Period comes before break in pill with flooding and clotting - anyone else had this???

[quazi]

Since having my second child I have had problems with really heavy and painful periods, with big clots and flooding sometimes within an hour of a new tampon.
I am on my second brand of pill to try to control this - tried microgynon and now on marvelon - but my 'period' comes three days before the break.
Does anyone else have experience of this? Is the pill working? Is it normal?

???? ;-)

have you seen a gynae to check if there is an underlying cause?

Nope, have dealt with three different Gps with no fantastic outcome :-(

I would ask for referral for an ultrasound scan to check for fibroids, as clotting and heavy bleeding can be a sign of fibroids. It's called menorrhagia.

You could also see someone at Family Planning Clinic - you may benefit from a pill with a different progesterone such as Loestrin 30.

The pill you are on is likely to be working if you are taking it properly, but heavy bleeding especially before the pill free week ought to be checked out.

or it could be a sign of endometriosis, i had really bad flooding and huge clots for a couple of years, my gp was useless to, it was only because i happened to see a gyne about something else mid period, he had to examine me and ended up covered in blood, it was all up his shirt sleeves and over the wall he immediately sent me for an ultra sound and confirmed endo there and then he then booked me in for an op 1 month later. I also had a mirena fitted which kept it at bay until I had the kids and then its dissapeared.

endo is normally painful but i didn't seem to get much pain just an awful lot of blood loss.

keep pestering your GP, I know how it is it ruins your life, I couldn't go to work and ended up having periods every 2 weeks :-(

good luck

How long have you been on the new pill? I had this for about three months after starting Cilest. It slowly got later until it was eventually in the break. Doc said the first three cycles are not always regular. Obviously if it's been longer than that I'd go and see a doctor.

Thanks all - lucjam, tmi!!! :o

Not fibroids as have had exam for that, going to see another GP on Tuesday so hopefully may get somewhere this time.

did you have an ultrasound then? or just the GP?

HI quazi,

Endometriosis is not normally detected on any ultrasound scan as the endometrial deposits are so very small. Endo can also cause heavy bleeding to arise as well as pain.

Would keep a pain and symptom diary to show the gynae.

I would ask the GP to refer you to a gynae for further evaluation and do not take no for an answer. Many GPs are not all that knowledgeable when it comes to such issues and often specialist help is needed.