About to start Degestrol POP mini pill - for ovulation pain

[Tiredmummy2019]

Hi everyone, I have not been on combined pill for over a year - turned the magic 35 and my BMI says Im overweight so they took me off it - on it for over 20yrs worked brilliantly... : (

Anyways, was going natural this past year as in no pills or hormones and after three horrible months, my body did settle down into a routine but 6 months ago the pains were getting quite bad as in unbearable period pain, really heavy and long periods, but not only that started noticing ovulation symptoms and I mean I had the works - hot sweats, copious discharge (sorry TMI but was literally changing my undies 3 x day for 4 days!), sore nipples but most importantly felt the mittelschmerz really bad!! Again unbearable and on occasion I was bedridden so went to the docs and they prescribed naproxen (strong ibuprofen).

I have now found that taking it 3 days before period 3 x day has helped the flow and pain of my actual period but if I keep taking it throughout ovulation, I still get really bad pains and seems like Im taking it for no reason (dont want to take continuously as not good for you).

So I have spoken to the docs about mini pill and after researching them discovered those that contain degestrol are the best at suppressing or even stopping ovulation; which is my main issue so have a prescription in readiness, start it in two weeks but just wanted to see what other mums thought of it? I have seen lots of reviews of varying ages but really looking specifically at mums that have been off contraception pills for a time and have gone onto mini pill specifically for pain management?

I realise there is a great risk of spotting/irreularity of period and I am even prepared for a horrific first period but hoping they will get regular (or stop altogether fx) and that the ovulation pain will be supressed and/or removed! Any advice would be most welcome...

sorry for the essay....

This does not sound to me like normal ovulation pain or mittelschmerz at all. Were you put on the pill as a teenager due to similar symptoms of pain?

What you are describing here re pain and bleeding could well be attributed to endometriosis. Any pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked out to see if endometriosis is present. This can cause both severe period pain and heavy bleeding (the pill can and does mask the symptoms of underlying gynae problems including irregular periods and endometriosis). What the doctors are doing here again is treating the symptoms which is fine BUT the cause of the underlying problem needs to be determined as well. I would be asking them for a referral to a gynaecologist.

Your other symptoms may well be due to perimenopause. During your reproductive years, your estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall at regular times during your menstrual cycle. These hormones help control the amount of discharge your vagina produces.

In perimenopause, your estrogen levels become more erratic. Estrogen will rise and fall at random as your body begins its transition into menopause. As someone who has had problems with both estrogen and progesterone imbalance also leading to prolonged and heavy bleeding I would urge you to see a gynae going forward.

I have been on the mini pill for years and rarely have a bleed (apart from a few months ago when I had a three week long period).

I didn't ovulate on Cerazette (I assume, based on the fact I didn't get ovulation pains). First went on it when I was in my early twenties, switched from microgynon - spotting for a couple of weeks initially but then that stopped and I didn't get periods. When I went back on it after having my daughter, didn't get any side effects but did have regular periods.

I was put on mini pill to control pain like you describe and once confirmed it worked I had mirena inserted instead. It reduced the pain but I have other side effects from it that i didn't have with the mini pill, even though my GP insists they are the same drug and it cant' possibly be true. I've lasted 4 years with the mirena and can't wait until things return to normal so I can get it removed!

Thank you both for your comments. I did talk to the doc at depth about symptoms n they were more concerned about ectopic pregnancy which was impossible at the time but then we discussed other options. I briefly considered the mirena but didn't like idea if something inside that could get infected and/or move.

My mum had issues with the mini pill but she wasn't same build as me (complained of weight gain when she was 9st at 58!). Hoping that the fact I've been fine with microgynon and then regevidion for years that I'll b fine with this. Yes Attila I went on combined pill at 18 due to bad periods, the kind where you couldn't sleep for the pain, in comparison mine aren't as bad as that but pain as a pubescent teenager vs a thirty something, naturally delivering my child no gas or air, suggests may b my pain thresholds are different. Im gonna give it a try as not as permanent as coil or injection but clearly naproxen isnt toyching the ovulation pain part. Ive read it shoud only last 1-2 days really bad but i usually have 5-6 days and i can do everyday activities but on some of those days I'm curled up with a heatpads, paracetamol n chocolate n not much helps. I just miss the days when ovulation was suppressed and hoping this may give me some of that back? I realise it's a gamble bit if after 3 months I haven't settled into a routine either with or without periods and/or ovulation pain then can simply come off them. I'm just fed up feeling cranky for pretty much half of the month if you include my period. To be honest my period is the best part of my cycle as by the time I'm moving onto lighter days (usually 5 day cycle and first 2 are heavy) I'm dreading the ovulation pain as period pain less consistent/continuous...more stabby pain less nausea like I get with ovulation...

Thanks for your comments, if anyone else has anything to add, I'd be grateful...

Fandoozle - any idea why you had a three week bleed? Was it to do with timing of taking the pills? Also how long did it take to settle down your cycle? Was it terribly irregular at first?

Spam- sounds promising as you also used microgynon...I don't mind regular periods, just trying to manage the pain...

Nyancat - if mini pill was working why did they suggest you change to mirena? I was totally convinced about mirena (even have the coil from Pharmacy ready for appt) but then my mum passed and didn't want to do it and then over time just got more concerned about side effects... did you find mini pill worked for you then?

Hi, tiredmummy,
I was taking the pill at the same time each day, so nothing had changed in that respect, but I was under work stress with work So I wonder if that contributed to this blip.

Hi fandoozle interesting but understandable. So for you then no periods for years, did you have spotting/heavy bleeds at beginning? I know everyone different and it will be a case of suck and see but it helps to have real life experiences to ease ones mind... : )

Also has anyone noticed differences between the pills? I have a presc of the degestrol 75mg generic coated tablets, not sure if different to cerazette, or the other brands...??

Honestly it's been so long since I first had it, but I very rarely spot.
Cerazette is a brand name for desogestrol. I've had that and the generics and they worked fine. I hope it works for you, painful periods are a complete nightmare! X

Fandoozle - thank you good to hear, tell me about it! I was quite happy with microgynon it's just the little devil called age that stung me, oh and the food I enjoy! I am curvy but not obese but unfortunately from perspective of NHS I'm at risk...🤔

Are you having 5-6 days of pain, this should not be happening at all and it’s not something that any woman should have to put up with. I could certainly relate to the part of your post when you mentioned that heat pads, paracetamol and chocolate are not much help. That was me too when I was younger and in my case the root cause of all that was endometriosis.

I have certainly noticed a difference between the pills, some of them felt far better to take than others.

I found cerezette to be okay as well but I got taken off this after only a few months due to cost!.

Hi fandoozle interesting but understandable. So for you then no periods for years, did you have spotting/heavy bleeds at beginning? I know everyone different and it will be a case of suck and see but it helps to have real life experiences to ease ones mind... : )

Also has anyone noticed differences between the pills? I have a presc of the degestrol 75mg generic coated tablets, not sure if different to cerazette, or the other brands...??

Turning 35 and being overweight are not reasons on their own to stop the combined pill, especially as you were happy with it.

You can read the NICE guidelines online, in summary, if you're 35-45 you can have the combined pill unless you have TWO of the following.
So you can be obese (BMI 30) OR a smoker OR have high blood pressure. You said you were overweight rather than obese.

"Any two or more of the following risk factors are present:
Obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2).
Smoking.
Diabetes mellitus.
Family history of arterial disease in first degree relative aged under 45 years.
Hypertension—blood pressure above systolic 140 mmHg or diastolic 90 mmHg.
Migraine without aura."

cks.nice.org.uk/contraception-assessment#!scenario:1

If you think you meet the criteria, you can order the pill online at Superdrug Online Doctor (recommended to me by a MNetter)

Might not be applicable to your medical history, but i nearly got pushed off the pill for no reason by my GP before I read on here the guidelines.
(43, overweight, non-smoker, ok blood pressure)

Good to hear but surely that will involve a cost? Not sure abput going behind my doctors back either...they said something about a risk of clots when overweight, but I'll read the link you sent. Would be good to go back on it if I'm honest...I'm not a smoker and don't gave those conditions...

Ok so £25 for 6month supply pretty good. I'm tempted...did you order through them and had your doctor said anything?

Hi, not same situation as you but I have had same pills. I was on microgynon for many years simply for contraception. I stopped when I wanted to conceive, and every month i would get strong ovulation pains. Not bad enough to want strong painkillers but still very uncomfortable.
After having a baby I wanted to go back on the pill and was given desogestrel. I have been on it a year now and have only had one period which lasted a week but was no where near as painful as those I had before, and strangely although I had cramps during the period I didn't notice any ovulation pain before.
I've had no side effects and no problems taking it. My only issue is that you just don't know when you will bleed!

Hi policy thanks for your message, now I'm in a quandary, do I test the degestrol I have (Which is free) at risk of upsetting my balance or go back to what I know with online pharmacy for £50 per year...aargh, wish I'd known before that I could have fought the doc on this! I could get regevidion (was on that last after microgymon stopped being made so my body is most familiar with it) and go back to the bleeds I had before, regular, no ovulation pain...or try my luck with no periods or crazy spotting...hmm think I've made up my mind to go with what I know...

Ok ordered but got to see if they'll confirm it otherwise will get it next week. Had no idea I was still allowed to take it...

Hi OP, I'm assuming its a cost thing as the mirena is a one off cost and insertion and then removal 5 years later, whereas pill would be recurring cost and appointments to check BP etc. Wish I hadn't gone for it in hindsight.

My husband made a point though, the doc must have had good reason not to allow me to continue taking it - do they save money recommending mini pill or is there another reason?

I could find the degestrol works perfectly...I hate decisions like this...

Bless ya nyan that sounds like you went through a bit there, we always find ourselves in tricky situations where we have to take a gamble with our body.

Ok so been tossing and turning all night about this, still waiting to see if can get rigevidion through Superdrug but after calculating my BMI (31) and researching risk factors do wonder about my docs recommendation. They've never mentioned I have high blood pressure but may ring n find out what they have on record. I am torn between gambling with the rigevidion as my body knows it but it's been a year since was on it so greater risk of clotting etc or try the degestrol and I may even discover it works brilliantly for me with regards to flow and pain management.. so torn...what to do...aargh

My no was fine 109/73 Which is lower than recommended 120 for my age

You can use the NICE guidelines to push back on your GP if you'd prefer to do it through them. GPs are incentivised to move women off the combined pill, but they still should prescribe it for you if you stand your ground. Sounds fine with the age/weight/blood pressure you've described.

I moved to Superdrug as the cost was worth it to me not to go through rigmarole of actually getting an appt then the whole conversation about other forms of contraception every 6 months.

I'm not a mum but I thought I'd drop in because Cerazette/Cerelle has been a god send for me. The combined pill made me very ill, but the mini pill has reduced my periods to just 3-4 a year and they are very light compared to the 10 day bloodbath of pain and horror I used to endure every month. I've been on it almost 3 years and it's worked perfectly as a contraceptive too (well, as far as I know! I've never been pregnant but I assume I am fertile). Obviously everyone is different but I think it's a great pill. Cleared up my back acne too!