I'm 26 and I've been on the pill for eight years, mainly on Microgynon which I found had the fewest side effects for me. However, as the years have gone on, I have found side effects creeping in (so gradually that it's only now I've really noticed) - mainly loss of sex drive and occasional depression. My Dr said to occasionally run packs together to avoid this - this works for the depression, but not for the sex drive!
I recently went to the Dr for a repeat prescription, but when I went to the pharmacy they gave me Rigevidon - when questioned they said Microgynon had had a rebrand. Something I found out later to be untrue.
After a few weeks I started experiencing worse side effects - zero sex drive, weight gain (caused by bloating and water retention) and depressive thoughts (breaking up with my fiance and quitting my job crossed my mind at the worst point - both of which would have been absolutely crazy!!). I spoke to a friend who is a GP with 30yrs experience - they said many of their patients are having the same issues with Rigevidon, and said I should demand to go back to Microgynon.
However, this got me thinking. Looking at the huge list of side effects that the pill has, and the way it's affecting my relationship with my partner, I went to google and found quite a few people who have stopped taking the pill and use condoms instead, and feel a million times better for it (one even said she had the sex drive of an 18 year old again!).
Has anyone else considered giving up contraception? Or have you been on the pill and switched to something else that you've found works better/has fewer side effects?