Tell me about the Pill please

[Millie1]

I last took it about 20 yrs ago, when I was in my 20s. Was on Marvelon for around 5 yrs. Anyway, now I'm 42, don't intend having any more children and periods are driving me nuts. Has the pill moved on in the last 20 years? Will it lighten my periods, do I have to have a bleed every month? And finally, silly question of the day, but I've had 4 children and breastfed all of them for extended periods - will taking the Pill undo the good that this has done (in protecting me from specific cancers)? Sorry, some dumb questions but have started to think about this! Thanks!

See your GP - at your age best option is usually to avoid the oestrogens contained in the combined pill, and consider a progesterone only option instead. If your periods are heavy they may suggest a mirena coil - progesterone containing coil - lasts 5 years, usually vastly reduced blood loss (can take some time to do this though, and to begin with you may get irregular or annoying bleeding but by the end of the first year most users have much reduced bleeding). Progesterone is not known to increase the incidence of breast cancers either. The mirena is reversible and removable if you don't like it.

Thanks tempertemper. Definitely would not consider the coil - smear tests are bad enough and cause me months of angst as I build up the nerves to make an appointment! Shall certainly discuss prog only pill - and shall do some research in meantime. Thanks for your reply.

Understand your issues - however, don't completely rule it out as is not that much worse than smear test and is a lot better than other prog-only options. The prog only pill and implant can be a bugger for bleeding (only the mirena is licensed for being used to reduce heavy bleeding, others can improve it but may actually cause more frequent, heavier or prolonged bleeds) and the injection, whilst good for periods/reducing bleeds, is a whacking great dose of hormone so tends to have side effects like weight gain or skin/mood changes (although obviously, not in everyone!).

Maybe worth trying pill first and seeing how it suits you, (coil may not seem so bad after this?!)

ps I have a coil - not mirena, copper one (no good if you have heavy bleeds) - and i promise, it is NOTHING in comparison to childbirth. Especially if you have had 4!!

mirena coil is AMAZING!

Oh lordy ... didn't realise prog only could increase bleeding/frequency. Maybe I'd be better just plodding along as I am .