AIBU to worry about taking the pill?

[FizzyJuiceJunkie]

Firstly, I'm not sexually active at the moment.

But I've had very painful and irregular periods since my teenage years. I also have premenstrual acne breakouts and excessive hair growth on my face and chest.

I have mild PCOS (so I've been told)

I've been asked to go on the birth control pill for about 6 months to see if this will help my skin and periods.

Is it worth it? I've never used hormonal birth control before so I'm very worried about side effects.

Can anyone tell me if there's anything to worry about?

I'm mainly worried about weight gain. I used to be overweight and it killed my confidence. I struggled for years to bring my weight down to what it is now and I don't want to take a medicine that might cause weight gain.

I'm basically looking for experiences with the pill and if anyone can tell me whether I should try it for six months or not!

of course experiences vary - body chemistry does. As I said, no-one else's experiences of pills are of any value.

'I heard' is usually a bad sign, though. Unless the person you were listening to has a medical degree.

Well, I'll be honest it was stories that I've read online about how the pill made someone's acne worse!

it might do. It might not. All very personal.

a review of 'I've taken the x pill for years, felt fine, no problems at all' doesn't tend to get posted, but it is my experience and that of others on here.

If it doesn't work for you just stop taking it. It worked for my periods and I was on it for 8 years until I got pregnant! My dr told me for most people it doesn't cause weight gain, just an increase in appetite but obviously you control what you eart

I was on the pill for a very long time, for the exact same reasons as you - acne and painful periods. It did help, especially with the periods. Yasmin worked for me although I understand it's very criticized nowadays so you need talk to your gynecologist or GP about what would work best for you. The only side effect I suffered was a lower libido, not that bad though.

I've been on microgynon since I was 15 (now 29) as I had the most unpredictable and irregular periods, and have never had any problems with it. Stupidly I switched to the implant thinking it would make life easier with not having to remember to take/get more pills. Absolute disaster. Awful acne outbreaks across my shoulders, mood swings and depression, bled (or had dodgy discharge) for weeks if not months at a time and I put on a stone. Back to microgynon now and it works like a charm!

I was on Loestrin 20 at first from age 16ish, then made to switch to Loestrin 30 because of my age or size or something - loved both of those, no side effects, helped my ridiculously heavy periods immensely.

IIRC I've also tried Microgynon briefly (didn't like it, can't remember why), Cilest (cried at every bloody vaguely emotional advert on the TV for a couple of weeks, came right off it again, it was nuts) and possibly Yasmin, briefly? Though apparently doctors are now avoiding Yasmin where possible.

It's all very variable from person to person but I doubt you'll regret giving one (or more) a try. That kind of control and predictability re. your periods is absolutely amazing, ignoring any other potential benefits. I haven't been on the pill for a year or two now because I emigrated and am lazy. This thread is making me think I should get a move on and get to the GP.