progesterone only pill - continuous blee... - Endometriosis UK

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progesterone only pill - continuous bleeding!

Sabrinacolada profile image
7 Replies

Hi

I am about 5 weeks post laporoscopy( stage 3-4 endo diagnosed and adhesions removal).

Been on the progesterone only pill almost a month now.Seem to be permanently bleeding with endo pain (throbbing/ contraction type pain). Possibly started mentruation 4 days ago as it got more heavy. Also have back and sciatic pain.

Aready seen a gp who isn't too concerned yet just said stay on the pop longer.

Anyone else on the progesterone only pill?has it made a difference? How long did it take?Breakthrough bleeding?

Any stories highly appreciated .Thanks lovelies.



♥️sabrina x

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Sabrinacolada
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7 Replies
Patricia2022 profile image
Patricia2022

Hi Sabrina! Hope you are recovering well. I have also been on the POP for two months and have been bleeding continuously with a week of heavier bleeding (probably period) like you are saying! Also experience leg pains at some times. I mentioned it to my gp yesterday who mentioned the pill I'm on (desogestrel 75mcg) is probably a too low dose, so to finish the 3 months of this pill and then if symptoms stay to get a higher dose pill. Worth bringing up your issues to your gp again and insist discussing options, hope this helps and good luck :) x

Sabrinacolada profile image
Sabrinacolada in reply toPatricia2022

Thanks for your reply. Yes I am also on the same pill/ dose as you. I suspect its not been working at all for me but was hoping it may start to work over time.

I was told if no effect after a couple of months give an update to discuss the next step ( he seems obsessed with the mirena coil but I really don't like the idea of it. At least if an issue with the pill can just stop!). But I will just have to see.

Do you find the leg pain is while on your period or sporadic? Do you get back pain too?

Its awful to feel like on a permanent period! I hope you begin to get better soon too.

💗 sabrina

Patricia2022 profile image
Patricia2022 in reply toSabrinacolada

I completely understand that, I have been offered the mirena too but as I haven't had it I cannot give you much feedback however I am sure plenty of girls on this group can talk about their experiences with it. Since taking this pill I still get chronic pain but it is a lot more manageable than previously, but I still do get back pain and leg pain however the back pain was so much worse before where I would not be able to stand up. It mostly happened during my period and ovulation! As for the leg pain now I feel like it comes on when my bleeding gets heavier? How about you? I have days where I only get spotting but I find the leg pain to happen mostly when its a heavier flow! Yes really unpleasant to be bleeding everyday! But I hope you do get some relief and that your gp listens to your concerns! xx

Sabrinacolada profile image
Sabrinacolada

Well it's odd as the leg pain , numbness/ pins and needles only begun about 5 days ago all coinciding with what I suspect the start of a period. Thus I was hoping endo linked and will get better when it stops!!

Thanks again. I am glad you are getting some relief from the medication and hope it gets better for you xx

KimG21 profile image
KimG21

Hi, sorry to hear of your continued bleeding - I went in this pill as well months ago and hated it , cerazette did I remember right… my periods were horrendous before due to fibroids but i didn’t bleed in between, and was prescribed this to help with the bleeding bit it made me worse… however it may work for some people it just didn’t for me and I hear do so many women, whether they have gyn issues or not just bleed all the time on it. Like you I was told to stay on it as it may improve but I didn’t - I personally feel you know your own body and if ur bleeding more then see your doc and say you need something else as all this ‘wait it out or wait and see’ approach just creates anxiety and uncertainty. Don’t put up with it, push to get a better solution. Sorry I may sound like I have a bee in my bonnet but it’s because I had prolonged issues due to getting told to keep taking things that weren’t working and I would do it as I trusted the doc .. when really if you have given it a while already and it’s not improving just push for something better. Hope you get on ok x

KimG21 profile image
KimG21

I meant to add I was also getting told repeatedly to get the mirena coil and laughed to myself when you said he was obsessed as I felt they were all obsessed 😂they must get paid extra for it or something 😂however my surgeon who performed my hysterectomy told me my body would have ‘spat it out’ and my fibroid was pushing into my uterine cavity and distorting it , so why this wasn’t noticed before (asI had scans where they would have seen this) is beyond me that this wears suggested. As far as I know it releases a small amount of progesterone to control bleeding which I think the mini pill does the same thing… I find it disheartening that so many of us woman are suffering from such common issue ie fibroids, endo etc and there still doesn’t seem to be a new permanent cure other than hysterectomy.. there are some medical management’s that work for woman and not others but there is too much of this - and as a result woman suffering for years. I hope you feel better soon and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself if you aren’t happy and something isn’t helping - you don’t deserve to live in pain or constant bleeding 💕x

Sabrinacolada profile image
Sabrinacolada

Thanks for your reply. Haha yes he had mentioned mirena alot! I understand because it's progesterone directly on the implant going to the womb rather then via a tablet side effects are less likely and it is a more effective contraception then pop BUT like you said I was worried about implant rejection ( my friend had one migrate which sounded painful as hell, probably just unlucky/ rare). Given how long it takes for nhs anything if there was any issues it's not as simple as stopping a pill.

I guess on paper they can have a plan e.g the wait and see approach. But we are the ones living in pain etc in the mean time.

I agree too many women are suffering and we have to be our own advocates because of obvious deficits in health care. I was misdiagnosed almost 3 months ago with a follicular cyst. I was hospitalised with pain opiates weren't touching. I had said my concerns for endometresiosis and since bladder signs my fear of adhesions. These were dismissed the same as over 7 years ago bringing up period pain, constant anemia etc. Long of the short I paid for a private laporoscopy and found stage 3 to 4 endometresiosis ( ovary and uterus hidden in scarring and stuck to colon, nodule on broad ligament). If I hadn't of stuck to my instincts I'd still be on drugs being told its a cyst that will regress thus "wait and see" is not something I am a fan of either! It's so sad reading other women's stories on here which sound so simular. It is lovely though this group all support each other.

I hope you feel better now/ managed to find a way to manage pain better.

Sabrina xx

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