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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Best pill? Should this go here?

25 replies

quaranta · 03/09/2008 12:04

I just wondered if anyone had any recommendations. I have had an IUD taken out recently as felt horrendous - pains and bleeding for er 41 days on one memorable occasion. Not been on the pill since i was about 20 and think it was basically ok but went off it when I split up with boyfriend and thereafter used cap and condoms.
Scanned threads here and opinions seem very divided about what pill side effects are... Any thoughts be very interested to read.

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Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 12:54

bump

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ClairePO · 03/09/2008 13:00

I haven't been on the pill for about 3 and a half years but I was on microgynon and I was fine, few, if any, side affects. Weight gain, but that could just have been lack of exercise and eating too much iyswim!

lauraloola · 03/09/2008 13:01

I was on Yasmin for about 2 years before we started trying for dd. I changed to that from a different one (cant remember the name) as I put on weight. With Yasmin I didnt put any on.

Its really a case of trial and error I think. People I know all seem to have tried several before finding one that works for them - They all have different side effects.

May be worth chatting to your gp to see which one would be best.

beanieb · 03/09/2008 16:39

They can effect different women in different ways. I know people who were on the same minipill as me who bled thoughout their cycle and others who dodn't have a period at all. I was lucky in that I got my Period every month.

It is trial and error as Laura says.

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 18:49

Thanks all. I went to Gp and had good discussion. Rather depressingly I didn't feel options were all that much better than when I first started thinking about contraception 20 years ago. I ended up plumping for Combined pill - microgynon? I can only give it a go - anything has got to be better than my bad experience of the coil.

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expatinscotland · 03/09/2008 18:53

I don't do well on progesten-only pill (POP). It exacerbated my post-natal depression.

I loved the combine pill!

BUT I can't take it anymore as I'm 37 with elevated blood pressure.

A lot of GPs will tell you you can't take the combined pill at all if you're over 35, but it's not true. You can take it up to the menopause as long as you have no medical conditions which contradict combined pill usage AND you do not smoke.

It might help to visit a sexual health or family planning clinic to get the full range of options for you.

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:38

Thanks expat. I have read others of your threads with interest you certainly have done your homework on the options!! I think I got the full range - the GP was super well informed - eg patches, implants, IUD, IUS etc. Interesting you can't take the combined pill anymore - I am 40 in 3 weeks but I have got very low blood pressure fortunately. GP like you said it was fine to take. Just reading about it online though - does seem like so many side effects. I don't have any of them at the moment - although periods worse after my 2 DSs for sure. Can't imagine getting worse GP very honest and ambivalent about whether it would improve things for me or not. Would you mind if I asked exactly did you like about the combined pill ? Did it have other benefits other than stopping you getting pregnant I mean?

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thequietone · 03/09/2008 19:42

I had DS2 6 months ago. Gyno put me on mini pill (Cezarette/Cerazette) as I am breastfeeding. After 3 months of them, I finally realised that the vast black pit of unbelievable depression could be these blasted pills and since I came off them end of July, I've been able to live once more.

expatinscotland · 03/09/2008 19:43

I found the combined pill stablised my moods and made my skin nicer. Also I liked having light 'periods'.

I never gained weight on it.

On the whole, it was a really good option for me.

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:44

Poor you thequietone. Oh how horrible. I am so sorry and glad you are feeling better.Making me think...

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Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:44

Poor you thequietone. Oh how horrible. I am so sorry and glad you are feeling better.Making me think...

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expatinscotland · 03/09/2008 19:45

Same thing happened to me, QO.

This time, DH is going for the snip. Until it works, he'll need to use condoms.

thequietone · 03/09/2008 19:46

I needed a way to warn other women. It doesn't happen to everyone, but despite me researching online, it took me the 3 months to put 2 and 2 together. Most days I couldn't cope at all. When DH was at work, I'd be staring out the window, with a new baby screaming next to me and a 3yo desperate for , my attention. All I could do was let tears roll down my face. Nights were even worse!

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:47

Ok, so for both of you it was the minipill eg progestrone only?? that caused the problems?

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Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:49

sorry quiet one, cross posted, my last post sounds rather brusque in response to what sounds like a horrifying experience. i am so sorry, and this is certainly very useful for me to consider because reading the literature on the mini pill you would have no idea at all that this could have been the cause of such misery.

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expatinscotland · 03/09/2008 19:49

yes, it was the POP, progesten-only pill that did it for me.

here, they try to hardsell you the mirena coil, which also works on progesten.

there is no way i will ever go there.

for me, too, progesten-only caused almost nonstop bleeding. it just doesn't have the high hormone level i needed to STOP periods.

i can't wait for the menopause, tbh.

thequietone · 03/09/2008 19:50

I believe so - that it was the progestrone only that was the problem. I went back to my gyno and explained my depression, but as I was exclusively breastfeeding until last week (hurrah for weaning!) there was no other pill option.

DH is away all week with work, and we sleep apart as he catches up on sleep at the weekends while baby DS2 sings at 5am. There really was no need for the Pill in the end so we're sticking to condoms once he ventures back into the marital bed. Wow, did I say that out loud?

Pinkchampagne · 03/09/2008 19:52

I am on cerazette, and finding it ok, but the irregular bleeding does get me down. I have tried combination pills & not got on with them.

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 19:53

expat - yes menopause has its appeal. and quiet one, so glad things are better, and i do get what you are saying about the value of the Pill as it were... the GP seemed to feel that the combined pill was more natural - in fact she used that very word. no, natural is the rhythm method me thinks. anyway, this has all been super useful, and thank you very much q. x

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expatinscotland · 03/09/2008 19:58

i think she meant by 'natural' is that during a woman's monthly cycle it's natural for her hormone level to vary, not stay the same.

bratnav · 03/09/2008 20:01

I have just finished with Cerazette. It did stop my periods dead, but also caused me huge patches of depression, exhaustion, weight gain (well I am blaming this pill ) and according to DP changed me into a totally different person.

Combined pils don't seem to agree with me either though, causing MASSOOOVE mood swings so maybe I am just a tricky customer. Before the DDs though, I was on Microgynon for a few years and it did the job with no side effects at all.

Original poster

quaranta · 03/09/2008 20:36

hm. bratnav, micrcogynon is what the GP said 'most' people anecdotally seem to have least problems with. it's what she offered me. cerazette story is dreadful. poor you. i am feeling less and less sure i want to embark on pill use again. but the thought of an IUD and insertion is difficult to contemplate after the last experience. why can't someone come up with something that is just easy. you would think by now there would be more options - wouldn't you???

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bratnav · 04/09/2008 20:14

absolutely, DP and I are praying this latest pill works for me, or we are back to barrier methods (not our preferred choice I have to say), or babies

hancan · 01/04/2011 21:02

Re: progesterone only pill....

I took this when i was breastfeeding a year ago...and like you guys in above thread, I was in some pit of depression, only for a short while thank God. but that was bad enough - lying on sofa not even able to look at my kids in the eye. I could not move. Just lying there in zombie state, paralysed almost, crushed and crying uncontrollably. Horrendous. Thank God DH recognised it as coinciding with me taking the pill...as i thought it was PND and had already been down to the doctor to cry at her desk. I knew it wasn't right....and knew i had to talk to someone....

N E Way.....

Now have started Microgynon....just this last week and feel exhausted. almost like i am pregnant - major fatigue and feel nauseous and light headed....

munki · 01/04/2011 21:34

I was on Yasmin for 18 months and felt great on it. My mood actually improved and I lost loads of weight: it made me feel like I had mowning sickness the whole time so I hardly ate. However I also started getting more migraines and I still have those a year after coming off it, in fact since coming off it my hormones are all over the place - spots, really greasy skin and hair, very moody. Much worse then before I took it. I'm also ttc and not getting anywhere which I also attribute to my hormones being up the spout though periods are regular, though that may not be a concern for you

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