My daughter started her period last year at age 10. It’s been a little over a year and they are awful. She’s in so much pain and they are so heavy. She sometimes gets 2 in a month. She has seen the gyn, who started her on mefenamic acid, daily b complex, has drawn labs ( she’s not anemic) and said birth control is always an option. I was hoping to wait a few years but i don’t want her to suffer. Anyone have experience with this at a young age? Pros/ cons?
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I started BC at 12 after getting my period around 10/11. It was sooooo helpful. Never had any real issues from it.
Just make sure you tell your daughter what it is, and why she’s using it. I was having ridiculous periods. My mom got me some pills. They were extremely unhelpful (that’s a whole other story) but I was flipping through a magazine and saw an add for BCP and realized that’s what I was taking. I was mortified!
I don’t have personal experience but why delay trying it if it could help relieve her pain? If you’re worried about side effects, I would think the best way to address those concerns would be for you and your daughter to have a conversation with the gynecologist.
I started my period at 12 and they were always very heavy and always for at least seven days, never fewer. I started birth control maybe a few years after that to manage them. It must have helped because I stayed on it into my mid twenties, but of course it’s something you have to stay on top of because if you miss a day, it’s obviously not ideal. It also might have contributed to some acne, but I was a teenager so who knows.
Maybe seek a second opinion from another gynaecologist if you’re not sure.
I went on the pill at 13. The one I started with made me very emotional (crying for no reason) but every birth control is different, she may need to try a few to find the one that works best with her body’s chemistry. You can spend all the time in the world thinking about and weighing the long-term risks, but the reality is that she is in pain NOW and her menstrual cycles are actively affecting her quality of life. Discuss with her physician (and try to make sure your daughter is the one making the final decision as much as possible), but as long as an MD approves it the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks.
I had painful periods from 12 to 17, I got on birth control and it was a relief when I didn’t have to deal with cramps and heavy bleeding. I only stop using BC when I wanted to get pregnant.
When my kid got her period at 12, I told her if she doesn’t want to deal with it, she can get on BC. She’s been on it for a year and it’s so much better for her physically and even mentally.
I started my period at 10 and had horrible and heavy periods that would last for months at a time. I would maybe get a week or so of respite. When my mom put me on the pill when I was barely 14, it was life changing. Im kind of bummed that I spent those 4 years suffering.
I was not allowed to take bc to control my ridiculously heavy periods because my mother believed it would turn me into a horny teenager. So… I had horrible, heavy periods until I could get my own prescription, you know, after I moved out.
I started birth control around age 13 and was on it for most of my life. I didn’t have any bad side effects from it, neither short term nor long term. It did alleviate cramps and lighten my flow, but my cramps were never that bad.
My best friend has terrible cramps and heavy periods and didn’t find out until her 40s that she has endometriosis. It’s not necessarily what is giving your daughter pain, but it’s very common and birth control can help. If the birth control doesn’t help, she can also stop taking it at any time. It’s pretty low stakes in my experience.
I feel dismissive even suggesting this because it’s so simple but I used to get awful cramps (to the point of vomiting once) and my dr suggested taking over the counter Aleve (naproxen). It helps me a lot. Has she tried this?
If that doesn’t help then I think birth control is a good next step. I didn’t start the pill until I was 16 but it has helped my cramps even more, to the point that I only need Aleve during the occasional period.
> I was hoping to wait a few years but i don’t want her to suffer
I had horrible periods starting at age 11, I had to be taken out of school sometimes because I’d vomit from the pain and couldn’t walk. I was put on birth control at age 12 and while there was some trial and error (I did have side effects of depression, acne), I eventually landed on a pill that was the lowest possible dosage of hormones at the time. It gave me a quality of life back that I was losing for a week of each month and am grateful my parents were open to putting me on it.
Birth control is not just for pregnancy prevention, it’s medicine that helps so many and shouldn’t be solely equated to sex and being of “a certain age” — if the docs think it will help and if her periods are terrible and irregular, it’s absolutely worth trying <3
I was started on birth control at age 13 to help with premature ovarian failure. I honestly didn’t mind it at all and so far, at age 55, I’ve suffered no ill consequence from it. I’m so sorry that she’s going through this.
I started taking the pill when I was about 15. My periods had become more and more painful, and were debilitating. I think the first one I tried made me feel quite nauseated, then switched to a different type and it improved. It helped the pain and other symptoms like nothing else, couldn’t really have managed my life without it.
Yes. My daughter had horrible periods at 10/11. Ridiculously heavy bleeding to the point she was anemic. When she finally told me I immediately took her to her pediatrician who suggested I take her to a gynecologist for low dose birth control pills. My doctor took her on as a patient and offered the low dose birth control pills. There was no physical exam because she was not sexually active or having any symptoms that needed attention. He explained how to take the pills, to take naproxen for cramps, and explained that she could call his nurse with any questions. She was on the same pills I was on because they were low estrogen and I was in my 40’s. The pills eliminated her heavy bleeding and anemia. She’s now 12 years older and has tried various forms of birth control and come back to the original low dose pills because they worked well for her.
Yes my then boyfriend’s little sister started on birth control in middle school because of her heavy painful menstrual cycle and it worked for her. I’m so glad her family actually listened to their daughter & the doctor. That way she didn’t have to go through what I did. My mom wouldn’t let me take birth control for my horrible debilitating periods because she was catholic. I had to wait until I moved out at 18.
I was 15 and my periods were horrible. Went on the pill and stayed on until an IUD at 22. It was the best decision my mom could have made for me as a teenager. It improved my quality of life.
My mom didn’t want me on birth control because “it can mess with your hormones.” I’m not sure if there was more to it than that, but I spent the years from 12 – 17 suffering from painful, heavy periods. I bled through a tampon, pad, and my pants more than once in school. I had enough pain that I got lightheaded at times.
When I was 17 I started taking the pill and it was like night and day. I still got my periods, but they were so much more manageable. I don’t think I could easily manage the periods I had at 12 now that I’m 42. I don’t know why anyone expected a child to be able to deal with it.
If her doctor says it’s an option, let her have it. See what helps. Let her try different formulations if one doesn’t help.
I was put on birth control at 13 for dysmenorrhea. Changed my life for the better! I was able to be an active member of society during my periods.
My niece by choice started on bc when she was 12 because her periods were so bad.
I think I would rather be on the pill than on mefenamic acid (which for those who don’t know is a really strong NSAID and can give you stomach ulcers if you’re not careful with relying on it).
But with the caveat that there are other things to consider when starting birth control before the age of 16 – I believe bone density might come into play? I’m not super well-versed because I was forced to suffer from age 13 to 18 until I finally got on birth control when I started university.
Please make sure you are supporting your daughter in other ways – if this is endometriosis, a heating pad is often one of the most reliable forms of pain relief. Epsom salts, hot baths, mixing Advil + Tylenol, eventually CBD/THC products when she’s older. Supplementation of vitamin D, magnesium, iron can also all be helpful. r/Endo is worth checking out.
I’m so sorry for what your daughter is going through. It’s a terrible club to be in.
Don’t think of it as birth control. Think of the no babies as a side effect of its main function… hormone regulation.
Once she had her period why consider withholding the medicine that could help her? It’s not just for pregnancy prevention, it’s for health and quality of life.
I actually asked the Women’s clinic i go to about this when my daughter started hers at 9. Insurance covers birth control at 13 unless there is a really good reason to start earlier. The clinic said they would provide them to her until she hits the age where insurance kicks in.
I got put on at 14, right when after I got my period. I had the worst cramps and missed school from them. It immediately helped both the cramps and some of the acne. I stopped it a couple years ago. Then got a big ovarian cyst and am back on it to prevent them. lol. I do wish I never stopped it because the cyst was so painful and I had to take a week off work because I had no idea what was happening to my body until I got the ct scan. Definitely am pro people going on birth control, for sooo many reasons.
I had a friend with endo as a teenager and we all knew she had endo. Her mom wouldn’t let her see a gyno until she was over 18. We knew back then how bad it was for her and her mom wouldn’t even entertain the idea of seeing a doctor. If my daughter was having pain I’d put her on it too. But I understand the reservations if you think of it as manipulating hormones. If you consider it as controlling an imbalance, maybe it will help you feel better about the concept.
I have no experience being on it as a young child, but I had similar periods around 18-19 due to stress, birth control was shockingly effective. I didn’t think it would help but it did! I started on heather and that nearly eliminated all the heavy periods, but didn’t help with the cramps. I switched to larin(?) I believe, that is like a miracle medicine for me. No more cramps, steady periods, less mood swings, it’s amazing
Got my period around age 11 and got on birth control for it when I was around 13. I was also severely underweight at the time which may have a lot to do with it, but it made me violently ill. I couldn’t be around red meat at all, and even just the thought of it would be enough to make me gag. I’d throw up constantly, but it helped my cramps enough that I put up with it for about a year before going off of them. Got on a different pill at 15 and never had any problems after that. This was back in 2010 though, so I’m not sure they make the first pill I was given anymore.
All that being said, my periods were the absolute WORST when I was in my tweens/early teens. Every body is different, and I’d say it’s at least worth trying- but under observation to make sure it isn’t making her sick.
What would be the benefit of waiting? She is suffering now and birth control is a very viable solution.
Not really. I got my period at age 13. I got diagnosed with PCOS and put on the Pill at age 18. While some women with PCOS have heavy periods, I did not have that symptom.
I started at 14 because my first period never actually ended. Wasn’t painful for me at first, but became progressively worse over time and with additional stress.
Highly recommend having her checked for endometriosis/adenomyosis which have similar symptoms and conveniently don’t show up on most imaging/diagnostics, though most drs won’t admit that and treat imaging like it’s a definitive tool. Only way to know for sure is unfortunately a laparoscopic surgery, but worth it to have answers and stop being dismissed as hysterical by drs.
I started at age 10 and had horrible periods for years. My mom finally agreed to let me go on birth control when I was 12yo. It was a massive life saver. No more bleeding through my clothes three times a day, and no more painful periods.
It’s your daughter’s body, ask her what she wants.
One would think the more appropriate treatment would be puberty blockers until her body has had the chance to grow more. I really do wonder why that’s not the norm for early menarche. I was almost 13 when I started and it was still very upsetting. I can’t imagine having to deal with that at age 10, your poor kiddo!
I started periods at 9. Finally got on the pill at 13 and it was life changing. It also prevented recurring ovarian cysts.
My daughter got hers at 10 and we started birth control pill (we call them period prevention pills) at 12. She would spend days curled up and miserable.
We don’t even let her take the placebo week. Just keep going. There is no need. It also has helped her with feeling better in her own body. That it’s not trying to ruin her life every month and is under her control.
I got my first period when I was barely 11 and they were super erratic and different volumes until it leveled out at about 13 but they were painful and kinda heavy. I got put on birth control at 15 to help lighten the flow and help with acne. It made a huge difference. My dad freaked out a little about the birth control but my mom got him in check and I’ve been on it since. I obviously know nothing about your situation but it was super helpful for me.
Honestly I came to read the comments thinking why start that young that’s crazy but mostly because I had a lot of hormonal issues and struggled with weight gain on bc. I never had severe pain but i got uncomfortable when I did start it definitely did help with the heavier periods and my cramps are minimal/non existent now.
Reading the comments made me realize how much it helped other people if it’s really that bad and it can help than there isn’t any harm in trying. I have had two kids now and been off bc completely for about 10 years and even being on bc for a bit changed my cycle and it’s never went back to before so maybe it’s something you try for a bit then stop and see if changes stay.
Yes and got clots.
I started my period at 11 and got on birth control at like 12. My periods were very mild as a result. I would just say, no one floated that a cause of my depression might be related. And the mood shift when I got off of hormonal birth control in my early 20’s was profound.
Periods started at 13 and I would have to leave school every time for 2 days, mum threw me on the pill within 4 months. Honestly life changing and even more so when young me realised if I didn’t take the hormone free pills I could skip my periods for quite some time – I thought I was the smartest person alive. I eventually stopped taking it as I am both incredibly disorganised and started getting pretty forgetful about taking them. Turns out I had endo and ovarian cysts the whole time. Will always be thankful for my mum, she was always so in my corner when it came to reproductive health
Look into endometriosis/adenomyosis, and things like ovarian cysts. What you’re describing sounds like exactly what I went through with my menstrual cycle at that age. It’s always been awful and at 40 I finally have a doctor who picked up that it’s most likely endo/adeno, and has put me on the diagnostic pathway.
Do ask questions and don’t let them brush you off, dismiss you, or downplay the symptoms. If it is endo/adeno, do be aware that while many people find that the symptoms are eased by birth control and non steroidal anti-inflammatories, the research has found that there is insignificant evidence to support these as treatment for these conditions. Research into these conditions is shockingly sparse but there is some evidence that medical marijuana can help by reducing inflammation. Some people (myself included) have had a reduction in symptoms by using wild yam cream applied topically. The only way to successfully treat Endo or adeno is with surgery to cut the excess growth out (or, in the case of adeno, have a hysterectomy), but even then the excess endometrial tissue can grow back.
Source: I’m a raging nerd with ADHD, autism, an academic background, an Internet connection, and access to academic journals via the university I’ve been attending. I read over 40 studies and articles (mainly systematic reviews and meta analyses) to try to get a good understanding of how best to address this for myself after my doctor identified that my symptoms are consistent with Endo.
I started birth control at 15, most def should have started it sooner for the relief it gave.
I started my period at 11 with very heavy and painful periods and didn’t get on BC until age 16. It was pretty miserable but I learned how to manage (some of) my pain which I think had some value, maybe not enough to wait until 16. My mom would still have to come get me from school because I’d bleed through everything.
Started at 11. Less than a year of heavy periods twice a month, bleeding through my clothes at school multiple times and awful cramps/GI issues, my mother took me to the pediatrician who referred me to a gyn who was good with kids. She put me on birth control for a year. It was a wonder drug for me. I don’t know how I could have mentally survived adolescence without it. If the doc suggests it, please do it.
Yes I did – started BC at like 13/14.
It took a while for my big sister to convince her.
I stayed on them until like 22 when I chose to get off them on my own. My periods were way more manageable bc I was older and my schedule had more flexibility v when I was in k-12z
I had extremely heavy periods, I wish my parents put me on birth control. My daughter seems to be following in my steps and im planning on getting her on the pill. She bleed through a ultra plus tampon in 4 hours.
Started at twelve, had horrible mood swings, heavy flows and pain. Got myself on the pill at 14, since my mother had no sympathy and my dad (has gotten better) looked at it like an excuse for not doing chores. I’m with u/Finalgirl2022
My period started at 10 and lasted 6 weeks. I was prescribed birth control and my period didn’t start again until 12. I didn’t want to take it anymore because I gained weight and was always nauseous. I’ve had painful periods all my life. Now, I was prescribed birth control pills again to help reduce bleeding cause by fibroids.
If you want to try other methods first or a combo, I usually recommend the book the Period Repair manual by Lara briden. She explains the science of why we have periods and then give some solutions as to why things may not be working properly. Some of the supplements that she mentioned have helped me.
You might also ask in the endometriosis subreddits.
She may not necessarily have endometriosis, but it’s definitely worth looking into and considering.
As someone who does have endometriosis, extremely heavy, painful periods are not normal and if a doctor is suggesting that they are, you may want to get a different one.
My physician father put me on birth control at 11. Absolutely would recommend, it’s fantastic!
My 13 year old got the hormone IUD. Insertion was not an issue. I insisted she get some pain meds and they gave her nitrous oxide. Her periods have become lighter and lighter. She is super happy with it. We opted not to go with regular BC pills due to some personal reasons (mostly being able to keep to a schedule with taking meds)
I went on the pill as a youngster because of bad periods. My daughter was 13 I think. She has endometriosis.
Started my period about 10 1/2, and I was on birth control by 11 due to the PMS symptoms including terrible mood swings, severe cramping and pain, and also for ridiculously heavy flow.
I’m in my 40s and still on some kind of hormonal birth control for the same reasons.
There have been times over the years when I would go back to the obgyn to switch to a different kind because of one thing or another – pain would come back, mood swings would get bad again so obviously something was out of whack, flow would get awful.
I started at 9, and they were debilitating within a year. I have a bi-cornate uterus, vasovagal syncope and (later) developed cysts). I wish the pill would have done something for me, but it didn’t. I have no idea what type my doctor put me on at first. Only thing that improved them were having my kids.
I think the key is just not dismissing any side effects. I started birth control as an adult (raised Catholic so my parents would have never allowed it even though I had debilitating cramps since age 10) and had nipple bleeding as a side effect which was straight up traumatizing. I was hesitant to switch though because my doctor told me all birth controls were basically the same. That is not true lol! If she experiences negative side effects, have her try a different pill.
I started at 12 , nonstop heavy bleeding.. took half a year for mom to get step dad to let me have birth control. It was soo nice to not have heavy bleeding all the time.
Daughter started at 11, she was semi normal up until this year and she started getting heavy cramps and throwing up even with medicine. Shes on non cycle birth control to stop periods, and even with breakthrough bleeding its helped so much.
Please get your daughter birth control.
I got my period at 12. Awful, horrid cramps, massive bleeding- and it was irregular. I’d go a month and a half without a period, then WAM: period for more than a week. Two weeks, hit again with it.
I got some relief when I turned sixteen and finally got on birth control. At least it was forced to be regular then. Although for me it wasn’t any less painful.
Turns out I’ve got a mild case of PCOS and endometriosis. Which the doctors didn’t take seriously my complaints until I was in my mid twenties- PCOS diagnosis first, the endo found when I had a bilateral salpingectomy and they found endometrial tissue in places where it shouldn’t have been. Vindicated in my mid thirties, but boy howdy did it make me furious that nobody listened to me over my debilitatingly painful periods.
Advocate for your little girl. Please. Get her on some BC to help manage it, and fight to make sure there isn’t something else brewing. The earlier things like PCOS and endo are caught the easier they can be to manage a less likely there are to be complications from them. I’m not saying she has them, but insisting that they’re checked for in some way would be good.
My pain was at 11. And usually for 2 1/2 days. . But I didn’t get help until age 18. I was at college and I couldn’t miss classes and I couldn’t walk or drive. I was far from home. When I got help I realized that I had wasted so many years dealing with something none of my friends had ever experienced. Please help her, the sooner the better.
That’s me! I love my pill. Started hormone therapy at 14 I think? Definitely before I was 16. Got my period at 12 and I was miserable and made my whole family miserable so I was between 13-15 for sure.
I’m mid 30’s now and we are dabbling with the idea of a baby.. so this is my first week not on it in literally over half my life. I’m terrified. So far my body feels better than expected (I was on Yasmin continuously, my “period” – actually hormone withdrawal made me want the Big End, so I haven’t not taken it in over 5 years straight)
I’m so glad my mom helped me with this, my life would have been much much worse without it. She really had me figured out at a young age and I’ll always be grateful for that!
I didn’t go on until I was in college, and maaaaan, I wish I’d had the words to advocate for myself earlier. I remember asking my Mom how she dealt with the horribleness of periods and her reply was along the lines of “I threw up and went back to work.” The protestant work ethic was strong in our family…
Lots of known pros, generally known cons, but the unknowns are what bothers me. I started the patch at 12. The benefits were great, but I do wish I had trialed coming off of it while young. I did go off of it in my mid 20s for a number of years and was amazed at how regular I was. The cramps were much improved too. I worry what I did to my body being on bc through puberty and growing up. By 16, I had about 1/2 the hair I did at 12. I’m not convinced the bc didn’t have an effect on that. I also had a slow descent into depression that I knew was worsened by the pills. I got an IUD (hormonal) a few months ago (which was honestly awful) in an attempt to decrease the hormones in my entire body, they should be more localized now. Hoping it helps with the hair loss and depression. I’m 35 now fyi. Ultimately I’d still trust a doctor and not anecdotes, but hope my experience helps you consider all angles and options.
Every single month through high school i had to call a parent to come get me because I was in so much pain and vomiting. My pediatrician offered suppositories for vomiting that I was too embarrassed to use but basically said nothing could be done. As an adult birth control and taking advil a day before was life-changing. I’m still mad at my doctor all these years later.
Sometimes you can do just 3 months of OCPs to trying to reset her period
I had bad, heavy periods from when I started at 13. It took me till I was 18 to see a doctor and go on birth control (I was shy & embarrassed and my mom wasn’t much help in managing it). I wished I hadn’t waited. Five years of bleeding on my clothes almost every month and it could have been avoided. I stayed on it for 8 years till I came off to have a baby and had no long term effects. Also, just because she starts it now doesn’t mean she has to be on it forever.
I got mine early. (Right before my 9th bday). I had to suffer. I’d miss a day or two of school every month because it was so bad. Didn’t get bc until I was 14 and it helped. But still had to have a period (wasn’t allowed to do the skip the period week).
When my own kid started suffering from their period, got them on meds ASAP. No need to suffer.
We both take northrindrone and neither one of us gets our periods anymore. Both my Dr and their Dr have said there’s no drawbacks to not having a period or being on this type long term.
I first started the pill at 12 because of acne. I went off, but then started again a couple years later because I had amenorrhea (no period); I could up to 9 months without a period, would have one, then go months without one again. It really helped with my cramps. 37 now and stopped taking my OCP around December and I forgot how bad cramps could be!
I had terrible periods (physical and emotional)but started later than my peers (eating disorder). Mother considered periods to be a necessary evil of being female despite that HER periods were so heavy that she could barely keep from bleeding through every thing. Took myself to planned parenthood in my early teens and went on BC to alleviate the terrible periods.
Fast forward to my daughter who started menstruating at 10. It was similar to mine but much worse. She had long bleeds and her cycle was 19 days. Cramps so bad she couldn’t walk, bleeding so heavy I didn’t think we’d contain it, etc. We were still going to a pedi at that point who kept brushing it off bc they didn’t know how to deal with it. Took her to a pedi focused OBGYN and after a couple of different meds trial did a Nexplanon implant. It eliminated her period for 4 years and then started failing to keep the bleeding/cramps away. We’ve tried a couple of other bc on a continuous basis and now have settled into a non-continuous pill that seems to be working well.
It doesn’t make sense to wait for a specific age. There is no reason for any of us to have to go through the nonsense of uterine hell.
I had them so bad in middle school I would throw up almost every month like clockwork until I got on birth control. I never knew when they were coming so I couldn’t prepare for them and it never hit me until 2nd or 3rd period. The nurse was kind and sometimes would just give me some ibuprofen and let me nap it off.
I started it at 10 years old for exactly this reason. I’m still on it more than a decade later. It instantly fixed my problem, and i’m eternally grateful that I didn’t spend the rest of my school experience missing 4 days of classes per month.
The original doctor we asked about it was a man who gave me an antidepressant and sent me on my way. It did nothing, obviously. The first birth control that the new OBGYN put me on completely fixed the pain. And it was BAD pain. I spent the first 3 or so days of each period throwing up, unable to stand for long or even really leave my bed.
I would definitely try the birth control.
My best friend started at 13 because she had endometriosis (her mother & older sisters had it as well). Her periods were atrocious! BC pills helped a lot but she still needed pain meds for 1-2 days vs. 5-6 before BC
I wish I had started on birth control much younger. It resolved symptoms that included feeling like I was going to pass out.
I got my period at 11, my mum was conservative so periods weren’t talked about, no one else in my age group started theirs. I didn’t know about period pain and I’d be in class with really bad cramps, I’d excuse myself to go to the bathroom and cry, I didn’t understand what was happening. I was never put on birth control. I’m on BC now, I still get painful periods, I have the implant, years ago I was on the pill but that made me constantly bleed. You should trial her on BC to see if it helps her but also be weary of side effects. Best of luck 🤞🏽
I got my period at 11 and was on the pill by 13. I did have side effects (acne, weight gain, anxiety etc) and copped and changed between different pills every few years as the pain kept coming back after a while. However, I’d still recommend the pill because it was far better than the alternative.
An IUD was life changing for me, no pain and no additional symptoms with it, but I’d be hesitant to suggest it to a girl that young. 16 would probably be the earliest I’d suggest and only if she’s very mature and not handling the pill well.
I was born in 1962, so the social landscape regarding birth control was much different. I don’t know of anyone who was 12 or 13 who had bad periods who was given birth control pills. They were given pain killers and that was about it. Since the pill was equated with sexual activity, many of my peers who had problem periods just suffered. No way would their parent consent to them being on the pill as this would be seen as encouraging their daughter to go out and have sex.
One of the big questions I remember mothers asking or asking their friends was if their adult daughter was on the pill or if they were under the age of 18, would you put them on the pill. This was such a big thing. If the daughter was an adult, they weren’t exactly crazy about the fact she was having sex (this is what was automatically assumed if you went on the pill) but at the same time were glad that she was on birth control to prevent pregnancy, If they were under 18, unless it was a serious medical issues or the periods were extreme bad, then no most mothers wouldn’t put their underage daughter on the pill.
Sixteen was the youngest age that birth control pills were given out and usually it had to be with parental consent as a lot of doctors wouldn’t give out birth control pills until the patient was 18 years old. There were a few classmate who suffered terrible periods and side effects until they were on legal age or until they moved out of the house.
The reason this changed is some of these women suffered and when their daughters had issues, they were open to them being on the pill because they had suffered or seen other classmates who had suffered. Generational change and attitude change basically.
There also during the 1970’s were some doctors who were concerned that putting a 12 or 13 year old teen on the pill might cause infertility, difficulties in the future becoming pregnant and other unknown health issues down the road. Many thought that this was too young to be put on any type of birth control pills. Another thing was some of the birth control pills of the earlier era caused some very serious side effects. That has since been corrected.
I wish my mom would have started me on the pill when I was young. I had such heavy and painful periods. You could start her on the lowest dose birth control available. I can guarantee you it will be a massive improvement from a symptoms and flow perspective.
My daughter started BCP at 14 for acne. She has painful periods even on the pill, so I’m sure it would have been worse without!
I started on a combination pill around 12 to try and control my acne. Hormonal birth control didn’t really agree with me and I started getting aura migraines, which no one warned me was a contraindication to taking an estrogen-containing pill.
I wish someone had gotten me care sooner. I would throw up and/or pass out regularly from my period pain and my mom told me it was normal. It wasn’t until college when I got relief.
I wish my mom has started me on the pill when I was young. I had horrific periods and would miss school or spend the day in the nurses’ office bc I was in so much pain and had so much nausea. I also had terrible insomnia for 18-20 days out of my cycle. I have PMDD and it’s been terrible my whole life. Even when I stopped the pill to get pregnant, it immediately was horrific again. I spent literally 7 years suffering.
Get your daughter more help than my mom got me.
I was forced onto it at 13 to control my painful periods. I wish that instead my doctor had at least tried to find out why they were so bad. They might have noticed my other health issues sooner that way.
It had some very unpleasant side effects. The wrong generic made me downright suicidal.
I started getting immobilizing cramps at 9 and got my period at 10, then went on birth control at 13. I stopped hormonal birth control when I was 26 and it took me 8 years to figure out that the treatment for all of my issues was going back on hormonal birth control. Don’t make her wait if it’s really that bad.
My cousin went on it at 11.
Dear lord I wish my mom had offered me BC as an option. I had no idea and my periods were awful as a teen – missed at least a day of school each month
My daughter has only just started, but as soon as she is regular in getting her period, my doc is putting her in BC. Absolutely no reason they need to suffer anymore PLUS my doc says the sooner they start a greater reduction in ovarian cancer. She’s a huge believer in BC for balancing hormones…I’m still on it in perimenopause because I can’t take HRT.
I didn’t go on it until 22 and it would have changed my whole life if I’d been on it sooner. I dropped out of high school from missing so much school because of my periods. I would vomit from pain for 24 hours and I’d bleed do heavily that I wouldn’t get out of bed for 3 days. Mine started at 13 and were progressively more and more painful. I never knew when I’d get my period and by the time I started to feel cramping it was too late to take pain relief because I’d start vomiting before it could take effect.
Whatever was wrong with me was fixed by going on the pill. Even after I stopped taking them I’ve never had the extreme pain and heavy bleeding again. I think I had some bad cysts and the pill helped clear them and stabilise my natural hormone production.
If I experienced the kind of pain I was in then now, I’d go straight to the ER. But I was so young I didn’t have anything to compare it to. Bad period pain is BAD.
One of the benefits of the pill is being able to skip a period or move it. When you have heavy periods it can disrupt so many opportunities in life. Being able to postpone your period can mean the difference between going on a school trip or not.
My mum didn’t t want me on the pill because she thought it caused cancer :/
My best friend in middle school had cramps so bad she couldn’t walk, and started birth control. This was in the 90s. I bet there’s all kinds of good options now that didn’t exist then. E.g., I am on progestin only BC pill
Why do you want to wait?
My best friend started at 11 for fibroids and when I started at 16 I scolded her for gatekeeping this magic pill that made my periods suck less. Then at 21 I got the go ahead from my gyno to take bc continuously and SKIP my period. GAME CHANGER. I wish I knew I could have done that back in middle school and high school when I had debilitating cramps and a 10 day period! I could have had so much more fun and been in less pain as a kid. I missed out on a lot of childhood memories due to my damn period taking me out of commission – your kid deserves her childhood back and BC will potentially do that
I started BC when I was 12, like others I would have extremely heavy periods that lasted months and were so painful. This treatment helped a LOT and I stayed on it for several years. I definitely support it as a reasonable choice for young folks with period problems.
However, every single month without fail, the adjustment from the one week of ‘sugar pills’ back to the regular ones would have me puking every morning for the first week. I might just be super sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, but if this happens with your daughter it might be worth asking about injectable BC–I switched to that when I was 18 and it changed my life.
Why make her suffer?
I started my daughter at 13. She had incredibly bad periods since 11(vomiting with every period) and bc is the only thing that helps.
Mine came at 10 and I started horrible migraines. I never knew about birth control that young. I think its reasonable.
I started BCP at 13 but it was for lack of periods not too much period.
The doctor also had me on some kind of medicine for acne (or maybe it was an antibiotic) and I developed pseudotumor cerebri. Aka IIH. I don’t know if it was due to both meds or just the BCP but I remember coming off the acne meds but staying on the BCP.
I honestly don’t know if I’ve had any bad side effects from it other than that, cuz I’ve literally been on BCP for 33 years now. So it’s all just stasis for me.
I’ve never had a problem with really painful periods FWIW.
Oh also it wasn’t until I was like 18 that I was told I have PCOS. That’s what the amennorhea was from.
I was like that and at the age of 17 was diagnosed with fibroids. I’m sure I had them from day 1. You might want to ask about an ultrasound to rule out any issues like that. And I wish bc had been an option for me. At that age I felt like a freak dealing with the heavy periods and pain before most of the girls got their first period.
I went on birth control at 15 for painful periods from when I was 11. I had PCOS that was undiagnosed for over a decade until after I went off birth control at 26. I think starting birth control pills may be a good option, but you may want to see if a diagnosis of endometriosis or PCOS or something else is causing these intense periods first. Good luck 💕
I started the pill at 14 for cramps. My periods were so easy compared to my friends and when I did eventually start having sex, I was already good about being consistent with it. Wins all around!
Went in the pull around 17 due to PCOS and NOT getting a period like ever. My sister went in at 16 after debilitating periods from the time she was 12 which turned out to be raging endometriosis, then couldn’t find a surgeon to do the hysterectomy she needed till she was 45
I literally started my period on my 10th birthday and suffered all of the worst symptoms and long, heavy periods that lasted an average of two weeks. When I joined the Air Force, I was on my period for all of basic training and was anemic by the end of it. I wish I had gotten on birth control at an earlier age, but I grew up in a conservative Christian household and was afraid to even ask my mom about anything. Being on Mirena has been a life changer for the last 15 years. I don’t think Mirena would be a good idea for your daughter, but if there is a type of birth control that a doctor recommends, I think it will help her not be miserable.
My daughter got an IUD at age 12 which permanently stopped menstrual bleeding. She has not had a period since.
Her periods were very heavy, lasted for weeks, and she passed lemon sized clots that resembled after-birth.
The doctor prescribed Birth Control and it did not stop the bleeding. They doubled the dose. They tripled the dose, and she still bled.
The doctor ran a test and diagnosed her with Van Willebrands Disease, a type of hemophilia. She doesn’t have enough clotting factor in her blood to form a blood clot. She was bleeding to death.
The special IUD turned off her periods permanently.
A lot of the stories in this thread sound like undiagnosed Van Willebrands! If your child is bleeding through pads for weeks, dropping clots like oranges, craving and eating ice (pagophagia) from the anemia, check your child’s blood clotting factor!
I started birth control as a freshman in high school. Prior to that I had to miss school every time I had my period due to extremely painful cramps, migraines and nausea. And even when my dad would still send me to school, I would end up in the nurse’s office to be sent home anyways lol. My mom finally took me to the doc when she came home to me vomiting in the toilet and curled up in pain. I wish they would’ve let me start even sooner but I don’t think either of my parents really comprehended the extent of the pain. My dad was never on board with bc anyways and insisted I stop it for years. Recently my gyn diagnosed me with endo and said he first like treatment is bc to mitigate the spread and she said it was good that I started when I did and have stayed on it since
I started menstruating at 10, period pain became intolerable at 11, and I went on BC at 12 when the OBGYN suggested it. My periods were still painful but they were at least bearable. No more crying or vomiting.
Your kid is in pain, the pill fixes it. It doesn’t matter why other people take it and there isn’t an upside to enduring more of that pain.
My daughter got her first period at 9 and they were horrible for her. Heavy and painful. She ended up having it for more than 2 weeks which is when we went to a pediatric gynecologist. While waiting for the appointment, her period stopped for a few days then started up again. It’s been wild. Anyway, the doctor put her on a regimen of 2 pills per day (Norethindrone), then switched her to a patch and 1 pill per day (same medication.) This was all to completely stop her period, which it has. She’s been on these since October with only break through bleeding when she forgets her pill for more than one day. I have PCOS and experienced similar when I was just starting my period at 11. If you can help with this, do it.
I wasn’t quite that young, I was 14. My periods were so intense I threw up. I got on birth control basically right away and it helped immensely.
I also got diagnosed with thyroid disease which can make your cycle significantly worse if you’re not medicated. Have them check her TSH, T3, and T4. It’s an easy and inexpensive blood test and very common in women.
My daughter got put on birth control pills, which now are very low dose compared to when I started them, by her pediatric gynecologist. She was about 12-13. She suffered tremendously. She was having ovarian cysts. After being on them a short while, her world changed. She’s no longer incapacitated every month. The gynecologist put her on a longer dose, 9 weeks on, 1 week off. She’s 27 now and it’s never caused any issues.
I started periods 3 months before my 13th birthday. At 14 I was on birth control and I wish I had done it sooner. I would vomit during my period and almost had my grades reduced due to absences. I was not allowed in class if I threw up but then it wasn’t an excused illness absence if I didn’t go to the doctor (in the US) every time and got a note that I was sick.
In that 1-1.5 years the frequent menstrual vomiting caused damage to some of my teeth and my dentist talked to me about damaged caused by an eating disorder (bulimia) even though I have never participated in that ED. I have broken a few fragile teeth and have crowns.
I was also bullied for being pregnant (assumption for the vomiting) and then aborting (when I didn’t end up progressing and having a baby) while in a very conservative bible belt area. This also lead to me being sl*t shamed for sleeping around and some boys harassed me thinking I was “easy”.
After BC I had perfect attendance awards and amazing grades and won several scholarships for a nearly free bachelors degree. I am still on BC even though my husband has a vasectomy. I highly recommend it and love my IUD (started on pills though).
My daughter (now 12) had her period at a similar age. So far we’ve managed with naprogesic (also known as naproxen) which is specific for period pain – it reduces the amount of prostagladins produced. No cramps, headache etc. She uses period underwear and has started using tampons, I would like to get her on a menstrual cup also as soon as she is ready. There are long term risks to starting birth control at a young age. Don’t start BC without informing yourself of the potential effects! That said, you and your daughter will have to weigh up the options for yourselves. It may be that for your daughter that BC is the best option.
If you are not already aware, early menarche is VERY common in 2025! My daughters grade 4 class had 4 x 9 year old girls with their periods, and all my daughters friends had theirs by the time they were 12. Its hard to see them going through it so early but trust that they are not going through it alone.
I started my period when I was 11, and I think I was 14 when I started the pill for heavy periods. It helped me some, but my daughter started taking them at 14 for heavy periods, and that lucky ducky skips having hers altogether most of the time.
Just to add to the conversation: I had horrible, debilitating cramps but grew up in the south so f women’s care.
When I got married and put on birth control, the cramps alleviated. Permanently. They are still better even after going off the pill (and ditching the man, too lol)
My doctor-partner thinks I had endometriosis which was cleared up by the pill. Not saying your kiddo has endo, but might be nice to know that the pill can alleviate symptoms long-term.
Yes. This happened to both my girls and my oldest was on bcp at 12. Finally I took them to an acupuncturist with great success.
I got my period at like 9 or 10 years old. My mom didn’t let me have anything but pads for YEARS, didn’t even tell me tampons or birth control existed. I had to wear pads that were about 16” long and 1” thick because of how heavy my flow was (the equivalent of a box of Ultra tampons per period). They were irregular so they could’ve lasted weeks and would come at random. They were extremely painful, and I had such bad PMDD I would get suicidal when I was on them. Turns out I had PCOS.
As an adult who was freed from my period by the Pill, I wish more than anything that I would’ve had access to it in middle and high school. I was horribly insecure from the sheer amount it controlled me, from wearing basically a diaper all the time to avoid leaks, from literally reeking of blood because I had no other options. I felt totally debilitated every month, and missed out on a lot of experiences because I was dealing with my excessive period that I didn’t even need to have.
In a lot of ways I resent my mom for not helping and instead hiding solutions from me, so I really commend you for taking her to the GYN and asking this question to all of us here on this sub ❤️ I had friends in college who were on it since age 13 and all turned out fine. You’re a good mom for being concerned and educated, and I hope it all works out.
I started the pill at 14. My periods from day 1 were super heavy, super long and very painful. I wish that I had known before 14 that the pill would help. I remember cancelling plans, feeling like trash and dreading my period. It definitely took some trying to find the right medicine for me. But once I found it, it was life changing in the best way!
Side effects for me, were extreme nausea and vomiting, lots of fatigue. One of the first meds didn’t even help just made me moody.
My aunt had to get drunk once a month from an early age because she was in soo much pain from her period. Or she was a alcoholic child? I’m not sure. I’m glad that your child has an alternative to getting sloshed.
I didn’t, but despite being asexual I have to be on birth control to control my periods. However, if I had a child in my red state, she would be on birth control asap. You don’t want one choice, or heaven forbid, assault, ruin her life.