Progestogen only vs combined pill

[PandoraEx]

Hi all, I'm looking at going back on medication to try and slow down my endo coming back already after major surgery just over a year ago... I can feel it starting to come back! 😒 what are your experiences with progestogen only pills vs the combined pill? Have either of these helped you / or made your symptoms worse. Just looking for people experiences so I can try and gage the best option to try. (I can't have zoladex as I've already had that & that's not suitable as a long term treatment). Thanks 😀

[IB15]

Hi,

I hope you're okay, so sorry to hear symptoms have returned for you. Hope you're alright x

In my experience I was advised to stop taking the combined pill as it contains oestrogen which can worsen the endo even is symptoms appear to be masked. I was on it for years! I now take the progesterone only pill, I actually increased my dose to x2 a day to help prevent the bleeding which can happen but stick with it as it does settle down after a few months! What I can say is it definitely helps the endo pain as I don't have periods or ovulate on it. It definitely slows the growth down!! I do feel a bit low on it and I feel like I retain water and feel a bit frumpy. But overall it has given me my life back and feel it's a good alternative to the coil or injections as I can stop taking it anytime if needed.

Hope this helps, happy yo chat x

[PandoraEx in reply to IB15]

Thank you for replying. I think I'll ring the nurse and ask her to try the progestogen only pill, from research as well I was edging towards that, spoke to her last week and she put me on the combined pill - it's out of stock anyway (must be a sign). I did say to her I'm sure oestrogen contributes to endo.

[IB15 in reply to PandoraEx]

Its always worth trying, it might not suit but for me personally the pill symptoms are much more bearable than the endo ones! 🙂 really hope it helps you xx

[rmros]

I have found both helped symptoms, though only had endo confirmed a long time ago in my 20s, when I took the combined pill. I stopped it when I was about 34, last-ditch attempt at pregnancy (halted for other health reasons in the end) then when I went back on it gave me migraines with aura so I had to stop it forever.

Some years later when I felt the endo was returning I started the  progestogen only pill. It's been quite a different experience to the combined pill but after settling down has been really good for my symptoms, but with some unpleasant side effects - namely very oily skin and bad night sweats.

So both have helped symptoms of painful and heavy periods, but only back in my 20s did I know for sure that was caused by endo. One thing neither did was make periods worse.

[PandoraEx in reply to rmros]

Thank you for replying. Gonna try and get hold of the nurse. She put me on combined pill which is out of stock anyway. Got to be worth a try