Anon. asked...

Progestogen only pills

I've been on a variety of progestogen only pills for 5 years due to migraines. In the past two years, I've been getting my period every other week. My GP has changed my pill to try to find a more 'suitable' one, however it's becoming increasingly frustrating that this hasn't been resolved and it's been 2 years! I do not want to have the injection or implant, and my GP has advised me against the coil - whereas a health clinic suggested to coil has positive results in cases such as these. Do you have any advice?

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The answer

Unfortunately menstrual irregularities are common with progestogen only pills.

As a general guide:

2 in 10 women will experience absent periods.
4 in 10 women will have regular bleeding.
4 in 10 women will have irregular bleeding.

One of the ways that this could be managed is to change to a different type of progestogen pill although according to evidence based data changing the type of progestogen or lowering the dose may not have an effect of bleeding adverse effect, and therefore trying an alternative method of contraception might be necessary.

Answered by the Health at Hand nurses