Do you use (or have you ever used) hormonal contraception, like the Pill, IUD or implant? Fancy telling us what you think about it?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

The team at the Telegraph's Wonder Women pages are interested in hearing about women's experiences with hormonal contraception - and, specifically, the emotional and libido-related side-effects it can have for some women.

MNers have occasionally told us that they're frustrated with the current range of available contraception, and that some of you feel reluctant to take contraception that works hormonally. Of course, lots of you also seem perfectly happy with hormonal contraception, and appreciate its reliability.

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare states that 'women can be advised that combined hormonal contraception may be associated with mood changes, but there is no evidence that it causes depression'. The Wonder Women journalists are interested in whether any of you have experienced mood changes, or emotional effects, or effects on libido.

So: have you used, or do you currently use, the pill, a hormonal coil or implant? How did you find it? Did you notice any effects on your mood or libido, or did you find it unproblematic? And even if you did find it a bit problematic, did you think that it was worth it for the peace of mind?

Of course, maybe you find the hormonal contraception completely fantastic and have taken it without any trouble for years. Would be really interesting to hear all views and experiences.

Thanks
MNHQ

I could have written HarriettheFly's post.

I was put on the pill aged 19 because of bad PMT and found it replaced PMT which was at least predictable, with sudden, random moments of feeling suicidal. No-one ever warned me about this; I am a careful reader of the information that comes with medicine and it wasn't mentioned.

I am pretty angry, in retrospect, and exactly as Harriet says, 'I would never take any type of hormonal contraception ever again and when my daughter is older I will strongly warn her against it.'

Having read the recent posts by a MNer who had an implant and then had trouble finding a doctor to remove it when it became clear it was causing her to feel suicidal, I think the way hormonal contraception continues to be pushed at women without proper support or care for the mental and emotional side-effects is an utter disgrace.

I was put on the Pill in my late teens and given very little information about it. I think it was Cilest. I had no pregnancies on it and came off it a year before I planned to TTC. I never realised until I came off it how little cervical mucus I had whilst on the pill. Sex was often painful.

Sex was more enjoyable after getting off the pill and I am quite hesitant to try hormonal contraceptives again. That was the only side effect that I experienced.

PMT still affected me along with period pains. I only learned on MN last year that the 7 day break was optional.

I now use condoms and think whenever my periods come back (breastfeeding atm) I will put some serious research into other forms of contraception. threads like these are great for information.

I was on the combined pill from 16-33 (Femodene) and I never had any problems with it. I took it religiously and I never got pregnant.

I came off it at 33 because we wanted to TTC and I got pregnant the first month of trying with DS1. After he was born I went on a mini-pill, but had some breakthrough bleeding. Three years later I came off that to TTC again and got pregnant again easily.

After DS2 was born I went back on a mini-pill, but had lots of breakthrough bleeding so gave up on it and waited until I'd finished BF-ing and went back on Femodene, which had always been a great pill for me. However, this time things were very different. I'm not sure if it was my age (39 at the time), or other bodily changes brought about by two pregnancies, but this time it made me feel horrible. I gained weight, I was in a foul mood all the time, my emotions were up and down like a roller-coaster, and my libido completely disappeared. I stuck it out for three months (as recommended), but after no improvement I just chucked the remaining pills in the bin and we've used condoms ever since.

I was on microgynon for years and years before stopping to conceive DD (from 17-30). It was great, no side affects and I had very short, light periods too. It also helped loads with period pains.

However after having DD and BFing, I needed to swap to the mini pill. I think it reduced my libido (but could have been having had a baby and BFing all the time!) but I just couldn't remember to take it within the very specific timeframe needed. I therefore moved very quickly to the contraceptive injection every 3 months. This was great because I didn't have to remember to take it but I put on loads of weight. I just couldn't stop eating and felt hungry all the time. I think I had two doses of the injection before deciding to try something else.

Coming off the injection, I had the implant put in for 3 years. Only removed last year as we wanted to conceive DC2. Not sure about my libido, doesn't seem to have got better or worse, maybe life is getting in the way more than hormonal things? My weight stabilised and we had no problems with it working effectively. Periods were initially quite heavy and painful, but then became very light and painless. The only gory bit was having the implant removed, but I'd definitely have the implant again.

I'd use the combined pill again, the only downside I had is remembering to take it, although I'd be cautious taking another brand. I'd definitely choose the implant as my first choice of contraception though.

I took the pill from 15 until my early 30's, and stopped because I wanted a break from hormones. I suffered with mood swings, and clots whilst taking the pill.

I've also had the depo shot, it was good because it stopped my periods but I suffered mood swings but on reflection the mood swings are probably PMT Symptoms as I get really moody before the start of my period and I'm currently not on any contraceptive.

I have an hemanginoma in my liver and I've read that the hormones in contraception can make the size of the tumor grow, so I'm reluctent to take any hormone contraception and feel the coil isn't for me

So far I've been on 3 different pill types, Microgynon being the last. The other two (can't remember the names) gave me terrible migraines and GP took me off them when it said on packaging they were a side affect. I had had migraines before but far worse on these pills. Its interesting to read here the stories of other women especially who take/took Microgynon.

I took myself off the pill about 10 years ago at age 33 and my moods/periods improved no end, less depression etc.

Now use condoms.

TheCountess really interesting your post as again I took the pill (Microgynon) for bad PMS and yes, like you got wild mood swings (I think you said) and suicidal. Never taking hormones again! horrific isn't it and the GP just doles it out and doesn't say a word....

Also as an aside a good friend used the coil with copper, wasn't told of side effects. She got the worst acne ever... was on coil for about a year, had it taken out and bang acne gone. Why don't people tell you this? not sure if it is in literature for the coil.

I began taking the high risk pill dianette as a teenager for contraception and mild acne (was marvellous for the acne) but came off it after a few months as my behaviour became so erratic that after I took my pill each day, I'd forget the hour after it - an hour in which I'd lose all sense of reality and lie kicking and screaming on the floor, throwing things, clucking like a chicken once made me completely out of control. I also went from a B cup to an H cup in bra with fluid retention, my body ballooned to a size 10 - I say ballooned as I'd been very thin due to a strict ballet schedule - I became very anxious and paranoid in my personal life. I have only felt the repercutions of his pill since I came off it. My weight went back to normal but as a side effect from the production of androgen restarting (it is a hormone muted by the pill and limits hair growth) I started sprouting hair on my chin, around my nipples, and all sorts of unwanted places. I have never again used any form of contraception except a condom and I am firmly anti hormonal contraception. I believe it hinders fertility if used too young or too long, I believe it gives woman an unhealthy fluid retention visible in their face and around their midrif (varying from woman to woman of course) and I believe that as I shunned it for over 10 years I was able to get pregnant naturally the first time I had unprotected sex and again the first time I had unprotected sex after birth of my first child. I think it is a hideous and unnatural thing to do to your body, particularly if you get "the rod" or injection as that takes longer to come out of your system - I find it mind boggling that teenagers are encouraged to use these methods of contraception when their bodies are developing and their suddenly pumping themselves full of extra hormones. The worst thing is these hormonal contraceptions do not protect against diseases. So yes, hormonal contraception - unnatural and wrong

On my second Mirena coil , no negative affects or mood swings . Positives are knowing it's very reliable and it has stopped my periods

I took Microgynon for years, then after DS2 depo injections, which made my period stop completely so I stuck with that for 9 years, I only came off it to give my body a break last year and have remained contraceptive free since then.

I was put on microgynon
, because of that pill I nearly needed brain surgery as it trigged intracranial hypertension. I can never take the combo pill again.

Have had no issues with the POP and I've had micronor and cerezette but I've became pregnant on them both

Had depo provera for about 8 years after about the same amount of misery on the Pill. Started using contraception when I'd been seeing DH about 6 months, only condoms before.

The most annoying thing is that due to my PCOS, my periods had stopped about a year after they started, so I was about 15, except for the odd horrific flood. Then the Pill. Horrible, horrible heavy, painful 8-12 days of bleeding from about 2 months after I started uni till starting depo. Eventually, my doc said I needed to come off it I pleaded for sterilisation (early 30's no kids), Dr said no. Now 39, had 3rd implant inserted last Aug. no bleeding, no PMS, life events caused depression for a while in 2009, 2014. Libido - may be affected by it. Been on constant BC of sorts since 19 anyway, wouldn't know any different.

Would still like sterilisation though.

this is all very interesting to read. i was put on dianette at 14 to control my acne, i had no idea it was considered high risk. I had massive mood swings (but what teenager doesnt?!) but was also fairly depressed and suicidal on occasion. Then when i was 22 my sister casually mentioned she'd stopped taking it as it gave her mood swings. i came off it and never looked back! Id thought that was just how i was; i even thought i had SAD because i would stop taking it in the summer when my skin naturally cleared up. Id gone to the gp in that time because i was depressed and he didnt even suggest changing pills! i tried other combined pills but never liked not having a 'real' period and it definitely affected my libido. Currently using condoms but not all that happy, i think it was the only upside of ttc and pregnancy!!

Yasmin - dried me out to the point I started loosing masses of brittle hair. 200 or more hairs a day, sometimes clumps. Almost back to normal glossy hair now thankfully after stopping for a year

I went on the mini-pill for a holiday as my periods were due and I felt it would spoil my holiday.

Well, it did spoil it, I ended up bleeding for a full month and was extremely anxious and strung out.
My mental health, which is usually fine, took an extreme dip and I was having very dark thoughts.

These side effects were never ever explained to me. I would never take hormonal contraception again and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

have you used, or do you currently use, the pill, a hormonal coil or implant?
Yes, I use Leveste 30/150
How did you find it? Did you notice any effects on your mood or libido, or did you find it unproblematic?
My libido is higher, but my moods are low. very, very low. I struggle with anxiety and depression anyway but I find that the pill makes my moods fluctuate from one extreme to the other. On my withdrawal bleed week, I'm fine
And even if you did find it a bit problematic, did you think that it was worth it for the peace of mind?
yes. It is worth it. it works, i'm not pregnant and have never been pregnant. my periods last me 3-4 days and aren't heavy, but painful. i mean, I only see it as "i'm not pregnant" but my body is screwed up. I'm still spotty and fat and depressed, i thought it was meant to regulate your hormones!

before this I was on cerazette. I was bleeding for 9 months so didn't really have any sexual contact with DP. I was on the verge of suicidal.

What is amazing me about this thread is the number of people who have experienced continual heavy bleeding, on all sorts of different forms of hormonal contraceptive. Back when I was on the combined pill, the leaflets only ever mentioned, somewhat euphemistically, "breakthrough bleeding" as just an odd bleed or light spotting. My GP at the time was perplexed, as he worked his way through the BNF.

Hi there, I have three children and after my first and second child I started microgynon 30 after each birth, then I came off it when my second child was 15 months old to try for baby number 3, after baby number 3 I decided to give the arm implant a go (a busy mum with three small kids, thought it be ideal and not having to worry about taking pills) but I was so wrong....

It turned me into pyscho mam, constantly snapping and crying at the drop of a hat for no reason!

Then tried other pills and they gave me migraines, and then tried the mirena coil as a last resort and i had the same issues as I did with the arm implant and along with heavy clotting bleeding and now I've been off all contraceptions since November 2014 and my periods have finally got themselves into a routine and all I have now on no drugs as it were is cramp, but hot water bottle and paracetamol sort me right out :D

Just as an aside I was one of those teens who had bad pms, could have been down to hormones then. The pill was suggested by my gp as a last resort quick fix.

FFW 12 years or so after taking it and yes generally I was normal mood wise (apart from the weight gain, eating, suicidal stuff sometimes etc) and I was petrified of stopping the pill as to how bad my pms would be. Gp was still encouraging me to stay on pill! My periods and moods were fine in fact I felt more normal and woman like. If I did get pms I rolled with it and after 6 months it all evened out anyway. I did mention pill and pms to my gp at another visit and why didn't I have pms now (compared to my previous severe pms) and was told 'teen hormonal swings'. Interesting eh?

In the past I have taken the combined pill and the mini pill.

I didn't have any problems with my mood or weight. I loved knowing when my period would come and how long it would last. I didn't have any pregnancy scares and found it a very reliable method of contraception.

HOWEVER. My libido vanished completely! I didn't ever feel in the mood for sex. I thought maybe I just had a low sex drive until I stopped taking it when ttc and it came back with a vengeance! I would never use hormonal contraception again for that reason.

I am sad but not really surprised about some of the stories on here. It sucks.

Greymalkin.... I think the reason that there is more invested in female contraception is that we are actually only fertile for a few days a month, so the drugs required to interrupt that are less toxic than ones which would make men infertile every day.

Your friend who is on medication and firing blanks is probably on some powerful stuff which would have health implications if it were used just for contraceptive purposes.

Not that the medication women are routinely prescribed have no health implications! Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend the status quo!

I have tried lots if things.

Condoms: great for casual partners, impossible for ED.
copper coil: great for knowing your body, but made anaemia worse
Cerazette: constant bleeding causing anaemis and no libido.
Mirena: agony after fitting; unable to control with painkillers so had it removed after a few days. ? Was is because the threads were left long due to previous lost threads? They might have been poking into me?
FAM: only as good as the method you use on your fertile days. Which are high libido days!

Stuck for what to use next: if cerazette gave me constant bleeding will mirena/ implanon?

I had the implant and for the only time in my life was signed off for 5 weeks feeling suicidal with severe depression and anxiety under care if Bethlem. Persuaded GP to remove (in absence of any other triggers) and was tons better within 48 hours.

Depo worked a treat as a student 10 yes later was a disaster, think had sex twice in the whole 12 weeks, then bled fortnightly for 14 weeks as it wore off.

Mini pill kills libido, gives me migraines and the RAGE.

Family risk factors prevents combined hormonal contraception.

DH had snip now on advice of GP