Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the pill is quite safe for most women to take?

53 replies

Fairylea · 01/12/2016 06:59

Or am I being massively naive?

I'm 36, don't smoke, don't drink, no family history of blood clots. Reasonably healthy except for underactive thyroid and low blood pressure.

I've been on the pill (Yasmin) on and off since I was 15 (went on it initially for heavy periods). I've had two breaks for two children, both of which took a long while to conceive, youngest child is 4 so I've been on it continually again for the last 4 years.

I keep seeing scare stories being posted about at the moment saying that the risk of a serious blood clot is much higher than people thought and people should stop taking these pills.

I know there is a small risk but given my own health etc I assumed it was very low risk. Its now really frightened me and I'm wondering if other people would be worried too or whether I'm being over anxious.

I really don't want to have an implant or coil- especially when the pill suits me so well otherwise. Sterilisation is an option but it just seems too final at this point. Not a big fan of condoms but this would be the only thing I could switch to really, if taking the pill is a real issue.

I was surprised talking amongst my friends that I was pretty much alone in taking the pill! I assumed it would be the "go to" contraception for most women. It used to be when I was younger.

Confused! Confused

OP posts:
TheSparrowhawk · 01/12/2016 07:02

I've never taken the pill. I can't see how taking a daily dose of hormones could possibly be ok health wise.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 01/12/2016 07:07

Have a look at some of the clinical research - blood clots are more common in some circumstances than others, but they are not as simple as scare stories.

I was taken off the pill when my migraines started to have auras. This upped my risk of stroke exponentially despite me being low risk in all other areas.

There are lots of other options or the these days, but if your friends are a similar age to you, they will be discouraged from taking the pill because the risks also 0increase as we agree.

Original poster
Fairylea · 01/12/2016 07:13

Interesting...

I already take a daily dose of synthetic hormones - thyroxine, for my hypothyroidism, and have taken strong antidepressants in the past (ten years ago) so perhaps I'm not as weirded out by taking hormones etc as a lot of people.

I've googled a lot and found a lot of scare stories and a lot of research that says in cases like mine the risks are very low. I suspect the truth may be somewhere in the middle...!

This may be an incredibly stupid question but the advice seems to be to switch to an implant or injection - isn't this just putting the same hormones in a different way? Wouldn't the risks be the same?

(Yes I know I need to ask my GP all this really, just pondering early in the morning and looking for real opinions and experiences).

OP posts:
Grindelwaldswand · 01/12/2016 07:17

I've had serious reactions to every brand of pill my GP has prescribed over the course of 2 years, ive had vomiting, heart pains, migraines, and severe stomach cramps when my period wasn't even due Hmm its a ball ache having to use condoms and avoid my fertile time of month

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 01/12/2016 07:24

Aren't the jab and the implant progesterone only? It's the combined pill which is the highest risk.

PS my previous post should say 'risks increase as we age' .

honkinghaddock · 01/12/2016 07:25

It is safe for most people.
I took it for many years without a problem but after being diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder following tests after losing a baby, I was advised never to use combined hormone contraception. I think the injectables and implants are largely single hormone.

TheSparrowhawk · 01/12/2016 07:26

I've never taken any sort of hormonal contraception. We used condoms and now DH has had a vasectomy.

Fluffsnuts · 01/12/2016 07:58

It is safe for the majority of women. I loved the combined pill. Had to stop taking it due to migraines with aura and now take the progesterone only pill, which has the added benefit of no periods (I used to run packs together anyway) but has completely floored my libido.

I love the pill, I love being in control and I love how stable it makes my moods. I hate periods and the lack of control over them.

Champagneformyrealfriends · 01/12/2016 08:03

It is probably safe for me, but not for my husband-I'm so vicious on every pill I've tried that I darent try anymore!

WannaBe · 01/12/2016 08:06

It is safe for most women. There will be women who it doesn't agree with and there will be women who don't want to take it because of possible risks, but in general it is safe. Have heard awful things about the injection though.

I have taken the pill most of my life but have recently been diagnosed with a blood clot in my heart after a flu virus attacked my heart and as such have been told I can no longer use hormonal contraception. But my situation is fairly unique.

Stay away from Google.

GruochMacAlpin · 01/12/2016 08:07

Go and see your GP to discuss this for your personal situation.

My understanding is that the health advice changes with age. In my 20s all my friends were on the pill. In my 40s all my friends either have a coil or their DH's have had a vasectomy.

I wasn't originally keen to have a coil but I think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

MargaretCavendish · 01/12/2016 08:12

I think it's worth pointing out that this discussion - and pretty much all online discussions about contraceptives - will disproportionately attract people who had serious problems with the pill. I actually didn't get on so well with the pill, but loved my Mirena coil. I got myself in a bit of a state before having it fitted, though - Google was just full of stories of women in excruciating pain, and then suffering horrendous side effects. All those stories are true, of course, but the much more mundane (and common) stories of all being well are a lot less likely to find their way online.

Definitely speak to your GP, but if you're happy with the pill then I wouldn't be swayed by Internet horror stories.

Musicaltheatremum · 01/12/2016 08:13

You can take it all the way to menopause quite safely. But there are risks and I have no hesitation in stopping the pill in people at high risk. The pill is also extremely protective for ovarian cancer so that may be a big plus for some women.

FKat2016 · 01/12/2016 08:19

Why don't you try the progesterone only pill? Doctors tend to put 'high risk' people on this when they want to go on the pill as it's much safer. It's not for everyone (I found it fine other than it ruined my sex drive- had it not, I'd still be on it) but I know lots of people who love it and still maintain their libidos are the same as ever.

The implant is a low but dosage of this, as opposed to one massive pill hit each morning, so for some women reduces or gets rid of annoying side effects.

I think the coil and implant are more popular these days because you don't have to think about them on a daily basis, remember to take them on holiday etc. The coil is popular with women who don't respond well to hormonal contraception and is what I'll probably try once I've had my baby (conceived while using condoms)....

Crispsheets · 01/12/2016 08:22

I was on the pill from 15-42 with two breaks when I had children. I've been on hrt for 8 years.
Worked for me. Better than an unwanted pregnancy.

UnoriginalNN · 01/12/2016 08:25

I am researching contraception like mad atm! Currently pregnant with DD2 but like to plan ahead. Everyone I know is on the injection or coil... not sure what will suit me best as I have PCOS. Don't really like the thought of either but the pill seems to be old fashioned these days!

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 01/12/2016 08:28

Unoriginal, the coil was great for my PCOS, however I understand that the Combined Pill is still recommended as best. My symptoms were so much better on the Pill than the coil, but I was taken off the Pill aged 26. Booooooo!

stumblymonkey · 01/12/2016 08:55

I haven't looked into the latest research online which is what you need to do to know the correct answer to this question.

A few people saying I've taken it for years with no issues or the alternative is just hearsay and not statistically relevant.

That said I have a friend who's girlfriend died in bed after he'd left for work. She was 18, a non-smoker with no history of clots and a healthy lifestyle.

Doobigetta · 01/12/2016 08:57

I love my combined pills. There do seem to be a lot of people who are very invested in the idea that it's a Bad Thing. Obviously if you've had a bad experience yourself that's completely understandable, but I always detect a hint of glee in the way the tabloids report pill scare stories. How very dare women attempt to get out of paying for the sins of Eve! Real, good women are grateful to suffer pain and inconvenience you know.

SouthofMaui · 01/12/2016 09:07

Nothing is safe, so it's up to you what you decide. The pill is the best thing I have ever taken. It regulates my period, they are light, absolutely pain free - they are agony without the pill, they're worst than a miscarriage and I had 3! I have beautiful skin, I am slimmer: when I am not on the pill, my stomach balloons for 2 weeks a month and I look 6 months pregnant, it's painful, uncomfortable and ugly.
So, for me, the pill allows me to live a perfectly normal life, instead of spending a week in bed every month, in horrendous pain, or taking heavy drugs to go though it. Implants, coils are absolutely not for me.

MrBloomIsActuallyAttractive · 01/12/2016 09:09

I used microgynon for 7 years on and off, I've recently had my DS and can't use oestrogen containing contraception again because it can reactivate obstetric cholestasis symptoms I was told my the consultant. I'm now on the depo provera injection nothing too bad happened so far but my sex drive is a bit lower. Or maybe that's having a four month old?!

badg3r · 01/12/2016 09:32

I stopped taking it because very slowly it started to affect my mood in a very negative way, creeping up over a period of years. I felt like a veil had been lifted when I came off of it. For me the risk of affecting my personality again means I don't want to take it any more.

kali110 · 01/12/2016 09:48

It probably is safe.
I didn't smoke or drink and i got a clot. So did a friend of my mil.
I now take the mini pop. I was unlucky. People should be aware of the risks though.

ghostyslovesheets · 01/12/2016 09:48

I'm 46 and on the combined pill - I want contraception I can control or stop asap if it disagrees with me
The mini pill made me bleed so badly I ended up on iron tabs
I have 3 monthly checks and it suits me
I don't use it to prevent pregnancy but to prevent ovulation as I suffer awfully with the pain of ovulating

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/12/2016 09:52

I cried when the nurse told me I had to come off the pill as I'm on it to control my PMS and period pains. Luckily my GP accepts my blood pressure is high in the surgery but fine at home and has said that, providing nothing changes, she is happy to prescribe it until I'm at least 50

Swipe left for the next trending thread