Dr has changed contraceptive pill without speaking to me

[slipmet]

Hi
I'm not sure if I'm being unreasonable or not. From 17-34, I was on the combined pill - Cilest. This was discontinued and I was recommended Cilique. Exactly the same ingredients and hormones as Cilest. So all is fine. Or it was until I had my pill check last Monday. I was prescribed Cilique again but when I tried to get it from the chemist, they told me it's out of stock.

They advised I cal other pharmacies, which I did and no one has it. It's not available to buy online either.

I read that Lizzina is another option but again, that is out of stock and no one knows when it'll be back.

I spoke to the dr's receptionist and she said the dr would call me back to discuss. I didn't hear anything so called the receptionist again who said the dr had put my prescription through for Microgynon. I have no idea what this is or if it's different to Cilique. A quick Google says it is - it has 150mg Levonorgestrel and 30mg ethinylestradiol. Cilique has 35mg ethinylestradiol and 250mg of norgestimate. Surely that's different?

I rang up to speak to the dr who was very sharp with me and said it's the same as Cilique. I tried to say about the different hormones but she said it's a combined pill, just like cilique. I get really fobbed off. I feel really frustrated.

Is anyone else in the same boat as me and can't get Cilique (or Lizzina) for love nor money and has now been prescribed Microgynon? I am really reluctant to go on another pill even if it is 'the same as Cilique because it's a combined pill'. And also AIBU with my reaction to all this?

Thank you if you have got to the end of this!

Hi OP,

I actually went as far as googling and contacting the company that makes Cilique - Dutch, or German, can't remember now, and there's basically a huge Worldwide shortage due to sudden high demand. They estimate stock levels being back to normal around February 2025

I'm just coming to the end of my first month pill free. Had my first ever period au natural - 3/4 days ish? Which is about standard for my periods on the beautiful magical little blue pill that I'm still upset about being off. It was mainly the scheduling. I miss how utterly precise it was that I would be able to time my periods to within a few hours.

Hey ho. Will be interesting to see what my actual cycles are I guess.

I think it's probably best to be off it too going into Pre menopause.... but I will admit to still googling every week or so to see it's back in stock yet...

It was strange to have a 'natural' period too. Was pleased my body still works 'normally' lol. It was a longer period than normal though. I'm now tracking it all on that Flo app.

I think, if I wanted to try another brand, I'd have to give it a good few months to see how I am on it - mentally and physically and honestly, at 42, I just can't be bothered with trying to find another pill that works. Cilique was fine and it was great but if it's not going to be available for another 6 or 7 months or so, then so be it. I'll just come off it. Might return to it depending on how erratic normal periods are and (if!) partner has the big V!! Hopefully he does and then it's freedom for me.

Cilest is permanently off the market and I gather that at the moment all other similar brands are unavailable. A quick text would have been nice but they may have had tens of similar scripts to change.