I have two data points for dealing with this successfully, and both amount to “make it stop” instead of “improve things”:
One of my sisters “doesn’t have time for this crap” and one day just stopped taking the placebo pills from her normal birth control and stayed on the active hormones continuously. This apparently suppressed her period. After doing this for about ten years, she stopped and successfully conceived at almost 40 years old. This is not medical advice, do your own research, etc blah blah.
One of my female friends has had an IUD for ~15 years now, which over time reduced her period to occasional light spotting and dramatically reduced general symptoms and inconvenience. The startup period (first year) was rough though, as was the first six months after the first replacement five years in. The second replacement was basically not a problem.
It should be noted that I’m aware of multiple attempts to use IUDs within friends and family, but only have one data point that was long term successful. Apparently the first year of an IUD can be brutal and it’s not uncommon to give up after a few months.
Ah, I actually also have experience with the first bullet point. From what I remember, these “long cycle” periods were less problematic than my periods are off the pill. But, the particular pill I was on had negative side effects so I eventually stopped.
Increasing cycle length would definitely improve my situation (assuming I can find a pill with no negative side effects). I think it’s good to consider but not exclusively focus on that option because:
The selection of pills that are compatible with long cycles seems to be relatively small (at least my doctor says so)
On a 1 month cycle one might be able to manufacture more “highs” than on a 3 month cycle
I have two data points for dealing with this successfully, and both amount to “make it stop” instead of “improve things”:
One of my sisters “doesn’t have time for this crap” and one day just stopped taking the placebo pills from her normal birth control and stayed on the active hormones continuously. This apparently suppressed her period. After doing this for about ten years, she stopped and successfully conceived at almost 40 years old. This is not medical advice, do your own research, etc blah blah.
One of my female friends has had an IUD for ~15 years now, which over time reduced her period to occasional light spotting and dramatically reduced general symptoms and inconvenience. The startup period (first year) was rough though, as was the first six months after the first replacement five years in. The second replacement was basically not a problem.
It should be noted that I’m aware of multiple attempts to use IUDs within friends and family, but only have one data point that was long term successful. Apparently the first year of an IUD can be brutal and it’s not uncommon to give up after a few months.
Ah, I actually also have experience with the first bullet point. From what I remember, these “long cycle” periods were less problematic than my periods are off the pill. But, the particular pill I was on had negative side effects so I eventually stopped.
Increasing cycle length would definitely improve my situation (assuming I can find a pill with no negative side effects). I think it’s good to consider but not exclusively focus on that option because:
The selection of pills that are compatible with long cycles seems to be relatively small (at least my doctor says so)
On a 1 month cycle one might be able to manufacture more “highs” than on a 3 month cycle