QQ for anyone on the pill

I used to run packs together for about a year

L
xx

I often run two together. Tried 3 but I seem to get a break through bleed and feel a bit bloated!

Thats good to know Lois as thats what I want to aim for. I've never ran more than two together.

Do you mind me asking how bad it was when you finally had a break? Feel free to tell me to mind my own fecking business ?

Bugger, I definitely don't want that to happen. The bloating I've been putting up with for over a year has only just gone and I've dropped a dress size already. None of my trousers fit me any more.

Im sure RA posted something on here the other day though to say that you don't really have to have a break. I suppose it just depends on what feels right for you.

I ran 3 packs together and had no problems. Different people will react differently.

Thanks all. I've got to speak to the Dr in a few weeks anyway as I'm not sure she is going to let me stay on it long term but I'm trying not to panic about coming off it just yet. All the problems I've had over the year are easing with the pill so I never, ever want to stop taking it ? I've never known anyone run a whole year of pills together so I feel quite relieved that it might be an option for me too.

Yep, Cosmo, well remembered ?

There's a quite a wide variety of how long people go without breakthrough bleeding. Personally I do 3 packets out of habit more than anything else and have never had BTB.

The longest I've seen was a nurse in our family planning clinic who'd been on the pill for 4 1/2 years with no breaks and no bleeding!

It was no worse than usual when I had a break. I did it because my periods seemed so heavy and, well, pointless. I figured if I could avoid them then I would. I now have the contraceptive injection, which is the same result without having to think about taking a pill

L
xx

I'm on Microgynon and have ran 3 together but always found I became even more inrritable than normal and always seemed to get the same symptoms at the time that I would have been due so I tend to just have a break every month now even though its a pain.

What you can do is keep running together and then when you get breakthrough bleeding take a four day break and restart. A lot will depend on individual difference, weight etc. Shouldn't cause bloating any more than taking it the "normal" way.

I take cerazette which i've only had one period due to a severe infection and only recently spotting at the beginning of the last four months. I've been on it for 18 months now. It is a mini pill though so proesterone only. It also seems to be better for my IBS which microgynon and logynon just made worse.

Hey...I'm like you - I can't believe how much the pill has helped me with pains etc. I didn't realise there was no need to have a break - is it absolutely safe? Even every couple of months would be great, provided the ensuing period wouldn't be bitch period from hell.

Nope, no need for a break at all. Just take it as Rache has suggested above or take a set number of packs if you prefer.

Your periods won't be longer/heavier if you run packets together. In fact, the longer you continuously take the pill, the more likely you are to avoid any breakthrough bleeding.

Thank you R-A...why do the packets/GPs etc say you should have a break then? x

Sorry to crash the thread but I have a couple of question's maybe R-A or Rache can help with?

I previously had endo removed and old syptoms came back after I had my daughter so I was advised to take 3 packs and then have a break (by my GP, haven't seen a gynae for ages). Could I actually take it continually without a break? Or would this be bad with a history of endo?

Also having had problems when concieving my daughter (with the exH) and it taking a long time, would taking the pill without a break cause problems with TTC when you came off it? Any more so that coming off it normally I mean.

Sorry again to crash.

Nikki

xxx

? Thanks for the replies everyone, its really useful (and quite a relief) to know that staying on the pill and running the packs together long term should be fine. I just need to keep my fingers crossed that my GP agrees to let me stay on it. I feel like a different person this past few weeks.

Rubyblue, I think they say to have a break as originally they had no proof it was ok to run packs together and so you felt like a woman? WTF? Its crazy isn't it? Although, its clear from this thread that it suits some people to work them that way.

KT- crash away ?

I'm on Cilest and always run 2 packs together. I've tried more but I get breakthrough bleeding, and by the end of 2 packs I really feel like I need to have the break as in the last week I start to bloat and get absolutely massive ❤️❤️ (which I love as I'm not particularly well-endowed!) but if I leave it any longer gets quite uncomfortable. Periods never change however long I have gone without.

Didn't they originally only make the pill with breaks as people thought it was 'a bit un-natural' not to have them?

Well, if your GP was Rache then she would've mentioned it ?

When I do a "first pill teach" I always mention tricycling as an option, although sometimes it's just too much info

Believe it or not, some women do like periods! Historically it was to appease the Catholic church so as to appear as "normal" as possible.

Using them run together is "off license" - as in, not officially promoted by the manufacturers. There's no evidence of any harm whatsoever. Ask your GP when you get your repeat prescription if you're concerned.

This Australian website covers lots of questions about pills, tricycling and pill free intervals http://www.womhealth.org.au/healthjourney/pill_myths_misconceptions.htm

Nope. The pill can make it slightly longer for your cycles to get back to normal (up to 6 months) but has no effect on fertility, running packs together or not.

I'd think it's much more likely that your endo caused problems with TTC than anything to do with the pill, sorry.

Hth.

Only just seen this - thanks ever so much R-A, that really helps!

I suspected as much regarding the endo as after I had it diathermied off I got pregnant twice within the next 7 months so I sort of thought it was probably that.

Thanks again ?.

xx

WOW. I had no idea that this was the norm.

What a revalation!!!!!!!

Moments like this make me love hitched. Although i am a bit peeved to know I have had a bleed roughly every month - 6 weeks for the past 17 year with the exception of 41 weeks of pregnancy for NO SODDING reason. How much tampax money is THAT?!

Hmmm - i wonder how long i can go without before feeling bleugh.

? - We need a worship icon.

Really? I might give it another try then. I read something in Cosmo about 10 years ago about not needing to take a break and my GP confirmed it. I got a BTB in the last week of my third packet and have been taking two back to back ever since. Will Rache's suggestion gradually make me go longer without a BTB?

? That's how I feel - why did no one tell us this before? Thank you R-A, I'm going to try running 2 packs together next month x

Yep, that's the theory at least, and it does seem to work from what I've seen.

Just take them until you get a BTB, 4 day break and then start again.

Cool, thanks R-A ?