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AIBU?

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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:
underwear · 26/01/2023 13:10

I switched from the combined pill to the mini pill. I had lots of headaches for the first 3 months, my hair became a little more greasy. (Not sure if that's as a result the mini pill or coming off the combined one). Other than that it's been fabulous. Only slight spotting a couple of times a year. PMS symptoms are much improved. Debilitating periods are now virtually non existent.

CocoPlum · 26/01/2023 13:41

Been on it 7 years, was breastfeeding when I started which is why I chose it. I still get periods, they last slightly longer than they used to. But generally, love it.

Roominmyhouse · 26/01/2023 13:43

I’ve been on it a couple of years and am 40. No periods, get the occasional bit of spotting but other than that it’s been great!

Daisymae55 · 26/01/2023 13:45

I’m on the mini pill. Have been since 2012 and love it.

To be totally honest, my bleeding was weird for the first 2 months but after that no bleeding at all until I came off it to get pregnant. Got pregnant after 3 months. Back on it now and still just as good

wouldn't go back to a combined pill ever

mindutopia · 26/01/2023 14:06

Absolutely fine. I'm in my early 40s and started after my last dc at 38. But I've never had any issues with the combined pill either and mostly been on it since I was 18.

Original poster
chronictonic · 26/01/2023 14:56

So many positive stories! So nice to hear it's worked well for many of you.

I'm feeling much more inclined to try it now.
I know I may not be one of the people it works for, but it sounds like it's worth a try.

OP posts:
Original poster
chronictonic · 26/01/2023 14:57

HappyHolidai · 26/01/2023 11:27

Brilliant: no periods, no PMT, just great!

What more can I say! SOLD!!!

OP posts:
grubblyplank · 26/01/2023 17:46

My daughter has been on it for 3 years and for the last 6/7 months has irregular, light bleeds which frustrate her as before that she never had any periods with this pill.

She was put on it for migraines and horrendous PMT (more in line with PMDD). It has been a life saver for her (and me) as she changed instantly once on it. The thought of her coming off it fills us both with dread (she's 17)

PamelaBanisha · 26/01/2023 17:48

I love it. No periods and no mood swings .

reddwarfgeek · 26/01/2023 18:35

It works well for me, I feel better than when I took the combined pill. No periods or moodswings.

ZED55JAX0 · 26/01/2023 18:42

I was on it a long time before children and was put on it for migraines and again after my first for breastfeeding
I never had any periods and No migraines and no problems at all that I can remember

moderationincludingmoderation · 09/04/2023 22:02

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.

Interested to know at what point in their cycles everyone started taking it?

I finally just started it, on cycle day 1.
Now on day 5 and still bleeding. It's not unusual for me, but it feels like a bit more than I would be usually at day 5, and I swear I've got some liight cramps, and generally feel a bit more 'periody' than I would usually at this point in my cycle.

I'm going to try to be patient and give it at least 3 months...
But interested to know when in their cycles people started it - surely must habe any impact?

DrMadelineMaxwell · 09/04/2023 22:11

Swapped to the mini pill when the combined one gave me migraines.

First one (poss Cerelle) was great. No spotting. No periods. No side effects.

They then moved me to the cerazette as it was cheaper (or it might have been the other way around) and still no periods etc, but I got nasty cystic acne from time to time.

I asked to try a different POP. I was assured they were all the same, but I could. Moved to norethisterone and have been on that ever since. No more acne. No other side effects and still no periods. It has a shorter effective window for contraception, which is why they prefer the cerelle as that has a 12 hour window you can take it in compared to a 3 hour window.

TheNoodlesIncident · 09/04/2023 22:21

DrMadelineMaxwell · 09/04/2023 22:11

Swapped to the mini pill when the combined one gave me migraines.

First one (poss Cerelle) was great. No spotting. No periods. No side effects.

They then moved me to the cerazette as it was cheaper (or it might have been the other way around) and still no periods etc, but I got nasty cystic acne from time to time.

I asked to try a different POP. I was assured they were all the same, but I could. Moved to norethisterone and have been on that ever since. No more acne. No other side effects and still no periods. It has a shorter effective window for contraception, which is why they prefer the cerelle as that has a 12 hour window you can take it in compared to a 3 hour window.

Same, was on Cerelle which was great, no spotting at all. Switched me back to Cerazette and the spotting has returned. It's not a biggie but means I'll have to start looking into buying pant liners again. When it runs out I'll ask for Cerelle again as it was better.

The hassle and cost of periods as well as feeling ill - I don't miss that at all!

moderationincludingmoderation · 10/04/2023 17:00

@DrMadelineMaxwell @TheNoodlesIncident

Interesting and noted! I'll see how this goes but try swtiching if not happy.

Can I ask you both, did always start on the first day of your cycles?

Mogul · 10/04/2023 17:11

Mini pill was one of the best things that ever happened to me, I took it for ten years it was great no side affects and no periods

MatildaTheCat · 10/04/2023 17:22

Many years ago when you still took it for three weeks and had a period. I started because my skin was so awful and it cleared up brilliantly. Unfortunately it also killed my libido.

Mirena was my saviour and I’ve had them back to back for very nearly 30 years ( now as a part of hrt).

TheNoodlesIncident · 10/04/2023 17:23

moderationincludingmoderation · 10/04/2023 17:00

@DrMadelineMaxwell @TheNoodlesIncident

Interesting and noted! I'll see how this goes but try swtiching if not happy.

Can I ask you both, did always start on the first day of your cycles?

Hard to say, I just started the next strip when I finished the previous one, and the spotting I got was just after starting the Cerazette. It's been so many years since I went back on the pill after having DS, I have no idea when a period would come if I stopped taking them.

It's worth a try and hope you find one that suits you. No periods is amazing and being able to completely forget about when you are due on is just bliss, I highly recommend it.

I've been very lucky and not had any side effects from anything I've taken, so I'm especially blessed in this regard, I do know...

Cleethorpes · 10/04/2023 17:27

I've been in it for years. It's been great.

Pleasecreateausername13 · 10/04/2023 17:29

I’ve been on it 8 months - I do spot a few times a month but I’ll take that over the horrendous periods I was getting after the birth of my daughter.

Forever42 · 10/04/2023 17:31

I've been taking it for over a year. For the first three months I had a lot of spotting - virtually all the time. However, it then settled down and I haven't had a period since. All my pre-menstrual symptoms, hormonal migraines etc disappeared so I'm very happy with it.

However I was listening to the radio the other day and a piece came in about a new study into oral contraceptives which shows, contrary to previous thinking, that progesterone-only pills do increase the risk of breast cancer. Overall the risk is small but it is skewed towards women who are 40 plus. I'm 45 so am thinking of coming off it, even though I really don't want my periods to come back. I'm going to make an appointment to discuss it with my GP.

There is a news article from the BBC here.

woman buying pills at a pharmacy

Progestogen-only pill breast cancer risk revealed

Women using this type of birth control have a slightly increased risk, a study finds.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/health-65012596.amp

PenCreed · 10/04/2023 17:37

I switched to it after I had to ditch my implant (it had to go in a different place in my arm that turned out not to like regular boxing and kept moving and stabbing me). It’s good - occasional periods which are erratic and very light. No PMT, and even better no related migraine!

Glitterb · 10/04/2023 17:38

I had a brilliant experience with the mini pill after being taken off the combined pill due to migraines.
I did get a few spots on/off for the first few months but that did settle down. No periods, no hormonal migraines and no PMT! I stayed on it for years and it always worked great. I came off it at Christmas and I’m now 12 weeks pregnant so no effects on fertility or anything like that

JenniferBooth · 10/04/2023 18:12

@Forever42 Im 50 in June and have been on it for 18 months. Buy mine from Boots. Its called Hana Boots tell me to inform my GP i am on it but i can never get through to them on the phone. I asked so many times throughout the decades to be sterilised as im child free by choice. I was refused told i might change my mind and told that there was plenty of hormonal contraception to choose from. I also have no idea where i am menopause wise because the mini pill masks whats going on. I bled for over a month when i first started taking it 18 months ago had three small bleeds last year and two small bleeds in the last two weeks.

START LISTENING TO WOMEN WHEN WE SAY WE DONT WANT KIDS WE MEAN IT!!!!!

moderationincludingmoderation · 08/05/2023 12:11

Hello all! I'm the OP - had a name change at some point...

Anyway, update:
I've just started my second pack of Lovima.
I started the first pack, on the first day of my period/cycle.
It was a normal period, and the rest of the cylcle I was feeling really positive. No crazy PMT rollercoaster, no ovulation pain. All good.. I thought!
Then I got my next period.. it's a lot lighter and less painful than usual which is great. BUT... I'm now on day 9 and usually my periods last 4/5 days. I'm Also feeling really bloated with it all!

Hoping it stops soon. I am going to stick with it as they say its so normal for it to take a while to settle.. but not sure I can do months and months of bleeding!

Did any of you who have had such a good experinces find it took a few months to settle? What were your fist periods like on it?

Thanks!