[Peridotite1]

I last posted here over a year ago about an ongoing "problem" I have been having. I have been on the birth control pill since I was 18 (I'm now 31) and I had no real problems until about 2 and a half year ago. At this time I start having "break though bleeding" during the second week of my pills that continues until my period ended, three weeks later. Basically I would only not be on my "period" 1 week a month. By break thought bleeding I mean that I was have a dark brown discharge (old blood) for two weeks before my period and then for about 5-6 days after. I have been to two gynecologists and both have diagnosed me with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. So far I have tried increasing my hormone levels in my birth control pill, I have been on an estrogen patch and for nine months I had a Mirena IUD in (during which time I was still experiencing the same symptoms). That came out in January and a week later I was hospitalized for uncontrollable vaginal bleeding. After that incident my gynecologist put me on Ovral and after 3 months of that I am still having only 1 week a month were there is not from of blood coming from down there. I have to go back to my doctor in a little more than a week and I am at my wits end of what to do. She tells me the next step is ablation or a hysterectomy. I don't really want to go down that road as I haven't decided on if I want children of my own and I am wondering if anyone out there has ever been in the same boat (or knows someone who has) and has any information or ideas they can share with me.

Thank you to anyone who can help me.

[Sarah001]

I have had similar problems to you and the way to see if it's the birth control (I don't get along with hardly any because of bleeding) or if you need a procedure is to come off all birth control for a month or two and see if the bleeding stops! If it does it's clearly the bc and not something else. I eventually got fed up of it all and took a break from all hormone bc (used condoms for a while) and found without all the hormones the bleeding went back to a normal cycle. I'd definitely try that before you agree to anything else.

[Peridotite1]

Thanks! I was thinking that that might be my next step. It was the plan of attack that we were going to try when the IUD came out but then I wouldn't stop bleeding so they put me right back on the pill.

At this point I really just want to find out if I can have children of my own, because if the plumbing isn't working I would just as soon get it out and have all of the problems resolved. I think at this point I have supported the pad and tampon industry enough for two lifetimes