Period Paranoia (hear me out)

[NeverSayFreelance]

There's a background to this. I've been on the minipill for over a year now. Up until recently I was still having a period of some description every month. However, back in January my period stopped for over a month, and now I haven't had one for two months. I know it's normal for periods to stop on the Pill - but it seems odd that it has stopped after a year?

The problem, though, is that now I have no idea when or if it will come back. Before the Pill, my periods were horrific. Very heavy bleeding, pain that no amount of prescription painkillers could dull, and a whole host of other symptoms. As a result, I had to plan my life around my periods. What I wore, where I went... and I had to wear pads a few days before I was due just in case.

I'm so afraid of my period showing back up and being heavy that I've basically been wearing pads for a month now despite having no blood and I feel like a twat. I'm scared to wear nice clothes in case it appears. I'm wasting so many pads and I feel terrible about it. Plus, the pads are really starting to irritate my skin.

I don't know what to do and I'm not even sure what I'm asking. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and has any advice? Because this is beginning to drive me mad. I don't want my periods, but I can't shake the fear they'll come back and wreck my clothes.

could you be pregnant?

Sorry should have said. Did I test, came back negative.

Have you been checked for reasons why your periods were so heavy or did the doc prescribe the pill for quickness. I think you need to find the reasons first.

You can wear a mooncup when not on your period just check regularly and clean it properly. I wear myine when I’m expecting my period.

They couldn't find a reason for the heavy periods. Been like that since I was 11 and finally went on the pill at 21 which was for contraceptive purposes rather than period control.

Oh I was wondering if a mooncup might work! I've never tried one of them before. Thanks for the tip!

neversayfreelance.

re your comment:-
"Very heavy bleeding, pain that no amount of prescription painkillers could dull, and a whole host of other symptoms"

That could be indicative of endometriosis and this can also cause heaviness of bleeding. Its the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids and it is very much underdiagnosed.
A laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) is often used to detect this. Its not picked up on routine blood tests or ultrasound scans.

Did you have these symptoms too from the age of 11?.

I think you need a gynae referral as soon as possible.

Sorry I realise this response is very late - I actually forgot I'd started this thread.

Yes, these symptoms have been there since my first ever period. I trailed back and forward to the docs and the nurses and the sexual health clinic and they all claimed there was nothing wrong - although they never tested me for endo or PCOS. Eventually I got put on the pill and the symptoms, as I said here, disappeared along with the periods.

It does worry me though that maybe I do have something wrong with me - but the docs haven't bothered to refer me for over a decade. What could I do to change their minds?