If your teenage DD is on the pill...

[ZuZugal]

would you mind sharing which one and the details of how it is working out? My DD is 15 and her periods are awful. They are very heavy and last way too long. She has back pain, cramps, etc. She plays HS golf and I won't even go into how hard it is to find a bathroom on a golf course during a match if needed. Her emotions are crazy too.

We have an appt coming up and I have talked to a few people about her options.

Any advice/specifics would be great.

 

[MushyMushy]

I want in on this too. DD will be 15 this weekend and I was giving this some thought.

Another question too. For the gyn visit, is it a "full" type of checkup? Pap smear and everything? Maybe I'm completely off base, but I thought that they waited til later to do that.

 

[golfgal]

From personal experience, going on the pill doesn't always help with lightening up your period nor does it always help with cramps, etc. Some things she could try, if she hasn't already, take ibuprofen on a regular schedule starting a couple days before her period and through her period-or at least the first couple days. If she takes it "as needed" it doesn't work as well. Have her use a tampon and pad at the same time.

I don't blame her for not wanting to use the port-a-potties on the golf course.

 

[golfgal]

I want in on this too. DD will be 15 this weekend and I was giving this some thought.

Another question too. For the gyn visit, is it a "full" type of checkup? Pap smear and everything? Maybe I'm completely off base, but I thought that they waited til later to do that.

I don't think they do a "full" exam until they become sexually active--at least my OB doesn't.

 

[Bethenny]

I'm sure your doctor to know which treatment would be best for her.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

I started on it at about that age (that was like 10 years ago though, LOL!) - and it was a LIFESAVER! Mine were heavy and super-irregular, so I could never predict when I'd get it. It really was a nightmare.

It took a few months on the pill for me to get straightened out, but after, say, 3-4 months, I had a completely predictable period (I took the last pill Saturday, I knew I would have my period from Tues/Wed. to Friday/Saturday), and it was so much lighter. Never any trouble with leaking, being unprepared, anything. It also took care of a lot of hormonal mood changes, and it totally cleared up my acne (which was mostly hormone related).

The only issue I had is that when I first started, the doctor started me on something like Ortho TriCyclen, just the basic Pill, and when I first took it, it made me violently sick (throwing up). My body just couldn't tolerate the hormones, so my doc switched me to EstroStep, which is a low-dose pill. Sometimes I would be a little queasy the morning after I started a new pack, but it went away. So maybe start with a low-dose to avoid any side effects like that.

I know it's not for all girls, and I certainly didn't treat being on the pill as a teenager as a "license to have unprotected sex". But it was just a lifesaver for me. It definitely hasn't harmed me in any way.

Edited to add: I didn't have a full gyno exam because I wasn't sexually active. But it was a good way to "ease into" seeing a gynecologist so that when I got older, I was comfortable with it.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm sure your doctor to know which treatment would be best for her.

No doubt.

But a lot of people want to hear personal anecdotes from those who have BTDT.

 

[ZuZugal]

I don't blame her for not wanting to use the port-a-potties on the golf course.

First big tourney of this season for school was mid Aug. She has just started her period. She used a tampon and a pad...had started meds days before...and it was such an awful day for her. She said it was basically running out of her. At the turn she had to run into the clubhouse and "take care of business". We have learned to bring a second pair of shorts to tourneys after that too. There was not even a port-a-potty on the front 9 for her there. She was such a trooper...I would not have continued if I were in her shoes but she stuck it out.

 

[golfgal]

First big tourney of this season for school was mid Aug. She has just started her period. She used a tampon and a pad...had started meds days before...and it was such an awful day for her. She said it was basically running out of her. At the turn she had to run into the clubhouse and "take care of business". We have learned to bring a second pair of shorts to tourneys after that too. There was not even a port-a-potty on the front 9 for her there. She was such a trooper...I would not have continued if I were in her shoes but she stuck it out.

Poor thing--trust me, I KNOW how she feels. Another thing to look into, might be a long shot, but make sure her thyroid levels are ok. I know right away if mine are off because of how light or heavy my period is.

 

[luvmy3]

First big tourney of this season for school was mid Aug. She has just started her period. She used a tampon and a pad...had started meds days before...and it was such an awful day for her. She said it was basically running out of her. At the turn she had to run into the clubhouse and "take care of business". We have learned to bring a second pair of shorts to tourneys after that too. There was not even a port-a-potty on the front 9 for her there. She was such a trooper...I would not have continued if I were in her shoes but she stuck it out.

I feel for your dd I have been cursed with extremely heavy periods since I had my kids but I am on Depo-provera and I don't get my period. I am not recommending that, but there are medications out there that can help her, and the GYN will know the best one and what hormone dose for her age. Also if one doesn't work don't give up, there are many options she will just have to find the right one for her

 

[princessmom29]

OP,I would prepare her for a pelvic exam at the least. My sister is 23 and went through this as a teen. I am older and went with her to the docs as she was more comfortable with me than mom. Standard of care is to do a pelvic exam to check for endometriosis before perscribing treatment. Your GYN should at least check her for palpable changes before perscribing pills, and my want an ultrasound if the pils don't seem to be helping a lot. Wether a pap will be done or not depends on the doc, but you should prepare her that she will have to undress and be examined.

 

[MomRN]

My step-daughter (16) is on the patch. She started out with the pill, but she was having nausea and went to the patch. She was still have stomach pains with the patch, but it turns out she had a kidney stone. It was removed, but she still has stomach issues.

However, her's wasn't for heavy periods... it was for "just in case."

Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what the exam consisted of, but I do not think a pap was included. Or it may have been. She may be sexually active and her mom doesn't want us to know because her dad would freak out. When I suggested that maybe she stop taking BC until she needs it, to see if that was the cause of her abdominal pain or another issue, her mom was totally against it.

I'm on the depo shot, and don't have a period, but it has it's own risks and certainly wouldn't suggest the shot for a teenager.

However, I would see what the gyno recommends. Since it's more for comfort than a necessary measure, you can always try it and if the side effects outweigh the benefits it can be stopped.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I don't think they do a "full" exam until they become sexually active--at least my OB doesn't.

Mine did, unfortunately, but that was 25 years ago. And, he told me he'd be gentle...he wasn't.

 

[Christine]

My 19 y/o DD just started on the Pill. She requested Tri-Sprintec because lots of her friends were taking that one and did well on it. The doctor ended up either not hearing her correctly or whatever and gave her a script for plain old Sprintec.

She was a little nauseous the first week or so of the first month. Her period was MUCH lighter this time but she still had a real period. This new pack doesn't seem to be causing her any problems.

She had a pelvic exam last March in college for something else so her knew doctor didn't give her one prior to giving the script but she does have to go back in March and get another one.

 

[PrincessDana]

At the end of last school year I took my 15-year-old to our family practice nurse practitioner due to her periods becoming so bad. In my opinion, once it truly interrupts your regular life (more than just a monthly annoyance) something should be done. She was having severe cramps that even a prescription antiinflammatory wasn't helping and also having bladder spasms along with a prolonged period.

She gave her Sprintec (which is a $9 generic through Wal-Mart price matching). She does get some nausea for 1 to 2 days when she first starts a new pack, but never any vomiting. She still has some pretty bad cramps at least one day even with the pill, but her period no longer lasts 7 or 8 days.

There was no internal pelvic exam or Pap smear, but she will have a return visit at 6 months.

The nurse practitioner did tell me that her younger patients do not do as well on Seasonale or Seasonique...lots of breakthrough bleeding and spotting issues (from her experience). However, I love being on Seasonale and it works perfectly for me.

 

[HeatherH]

Mine has been on Yaz (now the generic equivalent, whatever it's called) for about a year and a half. She went on it to help mostly with severe PMS symptoms, but it has helped her with the flow and cramping TREMENDOUSLY. She is quite happy with it.

NO pelvic for her, she is not sexually active (and yes I know that for sure) although my ob/gyn did do a breast exam this year and said if there were any issues that she would do a pelvic. It's possible that an ob/gyn would do one if he/she suspected anything structural causing the heavy periods, but most likely they would try the pill first to see.

Good luck to your daughter, I too know how miserable periods like that are. Still. At age 50. I hope she gets some relief.

 

[rigs32]

The first time I went to the gyn, I went to the same place as my mom. It was the one and only time that I saw a male gyn. If they don't have the equipment, I don't know how they can truly understand what a pelvic feels like.

That said, I had problems with hormonal BC. I gained weight and it increased my mental "instability".

 

[beatlesblonde]

I don't have any kids but I can speak from personal experience. I've been on several different brands in my 8 years of taking the pill. Right now I am on a generic of Ortho-try-cyclin (sorry I don't remember what the name is, I can check when I get home) and I've had the best luck with it. My periods where heavy and irregular as a teen and being on the pill helped a ton (I was in performing arts so I couldn't afford any accidents). A couple of years ago I developed PMDD so I changed brands to a generic of Yaz but didn't have much luck so I am now on the Ortho and I am much happier.

 

[KitKat_Tink]

I had terrible problems with my period from the day i started. Heavy, long, and terrible cramps. Around 13 i was put levora which helped but caused migraines. Then they switched me to yaz which was much easier on my body and still helped. On that I had light periods that lasted 1-3 days. Recently they have switched me to zovia because i keep getting ovarian cysts that rupture and they wanted to see if that helps. I take the active pills for 4 months and then take the placebo pills. I never had an exam done until recently and that was to check out if my cysts were growing and if i had formed endromitrios (misspelled) I know that most of my friends were on the pill by the time senior year of high school rolled around. And most of those on the pill were not sexual active. It just makes life much easier knowing when your going to get your period and knowing that you won't have to miss out on normal activities.

 

[Robmom]

My DD was put on Seasonique a few months ago, and she had severe cramps when she was almost finished with the pack. So severe that we had to take her to the ER. She stopped taking them, and the pain went away. She hasn't asked to go back and try a different one. I guess the pain just isn't worth it to her.