Has anyone's mental health actually improved on the pill? *TW mental health*

[SnowflakeSparkles]

Am pondering whether to start hormonal contraception up again. Absolutely cannot take the mini pill as it causes me huge issues with anxiety and mood.

Have read that the combined pill is better for these issues, but then you read so many things about mood swings, anxiety, depression, even suicidal thoughts.

Has anyone found their hormonal contraception either assisted with mood stability or at least didn't make it worse?

The pill can deplete b12 - (it is not well known that it does this).. b12 impacts on your mood -

I become psycho on all pills - it didn't matter which type . I'd get angry then often low - then depressed then suicidal.

I've since found that when I'm low on b12 - I become low and suicidal (so I suspect that is why).

If I were to 'risk' the pill again - i'd take b12 supplements with it! Good luck

Yes, I have PMDD, I would fly into wild rages and I swear I could have killed someone, so much so I scared myself and was worried about my children.

I take Dretine, a combined pill, I take it every day no breaks and not only has my mood improved, I no longer have periods, my skin is so much better. I would say it has changed my life.

But, Microgynon used to give me rage, so it’s not a one cap fits all.

Apparently I’m very lucky to be on dretine as it’s a lovely pill according to my nurse!

I got depression and felt cold (as in freezing) and only realised they were due to the pill after I stopped taking and my body cleared of it. Would never take again.

I've recently started taking rigevidoon alongside some other meds for my pmdd and it is noticeably helped over the past 3 months. From actively suicidal to a fleeting thought which I could turn off.

My mental health improved on the Pill. My PMS pretty much disappeared.

Cerazette was ok at first but caused hair growth on face, bloating and the longer I used it, the worse my mood got (ended up being suicidal). Microgynon caused crippling head pain, so I wasn't on it long. I don't take the pill. I take sertraline for menstrual cycle related low mood/anxiety, which was a game changer.

Thank you, this is really helpful and I think this may have effected me last time. During a pregnancy I was identified as having B12 deficiency and needed injections.

I was on the mini pill and it took 18 long months of continually escalating suffering until I came off the pill and was right within a couple of weeks. I can never risk that happening again but I really need a reliable, non invasive contraceptive. Also selfishly I really enjoyed the effects on my skin when I used the combined pill.

Thank you for the positive experiences they are reassuring

@Buttercup176 I am so sorry to hear about your PMDD but it's amazing you've found something so helpful! I will look into that pill, I actually choose to buy my pills as the GP previously fobbed me off with the cheapest one available (I suppose they always start out with this).

My new GP seems more invested though and did ask me if I was okay with the current pill when I recently renewed my subscription to the mini pill but I don't think I can put myself through taking that again! Will speak to them.

Yes, massively. I was on microgynon for 13 years. Came off for 18 months and I had horrendous PMS, really suffered with my mental health and got spots for the first time ever. Back on microgynon for the last 3 months and I feel sane again.

Same as fizzy pop, I feel much better and more positive / balanced on the pill, after coming off it to have children. On Microgynon. Wondering if it’s because of my age however and smoothing out hormone swings / drops?

I know you can't take the mini pill and I'm not recommending it for you but I did find it helped me. I really struggle with hormones and mental health and I was vile with my periods. So irrationally angry with the world. I avoided any hormonal contraception as I was scared it would have a negative impact, I'd had issues with the depo injection years back. I only went on the mini pill because my periods we so painful and heavy that they wanted me to have the mirena coil but I was scared it would affect my mh and I'd have to get it taken out. So we decided to try the mini pill and it's been a miracle. I can't take the combined because I have a hypersensitivity to oestrogen which results in Erythema nodosum.

I don't get the rage I did and it's helped balance my mood (I have bipolar). Oddly enough I would be fine pregnant but afterwards I would be really unwell. Hormones are bastards

Was on the combined pill for years, stopped after about 15 years because it affected ability to orgasm. It never had any negative impact on my mental health then.

Stayed off it for ~8 years, went back on about a year ago to deal with peri symptoms - so for me it has massively improved my mood stability, focus and removed the physical peri symptoms, plus I run it back to back so don't have to have the bleeds either. And it's not affecting orgasms now, so for me it's a win/win/win. Gedarel 20, FYI.