The pill

[Garminharmony]

Hi all,

I'd welcome some opinions on taking the pill for painful/irregular periods. Even since I was a teenager I've had a rough time with periods. They are often very painful but even a not-quite-as-bad one is grim. They are also irregular, I used to get on every 4-6 weeks but the last few years they often just disappear (potentially linked to dieting) and then reappear with a vengeance. I am scared it will come and ruin holidays/events/cause me problems at work. I also get quite tearful, angry and generally just blergh. Has anyone been in a similar situation and the pill has helped, or am I just asking the impossible? Thank you.

Have you spoken to your GP about your symptoms? The Pill won’t solve anything if you have other underlying issues.
Normal ‘dieting’ doesn’t make your periods irregular, you really should see your Gp.

OP I've found the mini-pill has helped me a lot. I'm diagnosed with endometriosis and PMDD and the hormones do something to stop the spread of the endometriosis or something. Periods are a lot lighter and now painless, and I don't have the 2 week run-up of mood swings anymore either. I can actually predict when my period is coming now for the first time in my life. Worth a chat with your GP about it all.

Honest answer is no because I'm embarrassed! I do think it's linked to dieting though because it has happened for the same few months every year since 2020 (which is when I first started dieting). I know this is my own fault.

Thank you, this is really helpful. So glad it's helped you.

I've always had periods from hell. Went on the pill in my late teens, which helped me to regulate them. I came off them because the side effects were pretty bad. Still heavy periods, but manageable, till a few years ago. Finally admitted defeat and went back to the GP. He recommended going on hormonal birth control again. I did and my periods are much easier to deal with. Still can't wait till menopause to get my life and my body back.