Who knows about the Pill???? In relation to teenage girls..... help please!

[chenin]

I wonder if anyone can help... my DD1 is 18 and on the Pill (microgynon). She had a bf that lasted nearly a year but the relationship is now finished.

She has carried on taking the pill which I am not too worried about. However, what worries me is the fact that she takes it 'back to back' to avoid periods. She has no pill free week. We have had big arguments about this because I don't think it is good for her body. Has the pill changed since my time.

All her friends are on the pill and they all take it like this. I have explained till I'm blue in the face that the pill is for contraception not for 18yo girls to avoid periods. She says that every time she is due a pill free week she has a party or something.... I know I know... how ridiculous bearing in mind she has parties she could go to nearly every weekend. I think this is bad for her health.

She says she has asked the Doctor at a health clinic she went to and that he said it was OK but I really think he probably thought she meant to take perhaps 2 months running not for ever! I have made her make an apppointment at our local surgery for Monday but I am not sure if she will let me come to voice my concerns. I want her to tell the Dr that she is doing this month after month. It is very common amongst her friends. Can anyone help?

For me the spotting lasted pretty much the same amount of time as a period but not as heavy. I would take it as a sign that my body needed a rest and would take a break after the next packet.

What about the Implanon, that would be better for your daughter. The Imp is only about the size of a matchstick (but bendy) and inserted in the arm, 8 out of 10 women never have a period and it lasts for 3 years. Basically she would go to the FP clinic for the consultation and then back again for the imp and then if everything was ok she wouldn't have to go back for 3 years - when she would have her paperwork done again and then have the old one out and the new one in! Which is great for teens as they do not have to remember the pill. link here

The depo is ok but all the time you are on it you have thin bones (which reverses pretty quickly once you stop) so you can have it up until just before your menopause and then you have to stop or you will always have thin bones. here

Get her to a Family Planning Clinic rather than a GP as they will be much more knowledgable as well as being mainly staffed by people who are midwives in their day jobs! look here

It wont do her harm to take back to back, the reason we have periods is to create an optimum lining for implantation and as shes clearly not planning on conceiving, it shouldnt be a problem.

i have a question about pill taking too. i have been on the pill since i was 16 but i never asked which one i wanted to go on i was just given one. i quite fancy this seasonelle one. can i go to the gp and ask for a specific one or can i only have the one he gives me?