Contraeption advice..

[jmaepride]

Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place to post but will give it a go.

I’m 21 years old, and I’ve had periods since the age of 10. Always been extremely heavy and extremely painful. When I was 16 I was put on the mini pill for 3 months until they could book an appointment for me to have the implant. The aim was to make my periods regular and give me a pattern as well as help them settle down.
The implant was the worst 3 years of my life, my mental health took a turn, but they told me that the second time having the implant it should settle down. So I had it replaced, and then requested to have it removed a year later as I couldn’t deal with it anymore.
I went months without having a period, and then months of having a period, always having it really heavy and always in a lot of pain.
They put me on microgynon and told me to persevere as it would take a while to get into my system, hoping that it would regulate my periods. I have tried it with a 7 day break, a 3 day break, and no break. I was bleeding every single day, and always in a lot of pain.
They have now in the last year prescribed me with Provera that I take once a day every day, since taking it the bleeding has stopped and so has all the pain, but they are telling me that this is not a long term solution due to my family history (my mum and sister both diagnosed with PCOS, my nan had breast cancer twice and my great nan had ovarian cancer). They always say it is not long term, but never tell me how long that is, whether its safe for a few more months or a few years.
I have chased for tests to see if there is something wrong only to be told that it’s ‘how my body reacts to hormones unfortunately’.
I’m now being referred to have the marina coil fitted as a long term solution, however I’m petrified I will catch pregnant as I know a number of people who have caught on the coil, and I’m also really scared that it will set me back to the beginning where I was in constant pain and constant bleeding.

Can anyone give me some advice? Do I take a chance on the coil? Or do I keep pushing to stay on what I am on for now until I’m forced to change??

Sorry i cant offer help with your exact predicament however if the coil is suitable you could also use condoms to reduce risk of pregnancy if that's something stopping you?

The mirena has a lower chance of pregnancy than what you are currently on!

The Mirena is super reliable (over 99%) . It is also by far the best solution to your problem as it contains a very small amount of progesterone.

I really wish GPs took heavy, painful periods more seriously as this is a very common symptom of endometriosis yet it often takes women decades to actually have this confirmed.
And with your family history of PCOS etc. the doctors should really be testing you for these things instead of just chucking different contraception at you in the hope that something ‘sticks’.

I personally feel you should use whatever form of contraception you feel comfortable with but the most important thing is that you put your foot down and demand tests for PCOS and endo.
I’m not by any means saying you definitely have either of these conditions but that after 11 years you deserve answers as to why this is happening.
Once you have a diagnosis of some kind they can then (hopefully) prescribe something that is more suited to your needs.