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Contraceptive options

5 replies

Val1985 · 05/10/2025 17:33

Hi Ladies, I'm 50/50 on whether I want to go back on the pill, looking to see what others experiences have been.
I was in the pill when I was younger, maybe from 19 - 27. I then stopped taking it just to see how I felt. My cycles were never overly regular even before I went on it in the first place and I had one period related faint but other than that all ok. I've since had my babies but after my last they've been a bit worse. I breastfed for a couple of years on my last child and stopped cold turkey - that wasn't one of my better ideas and really knocked me for a while. Huge anxiety spikes, panic attacks, another faint from a very painful cramp. I'm now a few years on from that, my cycles are regular enough but my pms is worse. I get bad ovulation pain and spots, then the first few days of my period I'm absolutely wiped tired. I also get waves of anxiety and panic attacks that seem to be worse if my period is thrown out by a cold or covid and is late.
All along I've always gone with the whole "natural" approach and assumed it was better not to mess with. Now I'm starting to rethink it. My question is at 37 am I still OK to be on the pill? Or is that considered too old? Are there other hormonal contraceptives people recommend to balance out symptoms? I feel like I'm totally out of the game on this 🙈

OP posts:
mindutopia · 05/10/2025 17:40

I’m on the mini pill and have been since about 40. It’s considered safer for older women than the combined pill. Before that I was on the combined pill since 18 (except for a short stint with the copper coil - horrific periods!). It’s been absolutely fine. No issues, don’t notice any side effects. I can stay on it till menopause. There are loads of different pill options. If you try one and it doesn’t suit you, try a different one.

QueenStevie · 05/10/2025 17:52

I was told I couldn't continue with the combined pill due to my age. Advised to go on mini pill. (Well, actually advised to have coil as I am sure practice nurses are on commission for them!) Got awful back acne on mini pill which I have never had before in my whole life. DH had vasectomy so came off all contraception but I couldn't cope with periods turning up whenever they felt like and every flipping month! I've never had to deal with that as I would run packs of pills together for several months and then have a break when it suited me. So now I'm back on the combined pill and feeling much more in control of my body.

TirsamisuPlease · 05/10/2025 18:20

I’m 38 and been on a mini pill for the last 8ish years with the break when we were planning DC. I absolutely love it. Never had any problems or side effects, the biggest plus for me is no periods at all. No bleeding, no PMS, bliss! I don’t have any plans to come off it and plan to say on it long time.

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Val1985 · 05/10/2025 18:26

TirsamisuPlease · 05/10/2025 18:20

I’m 38 and been on a mini pill for the last 8ish years with the break when we were planning DC. I absolutely love it. Never had any problems or side effects, the biggest plus for me is no periods at all. No bleeding, no PMS, bliss! I don’t have any plans to come off it and plan to say on it long time.

Hi @TirsamisuPlease ouu OK this is interesting. So do you have the option to have a period on it or it can just stop them completely?
Had you ever tried the implant or anything before the mini pill? I had the implant and hated it so wondering would mini pill be the same. Then again I suppose I won't know unless I try

OP posts:
TirsamisuPlease · 05/10/2025 18:37

Val1985 · 05/10/2025 18:26

Hi @TirsamisuPlease ouu OK this is interesting. So do you have the option to have a period on it or it can just stop them completely?
Had you ever tried the implant or anything before the mini pill? I had the implant and hated it so wondering would mini pill be the same. Then again I suppose I won't know unless I try

The mini pill may change your periods - it can become more light or disappear completely. I guess depends from every individual but I know 2 other women whose periods have gone completely so I guess it’s common.
I never tried implant or any other contraception method, just good old condoms before I decided to start the pill so can’t comment or advice on that.
Also in these 8 years never once had a pregnancy scare because I’ve been taking them religiously same time every day.
Hope you find something that works for you!

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