Pill not working/breakthrough bleeding - need advice

[hm89]

Hi hi!

I have been on the pill for 15 since (since I was 14). It took me 4-5 years to find one that worked for me after trying combined pill, mini pill and norethisterone 3x per day. I ended up on Marvelon and bloody loved it. I always took 3 packets back to back with a one week break after the third. Then one day at age 23, (after 5 years of Marvelon), I just started bleeding before the end of the third packet. This kept happening and I ended up getting my diagnosis of endometriosis. I switched to norynl1 which contains norethisterone (for cramps) but this made me skin awful so after 6 months I went back to Mavelon and was happy as larry again until I was 29 and it all happened again.

I'm now on Mercilon which I believe is very similar to Marvelon but with a lower dose of progestrone. I took my first 3x lot of pills fine, but I am two packets into my second cycle and having a painful bleed before the end of the packet (accompanied by nausea - yay).

Has anyone else had this? What can I do to regain control over my periods? My GP said I don't need the 3 monthly break but when I start bleeding, it doesn't stop until I take the week break and then I have a very light but intensely painful 'period'.

[eamc]

Hey, I’ve recently had a similar problem! I’m 23 and have been on and off the pill since the age of 17. Settled on marvelon around 19 and have been on it since and loved it. I’ve always had really really heavy and painful breakthrough bleeds on it which has led to me now being referred for possible endo.

My GP advised me to start running my packs together as everytime I would have a bleed I would basically have to hit pause on my life and be in bed for a couple of days. I can only do this for around 3-4 months until the spotting gets so bad that I have to allow a breakthrough bleed. I tend to plan these so I can take time off as such and deal with them.

However, recently I have seen an reduction in spotting etc since becoming more strict with my pill. I now take it at the same time every day religiously and this seems to have really helped!

Also - ask your GP for tranexamic acid to take when you have to schedule a bleed it greatly reduces the bleeding and the pain xx

[hm89 in reply to eamc]

Thanks, I take my pill at a similar time but I’ll set an alarm and try being more rigid with it. Weirdly the bleeding is very light, just so painful!

[Daisy50]

I was also told not to leave a gap inbetween as you don't have too. It seamed to work for me. I don't take ot anymore as I have ashermans and don't get bleeding anymore