Desogestorel and constant bleeding

[HealthConcerns24]

I was put on the desogestorel pill nearly 3 years ago age 37 due to very heavy periods and being anaemic due to them (fainted at work once - not an experience I wish to relive).

Ive never been on contraception before, had always used condoms, and I responded to it well, not had any bleeding but for about 6 weeks now I’ve had constant bleeding of some kind. Sometimes just spotting, sometimes heavier and sometimes thick and snotty in texture. No pain with it, no pain during sex and no STI risk as husband and I have been together since 17.

Am so tempted to come off it and go back to natural cycle as it’s making me miserable but then keep remembering how bad it was before, having to go to the toilet every hour and a half to change super plus extra tampon and pad, having to get up twice a night to change, the aforementioned fainting at work. I wouldn’t leave the house during my period unless I knew I would have easy access to a toilet. I used to have to carry a change of clothes around incase of flooding.

Have done an e-consult but just waiting on a reply.

When I had the odd occasion like this, the GP temporarily upped my dose to 2 pills a day which stopped the bleed. I can’t remember how long for though. Hopefully they’ll be able to help when you hear back from your e-consult.

I was prescribed 2 pills a day, which mostly sorted things. But after a few months, now probably only twice a year, I get breakthrough bleeding. I then take a week off the pill, get a fairly light bleed and then restart it. It's sorted for months after that.

Have they ever investigated why your periods were so heavy?

@ShowOfHands nope. They just said probably my age and the fact I’d had 2 c-sections. Bloods were all normal other than anaemia. They said if the mini pill didn’t stop me bleeding the would refer me to gynae. Maybe as I’m bleeding again I’ll go back to them and ask for the referral. They said it was unlikely to be anything like fibroids or anything sinister due to lack of pain or other symptoms (along with the bloods being fine)

I have fibroids and am due to have a hysterectomy next week. I didn't have pain at first, just very heavy bleeding and anaemia. People can have fibroids with no symptoms, one symptom or myriad symptoms. There are lots of treatable reasons for heavy periods.

I think you should go back to the GP. They will likely double the Desogestrel dose while they wait but first step in seeing if there's a root cause is a referral for an ultrasound.