Blah. I assume most women here have, at one stage or another, been on the pill and I was just wondering about experiences.

I can't take the combined pill because of the migraine/stroke link but have recently started on Cerazette. I've just been doing a search on it as I completed the first month, fell out with my boyfriend and decided I wasn't going to sleep with him anymore, then changed my mind and decided I'd better get back on the safety train. Problem being that since I stopped I haven't had a period. I'm always a bit late anyway and I've put it down to the fact that this pill apparently can completely stop them - which is yay in a way but boo in others.

At least when I bleed I know I'm healthy, not just not-pregnant, but generally well. How do others feel about the pill? Do you miss periods? I was on another P-only pill a long time back and I'm pretty sure I had periods...but I can't remember! How crap am I? I know I did with the combined pill during the 7-day breaks.

Also, mood swings - how do others find the pill affects you? I think it depresses me and puts me in black moods, hence I opted for a coil instead, but then that went a bit wrong (very wrong in fact) and lalala....

I found, whilst reading up, a very interesting couple of posts - one suggesting when you come off Cerazette you can display symptoms of pregnancy, which combined with a missed period panics the life out of you (especially in a country where abortion is illegal...) - but also read this:

"There are some good herbal remedies which are supposed to help with 'amenorrhea' (the medical term for two or more missed periods) which include Yarrow, Agnus Castus and Blue Cohosh (NOT Black). I am thinking of trying one of these to see if this will regulate my cycle as clearly all is not right. I'd rather not go down the whole hormone tests route just yet, she said wait 3 months and get back and see what happens."

Thought might be useful to some.

Anyway, not that I'm worried (well, maybe I was for a little while - you know how the mind works in certain situations: worst-case scenario sweats) but I do wonder about anything that can do this to your body...I mean, really... but then the benefits...*sigh*

We don't half get lumbered with it, eh?

I have a hormonal imbalance and so the pill makes me 'normal'.

Without the pill I am a completely out of control mess. I don't get periods and I just have PMT for months at a time.

I have no quality of life without that little purple pill and so regardless of any cancer risks or spiritual problems as some have claimed I will keep on taking it until I try to get pregnant because the alternative is no life at all for me.

Went up four stone on pill and depressed.

Hated it.

Starflower oil may help a lot with regulation and bringing period back.

I tried it after I had a complete mental fit at work once and alternatively cried and ranted at my boss about wanting to smash this customer's face in with a till lock.

It didn't do anything for me but maybe it'd help Thinair.

I'm on Cerazette as other pills cause me untold problems- I like the no bleeding thing, tis a bonus for me! It's not caused me any problems, so far...

i cant take the pill but have a massive problem with pms my fantastic doctor got me to have a merina coil fitted oh my god life changing.

i dont get any pmt or bloating my periods have stopped. i dont have to worry about taking or missing a pill.

my biggest worry was i was gonna feel it there, but nope i cant feel a thing, and i dont have to worry for 5 years which makes life alot easier.

i'm glad i decided to make this choice otherwise id have to go under the knife and have all my bits chopped out.

long live my usb port and long may it stay in place

But what a waste of a mooncup

not at all paint some nice designs on it and sucker it to the wall. a new wave in art there. try getting it into the tate 'mooncup art'

I always try to avoid bleeding! Much as I love my mooncup, I always run three pill packs together, but me and the pill don't get on.......


I have tried:
Microgynon - really sore boobs!
Cilest - no sex drive
Depo Provera jab - acne and mood swings
Contraceptive implant - Worse acne and worse mood swings

Now I take Yasmin which only gives me slightly sore boobs and a bit lower sex drive.....

I'm too scared to have the coil fitted before I have babies so I'm stuck with what I've got for now

tiana,
the merina can easily be removed its not copper my friend had terrible trouble with that one. as soon as its removed the hormones come back to balance really quickly.

i dont want anymore nippers i have 3. i was told that within weeks of having my coil out id be ready to try again if i so wanted.

I got the Mirena coil thing that Opalmoon's got. Much as I love IJ, I do NOT want little IJ's or Gryphons toddling around EVER.

It really looks like a giant Calenoid Copepod (before its put in that is, I would know this because the woman showing me the models as it were, was stroking one).



Didn't have that problem. Quite the reverse actually . Erm yea lots of needing exercised to the point of sleepless nights and me not knowing what the hell was going on with my hormones and wondering had I gone mad, because the hormones definitly had.

Before anyone, including IJ starts and grinning I must say that there were serious side effects.

Before I start though, the good point (for you lot anyway), is that I was in the nastier end of the side effects band, so things for you lot may not be as bad.

I picked a coil cos I really cannot be bothered with pill taking. Being able to forget about it and knowing I'm pretty much safe is ideal (1/5000 chance of getting pregnant). The problem with a copper coil is that it makes your period heavier. Sounds daft but I had really really heavy periods to the point I knew I could cope with a heavier one.

If you've had kids you'll be fine, but if you haven't, its utter agony to get them put in.

After its in, the first few months it were pure agony, agonising period pains, going totally mental at the slightest thing (I could be short tempered before but nothing like this) and I was worried IJ would dump me. I also put on weight.

But if you can stick it out it passes, the moods fade, the periods get shorter and lighter. I still have them but they are barely there which is good for telling that nothings growing there.

Only other thing I'd mention is that if the string is long, can erm poke him as it were... which is apparently not very nice

It's worth trying a few different ones out to find one that suits you - I have friends who went on the pill for a few months only to come off it because of side effects, but never tried another brand. What works for one person is not going to be great for everyone so if your pill doesn't suit you, try switching for a couple of months and see if it helps.

I first went on the pill at 17 because I was having periods every 2 weeks which were very painful... I was on Marvelon which was fantastic for me, but it was taken off the market after a few years because it was alleged to carry a high risk of DVT.

Next I tried Microgynon which gave me spots and painful boobs... I gave it 6 months before stopping.

Last time I was in a long term relationship I went on Depo Provera injections, because by this time I was diagnosed diabetic so cannot take the combined pill - and with the best will in the world, I would never remember to take a progesterone only pill within a 3 hour leeway each day! It was great for me, cos my periods stopped all together, I had no bad side effects, and I only had to remember to book into the clinic every 12 weeks and that was it.

I came off it after 18 months because my relationship ended, and it took a year for my periods to restart - this didn't worry me any, but it might not then be suitable for people who would be looking to try for a baby after coming off contraception. Next time I get involved with someone seriously again, I would definitely go back on it.

For first time users of the injection though, it is worth bearing in mind that although there are not many people who suffer side effects, for those who do they can be quite nasty... and once you have had the jab, there is nothing you can do about them until it has run its course, cos you can't get the stuff back out again!

Gryph it took about 6 months for my merina to settle now i've got 5 years without worry thank god. the kids are delighted as we dont have the raging hormonal mamma anymore lol.

storm your pill history sounds just like mine lol. i cant have depo injection but my best mate does she is on her 4th now and has finally settled and loves it.

i think the point is there are very many different types of contraception out there. i wen to my local FPA they were fantastic they will go through all your needs and discuss the different types you can try. also they send you out with lots of packs of condoms for free

Besides the pregnancy thing Thats the ONLY reason I kept it in besides the mini IJ thing (IMAGINE TWO of THEM ).

I never had any medical problems with the pill just the taking of it every day. I eventually gave up 17 years ago (my son's 17 too imagine that, lol). I did the Depo Prevara jab for a good 8 years after and only took 6 months to get preganat (by choice) and the used the marina coil before the next and last baby. I didn't want any more so was sterilised but had horrific periods. Have since had the coil fitted again and as said not more worries for the next 5 years.

Well, I now choose not to take any Pill at all - me and my man are a condom-only zone, which we get free from the doctors and from the local gay clubs

While I appreciate that it may not be the most "safe" way (especially as we are both exceptionally fertile by all accounts) I just can't get on with the Pill at all. Was on it first when I was 18, through til 26 I think. Oddly, despite the benefits, that's when my depression, anxiety and eating disorder were all at their worst, so I'm quite happy the way I am at the moment, au naturel as it were. Not considering having little 'uns any time soon though, so need to discuss my options with my lovely GP I think...

Always found that the Pill lowered my sex-drive and made me feel quite unwell...tried several different brands over the years! I'll have to see what's available to me now.

Also, a good thing for amenorrhea, which I suffered from for a while as a student, is indeed Starflower oil and Oil of Evening Primrose - and a healthy diet

Did they ever finish creating a male pill?

Last time I heard about the male pill it was going to be a 3 monthly injection, similar to Depo Provera. But there were concerns that there would be no way of proving that they had actually had the jab, as a lot of women reported that they would not necessarily believe a man who said he was on it. And a lot of men who were none to chuffed at the idea of their little swimmers being messed with either, lol

Not sure if it is something we will ever see... to be honest, my last partner was so absent minded that there is no way I would have relied on him to get it done, so i still would have sorted out my own contraception anyway!

I'm on Cilest and nope....no effect to sex drive whatsoever LOL

Storm - so basically all the problems women face. Many men don't trust a woman who says she's on the pill, many forget to take them and many don't like the idea of their cycles being messed with. I reckon responsibility sharing - 'I take it for a few months, then it's your turn'

I just wonder if it lowers my immunity as I do feel under the weather when I'm on it.

The contraceptive injection always worried me with the thought that, if you have a bad reaction to it, you can't undo it for so long. But everyone's body is so different.

Yep, pretty much the same problems as women have... the men who were questioned about the male pill (at least the ones in the article I read) made all the above complaints, but when it was pointed out that these are the same things that women already have to worry about they did agree that it was only fair to share some of the responsibility. Of course, this was in an 'in theory' kind of way, but I'm sure there would be fellas out there who would take it without complaining... I would just never trust my ex to be one of them, lol

I know what you mean about the injection, I was warned about this repeatedly by my GP before I had my first jab - that once I had it, I could do nothing about any side effects until it wore off. But being diabetic and child-free there were surprisingly few options if I didn't want to use condoms, which I didn't. Myself and my partner both got checked out for nasties, and when we came back all-clear my choices were the injection, the implant, the mini-pill or a coil. I didn't fancy the implant or the coil, and I am so bad at remembering to take tablets that the mini pill was out - so not much of a choice really, lol. Luckily it works for me without any bad side effects, the only thing I noticed was my sense of smell changed and I could not tolerate the smell of perfumes or aftershaves at all. Bit of a strange effect, but not that bad really, I just switched to using blended oils instead of commercial perfumes and persuaded the ex that him smelling of shower gel and shampoo was far nicer than covering himself in Lynx!

Has anyone else had any weird side effects from Depo or other pills?

Eeek Thats put me off the coil even more now!


Stormbringer - not a reaction to contraceptives but my happy tablets have a side effect includiong muscle spasms - so for the first few months I had permanently chattering teeth

I first went on to get rid of acne. I was on Yasmin and microgynon. Both caused an intolerance to cheese and chocolate. When i ate it i was so ill it was ridiculous. Apparently that meant i was allergic to estrogen. No im on Cerazette. I was really depressed before i went on the pill and my periods were achey and irregular. Now i have no depression, in fact no mood swings at all, no periods and chocolate yay! I do find not having a period a bit disconcerting sometimes. I come off occassionally just to make sure im working ok. It also helps with my anemia.

I am on Loestrin20 - i always had bad mood swings and i don't think this helped much. It reduced cramps and aches down to the bare minimum which i was pleased with.

If you have missed periods just try not to stress out too much as this will result in postponing them even longer.

Duno what pill my girlfriend is on. But its lowered her sex drive, made her a wee bit mooder, made her boobs alot bigger (but sore). And like she always needs remiding to take it because shes got a memory like a spoon.

I'd just much rather use condoms. But she has to be allergic to latex..

When I first went on the pill I was put on Cilest. It made me moody, lowered my sex drive and when I was in the mood I was very dry no matter what!

The doctor has put me on microgynon and have experienced no problems.

I was contemplating other forms of contraception, but I'm sticking with the pill!

Does anyone else find that the pill turns them homicidal?

I've been trialling Carezette (sp?) for a while now and whenever I go on it I suddenly become really tense and my temper shortens by about six foot. I become extremely aggressive and I don't like myself very much.

I can only take the prog-only pill because of migraines, could changing to a different brand make a difference or would it just be the same?

I was on cerazette and I loved it! only stopped because I went back on the Evil Weed. Must stop them and get back on Pill...
I'm generaly as mad as a raft cos of PCOS and cerazette completely cchnagd me. Was getting horrendous PMT, not homicidal, just suicidal. Spent a week of every month in tears adn keeping away from knives. This in spite of industrial-strength anti depressants. And it all went away with the nice little yellow pills.
Sadly, unless you use condoms it's mostly just a case of trying until you find what suits. Most drugs are such blunt instruments they work totally differently for each individual.
And I loathe condoms anyway so can understand blokes not liking them.
bm
xx

That's so weird - seriously these change me into the incredible hulk. I was on the standard combined one (with the green foil) donkeys back and don't recall having such a problem (although my partner at the time may well attest otherwise) - but had to stop because f the migraine/stroke link.

Hmm. Shall see what the medical unit back in England is willing to send me. £30 a month here for the pill!

I was on Micronor (a progesterone only pill) for years and had almost exactly the opposite problem. Rather than having no periods at all, I started getting 'breakthrough bleeding' which meant my very considerate and light four-five day periods just wouldn't stop. I didn't notice any side-effects in terms of mood swings or sex drive, but the constant bleeding got me down.

I saw numerous doctors to moan at them, who generally advised me that if I wanted to change contraceptives, then they'd only offer the injections (although on one occasion, a locum suggested the rhythm method as an alternative!). Seeing as the pill wasn't doing me much good, I didn't see that as a better option.

The only thing I could do was take a break for a good six months or so, but after five years or so of being on and off the pill, once I came off it for good when we decided to try for a baby, my hormones were so screwed I couldn't conceive. I was told it was called a hormonal surge, and that the pill had caused it - it's a common side effect. Because my hormones were so over the place I wasn't ovulating, but the only thing that could solve my problem was getting pregnant. Kind of a catch 22, but I was lucky. Just as I was being tested to officially confirm that I was infertile, I got pregnant.

After I had my son, my daughter was conceived much more quickly and things went back to normal. I now have a copper IUD which ain't too pretty every month, but it's settling down. Otherwise I can't complain, but yes, insertion is uncomfortable and some women have to have the strings trimmed to make sure your other half doesn't...encounter them...It's a simple procedure all round though. My sister-in-law swears by her Mirena, she doesn't get periods at all on them.

I would never touch a coil for love nor money again. I had a terrible experience with that. I hated the pill so much I asked for a coil - my (male) doctor fought me all the way even though I was in a very steady long-term relationship at the time.

I finally got it and just knew something wasn't quite right - couldn't find the thread after about three months. Went to a female doctor who checked me out and said it was all fine - just a short wire, but I knew something wasn't right. I started feeling a bit unwell and just on a whim I took a pregnancy test. Turned out positive.

I was absolutely gutted. Who has a coil fitted to get pregnant!?

But turned out worse than that - it had gone askew and started growing into my womb. The NHS told me I'd have to wait at least one month for a termination! One month of severe sickness (which I get - really ill) and getting to work every day - knew I couldn't manage it so my partner and I went private. They didn't use a general, only a local anaesthetic and I was high as a kite with this room full of people playing around 'down there' and it came a hair's breadth from emergency room because they thought they would need surgery to get the coil out. At this point I clearly remember shouting at the top of my voice: "PULL!" - there was no way I was going to surgery, I was panic stricken. They gave it one more go and managed to detach it and complete the termination.

It was an horrific experience indeed. I hated the NHS for a long time after that for missing the complication and ignoring me when I told them something wasn't right, and then for suggesting I wait a month to resolve it. If I had it would have been surgery for sure. I was in a terrible state emotionally and physically. The guy I was with was an absolute rock. After that we had sex in seperate rooms in full latex body armour just in case lol

Just to put my 10pennith in. I tried loads of pills from the age of 18 before I found one that was alright. I came off it before falling with our first child (as planned) and my sex drive increased and I realised what I had been missing out on all those years on the pill. My husband and I don't want me to go back on it.

I did try the coil and I hated it. It was the merina coil and I could feel it in me and I had no sex drive at all (that was an impressive contraceptive!!). So I had it taken out about 5 months ago after a whole year and finally my sex drive is returning.

So now I am in the same boat as Mileindra and use condoms. So much for modern medicine!

Anyway my advice would be keep trying you might find one that suits you better than the one you are on. You have nothing to loose.

Have just come off the pill to see what kind of a cycle I have nowadays.

Just to add to the unnecessary wretched purpose, when I was 18 my GP refused to let me have the pill. He was a xtian and an acquaintance of my parents and he said they'd be so disappointed in me.
I went to the clinic instead...BM
xx

Same with me - at 24 my GP wouldn't give me the coil!! I had to go to the family planning clinic and sit around a room full of spotty, giggling teens - it was an awful experience.

To be fair - as it turned out the coil wasn't good for me, but it wasn't his place to decide that. He literally sat there and said "you can either have the pill or the cap, but that's it". I was livid! Misogynist *&^. Grrrr.

Anyway.

I have to say, I much preferred having a 7-day bleed break because at least I knew my cycle was there. I'm petrified of pregnancy since it's illegal here and I'd have to fly back to the UK, and since the coil I don't trust contraceptives that much. Not having a period at all scares the hell out of me - especially when I'm having mood swings and my boobs are a bit sore - body thinking it's pregnant and no way of checking 100% that you're not because no bleed. Doesn't make me comfortable at all.

I was on the pill when I was a teenager. Hated it, gained weight, lost sex drive... felt messed up.
These days i have a coil and it is superb. Copper, no hormones. I don´t want to fiddle with my cycle and can not imagine not having one! No hormones for me, thank you. I´ve got enough as it is...
Thin, your story is really terrible and I feel so sorry for you having to go through that.
After 6 years coil still works for me, sexdrive is ... erm... just fine. Ok, got 5-6-days periods, but that is totally ok. I know I have a cycle and it works.
Contraceptives are a difficult thing though. It is very hard to find somethin that suits you. And it is always down to us women, right? Annoying somehow...

Blessings
Deerheart

i stopped taking any form of pill due to a threat of thrombosis after which i took pot luck and have to say ended up with two fab kids who i'm so proud of,but my daughter was a different matter alltogether , she changed pills about four or five times and i have to say it didn't make any difference to her moodswings whatsoever even whilst she wasn't taking it, ive replaced more doors in my house because of her moodswings than anything else.. wouldn't swap her for anything though and she's given me a beautiful grandaughter, she still a moody begger though.

Sure that's the pill and not just 'teenage'?

Ah sorry - + Grandaughter...guess it wasn't just a phase then!

if it is a phase its a very long one she's in her 20's now.She was moody and short tempered from the age of 11 when she was 15 the doc put her on the pill to see if that would help 4 or 5 different pills later and a few years she was still the same ,i don,t know maybe its down to the individual temprement and psycological being and that's why some things work and some don't, anyway why was it made that the women had to have all this suffering and not the men???????

Men do suffer, they have to live with us, our mood swings, lolling around in pain shouting at them and making sexist comments we wouldn't let them get away with.

Oh let’s not start this - the mood I'm in I could easily start down a 'I hate all men' tirade ending in blubbing sobs and 'I just wish I could find someone decent...'

Hell, I thought home was lacking hope - Africa is a nightmare. Plenty of good looking men - plenty of ridiculously backwards attitude to women and relationships and life imprisonment for 'homosexual acts' - that's rather sucky.

Anyway *sigh*

I've resigned myself to celibacy for the next 14 months - then getting a high-flying high powered job that will bring me into contact with lots of swanky rich people, picking one of those and settling down for a life of abject gluttony and meaningless, soul-destroying dinner conversation...

I'm in a terrible mood. I'm not in the least maternal - hate kids - but my best mate just popped a sprog and she looks so darn happy and he's so darn cute...and I'm thousands of miles away. Feels a bit sucky.

What I wouldn't give for a hug that wasn't based solely on the premise 'will you buy me dinner?' or 'I'm just going to borrow your DVDs' or 'Go on, just give me some more of your 10 year old Glenmorangie that your folks brought out, that I could never afford to buy, which you can't buy in Rwanda anyway and which, once finished, you will not see the likes again for maybe a couple of years...just give me some more of that.'

F* you you f* f* - I believe is the phrase. And whilst we're at it, buy your own f*ing condoms or go shake hands with yourself vigorously - I've had enough...

*deep breathing*

Right, yeah. I'm about done now.

See...these mood swings man, they’re a bastard...

Oh poor (((Thin))). Loads of virtual hugs and I don't like Glenmorangie anyway so no problem there.
You know you'd hate the pompous rich buggers unless you marry a very decrepit one, give him a heart attack on the wedding night and inherit his millions so you can spend them in ethical ways and do good in the world.
BM
xx

Heehee. Thanks BM. I'm turning into a right grouch at the moment. Have given up on the pill and I have to say I'm definitely starting to come back down to earth.

I get plenty of cuddles from my cats though (still 'buy me dinner' related). Something's kicking off in the garden tonight though. I’m too scared to go out, two of my cats have legged it and the other is cowering by the door. I think it's rabid Evil Eric's offspring again but the bigger he gets the scarier he gets. Real hissing yucky noises coming from out there...*shudder*

Like Elswyth I have a hormonal imbalance, after years of ups and downs and pills and coils and injections I was eventually confronted with the choice of hysterectomy or not. So I went armed to the doc's with research and a strong mind (rather than open). I've now been on cerazette for about 2 years, I get irratic periods (like twice a year) and a few mood swings and zits (at 35 ghasp), but consdiering the non life I had, it's like a breath of fresh air and my GP who used me as his guniea pig is looking at contraceptives in a whole new light.

I would like to say it hasn't affected me magikally but it does just a little, I had to bow out of something ritualically because I couldn't "really" menstruate in favour of those that could even though I could have done a better job but I supppose thems the breaks and tbh that price is small.

I think that anything which affects your moods and hormones affects your magic - male or female. Just as mood affects magic in any ‘normal’ scenario.

Wonder if there’s a goddess of amenorrhea though…

Like I said before, condoms are the only thing for me and my man. I've been on several pills, some have been good and others really not, so after discussing my options with my doctor, and my friends, I decided on the best option for me.

My Mum was on the pill for many years, got sick of it, and opted for the coil. As the contraception you get from it didn't (does it still?) not become complete for about the first 3 months, and she didn't know, 9 months later I was born

Luckily, my boyfriend doesn't have a problem with buying his own (although we usually get them from family planning or the local gay clubs) and equally, although he isn't particularly broody at the moment, would be quite happy to help raise a child if that did happen. Well, that's the lie of the land at the moment, anyway, who knows if it could change

It certainly seems to me that every woman's story and experience is different, and as such, it is best to keep looking until you find the most comfortable option for you.

Many hugs for all those with side-effects and sad stories xxxx

hi when i first went on the pill i had to have the same one. it seemd fine at first- and yes it stoped my periods completly, which i loved being 18 i always rememberd to take it at the right time but after a few months i fell pregnant. things got bad and after i recoverd i went back on the same pill, thinking it was just a one off-that i was unlucky...
little later and i fell pregnant again!!! this time i asked friends/family to see who else was taking it... turned out i knew 3 people who had fallen preganat whilst on it and knew of another 4 thru friends.. needless to say i changed contraception within weeks!!!!! Ppxx

Bloody hell - which brand? The ones that stop your period completely (the only ones I can take) bother me a lot for that reason - no period means no double-check.

I've stopped the pill now and also discovered that cutting men out of my life also eliminated the mood swings