To think the contraceptive pill is making me feel like this...?

[jeffreesharts]

I've been on the pill for a couple of months to help try and make my periods better and stop the awful ovulation pain I keep getting.

However it's suddenly dawned on me that the reason I feel ridiculously stressed out and short tempered for the last couple of months could be the pill?

The doc assured me that it's very rare but I'm sure the timing fits.

I feel like I'm bloody pregnant again (I'm not), I'm just constantly snappy and starting to piss myself off to be honest!

Yes! This happened to me. It is the hormones. I stopped all contraceptive hormones and returned back to my normal, happier, less angry and emotional self. It was utterly horrible until I realised I had not lost my mind.

Enough women have this experience that I don't believe it's as medically "rare" as the accepted stats would have us believe.

More women need to talk about the impact of hormonal contraceptives on our gynaecological and mental health. There's a place for them, but we deserve to make informed decisions.

YANBU.

100% I was emotionally unstable for the 3 years I was on the pill and honestly thought it was my personality and I was genuinely unable to cope with life. I’ve noticed a HUGE difference since I stopped it I really can’t think of any other factor that’s has affected my mood!!

The pill used to really mess with my mood and cognitive ability. I tried it on a couple of occasions and in both cases had to stop. I've seen suggestions that as many as one woman in three suffers depression as a side effect.

Ask your GP to change you to another brand. I had problems with the mini pill affecting my mood. It took me 2 years to work it out that was the cause. Within 2 weeks of swapping to another brand I felt completely better.

Yep! Everytime I was on the pill I ended up on anti depressants, it took me years to make the link. It wasn't until I was pregnant with my son and obviously contraception free that I realised!

YES!! I started Microgynon as a 14 year old for heavy/ irregular periods and I used to literally look in the mirror before going out and become so so angry I'd cry my mascara off and have to reapply before going out. I didn't become confrontational, just very angry at myself and tiny things going wrong. I was too young to realise so it took until I was about 20 or so to take a break as I used it as contraception too when I became sexually active. It was like a switch was flicked off and I was normal again! I used Loestrin and for some reason had to stop that and try Microgynon again and the same thing happened. My best friend at about 18/19 had the injection and basically turned into a massive arsehole for about 6 months until she stopped it. She knew what it was, it also caused her big weight gain and her skin to break out terribly but was advised to carry on and it'd 'settle down' so she had the 2nd 3mth jab and once she let it expire she was back to normal within a few weeks. It's one if the reasons my DH has had a vasectomy, I told him straight that I've managed our contraception for over 10 years, once our 2nd was born we were finished with having children as we'd agreed but I won't live the rest of my life pumping shit into my body, it's his turn to take responsibility. Now I don't worry about it.

Thanks all for your replies. I don't feel quite so crazy anymore

I'm certain it's that. Chucking the thing tomorrow, DH wants to get the snip so I think it's probably time.

I have zero fuse and feel like I'm struggling to cope with everyday challenges at the moment. It's ridiculous. Hopefully it is the pill and I've not totally lost my mind.

@54Sweetoblivion a friend and I had a similar reaction to Microgynon back when we were at uni. I think that's a particularly bad one (I was on Dianette before that one and was fine).

It triggered depression for me though like a pp it took years to make that connection. My gp told me that it’s highly unlikely.

I’m exactly the same!! Snappy, angry and unreasonable when I’m on hormonal contraceptives. Absolute worst is the injection for me.

Yes yes yes. I went to GP (dramatically thinking I was seriously ill) with wide ranging symptoms from constant bleeding, high heart rate, depression, anxiety, moods, skin complaints etc etc. She said have you ever seen this, pulled up a list of severe side effects for cerelle and there they all were! She said your not Ill your on the wrong pill! (She did multiple blood tests anyway) put me on something else (norgeston?) one I don’t think they often use as more £££ it’s a whole new world, I am literally a different person. Madness. It’s not ‘rare’ it’s common. Make they give you alternatives!

It triggered depression in me too. Hormones are so closely linked to moods. It frustrates me that women are disbelieved about this.