Why has my Desogestrel Progesterone only pill suddenly become ineffective?

[LillyF]

Hi all,

I started taking the Desogestrel progesterone only pill about 3 years ago. In June stopped taking if for 4 months to give my body a break. When I wanted to become sexually active again in October and I started a new pack.

Initially I had some break through bleeding, which I thought would settle down once my ovulation stopped. After two months I was having heavy periods every two weeks.

I was concerned the pill may not be working properly because my experience with Desogestrel is that it stops all periods.

When I went to my gp she said if I am bleeding through Desogestrel it is ineffective. She prescribed me Yasmin combined pill .

My question first is, how can a pill that has worked perfectly for me for years suddenly stop being effective?

It's the first contraceptive i've taken that hasn't had any major side effects ( In the past I had negative experienced with the implant and iud.)

It's been over a week since the gp prescribed yasmin pill and I haven't started it yet (i've abstained from sex) for two reasons

1) I am prone to depression and anxiety, it is a higher dose hormone than the mini pill

2) I have the brca2 gene in my family which means my risk of breast cancer is already heightened (I know the combined pill has been proven to increase risk). To my knowledge, I've never taken oestrogen before.

My second question is, is there another progesterone only pill I can try before I switch to combined? Or could this mean I am immune to all progesterone only pills?

Thanks for reading, I look forward to hearing your advice!

[Galen70]

Ok so Yasmin is not higher dose oestrogen - there is no oestrogen at all in the POP . If you took the POP pill before without bleeding issues, I would look at other causes - check smears are up to date , sti check , thyroid function. What age are you ? If you have the BRCA gene it is a category 3 ie risks outweigh benefits unless there is absolutely nothing else you can use ukmec.pagelizard.com/2016#s...

If all of this is negative, remember your body changes over time . Could be something like fibroids in which case a Mirena IUS may be a better option for you.

[LillyF in reply to Galen70]

Hi,

Thanks for replying. I'm 22 years old. I haven't been tested for BRCA gene myself yet but my mothers sister died of breast cancer. My mother had a high risk of developing breast cancer so she had a mastectomy to prevent it . Looking at the chart I would be category 1.

I've recently had an STI check and the doctor said I'm too young for smears. I will look in to having my thyroid tested.

Having an IUS isn't an option for me after my previous experience with the Jaydess IUS. My body totally rejected it, I couldn't get out of bed for weeks let alone have sex.

I would prefer to stick with oral contraceptives. I will see if there is another progesterone only pill and try that.

Best wishes,

Lilly

[LillyF in reply to LillyF]

So I just looked online and I can see there is another progesterone only pill available called Norgeston or alternatively Noriday.

I can see they are slightly different to the Desogestrel pill I was taking before, so I think its worth exhausting all the progesterone only options to make sure they don't work before trying one with Oestrogen.

[Galen70 in reply to LillyF]

how about the Depo Provera injection ?