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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Desogestrel and bleeding

35 replies

PepperPott · 01/06/2020 10:40

Not AIBU but I really need some advice.

I’m coming towards the end of my fourth month.

Month one - no bleeding for 4 weeks - then normal week-long period.

Month two and half way through three - bleeding alternate weeks

Later half of month three and beginning of month four - no bleeding

Now I’ve been bleeding constantly for 2 and a half weeks. First week was normal bleeding (two heavy days, rest light). This week it’s been heavy every day. It doesn’t seem to be letting off.

Combined pill didn’t work for me. The implant had me bleeding more often than not for 10 months until I finally had it removed. Since childbirth (nearly 3 years ago) I’ve had heavy, painful periods and this pill has taken the pain away, but the bleeding is getting ridiculous now. It was at least ‘regular’ off contraception.

Can anyone tell me their experiences and whether it did eventually settle down? I will stick with it for another two months to see but I’m concerned nothing is going to work for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
PepperPott · 01/06/2020 14:19

Bumping this. Anyone?

OP posts:
Lightuptheroom · 01/06/2020 14:24

It does eventually settle down but can still be unpredictable if you see what I mean? I've been on it 2 years and the initial months were as you described, now I get no bleeding at all and then a sudden completely random day or few days where I bleed. Make sure you are checked regularly by your gp for changes in blood pressure etc

Original poster
PepperPott · 01/06/2020 14:53

Thank you. That’s reassuring! I get a bit panicky as I’ve always had a bad time on contraception and I was looking up some guidance that says 2 in 10 can have prolonged bleeding but I don’t know how long that carries on for.

OP posts:
Lightuptheroom · 01/06/2020 15:28

Unfortunately the gp's tend to be 'some women bleed, some don't' when they put you on it. If the bleeding gets too much for you, do chat it through with them because reassurance from them is also important.

Original poster
PepperPott · 01/06/2020 15:30

I was actually meant to go on the coil in April and this was an interim message, but that appointment got cancelled so I’ve just stuck with it.

I’ll give it another a week and see if it calms down again. If not, I will make another phone call and discuss. I’m not sure what’s normal or not.

OP posts:
DinoGreen · 01/06/2020 15:36

I have had a very similar experience and after 3 weeks of non-stop bleeding in my fourth month on this pill I’ve had enough and stopped taking it. I was previously on the same pill around 6 years ago and had no bleeding at all after about 6 months, but in those first 6 months my periods were quite normal. This time around it just isn’t working for me 🤷‍♀️

EncroachingLoaf · 01/06/2020 15:49

I've got the same problem as well. I've been on it for over a year, no bleeding whatsoever, great! until now - I've been bleeding steadily for over two weeks.

It seemed out of the blue so I was concerned, GP examination and tests showed nothing, awaiting ultrasound appointment too. I've stopped taking it now though in the hope it will ease off.

Hope it settles down for you op.

Runningshorts · 01/06/2020 15:50

Interested in this as I could have written your post word for word! It's been four months for me too.
I'm going to keep taking it for now because it gets rid of my awful hormonal migraines but I'm weighing that up against low iron/anemia if this bleeding continues. I really hope it will settle down in time.

Thisischaos · 01/06/2020 15:57

I was on this pill for 3 years and the reasons I came off it was because of irregular bleeding. The first 10 months were dire but the GP said hang in there, it gets better, which it did until the last few months when I started bleeding fortnightly. I got fed up and stopped it.

The GP said this particular pill is notorious for causing irregular bleeding.

passthemustard · 01/06/2020 16:18

Hi PepperPott.

I don't have any advice re pills but I would recommend a coil as soon as you can get one fitted.

I had bad bleeding on the mirena though. Not heavy, just constant and very very smelly. (No there was no infection!) I'd say if you're a bleeder then this could happen with the mirena for you. I bled everyday for 8 months, it was so depressing (and smelly).

In the end I opted for a copper coil so I wasn't putting hormones in the mix and I went straight back to my normal cycle, no in between bleeding at all and normal 4/5 days. It was heavy to start with but doc prescribed txa which I took first three days of every period and basically pretty much stopped the bleeding. But the longer I had in it in the less I needed the txa.

I feel like the copper coil is such an out of fashion piece of contraception but honestly the hormone free,long lasting, reversible contraception is amazing.

Had it out after 2 years to ttc and I fell first try.

Original poster
PepperPott · 01/06/2020 16:23

Ugh no! I was worried that might be the case. I went to a sexual health clinic when I first went on it and she said it would help with heavy periods. But after seeing some other people mention it, I’m not it will do what I need now!

OP posts:
Original poster
PepperPott · 01/06/2020 16:25

I thought the cooper coil is notorious for increasing bleeding? That’s interesting!

I feel like I’m going to have had everything going by time I reach an age it’s no longer required!

Has anyone tried the injection?

OP posts:
elaeocarpus · 01/06/2020 16:33

I only get bleeding if i take any other version than Cerazette. You could ask for this specifically?

passthemustard · 01/06/2020 17:25

Yeah it does make periods heavier but only when you’re having a period, nothing in between. (For me at least) and with the TXA it was a lighter period than normal.

I had an injection once, had a massive migraine straight away and they wouldn’t give me anymore. I don’t remember the bleeding though because it was post natal and i was breast feeding on it.

Chootchoot · 01/06/2020 23:06

I bled for four months on desogestrel.
Gave up and got a coil, which was AMAZING.

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 01/06/2020 23:14

Another vote for cerazette.
I can't remember the beginning but I remember I was bleeding solidly for quite a while.
I've been on it 7 months now and I love it! No bleeding at all. I mostly went on it for horrible periods so it's done the job.

Original poster
PepperPott · 03/06/2020 19:51

I thought the bleeding was finally over this morning (and it was, for about 10 hours), but it’s started up again.

I will call the GP tomorrow and have a consultation. This is ridiculous.

OP posts:
mumofamenagerie · 03/06/2020 20:14

I had prolonged bleeding on it initially (3-4 months), my doctor suggested doubling my dose and it stopped. After about a year I dropped back to the normal dose and I’ve basically not bled since. Good luck!

yukka · 03/06/2020 20:19

I was on it for years, no periods at all, came off to have a baby, and when back on it 4 months ago after I let my periods go back to normal etc. Been basically bleeding every day. I recently read though that breakthrough bleeding is very common if you don't take it at the exact same time of day, so I really focussed last week and it has eased. But now I'm havjng a period, I think ?!

Really want to go back to no bleeding!

Ghostlyglow · 03/06/2020 20:28

It took ages, as in months to settle when I took it, but then it was great. No bleeding at all. I took it right up until I was 52 and had gone through the menopause (so no bleeding when I came off it either, obviously)

Original poster
PepperPott · 03/06/2020 20:30

It’s nice to hear other people’s stories - the sexual health nurse told me it would really help with the heavy, painful bleeds but I was better off it. I don’t want to not be on contraception though as I’m dating (not that I don’t practise safe sex, but just in case!).

I’ll try setting an alarm and taking it the same time to see if that helps. It’s the 12-hour window one but I usually take it within a 2-hour window depending on when I get up each day.

I don’t know if I should try double dose. I think I took 2 in one day last week as I accidentally took the wrong day and wasn’t 100% sure, so took the right day just in case - and I’m sure my bleeding was heavier again the next day.

OP posts:
Original poster
PepperPott · 03/06/2020 20:32

@Ghostlyglow do you remember how many months?

I’ve never been on this pill before so I have no expectations, but I know contraception has always been a bit of a disaster for me.

The annoying thing is that it hasn’t changed my libido, the painful periods have vanished, but I’m just left with awful bleeding.

OP posts:
Oldestchild90s · 03/06/2020 20:33

I was on this pill for around 3 months, and i had a constant period for 6 weeks.. not heavy just there. I couldn't handle it and got it changed straight away! Best thing i did.

Original poster
PepperPott · 03/06/2020 20:35

@Oldestchild90s what did you get it changed to? Did it stop the problem?

OP posts:
Ghostlyglow · 03/06/2020 20:37

It was probably 6 or 7 @PepperPott I stuck with it because I was over 40 by then which made my choices more limited and I will admit I got pretty fed up with it until it finally stopped.