Ok hive. Today is the day. I'm officially flowing once again. AUGH.
I know I'm lucky... 8.5 months postpartum! But still. SUCKS.
Time to start researching how to not have a period ever again!! Who uses what, and how do you like it?? (I have not used any hormonal birth control, EVER!!)
pomegranate / 3516 posts
I'm on Mirena currently and I had some spotting for a couple of weeks after it was inserted and then about a week ago I had what was like a very light period (kind of like the spotting again, very light). Besides that I've gotten headaches from time to time but not every month. My doctor said I would still feel like that from time to time but that she has Mirena and hasn't had a period since getting it. I know it varies from person to person though.
I haven't had any adverse side effects though. I had a couple of people telling me to be careful because of all the stories you hear about it but it's been great for me so far!
nectarine / 2797 posts
I'm on Mirena and haven't had a period yet. I'm nine months pp so no idea if it's still BF induced but I don't think so as I regularly go 12 hours without BF.
coconut / 8472 posts
You may have success with nuvaring. You can and extend it by one week (so leave it in for 4) and then immediately switch to a new one with no week off. It works for a lot of people. Although I was personally never able to put it off for more than a week though. I'd get spotting and close to real flow anyways.
coconut / 8861 posts
@highwire: I'm on the mini pill right now. You have to take it religiously or you will get your period. I'm in the middle of the second time this happened because I suck at taking pills. The combo pills are more forgiving. This period, possible "withdraw bleed" is worse than the previous one. You can get periods on the mini pill. I forgot to take my pill twice a week or so ago and have been bleeding almost a full week. I'm sick too, so it's a double whammy against my milk production.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
@cascademom: Thanks for the info! I don't think I'm ovulating yet because I haven't gotten a period and I am really bad at taking this mini pill. (I might need to look into taking something else!)
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
I take seasonique. You get your period every 3 months. But these other options with no period are sounding good.....
pineapple / 12793 posts
I had Mirena for four years with no period. I'll get it again when we're done breeding.
grapefruit / 4278 posts
Another vote for Mirena. I had mine inserted at 8 weeks pp and spotted on and off for the first 6 weeks, then nothing really since then. I had what I think was my period today actually, which really just means some cramping and a little spotting on the toilet paper when I wiped.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I used Nuva Ring with great success. Just replace the ring one after the other skipping the cycle week.
pomelo / 5298 posts
I didn't have success with Mirena. I went back to Seasonale (similar to Seasonique) after having ongoing bleeding for virtually six months on Mirena.
coconut / 8861 posts
@highwire: I'm really not sure if I've ovulated or not. I know with birth control pills, bleeds tend to be withdraw where the lining flushes itself out, but no ovulation occurs. This period really threw me for a loop.
honeydew / 7235 posts
@artbee: I took this for a while too! i loved the quarterly periods! But i had to stop with this pill because I was getting terrible night sweats EVERY night, and had a few other weird symptoms that I didn't like so I quit taking it.
bananas / 9229 posts
Once Seasonale and Seasonique came out, my doctor okayed me to do the same with my pills. I would take two packs straight so six weeks between periods. If I went any longer, I'd start spotting anyways. I'm now having long cycles off it which DH thinks is the reason but I'm not convinced.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@Mrs.Someone: I've actually had it recommended to me by my doctors (using the pill without any off week). I get really bad menstrual migraines and they said it was safe to do but recommended having a period every quarter-year to make sure it was all still ok.
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
I was on Mirena after E was born and my periods were super light, like didn't need a tampon/pad light. Basically just a little spotting. I loved that I didn't have to remember anything, didn't have to think about it and didn't need tampon.
pomelo / 5228 posts
@T.H.O.U.: I think your situation is a bit different, since migraines are definitely worth avoiding! I've heard that having one period/quarter is fine, but completely avoiding them sounds risky, especially if the only reason is that they're a hassle.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
@LindsayInNYC: I am on Seasonique and when I got off of it to get pregnant with LO my cycles were 28 days still. But everybody's body reacts differently to things.....
grapefruit / 4649 posts
I love Mirena, I still spot maybe every other month but nothing major.
@Mrs.Someone: From what I have read there are a number of studies that actually feel that it is healthy to not have periods as often as modern women do. Until recently women would start having children at a young age and then breastfeed for a longer period then most people now. Many women would have another pregnancy as soon as possible after fertility returned, having a healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy was not a given so many children (or attempts) was the norm. Plus there is evidence that fertility took longer to return due to diet as well. Many researchers are looking into the correlation between this fact and the uptick in certain issues women are facing in higher numbers since we have stayed from these practices. Don't get me wrong, the actual bleeding is only a small piece of the picture but it is good to know that choosing to avoid periods during certain phases of life isn't totally unreasonable.
eggplant / 11824 posts
I have had a mirena IUD twice; once at a lower weight (about 120) prior to children, and now after LO at a temp higher weight (about 140). Now I have spotting in place of periods. It's nothing a pantyliner a couple days can't handle. When I was lighter, I had no period and no spotting for several years on mirena. My OB advised both times I had it inserted that it decreases your period, and depending on your build, it may disappear completely. Even being at a heavier weight (and 140 is heavy for my height/build) my period is way, way, way lighter on mirena and lasts like 2 days.
It is not unhealthy or risky to not get your period while on bc.
pomegranate / 3388 posts
I have a Mirena, and I love it! I was on hormonal BCP for years before having my daughter, and I far prefer Mirena. I wish I had considered this option before. After the first few months of having light-ish irregular periods, my period has completely disappeared. I also now only rarely have the hormonal headaches that I used to get monthly, yet I still feel like I have my sex drive, which I definitely did not on hormonal BCP. So Mirena for the win in my case! I know that everyone reacts differently though, so you might not love it as much as I do...
pomelo / 5228 posts
@Cole: I agree that it's perfectly healthy if its happening naturally, but extra hormones to skip inconvenience doesn't seem as healthy to me.
pineapple / 12526 posts
Another Mirena lover! I have a formula fed 1 year old and I still havent had my perod come back. I had it inserted at 6 weeks pp.
grapefruit / 4049 posts
Mirena was great after my first child... But I still had regular periods with it. I had it for about 2 years and kept waiting for it to get lighter or stop! The lighter-to-no-periods side effect with Mirena doesn't happen to everyone, so I wouldn't consider it as a first-line option if avoiding periods is something you really, really want. I'd probably go with BCP, ring, or the patch and just not go through with the placebo weeks so I'd have more control over not getting a period.
pear / 1548 posts
I'm on Loestrin 24 and I don't get a period! At first it made my nervous but it's amazing not getting one! It is expensive though and it's hormonal.
grapefruit / 4817 posts
@Boopers: That's what I was going to suggest if she was looking to use pills. I have multiple friends who use it and their periods all but disappeared. I'm on Lo Loestrin Fe, but have only been using it for 2 months and they say it takes 3 to regulate, but my last period was almost nothing. We'll see how the next one goes.
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