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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your contraceptive recommendations ?

31 replies

Mulberry7373 · 05/02/2019 20:33

This ones for the ladies - have any of you been on a contraceptive pill and not gained weight ? I really need something to help with my terrible pmt and painful heavy periods but am reluctant to go on the pill for fear of picking on more weight. I’m already very over weight and trying hard to lose it but scared to ask my dr for the pill in case I put on more. Having said that I’m getting desperate to find something that will help me with my unbrable monthlys ! The week before it starts I’m terrible, miserable, evil in fact ! Have crippling headaches just awful, and just feel like I can’t function. Then when I actually come on it’s heavy and so painful, it then takes me a good week to get over it. So I am currently only feeling ‘normal’ for 1 week a month. I can’t carry on like this but don’t know exactly what to ask my GP for.

OP posts:
tealandteal · 05/02/2019 20:45

I have had lots of pills, I think 6/7 and not gained any weight on them but some caused horrendous mood swings or were contraindicated as I have migraines. I am now on a progesterone only pill - noriday with no issues.

TheArtfulScreamer · 05/02/2019 20:55

I never got on with the pill but prior to TTC I had the mirena for 5 years and loved it, I still had periods but they were a lot lighter. We then TTC for five years and apparently for me that was also an effective contraceptive. I'm currently 34 weeks after IVF but as we are unexplained a spontaneous pregnancy wouldn't necessarily be out of the question, at the point at which that would be catastrophic for us I'd definitely have the mirena again.

MaMaMaMySharona · 05/02/2019 20:59

I’ve been on the depo injection for about 4 years and haven’t had a single period in that time. It’s not for everyone but I didn’t gain any weight and have had no negative side effects. I have to come off it soon because it can cause issues with bones if you’re on it for too long, and I’ll be trying to conceive in the next year or so but HIGHLY recommend!!

Purplejay · 05/02/2019 21:19

I went on the mini pill in my early 40s for heavy long painful periods. Thankfully they have stopped all together! No bad side effects, no weight gain (although I am over weight). It’s fantastic!!!

Original poster
Mulberry7373 · 05/02/2019 21:57

Thank you for the replies. @Purplejay which mini pill are you on ?

OP posts:
novasglowx · 05/02/2019 22:05

I'm currently taking Cerelle (pill) with no break. No weight gain at all, I've actually lost weight and it's the only type that's given me no complications at all. Not even light bleeding. Other types of pill made me gain weight, have mood swings, break out in spots etc. Have tried the injection, patch and implant with similar bad results.

Lymphy · 05/02/2019 22:15

If your BMI is higher then you’ll likely be restricted to a mini pill progesterone only. Some ladies report weight gain but many don’t ( the implant and depo get more complaints of weight gain esp the depo), there’s a few types of mini pill it really is trial and error with contraception

LeSquigh · 05/02/2019 22:34

I can’t use any hormonal contraceptives now, and the copper coil is out for other reasons. I did take the pill for 15 years and my weight gradually crept up. When I stopped taking it I lost 4 stone in less than a year without any other change to my diet or otherwise. Stopping taking the pill was the only thing that changed.....

jackstini · 05/02/2019 22:44

Implant for me
I am on my 4th one and it's just so easy
One 20 minute appointment every 3 years and hardly any bleeding at all - bit of spotting on the last 6 months of each implant's 'life'

Ceejly · 05/02/2019 22:51

I have the implant (nexplanon). Love it, no periods, lost 7 stone while on it. The contraception does not make you gain weight but it can make you hungrier I think. Nothing calorie counting can't fix.

Coldilox · 05/02/2019 22:58

Mirena coil. Love it. My weight gain wasn’t caused by the coil it was caused by eating unhealthily and doing less exercise after having my child. Lost 2 and a half stone fairly easily by changing my lifestyle back to how it was before (in terms of what I ate, running again etc) and have kept the weight off. The mirena has had no impact on that. But I have gone from heavy agonising periods to not having them at all. Bliss

Oldbutnotold · 06/02/2019 07:10

Can anyone recommend the copper coil. Due dc4 soon and so fed up with hormonal contraception...only heard horror stories from my friends... And I can't trust myself to remember to take my pill and deffo don't want dc5!

Oysterbabe · 06/02/2019 07:18

How does you partner feel about the snip oldbutnotold? Mine isn't keen but I'm done with taking hormones so it's condoms from now on unless he gets the snip. I'm hoping he'll come round to the idea.

chatwoo · 06/02/2019 07:18

Another implant fan here. Think I'm on my third now. My periods stopped initially, but now I have one every few months. But much light and less aggravating than before the implant.

Oldbutnotold · 06/02/2019 07:25

Oyster....not an option due to religious reasons.

DerelictWreck · 06/02/2019 07:38

Have been on the combined and mini pills. Never gained weight and some have been good for my skin. Others terrible for my mental health:
Microgynon - painful boobs!
Yasmin - good for skin but bad for cycle
Loestrin - loved it, ran back to back for 5 years
Cerezette - awful, hormones made me feel so low and gave up after 2 months

Purplejay · 06/02/2019 07:39

I am on cerazette Mulberry,

ItsMEhooray · 06/02/2019 07:40

I hate them all. After my next DC if I'm lucky enough to have another ill get my tubes tied if DH won't go for the snip.

Purplejay · 06/02/2019 07:41

To add everyone at the surgery seemed to want me to have the coil. I asked to try the mini pill. A couple of times I have been asked if I hav3 though anymore about the coil. I always say why would I? My periods have stopped and it’s great 😀

hotwing · 06/02/2019 08:14

Copper coil - no hormones

Yogagirl123 · 06/02/2019 08:18

I have Mirena coil, second one, due to very heavy periods, very rarely have a period. I originally had copper coil for me they made my periods heavy.

Blossom567 · 06/02/2019 08:25

I also suffered like you, horrific pains, dark moods and extremely heavy periods. Marriage was suffering because of my moods. I've gone back on the pill (Gedarel) and my weight has shot up. I'm exercising more & eat well, but I just can't shift it. I hate being on the pill as we don't really need it for contraception, but I can't go back to before, so at the moment the pill is the lesser of two evils. I wish there was an alternative.

BrightSpells · 06/02/2019 08:40

I'm on my 3rd implant.

My weight has been between 15 and 8 stone while on them.

No periods, no weight gain. Some mood swings I guess but it works for me.

Bamchic · 06/02/2019 08:52

I’m just following for suggestions
Currently on natural cycles but still a bit uncertain to be fair (if anyone wants it I can send you a discount code)
Am freaked out by anything permanent like implant and coil and the pill makes me feel awful.
I’m just not sure what to do!

Shoxfordian · 06/02/2019 09:03

I'm on my third implant too
No periods, have gained weight but can't necessarily blame the implant! I blame chocolate Smile

Implant works really well for me