When do I start the mini pill?

[Bobholll]

I’ve been prescribed the mini pill after a good chat with my GP. Since my second child, I’ve been having horrifically heavy periods & im severely anaemic. I can’t take the combined pill due to suffering with hormone induced visual disturbance.

I’m just wondering when I should start it? My period is due on 7th and is pretty regular usually. My GP said to start it on the first day of my period & that I’d have a normal, awful period this month 😭. But everything I read online suggests you can start it anytime? If I started it now, a few days before my period, what would happen? Would I still bleed?

I acknowledge the contraceptive points, it’s not the reason I’m taking the pill so we’ll just continue to use condoms until I’ve been on the pill a little while.

Thanks for any advice!

Yes, you will probably still bleed if you start it now, because your body will have already built up the lining it needs to loose. Also, many people have lots of breeding initially on the mini pill, it's different to having a period though

For me, I bled much more lightly for the first two months (I started the pill just after my period), but pretty much on a cycle of two weeks on two weeks off. Tailed off in the third month and haven't bled since. It did take a few months of perseverance though

Have you read the leaflet? It will have all the guidance in it.

Yes it’s any time It takes time for it affect everything. I’m 3 months in just had 3 period and hardly anything but has taken 3 packets. I started day 4 of cycle and nothing happened that period or following 2.

Just choose decent time of day as it’s a 3h window I do it in evening as the morning leaves no chance for a lay in occasionally! Hope it helps for you.

Thanks! I’ll probably just hang on then & start when the doc said. The leaflet says anytime but the doc specifically crossed that out & wrote on the information sheet he printed out to start on the first day of my next period 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m not one to doubt my doctor but anything to avoid another month of hell 😩

Keep an eye out for it making you crazy and depressed. If it does, go back to the doctor for other options

Start anytime if you're sure your not pregnant. This called quickstarting. Don't rely on it for contraception for a week.
Irregular bleeding on it is very common in the first several weeks but usually settles.

If it's Desogestrel it's a twelve hour window, not three.

And if its desogestrel you only need 2 days of pill taking to be covered when starting it at any point other than when your period starts