The pill for sorting out period problems

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My DD12 (only just) started her periods 10/12 months ago and has been through hell since. She's been diagnosed with excessive bleeding and prescribed tranexamic acid and naproxen to ease the symptoms, gets excruciating debilitating pain and vomiting in the week before before and during her period, as well as the usual mood swings and spot break outs.

We went today for a review with our lovely GP who is disappointed that things haven't settled for her and she has suggested prescribing the contraceptive pill as a means of making things bearable for DD. She explained the pill to DD who thinks it sounds amazing and now wants to give it a go.

Our Dr has recommended taking it as the quality of DD's life for 2/3 weeks a month is really poor, for example she's started not wanting to leave the house in case she gets a flooding incident, and if she vomits in school she's automatically sent home for 48 hours.

I know it makes sense DD is suffering but I can't help feeling worried about the hormones etc.

So am I being too cautious and should I let DD take the pill aged 12 to get some normality back?

Yes of course. It has really helped my DD.

I hate taking anything and I’m very cautious about giving my kids much too.

In your case I would be definitely letting DD take GP’s advice. I don’t know what else there is out there for this sort of thing. So yes, give it a try and keep everything crossed for her getting her life back.

One of my DDs is on the pill for this exact reason. We tried everything else and it was just debilitating for her - missing school days etc due to it. So I'd say yes. She doesn't have to suffer.

Inwas on the pill from a young age for the same problem. No lasting affects for me had two kids easily etc. please consider it it really helped me op

I know she feels young but she started her periods at 11 so her body is already full of hormones. The pill may be the thing that makes her life bearable and she can function. I know I was older but I went on the pill at 15 to control my period pain, turns out I have endometriosis but that pill reduced the pain level right down and I could sleep which improved my quality of life just from that alone. I stayed on the pill for over a decade.

At this point your DD has already tried so many things and they aren't settling down. I know Davina McCall did a series on the pill recently, I didn't pay attention to it because I am almost 50 and perimenopausal but might be worth a watch. It is annoying that I always took the 7 day break to have a "period" when there was no need apparently.

I think people can be too hesitant about the pill because they see it as contraception and therefore it feels uncomfortable for a young girl to be taking it. Also if it doesn’t help her she can just stop!

I did the same, OP. It was transformative. No long term side effects.

DD took it for the same reason. She would lose so much blood that I could tell by the colour of her skin that her period had started.
It's made a big difference to her, and also you can tweak your period's arrival around key things, which also is really helpful.

What are your concerns about her taking the pill?

I'd be open minded about it. BUT, have they sent your daughter for investigations etc? The pill will treat the symptoms but they should also be looking to see if there is a cause.

The pill can mask things (endometriosis) and that could cause issues in the future with fertility etc.

So I'd take the pill but push for investigations alongside.

Thank you for all the comments and sharing your experiences I do appreciate it. I've talked it over with DD and I think we will pursue it as it is the best way to give her some normalcy.