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

Used Microgynon for about 5 years, then Cilest for about 4. Became more and more listless and detached and ended up feeling like I was watching life through a window, although I never sought medical help about it. When I came off the Cilest I experienced a few weeks of strongly out of character behaviour. I believe hormonal contraception "switched on" a depressive tendency and I would never use it again.

I believe that urgent research is needed in this area- I have read far too much evidence from women for there not to be an issue here. I think the Department of Health should be asked to investigate. Whilst hormonal contraception does not seem to cause problems for some women, it is clear that it does for a sizeable proportion. I believe there are thousands, if not millions, of women who are suffering severe emotional problems as a result of taking hormonal contraception. Some of these will have received a diagnosis of depression and will be taking more drugs, without a link between the condition and hormonal contraception ever having been investigated. What they need is not further drugs, but to stop the hormones. It will be an uncomfortable truth if our "magic" form of contraception is found to cause possibly permanent personality changes in a sizeable (and impossible to predict who will be affected) proportion of women. However this is an urgent public health issue and I would definitely support a campaign for research on the matter. I and many, many others want our personalities back!

The reason I mentioned non-contraceptive hormone treatment was that hormones do shape us: our bodies, our metabolisms, our personalities and behaviours. They are interdependent - sex hormones don't only control sex - and, as yet, little understood. I agree that much more research here's needed. OK, much more research is being done but, as usual, women's health goes somewhere further down the list. Considering that a vast proportion of the population is taking hormonal medication of various types, and a vast proportion of those patients are women, the matter deserves higher priority.

I don't think you can always put adverse hormonal effects down to medication. I was born with crap hormones (though they've done me several favours, along with the problems they've caused) and am currently taking 4 hormone adjusters on a long-term basis: 2 antidepressants, HRT and levothyroxine. I'd like to know more about what's going on in my body, as that should help me fine-tune it for better results than I'm currently getting.

All women deserve greater insight, fuller information and more options. I know it's an emerging science. I know all the answers aren't available. But, like Snow, I want to see women's endo/neuro health raised up the agenda. The social impact will be immense.

The reason so little research has been done is because (and i appreciate its the cynic in me talking) is because the Pill was largely invented so men could have sex without consequences. Yes it gave women more freedom but i dont for one minute believe that was the reason behind it ....just the inevitable consequences.

And doctors also need to accept it causes weight gain rather than dismissing women when they report it (see Depo Provera and Weight Gain loss thread i linked upthread) Taking the mini pill for 4 weeks the last time i took it i gained 3 and a half pounds that month despite following slimming world to the letter. I dropped 2 and a half of those pounds when i stopped it yet ate the same throughout the entire time. I felt myself bloat up while i was on it. It was like someone had pumped me up with a bicycle pump.

Given how much eating disorders are prevelant in our society we do not need another avenue where we are accused of lying about what we have been eating. Talking about this issue has made me realise how misogynistic SOME of the medical profession can be.

I was on Dianette for my skin and for contraception from 16-28. It kept my acne under control but it definitely supressed my libido, ugh. I never got pregnant on it. Then I came off the pill and it took months and months for my cycle to restart - it turned out I had developed underactive thyroid.

Started levothyroxine and my cycle came back. Then had a MC. The following month I fell pregnant with DD. Then we used condoms as I didn't want to take hormonal contraception.

Recently started Cerazette. Not feeling odd so far but the "breakthrough bleeding" is really not good.

Agree about sex on the Pill being too convenient and fun for men for there to be any impetus for research Helena

If in-depth hormonal profiles were done on women taking hormonal treatments, and these were correlated with their subjective observations alongside medical and psychological profiles, I bet some significant trends would emerge. If the patients were similarly profiled before and after treatment, researchers would be able to see whether a woman's responses to her contraception can be correlated to her natural profile at different life stages.

I think the "fun for men" argument's a bit unfair as it stands. Tracking women on the Pill has been one of the largest medical studies ever done (or even the largest?) It's established the risk of various types of cancer with various types of pill - an extremely important issue, and now we're saying perhaps more issues also need tracking. Pregnancy's an extremely high-risk state, both physically and socially, and the Pill has afforded women the freedom to choose.

Tried the combined pill in my early twenties and hated it as it gave me massive migraines so switched to the mini pill which I took until I had ds1 in my early thirties. Used the mini pill while I bf and then stopped taking it to have ds2. Back on the mini pill for a short while after that but then decided that it might be causing massive mood swings so I switched to a copper coil which I still have now. It didn't sort out the mood swings but I love it as I don't have to worry about contraception for a total of 8 years. Not looking forward to having it removed and replaced in 2 years time but I really don't want any more artificial hormones in me thank you! My next coil should last me through to the menopause :-)

And yet those same men want us to stay svelte and yet are happy to prescribe something which causes weight gain while blaming it on us and insisting it must be what we are eating.

Male entitlement.

I used cerazette with no problems for 5 years between 2007-2012.
During a routine smear the nurse suggested the implant, advising me it was the same as the pill but it did all the work for me!
I wish I had done some research because I had one put in and for the following 11 months my life was hell. I had horrendous mood swings and absolutely NO libido. I was constantly hungry and gained 2 stone.
I had to beg and plead and LIE to get the implant removed, stating I wished to fall pregnant.
I have been taking cerazette again for a few months with no problem.
Had I stayed on the implant I highly doubt my DP and I would still be together as my mood swings and lack of libido put a huge strain on our relationship.

Helena, I've never had a doctor deny that medications may provoke weight gain

Oh, I've just remembered a locum who lectured me on obesity. I wasn't obese; he was obviously a nutter!

I am obese now. My docs recognise it's caused by one of my antidepressants. As long as I don't get fatter, it's fine. If anyone (professional or otherwise) has been criticising your body shape, I'd really recommend reviewing that relationship :(

Every pill going in my twenties, all affected me terribly and made me feel awful in one way or another.

Swore I would never again take anything hormonal but after DD2 I was convinced by a doctor that the mirena coil would be great as a very small amount of hormone is released.

18 months later I had it taken out and realised that it had been making me feel low, knackered and just generally crap. Felt great after it had been pulled out.

Copper coil in now. Ok but heavier periods.

I get terrible PMT but would never again take the pill. Have been to the doctor too many times over the years with regard to contraception and periods and PMT.

I agree that hormonal contraception is a massive issue and there is little choice out there for those who can't use it.

I used microgynon for years with no issues. Then, after the birth of DC2 I was put on Cerazette and it was hell. Bled constantly and my moods were terrifying - despair, rage, deep deep sadness. I think I could quite easily have become violent. Thought it was PND but then Dh mentioned it could be the pill. Stopped immediately and within days I was back to my usual self.

Started my periods aged 11, put on norethisterone (now no longer licensed) to control my severe dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia aged 13, hated it and piled on loads of weight.
Went onto microgynon (COCP) aged 16 for about 3 years and it was ok. Tried Cilest (COCP) aged 19 and hated it, turned me into a psychotic greasy haired beast. Tried ovranette (COCP) aged 21 then had my first Mirena IUS inserted aged 22 and never looked back.

Love love LOVE the Mirena. No periods and no side effects at all. Insertion was a bit painful. Had it removed at 4 years for TTCing. Got pregnant on month 3 and then had the Mirena inserted again 12 weeks postpartum. That insertion didn't hurt at all as my cervix had dilated and I still love it. The best contraceptive ever!!!!

I've used Cerazette/Cerelle for around 9 yrs with perhaps a 2 yr break between relationships. For me it has been brilliant; totally stopped my periods, had no mood swings or chocolate binges, noticed no side effects. I've noticed comments about weight issues, but as a previously much larger fat woman I try to maintain a healthy diet and do exercise, so I'm not sure if this would have caused me problems if I didn't try to maintain my current lifestyle.
My biggest fear was whether my reproductive system would be affected. I came off the pill in January 2014 when we decided to try for a baby, had two or three bleeds and found out I was pregnant in March.
It is safe to take whilst breastfeeding so I have gone back on the same pill since having DD.
DD has certainly killed my libido

hotfuzz i do the same i used to be 21 stone and lost 10. And this is why using hormonal contraception frightens me. My little experience upthread hasnt helped. I wont be using hormonal contraception ever again.

Lots of "never agains" here

Took the Yasmin for 5 years and had no problems. When I was breastfeeding I hadnexplanon implant which made my sex drive non existent and made me so emotional that I was prescribed antidepressants. After having it taken out I felt better almost instantly. I've moved to non hormonal methods now.

I was on microgynon in my late teens\early twenties but was taken off it as I suffer migraines.

Was put on cerazette, I put on 2 stone and has such bad mood swings. My previously clear skin became horrific. I was very low and cried all the time. Totally out of character for me too!

I had my son and was eventually talked in to getting the coil. I decided to have the copped coil as it has no hormones. My periods were horrific and so painful, about 8 months in suddenly they calmed down. I ended up having an ultra sound for something unrelated to be told my coil isn't there anymore!! It had likely come out in one of my heavy periods, and it no longer being there was the reason for them calming down!!

Now pregnant with my 2nd and have no idea what I'll do for contraception after this?!

I have been on microgynon which changed me from an easygoing person to a paranoid, anxious, always crying she-devil! It was also pointless as it killed my sex drive. I came off it after a year and felt myself emerge again only a day later. I vowed then to never put hormones in my body again!
Just think of all the women going around feeling crap who don't need to be.

I was on microgyron from about 15 (not because I was sexually active, just all my mates were on the pill so I rather thought I should take it too as I didn't want to miss out) till my early 20s. Then my gp talked me into getting a contraceptive implant which made me balloon up by 25kg in less than a year (I also had no period with the implant)

I really felt the implant wasn't working for me and as I broke up with my boyfriend I decided to come off it, but I had to fight to get it removed ( its meant to be in for 3 years so the gp was keen to keep it in). Once it was out the excess weight dropped off me, and for the first time since my mid teens I had 'natural periods' and what a revelation it was! I vividly remember chatting with my friends (who were all still on hormonal contraception) about how I now felt in tune with my own body and how I could clearly feel the difference within the various parts of my cycle.

I then met dh, once we'd been dating for a while I went back onto the pill but found that it really affected my libido, so we decided just to use condoms instead.

2 children later and my gp is once again trying to contraception me up, this time they seem keen on giving me a mirena coil but I'd rather stay free from any hormones being put in my body.

Interestingly, when I'm pregnant I suffer with hyperemesis so it may just be the case that I'm super sensitive to pregnancy hormones.

I took combined pill (Cileste then Yasmin) from age 17 until when I had ds1 early 20s with relatively few problems except weight gain and huge boobs. After ds1 I took mini pill (to continue breastfeeding after periods returned) and pretty much bled continuously for the entire two years. After that, I swore off hormonal contraception in my mid 20s and never looked back. Used cap + spermicide (unpopular but worked like a charm) until ttc DC2 & 3, then immediately had copper coil and it's been a perfect solution for past 7 years. Dreading having it out tbh; hope I can have another.

In summary, hormonal contraception made me fat, then fat and constantly bloody.

I love my copper coil!

I have used the patch, combined pill, and pop. Patch gave me awful headaches and pmt like symptoms on my weeks break so was told to use it with no break, which made headaches worse. Combined pill gave me migraines and had to stop. Was on pop for several years but felt all along it disagreed with me. My libido disappeared which I suppose is one way to have an effective contraceptive . My body was bloated and I just didn't feel like me. When I came off it I had months of terrible dizziness, headaches, and anxiety whilst my hormones recalibrated. Never never again will I take hormone contraception.

Have since had copper coil which had to be removed after 2 years of pretty much permanent periods in and use of painkillers. Barrier methods aren't good for me because of skin allergies so essentially there's nothing that's very effective aside from sterilisation at 33 years old.

To add following what flapperty said about hyperemesis and pg hormones and hormone contraception, I do think this could be linked. I had an awful time with hormones when pg.