worrying it can run out early! How long had you had it in for?

@JustanAunt - sorry to hear you had a rough time with it... I'm glad you got sorted in the end though. I've looked up the other symptoms of PCOS and they don't seem to fit...

My update - I'm still bleeding, and on top of that I'm feeling super tired, headachey and more anxious than usual. I'm beginning to think this might have something to do with the pill (on top of the implant hormones!)

I'm starting to think seriously about just getting rid if all of it, and give my body a break from extra hormones all together. Has anyone else done this and regretted it/loved the difference?

Christ if you're feeling do crappy get off all of it for a bit. Let your body heal ! X

Update - I've had the implant taken out today... so fingers crossed it makes a difference and everything goes back to normal!