"Proper" AF every ten days - that's not right is it?

[mcmudda]

I'm on the mini pill (cerazette) and b/f dd (10 mths).

My periods returned with a vengeance last month with nasty cramping although not as bad as it was pre-dd, still in need of pain relief. Then after 7 days it stopped, but started again 3 days later, again with cramping etc. 7 days later it stopped and sure enough, 3 days after that another period, which I'm in the middle of right now.

So 3 periods in 21 days.

I know you're told to expect "spotting" on the mini-pill but surely this is ridiculous!?

Nope its not, you need to go and se your family planning specialist,
there is mild breakthroug bleeding and then ther is, now come on this is so rediculous whats the point of contraception!!!!

Cezarette was GREAT contraception - had so much breakthrough bleeding and lost my libido, so no sex! I also broke out in boil-like acne on my chest and shoulders and under my chin. I mean, it hurt. No sex drive, a constant period and unattractive acne are the best contraceptives around!

I can't take the combined pill b/c I am 35 and have a strong history of heart disease and hypertension, so for now we're just not having sex till I can see about being sterilised.

Won't do the coil b/c the 'side effect' of months of breakthru bleeding is unacceptable to me. Copper coil = longer, heavier periods. No thanks. Can't do Depo b/c have history of depression.

Condoms suck and cost a fortune and the NHS refuses to sterilise DH b/c he's under 30 and only has 2 kids. So they can have it their way and pay thousands more to sterlise me.

I see the consultant next week to get on the list.

W
hat about a mirena coil? It is made of plastic,and has a very low dose of hormone in it to give extra protection. I have had mine for five years. Yes there was break thru spotting for 3 months, but it was just spotting. Sine then I've not had a period for five years. No mood swings, PMT, sore boobs etc. and for the fist time in my adult life I am not anaemic as my previously heavy periods have stopped. And the added bonus of not getting pregnant!(I am hopeless at taking the pill and have 3 beautiful daughters to prove it.

I should be on commission for the company who makes them. I cant recommend the highly enough. I had reservations and had heard horror stories about infections etc, but mine has been a breeze. I had it changed last month, so can now look forward to another 5 period free years!

i'd see if your problems are related to progesten before getting a mirena coil, b/c that's the active ingredient in it. that's why i won't use one. at least w/these pills, you can just stop taking them. but the coil requires an appointment to have it taken out.

I had exactly the same as you mudda, but bizarrely that was after 2 years on the POP (it wasn't cerazette, think it was Micronor). It wasn't so much the bleeding that was the problem, but the awful PMT verging on clinical depression that was the clincher. I swopped to another brand of mini-pill, found that no better, and so ditched the mini-pill completely at that point -the period/PMT problems were instantly sorted!

Given that DD is now 10 months, you might be able to take the combined Pill. I would check with a Family Planning Clinic (likely to have more experience than GP).

I agree completely with Expat about being wary of the Mirena - if you don't get on with progestogen in Pill form, then you need to think very carefully before having a coil. At least the Pill is very quickly reversible.