Spotting while on the pill to stop periods - cancer risks??😱

[Endosufferer1]

After taking the pill for 5 months, I have spotted for a month and had to stop taking the pill for a week (triggered periods). Then, again four months later, spotted for a week and had to stop taking the pill for a week (triggered periods, which led to pneumothoraces for the first time of my life). I've been told to take the pills to stop my periods (because of crazy pain linked to endo). Is spotting for so long each time normal??? I'm worried it might be something more serious like endometrial cancer. Nothing had showed up on scans last year but spotting came this year (never got a laparoscopy). Did anyone get the same experience or is everyone OK with their pills to stop the periods? I'm a bit worried since coughing all the time after the pneumothoraxes and the spotting events. Thanks!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏

[poinai]

Hi! What you’re experiencing is normal on the pill. One of the main reasons why people take breaks on the pill for that withdrawal bleed is to prevent ‘breakthrough bleeding’. You’ve go so long on the pill and continue to take it when bleeding so you’re just getting small amounts of breakthrough.

Some doctors recommend 3 months on pill and then a break to avoid it but it seems like you can go longer before you start bleeding so you can continue waiting till then to take that break or if you don’t mind the breakthrough bleeding, you can ignore it.

I personally go several months before I start bleeding and if I get annoyed by the on and off again bleeding (it once lasted a couple months for me!), I take a break to bleed properly and then go back on the pill.

Saying that, I don’t know anything about pneumothoraces, that sounds awful, I hope you’re doing better!

[Endosufferer1 in reply to poinai]

Thank you very much!!!!!💕 The specialist for endo hadn't told me anything.For the pneumothorax, it was supposed to heal quick but I'm still coughing most of the days (strong wind, certain positions...). It was triggered by periods and the one just before by flying (I've got the symptoms of thoracic endometriosis + pelvic + appendicular). Sometimes, my ovaries will hurt like crazy to the point I can't wear anything (no large pants... until the very late evening), especially on the right side (since it's my right lung that's mostly touched by the lesions). It's really annoying me because I'm supposed to travel soon, carry heavy luggage for uni and I'm like I can't even carry a backpack for few hours nor stand for more than 30 minutes (and I know that queuing can last at least 1 hour standing to check your luggage...).