Yasmin vs rigevidon. Can't I choose?

[Spilledmycoffee]

I have had awful experiences with every contraceptive pill etc I've tried, but I haven't tried them in about 10 years and I want to give them one last go. Progesterone only contraception in my experience makes me horribly angry all of the time so I won't try that. I've been looking at the low dose combination pills and wanted to try yasmin.

I had a phone appointment with my GP and told him I want yasmin and briefly explained why. But when I said it had been 10 years since I last tried the pill he just laughed at me a bit. He went on to say something about availability of yasmin and that he was going to prescribe rigevidon instead.

Looking online, rigevidon seems to be completely not what I wanted, and I cant find anything to suggest an availablity issue regarding yasmin.

Wibu to refuse to try the rigevidon and insist on a prescription for yasmin?

Any information on either pill or alternatives is also appreciated. Thank you!

Did you read this www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/low-dose-birth-control-pills

It calls Yasmin low dose compared to the 50 mcg pills of old and the 35mcg pills which are also rarely used. Yasmin and rigevidon both have 30 mcg oestrogen. Yasmin has a low dose diuretic instead of the progesterone. It was marketed as promoting weight loss via the diuretic effect when it first came out but there's no evidence for that and the drug company likes to forget that early marketing.

Basically I usually start with rigevidon/microgynon (they are the same thing) unless the person is very prone to acne in which case I'll go for a pill which is more oestrogenic than progestogenic such as marvelon, but that's higher blood clot risk.

@Spilledmycoffee Nothing you've said makes me concerned about you using microgynon/rigevidon so I'd go for that first, maybe use 2-3 packs in a row with just a 4d break to avoid hormone fluctuations. Give it a decent try for 6m.

As per GMC rules I have to say that this is general medical chat and not individual advice.

I was on Yasmin for years (10+) - whilst on it I didn’t have any real issues, thought it was brilliant. It sorted my skin out, no mood swings and most importantly I didn’t get pregnant!

However, when I came off it, I realised it had basically numbed a lot of my emotions... I never felt suicidal or depressed, just a bit empty. Things I experienced that should have left me feeling really happy, really angry, really down etc never did (I thought that was just me being a passive / unemotional person... it isn’t!)
This change started happening within a few months of coming off the pill, with no other life changes to pin it on. I honestly feel like a different person - like a fog has lifted. Its quite unsettling. Having spoken to a doctor and some online research I’m not the only one to experience this with Yasmin... just be wary.

This is why i don't bother. Apparently the horrendous emotional experience ive had on these types of medications in the past is not concerning . Just see if it happens again this time. Then keep seeing for 6 months. I don't think people who haven't experienced what im on about can really get it. But nobody needs 6 months of "giving it a go" when thats what it is. People dont deserve that "advice".

I know now 100% that i wont be taking rigevidon. @Dannyandsandy thank you for your suggestion, i will look into that one

@Teefs

Thank you. To be honest the whole thing is getting me down now lol. Seriously starting to consider sterilisation.

I got moved from microgynon to Rigevidon and in spite of them having the same dosages I got breakthrough bleeding on Rigevidon

Same here , they swore it was the same thing but I was bleeding every two weeks. I just straight out said no and went back to microgynon. They aren’t happy about it because of my age (over 30)

I thought this was baby names too, I was definitely going with Yasmin

Ill have you know Rigevidon is a strong family name! I won't have it mocked!

Would you consider calendar planning plus temping to work out your fertile times then potentially using condoms from maybe a week before to a few days after ovulation?
It might be too much work but something to consider if hormonal methods don't agree with you.
You'd be hard pushed to get a sterilisation on the nhs btw.

@cheermeupifyoucan

I did that with success for several years but thats how I got my (very much loved) 4yo. Then I was single for years so it didn't matter. We use condoms 99% of the time. Im not a fan of them at all lol.

Ive yet to seriously look into sterilisation tbf. I've said it jokingly a few times recently but the idea is really starting to appeal. I bet they'd want me to try the pill first though if they were ever going to agree haha

Have you considered cooper coil? Sorry if it's been mentioned already

Copper*

I took Rigevidon and put a stone on very quickly without changing my eating habits. I wouldn't go on it again for that reason alone!

Ha, thought this was going to be about baby names!! I thought, goodness Rigevidon sounds like a pharmaceutical drug!
Sorry, that's not at all helpful.

Uncoordinated That's really interesting that you had the same issue. I had been on microgynon for about 6 years with no issues and am a scientist so quite prepared to believe that two identical drugs should do the same thing. I came to the conclusion it must be the coating or the co-crystal or something but it vanished when I went back on microgynon. They switched them over for a lot of women because Rigevidon is cheaper.

I don’t know why but I thought Th is was going to be about baby names! I was preparing my response of “please choose yasmin over the other name!!”

Have been on yasmin for many years and love it. Every time I see a new GP they gently encourage me to try a different pill, someone told me years ago it's one of the most expensive that can be prescribed so always feel this is a motive at the Drs. I have awful skin and it's the only one that works for me.

A family planning doctor put me on marvelon after coming off dianette. Only one that agreed with me.

I’m with @Crimblecrumble1990 I was on Yasmin for years and it gave me perfect skin. I came off it to conceive and have had bad acne ever since and now have scarring on my back 😭 I miss it so much and will be going back on it ASAP once I’ve had the baby. I tried about six different ones and this was by far the best for me, my GP asked me to change a couple of times and I did try other ones at their request but it never worked and the proof was all over my face, they were always happy to switch me back.

I don’t think marvelon is available anymore. I’m on gederel.

I was prescribed Marvelon a few weeks ago but I decided to stick with Synphase and hope that Norimin is available next time they have the same hormones. I didn't think it was worth messing around for the sake of a few months.

Ah shame about marvelon. Husband got the snip so it's been a few years

I loved dianette and was in it's for 10+ years until all.medical.advice changed. It made my skin so nice. Marvelon was the nearest to it for me after trying about 8 different pill types

I’ve been on this Yasmin pill for a few months now and I have to say I’m really happy with it! I am a bit more emotional and sad but that comes with any pill really. I’ve gone through about 3 pills and found this one is the best. I have shorter and lighter periods and no cramps which is amazing. My skin is clear and my boobs have grown also. I do recommend this but keep in mind every pill has different effects for everyone - topeuro-shop.com/yasmin-uk.html

I'm happily on yasmin- but only because they took my beloved dianette from me. There have been supply issues, so that is true. I echo it's expensive for the nhs, and not without it's issues for some.

I've been on Yasmin for about 2 months and I love it. It's the only pill that has no side effects on me whatsoever, apart from some bleeding every now and then.