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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for positive Mini Pill experiences?

69 replies

chronictonic · 26/01/2023 11:23

Just that really.

Been reading up on here but conscious that naturally we tend to turn to the internet for help when we have negative experiences than positive.. so keen to hear from anyone who has had a positive experience.

I'm nearly 40, DC is 10.

OP posts:
HappyHolidai · 26/01/2023 11:27

Brilliant: no periods, no PMT, just great!

GenuinelyDone · 26/01/2023 11:28

I'm 44 and been taking the mini pill for 5 years. Youngest is 11 and my BMI is in the mid 30s.

Really wish I'd started years ago.

I don't have periods at all and my mood is consistent. So I've gone from a hormonal mess who flooded a pad in 15 minutes to a pretty stable woman who no longer has any kind of menses.

I know it doesn't suit everyone but it's been life changing for me and I'd recommend it.

biedrona · 26/01/2023 11:31

It's a bit patchy when you first start taking it - as in you still get some sort of bleeding for first 3,4 months.
other than that, no complaints, no PMS, no water retention - and no periods

TheGoogleMum · 26/01/2023 11:32

I got on well with it, took it for about 9 years and then stopped to have kids. I didn't get periods on it which was an extra bonus. Some of the combined pills made me feel sick and gave me headaches

Sunshineandflipflops · 26/01/2023 11:32

I took it for a couple of years and was looking forward to no periods but sadly I was one of the unlucky ones whose periods didn't stop!

But otherwise - fine. I am pretty good with remembering to take medication which is good as you only have a very small window with the mini pill.

I stopped taking it as I just wanted to stop putting hormones into my body but no other reason.

I couldn't take the regular pill due to high bp.

strivingtosucceed · 26/01/2023 11:32

HappyHolidai · 26/01/2023 11:27

Brilliant: no periods, no PMT, just great!

I'm on it for symptoms of endometriosis rather than contraception and I've found the same. Realised after a while I didn't randomly want to cry/shout at everyone when my period was coming, such a relief. Incidentally I also had painful periods so this is the holy grail for me.

DisforDarkChocolate · 26/01/2023 11:40

Well I had a positive pregnancy test but I think if I had been offered it when I was older I would have recognised it's not the contraceptive for me.

Rowthe · 26/01/2023 11:41

It was great for me.

I cant take the combined pill, it just makes me nauseous.

Felt great.

No periods.
No problems at all.

Artemi · 26/01/2023 11:43

Initially had maybe two light/irregular bleeds in the first few weeks and then didn't have any periods or any side effects whatsoever for about 5 years that I was on it.
The first 2 weeks or so I also felt ravenously hungry and I thought "shit this is going to make me put on loads of weight" but the hunger just naturally tailed off back to my normal appetite and my weight has stayed stable the whole time without any particular effort

Was absolutely life-changing because I used to have to plan my life around really heavy periods and would get horrendous PMT

Then when I became sexually active I switched to the implant because I worried about forgetting to take the pill and it's theoretically the same hormone. It was great for a year but then I started to get irregular bleeds (like a fairly light period, but more than spotting) that were getting increasingly frequent and I think I was probably getting mood swings too in hindsight.

Went back to the mini pill again and had a light bleed approx every 4-8 weeks for the first few months but now haven't bled for about 3 months so fingers crossed it's totally stopped again!

TokyoSushi · 26/01/2023 11:44

I'm on it, I'm 42 and DC are 9 & 11, it's great! I've been on it about 4 years.

It took about 6 months to settle down and now I have about 3 to 4 periods per year. Very light, would need a regular tampon at most for about 3 days. Would definitely reccommend!

Frosty1000 · 26/01/2023 11:44

Started it when my Ds was 6/7 weeks and he's nearly 8 now. I have endometriosis so turning off my cycle is perfect as that condition is just horrendous.

No other side effects and doctor has said I can be on it until menopause.

ouch321 · 26/01/2023 11:50

Out of interest why do some pple still get a bleed and some not? Anyone know?

Are there any indicators that suggest whether you would or wouldn't be one of the lucky ones? Eg is it that if you normally had only a 3 day light bleed then they'd stop them but if you had longer more severe bleeds you'll still get them.

Do a large percentage of pple get theirs stopped?

Used regular pill for years and it didnt stop the monthlies. Doc suggested putting me on mini pill for some random reason to do with risk factors but I came off the regular pill and am now on a natural cycle but just wondering if the mini pill would make a difference.

I really really really resent periods.

TokyoSushi · 26/01/2023 11:53

I went on it due to ridiculous, flooding, week long, fortnightly periods, so a light, short period a few times per year is absolutely fine for me!

HappyHolidai · 26/01/2023 12:01

biedrona · 26/01/2023 11:31

It's a bit patchy when you first start taking it - as in you still get some sort of bleeding for first 3,4 months.
other than that, no complaints, no PMS, no water retention - and no periods

Not every one has this. I didn't. Taken this magic pill for 5 years and I didn't have any bleeding from the first month. Just life-changing as I am on aspirin and that plus heavy periods were giving me flooding, which was then treated with more medication.
I started it for contraception but that need didn't last long & I stayed on it because it is brilliant! No idea why none of the doctors who prescribed the various flood-stemming drugs didn't suggest it.

Sunshineandflipflops · 26/01/2023 12:02

ouch321 · 26/01/2023 11:50

Out of interest why do some pple still get a bleed and some not? Anyone know?

Are there any indicators that suggest whether you would or wouldn't be one of the lucky ones? Eg is it that if you normally had only a 3 day light bleed then they'd stop them but if you had longer more severe bleeds you'll still get them.

Do a large percentage of pple get theirs stopped?

Used regular pill for years and it didnt stop the monthlies. Doc suggested putting me on mini pill for some random reason to do with risk factors but I came off the regular pill and am now on a natural cycle but just wondering if the mini pill would make a difference.

I really really really resent periods.

No idea but I was quite disappointed as everyone had said their periods had stopped on it! My periods are about 3 days long - not unmanageable so don't think your theory would be right for me!

Techno56 · 26/01/2023 12:06

I had to come off the combined pill and then had terrible heavy periods with flooding for two days every three weeks.

Went on the mini pill while on the waiting list for a mirena and decided to stick with it in the end. Random annoying bleeding on and off for six months (but very light) and not had a period since. Life changing.

sanityisamyth · 26/01/2023 12:07

HappyHolidai · 26/01/2023 11:27

Brilliant: no periods, no PMT, just great!

This.

Unbridezilla · 26/01/2023 12:10

I spotted for a few months at first, and randomly had a "period" 6months in. Other than that, nothing. I love it.

I do occasionally get sore boobs (usually when I would previously has a period, but I did pre pill anyway, and it not every month, unlike pre period)

I also had a small cervical ectropian, which seems to have reversed since is started taking tge pill, so no spotting after sex either anymore!

Unbridezilla · 26/01/2023 12:12

ouch321 · 26/01/2023 11:50

Out of interest why do some pple still get a bleed and some not? Anyone know?

Are there any indicators that suggest whether you would or wouldn't be one of the lucky ones? Eg is it that if you normally had only a 3 day light bleed then they'd stop them but if you had longer more severe bleeds you'll still get them.

Do a large percentage of pple get theirs stopped?

Used regular pill for years and it didnt stop the monthlies. Doc suggested putting me on mini pill for some random reason to do with risk factors but I came off the regular pill and am now on a natural cycle but just wondering if the mini pill would make a difference.

I really really really resent periods.

There's a really interesting book called "how the pull changes everything" which talks through (in an accessible way) the science behind how the pill works and why it acts differently for different people. I really recommend it

Mummyoftwo91 · 26/01/2023 12:15

I've been on it for over 10 years, not a single side effect and no periods

kikisparks · 26/01/2023 12:18

Great so far 6 months in, had 14 days of bleeding after first taking it but since that stopped I’ve been period free, no more debilitating endometriosis pain and no more crushing low mood.

RatinaMaze · 26/01/2023 12:19

mini-pill has literally saved my life. I suffered from debilitating heavy periods lasting up to 10 days, along with severe PMT for anthing up to 2 weeks beforehand. My mood swings and rage made me a nightmare to live with. I literally had 3 days each month where I felt normal and happy. I couldn't plan anything in advance and withdrew from friendship groups. My breasts were so sore and heavy I could barely walk.

I now live permanantly as that 3-day person. it feels like I have surfaced from deep water. I've been on the pill for almost 10 years and not had a single moment of spotting. I have so much energy and no more mood swings. I've progressed massively in my career - something that just wasn't possible before due to constant pain.

I live in fear of being told I need to stop talking this pill. Quite frankly, I'd rather stop living than go back to my previous life.

Also permanently grateful to the amazing doctor who listened to me and found a solution where so many had brushed me off.

Danikm151 · 26/01/2023 12:27

Got pregnant 🤣

occasionally get a bleed but no side effects really compared to the combined pill

VitaminX · 26/01/2023 12:30

I used it as a stop gap between 2 kids and I didn't get pregnant until I wanted to so that was positive. I also didn't get periods which was nice but ultimately I was uncomfortable with the idea of long term hormones so it was not going to be my choice once I'd finished having babies. It may have reduced my libido but that also may have been the baby/toddler so not sure.

Merchdda · 26/01/2023 13:03

I've been on it 3 years for endo and ando reasons. Most months I have no pain at all, and occasionally a little cramp which a painkiller sorts. I do bleed on it, probably every 3 weeks for a week. But despite that it's been life transforming. I was ill for 10 days a month prior to the mini pill, unable to walk or exercise and the pain for 2 days a month was like Labour contractions without adequate pain relief.

I feel back in control of my body and my life now.