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Original poster

To ask for your opinions on contraception for 14yo dd

36 replies

nearly40andfat · 19/03/2023 19:03

I'm hoping to get some opinions and advice. My dd (14 yo) has very heavy and unpredictable periods, she wants to go on some form of contraception to help. She's considering the Patch or the injection (she can't swallow tablets). I'm just wondering if you could tell me about your experiences of either method? Most online reviews are horror stories Confused
Thank you for any advice

OP posts:
Zone2NorthLondon · 19/03/2023 19:11

Has she seen her GP?Whats the GP opinion? what options have been tried so far? What is her preference
looking online often yields the worst or polarised opinions it is hard to hear balance

Speedweed · 19/03/2023 19:12

Has she spoken to the doctor about her periods, rather than specifically asking for contraception? There are other things that can be tried such tranexamic acid etc, and the doctor will be able to talk you through the patch or injection if either of those are the right choice. Also, heavy periods at that age do need to be checked for underlying problems.

I don't know anyone who had the patch, but I had two friends who had the injection, both for irregular periods and they loved it for the convenience, particularly the version you can do yourself so you don't even need a doctor's appointment.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/03/2023 19:12

Injection was awful for me at that age. I piled on about 4 stone in 12 months.

CheersForThatEh · 19/03/2023 19:14

Zone2NorthLondon · 19/03/2023 19:11

Has she seen her GP?Whats the GP opinion? what options have been tried so far? What is her preference
looking online often yields the worst or polarised opinions it is hard to hear balance

This x100.

Lastnamedidntstick · 19/03/2023 19:17

the tablets are teeny tiny though- has she actually seen the size?

could you speak to a gp/pharmacist and see if she can take a look at a packet?

has she tried practicing with tictacs? They have a similar smooth coating and are bigger than the pill, but not as big as regular tabs.

if it’s an absolute no I’d maybe go with the patch first, then if she has a bad reaction she can stop. If it works well for her then look at the less temporary injection/implant.

have a sit down with the gp, or you could ask a pharmacist to talk through options beforehand? Gp’s are often rushed so might help to have all her questions answered first.

jb23newmum · 19/03/2023 19:23

My daughter was 12 when he periods started - not heavy or painful but she suffered from terrible physical sickness the first day. Various things tried and final resort was the contraceptive pill . She too hates/can’t take tablets and even has to take her pill with water but she has got used to it and is fine (still can’t take paracetamol at 14 and has calpol !!) worth speaking to the doctor and even just trialing the tablet form

LockEmUp · 19/03/2023 19:23

the tablets are teeny tiny though- has she actually seen the size?

they're tiny, like one of those tiny pasta stars you buy to put in soups. Definitely rule out any underlying cause with a GP first.

To ask for your opinions on contraception for 14yo dd
dementedpixie · 19/03/2023 19:28

I dont think the injection would be sensible as it can affect bone density and she will still be growing. The contraceptive pills are tiny so she might find she can swallow them after all.

Original poster
nearly40andfat · 19/03/2023 19:33

"Has she seen her GP?Whats the GP opinion? what options have been tried so far? What is her preference
looking online often yields the worst or polarised opinions it is hard to hear balance"

We have been to the doctors and they weren't massively helpful, they seamed to agree that some form of contraception would be a good idea. They just sent us a link to the NHS website to read about the options. Her preference is probably the patch but only because she isn't a massive fan of injections.

To other questions. She absolutely will not swallow tablets, we have tried everything! Weight gain wouldn't be a worry because she could do with gaining a bit anyway.

Thank you for all the replies

OP posts:
Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 19/03/2023 19:39

Not the injection awful thing. I know a lot of people who like the implant in their arm it was horrible for me but everyone's different. I really would try and convince her down the pill route

TeenDivided · 19/03/2023 19:43

She needs to learn to swallow tablets, it is a life skill. Then go on the pill and she can time periods to suit.

What about an implant?

premicrois · 19/03/2023 19:46

I think you need to reframe it in your mind. It's primarily hormonal medication for her periods, not contraception.

redredredredlorry · 19/03/2023 19:46

If she can swallow food she can swallow a contraceptive tablet. They're absolutely tiny

Mutabiliss · 19/03/2023 19:47

You need to push the GPs for more action and referral. They will try to fob you off with the cheapest contraception because it will (probably) make the problems go away... until she's 32, comes off the pill to try to conceive and discovers she has something wrong that can affect her fertility. If she has, say, endometriosis, it's going to be better known about and treated early.

In the meantime I would definitely not go for the injection without trialling other hormonal contraception first to see how she gets on with it. The patch or implant would be my first choices if she really won't try a pill.

But ultimately, you need to find out why she's having heavy periods at such a young age.

Original poster
nearly40andfat · 19/03/2023 19:48

The implant is an option but she not very keen. I know swallowing tablets is a life skill but she won't do it, she also suffers quite badly with anxiety so I don't want to push her at the moment.

OP posts:
Mutabiliss · 19/03/2023 19:51

The advantage of the Pill is that there are a lot of different types, so you can figure out which suits her best. Personally I can't tolerate any of them, but I've tried a lot over the years and if I needed some form of contraception I would be able to tell the GP what worked best for me.

GinBlossom94 · 19/03/2023 19:56

I would avoid the injection like the plague, there are several reports of it affecting bone density and future fertility (I realise she is young so this is a long way off). Also if she suffers some of the horrific side effects then she's stuck with it in her system for a minimum of 12 weeks

Hannahbanna100 · 19/03/2023 20:01

Are you in the UK? Sexual health service are specialists when it comes to contraception and many areas have young people walk in sessions which you could go to with her and they will be able to talk through her options. If no walk in, you could ring to make an appointment. Lots of options available to her.

KnackeredHag · 19/03/2023 20:01

There are other options. My daughter is 12 and has very heavy periods, GP prescribed tranexamic acid. No need for contraceptive pill.

Augend23 · 19/03/2023 20:08

I went on the combined pill at 13 and it was a life changing improvement compared to the state I was in before - super heavy bleeding, pain etc. I'd tried tranexamic acid etc and nothing worked.

But some people don't find hormonal contraceptives agree with them so I wouldn't be having an injection or an implant..at least you can just stop taking the pill.

I hear what you're saying about tablets but they are way smaller than any food you would swallow. They are also sugar coated so you can't taste anything horrid. She could literally put them on her tongue and swallow without any water.

I understand she's anxious but the way people overcome anxiety is to do things they are anxious about successfully. If you constantly just don't do the things that make you anxious it's a vicious cycle and you become less able to do them because the story you tell yourself in your head is that you're "too anxious to do that". Whereas if you do do them the story becomes "I was anxious about that thing and it was okay in the end, so I can do this thing I'm anxious about too".

Obviously you have to make the decision in the end and there are some circumstances where the above just isn't suitable but I do think it is worth considering.

category12 · 19/03/2023 20:13

I wouldn't want her to do a long-acting injection in case she has side-effects, at least she can take the patch off if it doesn't suit her.

Dyslexicwonder · 19/03/2023 20:13

I can't get over a 14yo who can't take tablets. Mine did it from 6 (when liquid medicines would be 10 mls). She must be taking 20 mls of calpol for a headache.

By far the best option is the pill, if there are unwanted side effects you just stop. Tansaxamic acid only comes in tablet form....

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 19/03/2023 20:22

I couldn’t take tablets/pills till I was 18 and needed to learn for malaria tablets. I practiced by swallowing small bits of very small and very soft carrots and peas in soup and that worked. Helped me overcome the fear of swallowing. I do sometimes struggle still with large tablets but was on the pill no problem for many years.

jigsaw234 · 19/03/2023 20:23

If she can swallow a tictac she can swallow a tablet, COC tablets are tiny. But if she has no contraindications to oestrogen then the patch is fine too as long as she remembers when to change it

jigsaw234 · 19/03/2023 20:23

but you need to start her learning to swallow tablets, it's a life skill and the NHS won't in the future prescribe liquid at ££££££££ when tablets cost £

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