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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask if the pill has caused / exacerbated mental health issues?

61 replies

Dobbyhasnomaster · 20/01/2019 23:21

So I’ve just started taking microgynon after various experiments with other pills that made my hair shed amongst other problems. After not taking any pills since last August, I’m 3 weeks in with microgynon and I’ve become an anxious, stroppy, tearful mess. I feel like I’m always about to make a massive speech or waiting to hear some dreadful news - but for no reason, and nothing has changed in my life over the past month except taking these pills. In the past, doctors have been very dismissive of ‘mental health side effects’ caused by the pill, so thought I would open it up the general consensus to see if anyone else has struggled with this, or whether this is just coincidental and I need to get some help for my anxiety?!

OP posts:

elle1111112 · 20/01/2019 23:22

Yes. For me I've not have a contraceptive that has negatively effected my mental health. I use natural family planning now and condoms when ovulating, have been for 3 years.

Houseonahill · 20/01/2019 23:25

My mental health was at its absolute worst while I was on the pill and has been much much better since I came off it. Don't know if it's related though, never really thought about it

Fr3d · 20/01/2019 23:25

Yes, definitely. Have you read the side effects leaflet, probably listed there. Or Google it.

TeaForDad · 20/01/2019 23:30

Yep we had issues and most women I know have.

Original poster

Dobbyhasnomaster · 20/01/2019 23:31

It is difficult to tell a lot of the time I think - on the side effects there is dubiously worded ‘mood changes’, but whenever I’ve discussed it previously with a GP it’s been brushed under the carpet as unlikely to be connected. However this is absolutely the worst I’ve ever had it, and the timing seems too convenient to be coincidental.

OP posts:

antipodeansun · 21/01/2019 01:22

It's underreported but, anecdotally, very common. It really needs more research.
I too was so depressed while on it that I came off after three months, never to return (I was in my early 20s back then - in my 40s now). Relied on barrier/natural planning since.
(act

ErrolTheDragon · 21/01/2019 01:45

I was fine on microgynon, but for a while was on diannette - which is a bit different to most oral bcps - that made me depressed. Then I was on marvelon, that was fine for me too.

It's pretty clear these things affect each woman differently, your GP shouldn't dismiss what you're reporting.

BabyClicks · 21/01/2019 01:58

I had a similar issue but didn't realise until after I stopped my BC. We started trying for a baby after 15 years of hormonal contraception, and my anxiety eased in about a month. After trying stress relief techniques, therapy, reducing my workload, etc... I needed to stop BC. I wouldn't have believed it until I tried it, but it worked. Nothing else changed in that time (work, living, relationship) but my anxiety was almost gone.

Merryoldgoat · 21/01/2019 02:08

For me it was depo but it was awful. I cried a lot, felt very anxious and my skin became dreadful.

I’ve not used anything other than condoms for 12 years.

No pregnancy scares but pregnant first time twice when we stopped using them so I’m obviously fertile and they obviously work.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 21/01/2019 02:45

Not personally, but a friend can't do hormonal contraceptives because it messes with her MH, she suffered with hormone changes during pregnancy too.

Tentativesteps133 · 21/01/2019 03:11

Yes, I had severe health anxiety when on mycrogynon. It used to consume what felt like 80-90% of my thoughts. Came off pill and it stopped almost immediately.

badg3r · 21/01/2019 03:20

Yes. When I stopped taking it, it was like a veil had been lifted. I was pretty freaked out at the effect it had been having in my mood. I'm never using hormonal birth control again.

chunk14 · 21/01/2019 03:30

I suffered severe mood swings taking the same pill. I dont think I even lasted a week on it. I was advised to not take it anymore and moved to the depo injection and never had this problem again.

SilverDoe · 21/01/2019 03:34

Yeah I had quite an acute reaction to miccronor when I was on it, terrifying really. The problem was I started taking it when I was 19 and it took a good few months for me to realise it was the pill causing my troubles. And by troubles I mean crippling, constant panic attacks multiple times a day. Stopped within a week and was fine again - a scary time and I’m reluctant to ever go on contraception again - like a PP just track my cycles because I can’t bear contraception.

5SleepingLions · 21/01/2019 04:31

I was on microgynon years ago and I was a mess I had raging mood swings it was awful and it all stopped when I stopped taking it.
Other friends had similar experiences on it.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 21/01/2019 04:41

Yes! Same as previous posters. Ranging hormones and feeling absolutely awful. Thankfullly pill free for 5 years now and feel so much better!

Minniemountain · 21/01/2019 06:05

This is why I have a copper coil.

Is there a separate sexual health clinic near you OP? I found ours much better than my GP.

eurochick · 21/01/2019 06:56

Yes. I was suicidal on the pill. Didn't make the connection until I stopped taking it and it was like a cloud lifted and I felt fine.

Sallygoroundthemoon · 21/01/2019 07:02

I can't take any hormonal contraception as it messes with my mental health, sometimes to the point of suicidal thoughts. I do natural cycles and condoms now and feel fine.

TheGlitterFairy · 21/01/2019 07:08

Microgynon is known to make women feel like this - it’s to do with one of the components that mimicked testosterone - which makes you feel stroppy/ argumentative. Perhaps try a different pill or method.

winterhappiness · 21/01/2019 07:10

Yes absolutely!! I tried various hormonal contraception from 16-23. I then made a correlation between it and my severe panic attacks and crippling mood swings.

Came off all hormonal contraception then and I've felt so so much better ever since! I will never go back on it again! But i suppose I am lucky that I am married, so we use the family planning method, and an accident would be a very happy one overall. I understand family planning isn't for everyone. But it works for us. We've used it for years and have never had an unplanned pregnancy !

My MH was so bad while on contraception but so much better ever since!

Fairylea · 21/01/2019 07:13

For me the opposite was true... I have low oestrogen levels which were causing me extreme anxiety and depression. The consultant put me back on the combined pill (Yasmin) in order to increase my oestrogen levels as a form of HRT and for me it has given me some of my old self back. I do think they work differently for everyone.

VenusStarr · 21/01/2019 07:16

Yes, I had an awful experience on microgynon when I first started the pill. The GP changed me to trinovum (which I don't think exists anymore) and was quite expensive. It was stepped hormone release so seemed to suit me quite well. When I changed GP they changed me to Yasmin. Never had any emotional difficulties when I changed.

Bouncebacker · 21/01/2019 07:18

I spent my first year at university weeping - I did some exciting things, spent a summer working abroad during which I was utterly miserable - and eventually went to see my GP because I thought I was depressed. She gave me a calendar to mark down how I felt, and within two months there was a very clear pattern so she took me off microgynon. Instant relief! I tried a few other pills but gave up when I was 21 - hormonal contraceptives are not my thing!

mizu · 21/01/2019 07:20

Could never get on with any hormonal contraception. Tried so many when I was younger but they all made me feel awful in various different ways. The mirena coil was the worst - despite the doc saying it would be fine .

I remember that when I had it removed, I felt my mood lifting through out the day.

I had a full hysterectomy 3 years ago for lots of other reasons so don't have to worry about it now.

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