I’ve been on the contraceptive patch for two years with no real issues other than a bit of bloating and loss of libido. Recently I’ve been slightly more forgetful at changing it over and there’s sometimes been a 24h delay, but NHS site says 48h delay is fine.
For those who don’t know it works exactly like the combined pill and has the same hormones. I chose to skip the patch free week for 3 months and take the hormones back to back without a break. GP says this is fine to do and I have done this before with no issue. 5 days before I was planning to take it off (Wednesday) I started spotting and it was light/pink reddish. I took the patch off on Saturday and it continued to get heavier, but as I would usually get a withdrawal bleed after taking one off I haven’t worried too much.
Bleeding has tailed off as it usually would but has reverted back to pink spotting, which hasn’t stopped yet. Today I have noticed a new pain during sex. It feels like menstrual cramps, almost tugging/pinching. I have never had pain during sex before, ever. Been with the same partner consistently for years.
I have been really stupid and haven’t booked in at the GP this week, though I should’ve done. I’ve been busy at work. I can get an emergency appt if need be tomorrow, as we go on holiday next week.
Thoughts so far are:
-PCOS / endo - my periods used to be very heavy and painful prior to going onto contraception
-Infection - no other symptoms of infection
-Missed miscarriage - again, been taking contraception reliably but I did have symptoms of nausea and extreme fatigue the week before the pink spotting started.
I know nobody is a doctor and the right thing to do is seek advice if concerned, but just coming to here first to see if anyone has experienced anything similar and what it turned out to be.