Can periods be stopped without hormonal contraception?

[SufferingSilently9]

Hiya,

My pain is slowly getting worse again (which it has been doing for the past 3 months) and, although I'm not as nauseous or having as many migraines as on my previous pill, I am feeling a lot more lethargic and having more 'depressive' spells than previously. I've tried almost every pill in my GPs prescription book, with my last option being to come off all hormones completely for about 6 months as he believes they're messing up my mind and body in general because of the synthetic hormones (despite only starting them 5 years ago, he thinks this has now started to have ill effects.) I'm due to go back to him soon as I take my pill back to back to stop the blood loss and severe pain however if my only option is to stop all hormonal contraceptives however I'm so scared of bleeding again (tmi but I would bleed for 4 weeks heavy, then spot for 2 weeks before bleeding heavy again...)

Can anyone make any suggestions?

I'm not diagnosed with Endo (negative lap but no one knows what else it could be) so they don't know what is wrong and I'm still awaiting the pain clinic appointment to see if pelvic physio can help me at all but that won't help with the bleeding...

Please help?

Thanks

Ash x

[Curious123]

Sorry you are going through this. Could you try Tranexamic Acid to reduce flow while off the hormones? Additionally could you try a non-hormonal contraceptive like a copper IUD?

[SufferingSilently9 in reply to Curious123]

Thank you so much for responding, tranexamic acid was attempted before I first took the pill but did nothing sadly. I've always been scared of the copper IUD (not actually sure how it works or about symptoms it may cause etc) thanks x

[GrittyReads in reply to SufferingSilently9]

The mirena coil worked wonders for me.

Gritty

[SufferingSilently9 in reply to GrittyReads]

Mirena is hormones though isn't it?

[GrittyReads in reply to SufferingSilently9]

Yes, the mirena contains a form of progesterone which counteracts the (excess)oestrogen which is often largely responsible for causing or exacerbating the Endometriosis. There are lots and lots of different hormones in the human body, and they carry out vital functions - we need them.

However, there are different forms of 'hormone therapy' specifically for women. They are variously used for different reasons. Varying forms of progesterone and/or oestrogen and others are employed by Medics to help women achieve: birth control, or period regulation, or relaxing of the cervix, or help in the case of endometriosis. These can be: tablets, skin patches, or liquids to be taken orally, or as part of coils to be fitted in the uterus, and as tablets in the vagina as pessaries. Hormones are vital to life, and are also useful as cures.

The main problem with Endo is that it is often caused by too much oestrogen, and the extra progesterone can often help to counteract this excess oestrogen, when it is causing Endometriosis. The advantage of a Mirena coil is that it sits in the place where it is needed, and far less of the progesterone-substitute is required, than if it is was taken in pill form and had to pass through the entire body. The progesterone in the coil targets the area where it is needed. Also, there is not the hassle of remembering to take tablets, and it lasts for 4-5 years: plus is easily removed if it makes no difference.

In about 3-4 months, I went from being in unutterable agony - with periods every 3 weeks - to being pain-free for 5+ years - by which time I had gone through the menopause. I just wish I'd had one years earlier.

[Catness]

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear how much you’re suffering firstly to my knowledge there is no way to stop bleeding but I’m in a similar position - have been on the Mirena Coil for nearly 5 years for severe bleeding and weeks-long periods but it has done an absolute number on my mental health. I had the coil removed during my last lap 2 weeks ago and I’m going to ‘go it alone’ without any hormones. I’ve turned massively to diet and lifestyle in order to try and help my symptoms which I’ve had some success with.

Have you heard of adenomyosis? As your lap came back negative this may be worth investigating.

Also I saw someone else comment above about the copper coil - these are notorious for making periods a lot heavier as they have no hormone in. They work as contraceptives as copper is very toxic to sperm. As for the Mirena Coil.... it’s the absolute fluffing devil. I thought it was brilliant at first and then a few months ago realised that all the mental health stuff I was dealing with was all post-Coil. Did a bit of searching online and found thousands of women who had experienced the same..... I feel like I’ve had 4 years robbed!

Anyway sorry to rant..! I hope you’ve found some of that helpful xx

[SufferingSilently9 in reply to Catness]

I'm so sorry to hear of your bad experiences, I'm so scared of having a coil of any kind because I've heard such bad experiences...

I've looked into adenomyosis and it seems to fit my symptoms but I've been signed off from gynaecology because the lap was negative so have to wait till I can see a pain clinic to discover what else it could be... My GP is willing to let me try other pain or contraceptive meds but he thinks I should come of all hormones just in case it's making me worse with my mood swings and whether not bleeding for months is also doing a bad thing to me internally (yet won't give me an internal etc)..

I'm so torn what to do...