Still having a period despite taking continuous BCP

[FlowerTheSkunk]

I'm in my early 40s, and a couple of years ago my PMS got really bad. It was ruining my life for half the month each month.

My symptoms were mainly crushing depression mixed with anxiety. I also suffered with insomnia and diarrhoea.

I did try ADs for a while which didn't help much. Then my GP tried me on HRT but again it didn't seem to do much.

But for the last 8 weeks I have been back on the Pill, running the packs together on my GP's advice.

It seems to be working much better than HRT, and I feel mentally better, but I have daily brown spotting. And every 2.5 to 3 weeks my symptoms return and I get quite a bit of fresh, red blood mixed in with the brown spotting.

I also get period style cramps and headaches, then after a few days I feel fine again.

Has anyone else taken the Pill continuously and still experienced periods and constant spotting, and did it eventually settle down?

Thank you.

I would go back to your Dr & see if you can change pills. That doesn't sound right. I thought you were meant to take a break even after a few months not take packs continually forever.

I used to take Cerazette continuously to try to control the bleeding from a small fibroid. Eventually, it just seemed to stop working - the same thing happened with repeated courses of Utovlan (norethisterone) and tranexamic acid - and I'd get spotting or full on bleeding constantly. The only thing that sorted it was the Mirena coil.

I know that probably isn't all that helpful - I'm as stumped as you are! - but you're definitely not alone!