Progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POP) - what are your experiences?

Hi ladies,

I need some advice and hope you can help. Quick summary - have longstanding issue with fibroids, was prescribed Esmya (ulipristal acetate) a year ago ahead of hysterectomy, which I took for three months, in the meantime, made significant changes to lifestyle and diet and things settled down and became much more manageable, to the point that I cancelled my scheduled hysterectomy. Scan also showed that fibroids had shrunk and my consultant agreed that if they were no longer causing me problems, then I would do well to wait and see.

Fast forward 6 months later. I've noticed my monthly bleeding getting heavier and clottier, though unlike before, I am not in any pain, which makes me wonder if it is perimenopausal bleeding (I am 48) rather than related to the fibroids. I have been researching the role of progesterone in balancing out hormonal related bleeding and went to the GP for some advice. She started me on desogestrel (Cerelle), which is a progestogen-only pill. I understand that this can cause irregular bleeding and spotting, similar to the Mirena coil when first fitted, but that eventually bleeding is reduced, to the point where 40% of women become completely amenorrhoeic and their periods cease altogether. I have only been taking Cerelle for six days, but I have just finished the most horrendously heavy period (I started taking the pill on day 1). It was so heavy that today my ears are ringing and I feel breathless and weak and I almost fainted on the train to work yesterday.

I know I can't carry on like this, but want to avoid surgery. I wonder if any of you have taken the POP and if this helped you? I can cope with any number of side effects - even irregular spotting - I just want to stop this awful haemorrhaging and avoid constant trips to haematology for iron infusions (which I have every three months).

Thanks in advance,

x

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