To think my mental health was BETTER on the pill?

[bookworm100]

You read so much about the pill etc being bad for your mental health...but I've just realised that I can trace all my mental health issues back to when I switched OFF microgynon (having been on it happily since I was 17) and went on the implant at 24.

At 28 I came off contraception altogether as I thought that might be the source of my problems, but I'm now almost 33 and have had nearly a decade of life-ruining mental health...all starting from when I came off the pill. I'm considering going back on microgynon to see if it helps.

Obviously I know that for some people the pill has been terrible for their mental health, but has anyone else found that they were actually better on it?

I'd be really interested to know if this sounds possible or just completely stupid!

I think you just need to find the one that works for you. I was fine on the pill, but a mess of hormones, weight gain and anxiety on the depo injection. Much happier again on the implant. I love it. Hopefully only a few more years until nothing is required!

Yeah I've heard that so I went off it for a year once as an experiment to see if I'd feel less depressed/stressed. Turns out my problems were nothing to do with the pill And I'd had all those years problem free before so the fact that I was down was unrelated iyswim. Different people react differently to it I think.

It's different for everyone. I recently came to the conclusion after coming off all hormones, that my 16 year of depression and suicide ideation were all down to hormonal contraceptive, and it makes me feel incredibly sad and annoyed that I was always told it was just how I was and nothing to do with the pills/implant/etc.

I should have said, I’m generally happier on hormonal contraception than off it. The idea of getting accidentally pregnant causes me huge anxiety, and therefore I have better mental health on the pill. But that’s possibly not the angle you were coming at it from?

I will be following this with interest. I have endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids and I have been sterilized as my contraception. I have just been put on Noristherone (progestogen only pill) to treat the heavy bleeding and clots associated with endo. I also get suicidal the day before my period, I suspect I may have undiagnosed PMDD as I try to ruin my life and relationship every month, the day before I am due on. Will see what happens.

I'm extremely lucky in that I've never had any problems with the pill. I was on Regevidon from when I was 16 until I came off it when I was 21 when my husband and I wanted to ttc. I never had any problems at all.

I had my baby then at the 6 week check I went back on it as I was exclusively formula feeding. I specifically asked for that one because that's what I was on so it seemed to make sense.

I had problems taking it. It made me feel sick and I couldn't take it. So I switched to Microgynon 30, and it was the best thing I've ever done. It was better for me in every way.

As I say I've never had any problems with weight gain or my hormones or anything else. On my first pill my withdrawal bleeds were fine. On my second they were slightly shorter and lighter, it just works better for me. (I know I've been told in the past they are exactly the same. But I can't explain it. It was the doctor who suggested I change so I assumed there must be some differences). Now I take my pills back to back, without my week break. I do this for 6 months. So I take 6 strips in a row without a break. Then I have a break for 1 week, when I have my withdrawal bleed. Then I start again for 6 months. So I only have 2 bleeds a year.
It's brilliant and doesn't impact on me at all

I couldn't imagine having proper periods. I'd hate it. When I was off the pill ttc I hated it so much. Again I never suffered with my proper periods before I was on the pill, I had no cramps or anything. It's just the pill makes it much easier still

I get suicidal before my period, and take continuous contraception as a result. (With a couple of breaks throughout the year.) Now and again I try going off of if to see how I manage without it, but inevitably I end up with suicidal PMT again,

That happened to me. I tried to be off the pill for two years to go 'more natural' but I could see a link. I went back on it and the very low feelings I had been feeling disappeared. I am happily back on the pill.

Wow, thanks everyone, this is so interesting.

I'm really interested to hear that others have had this experience and am going to try going back on Microgynon from Day 1 of my next cycle in a couple of weeks' time.

I obviously really hope that it does make me feel better, I was always such a happy person before I switched off Microgynon, but I'm also going to feel quite sad if it turns out I've just had 10 years of totally avoidable suicidal depression.

Nonetheless, I don't want it to continue so I will be very happy if it does help. Fingers crossed. Thank you so much for sharing your stories!