Yasmin pill

Moved from Rigevidon as I was advised it might improve my skin + I had started feeling someone indifferent generally on that pill.

I’ll start with the positives: my weight has fluctuated less, I can be very positive at times and my sex drive has increased. 

The cons: I had very bad anxiety and dark moods moving over in the first month. Whilst that has subsided, my moods in private are very changeable and I has made me feel low. It’s like all my moods are amplified, so when it’s good it’s great and when it’s bad it’s worse. Plus I seem to have new headaches that I didn’t have before. 

I’m surprised as it seemed to well rated but this isn’t the pill for me.  

Yasmin pill-review-id-106d8d39-b5db-4b57-8649-c87789d0d83d

I got on the Yasmin pill because of PMDD. It has helped tremendously. I've been suffering with mood swings, anxiety attacks and very strong cramping for about 7-14 days before my period. After a consultation with Dr Mel from The Lowdown, I started taking the Yasmin pill back to back, without the 7-day placebo break. 

The first 6-8 weeks my moodiness was worse but I knew I had to wait it out. In that 6-8 week period since starting the pill I experienced a lot of side effects. Negative side effects included: moodiness, my breasts grew a lot and were painful, I had increased appetite (especially for sweet things), my sex drive was low. Positive effects included: my bacne & acne on my chest had completely disappeared within the first couple of weeks, I had less hair on my upper lip and legs, my tits looked amazing. 

9 months down the line and I can say with certainty that getting on the Yasmin pill was the best thing I've ever done for my mental health (and I've been doing therapy and was on antidepressants for 3 years). I still get moody for 2 days just before the end of the pill pack but I know exactly which day it will be and I can manage it more easily. I do get thrush every 2 months more or less which sucks but I did used to get it every year any way so I'm probably more prone to it. I still get some tummy ache before the end of the pack and I spot irregularly (to remedy that the doctor recommended to take a break from the pill for 4-7 days every 3-4 packs but that does send my moods through the roof). 

I whole-heartedly recommend speaking to the doctors at The Lowdown and trying out Yasmin (or an equivalent brand) if you have strong PMS or PMDD symptoms.

Yasmin pill-review-id-dcc30f7b-c1c6-411a-9b07-3211ff697315

This is my first experience with any contraceptive. So far, I am a month in and very very happy. 

The first week: pretty nasty headaches that lasted 48 hours and then subsided. Nausea on and off, but nothing too extreme. These went away quickly with ibuprofen and peppermint capsules so fairly manageable. 

Pros: 
- My sex drive came back. Big time: I was really struggling with depressive mood pre-Yasmin. I felt pretty dead inside and it majorly affected my desire to get frisky. Crazily enough, I am now more in touch with my emotions. I am a little more weepy than usual, but I'm kind of grateful for it after feeling so empty for so long! Plus, my libido is back and I feel really confident because of it :)) 
- Less bloating! (Besides my IBS lol): Yasmin has really helped take the edge off uncomfortable period bloating. 
- My skin might be better: This is hard to say for sure as I am also using products to help my skin anyway, but I am definitely more glowy. Had a few more acne pimples than usual (my skin issues are more sebum plug related) but this is expected with an increase of hormones in my system. 
- No major weight changes: I am very active and exercise at least 5 times a week. Starting BC was terrifying to me as I have a terrible relationship with my body, but so far so good! 

Neutral: 
- No hair loss (from what I can tell): my body hair may be growing faster though - but I am used to this with my regular cycle. It doesn't bother me but may be an issue for others. It's definitely manageable though.  

Cons: 
- My period lasted 25 days when I started: Although this was pretty inconvenient, I was prepared, as spotting and irregular periods are common symptoms for the first three months of Yasmin (and most contraceptive pills). That said, it was relatively painless and a huge improvement to my regular cycle. I am taking the pill to help with severe menstrual cramps and side effects, so this is promising. 
- Weird swelling in my hands??: Very mild but noticeable if you're not distracted. I am used to this from cold weather, so it could be that, but it tends to happen randomly a few times a week - more so than usual. I've heard this is a side effect, so it could be that. 
- My boobs are HUGE. and very tender: This isn't ideal for me as boobs are not something I enjoy having but it's ok and definitely doesn't impact my quality of life too severely. The only issue is tenderness for sure. It's like having PMS boobs constantly but I am hopeful this calms down soon :') 

With so many scary stories out there about starting BC, I wanted to share my experience as someone who was genuinely terrified. It's not as scary as they say and there are so many benefits that outweigh any uncomfortable side effects that crop up in the first few months of use. So far, I have been taking these for 5 weeks consistently but am about to have a break tomorrow. Wish me luck! :)) 

Yasmin pill-review-id-1c2d86e9-a261-4038-85c9-b1c7bb60378f

Rigevidon pill

I’ve been taking rigevidon for over a year and I can safely say it really works well for me! Initially the first 2 months of starting I panicked as my skin started to get some hormonal breakouts and increased mood swings, come month 3 and beyond my hormones completely adjusted, balanced. I use to experience extremely heavy periods and pain and now I have a light bleed and very mild cramping before my break bleed. Everything is the same from my weight to my hair etc the only change I would say is a slight increase in breast tenderness but doesn’t bother me at all as I feel a new person now not having to dread and hide away on my periods. Always give it time I feel with any combined pill to know if it’s right or not for you. 

Rigevidon pill-review-id-86e838e6-7a0f-44fe-be7b-c22b3df916b9

I used the Rigevidon pill for about 6 months to help with heavy bleeding and to avoid pregnancy. As soon as I started taking it I had negative side effects of painful headaches, cramping and mood swings. After the first 2 months the headaches stopped. The low moods and mood swings weren’t so extreme in the first few months however in the last month or two that I was using rigevidon my mood was all over the place. I was just not myself at all I had zero motivation to do anything, was behind on my uni work and was just a horrible person to be around. I was very irritable for no reason, would cry for no reason and had depressive and dark thoughts. Would not recommend! 
However the pill did clear up my skin, did prevent pregnancy and stopped my period. I did take rigevidon without any breaks (unless I had spotting then I would take a 4 day break and continue taking again, only did this twice in the whole time i was using it) so not sure if that may have contributed to my negative experience. 

Rigevidon pill-review-id-8d51edcb-acfc-4972-be5e-9a68d7ba632a

Don’t feel attracted to my partner anymore lol feel neutral no really interested in sex

My anxiety was awful on the pill, really bad mood swings and throwing up in the morning when taking it the day before. When I stopped taking I wasn’t being ill in the morning. 

Rigevidon pill-review-id-a551b5a7-876e-4140-9e76-31c8231591de

Cilique pill

I wrote a four star review for cilique a few months ago saying I had nausea when first started taking it in the morning but then it settled when I then started taking it at night
Since then, I’ve been getting more and more spotting and breakthrough bleeding, both when I take 2 packs back to back, and also if I only take one months worth :/ 
My boobs also went up from a FF to a H cup, my sex drive decreased, feel like I’ve gained weight (although weight gain could be due to other factors), and generally feeling a bit meh on it - especially very emotional/sad and anxious when on my ‘period’
I’ve come off cilique to try marvelon in the hope that a lower dose will reduce my side effects. 

Cilique pill-review-id-34b3b146-cc06-4088-9811-ffb1726330b4

I was originally on depo for 3 years came off as I was on this for quite a long time (recommended 2 years only) I was getting bad acne from the jab so I was put on this pill. Took my body to adjust awhile my acne cleared up super quick, had sore boobs and headaches, but these disappeared 3 months. HOWEVER this pill kept giving me chronic UTIs I was in so much pain where i could not walk. I didn't think it was the pill but it was I looked in the symptom leaflet and 1 in 10 get urine infections. I changed pill and they have gone away. 

Cilique pill-review-id-7808beef-1f7c-4b0e-ae36-bbf04207dced

So many eye problems from this pill -  loss of vision and lots of cysts developed due to oil clogging glands in eye. Also experienced severe hair loss.

Cilique pill-review-id-abcc70b6-aa28-4fc4-9ac0-60507a6fa8fa

Microgynon 30 pill

I’ll give a detailed review - started it to help my spots a little, and due to getting in a relationship. I’ve been on it almost 2 months which might not be long enough, but my spots have gotten slightly worse, and had mood swings (such as crying over not being able to chose what takeaway to get for dinner hahahah, compared to me crying once in a blue moon). But the thing that confirmed me needing to change is the fact my vagina is irritated and sore, think it’s thrush, as applying the cream helps… until I decide it feels okay and stop applying it for it to only get sore again :(. 
I haven’t had the thrush problem with other combined pills I’ve tried - I’ve tried rigevidon, millinette and eloine. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-eca95dca-4747-4d33-a028-51b705290cb2

Amazing for regulating periods and didn’t take long at all to regulate periods and now they’re like clock work and I can predict when I start bleeding down to the hour. Haven’t help with period pain or the heaviness and mood swings are terrible. Whenever I’m close to my break I cry at everything or are angry at everything. Also gained wait when first starting it however it’s been easy to maintain and lose since then. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-86b89190-f6a1-4bc9-a8d8-e21b2e7b20ed

I was originally taking Cilique but chose to give another pill a try due to my discharge being quite bad. So, I was told to go on this pill as it might help my discharge, which it hasn't. I've been taking it since March and to begin with, I had no side effects until recently. I have no sex drive and when I do actually want to try and have sex, I'm so dry which has never happened before. My hair is really thinning out and it makes me sad to look back on photos as my hair was so thick. My discharge is still as bad as it was and my weight is increasing despite going to 5 exercise classes a week. So I'm going to come off this pill and go back onto cilique. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-334dcf4a-52ed-4cc2-b5f9-29d11790f550

Eloine pill

It's great, I don't have any issues with it at all.  I choose to have a breakthrough bleed every 3 months and my PMS is very bad during the placebo 4 days but without it I can end up having breakthrough bleeds. But considering how bad it used to be without it I am grateful I found a tablet that works so well for me. 

Eloine pill-review-id-385d801f-1c23-49ce-93fa-e48caa9354b0

Genuinely happy I found this pill and would recommend it. Compared to the patch or the vaginal ring, it gives me no low moods, and actually makes me feel better. The breast tenderness is minimal and periods/breakthrough bleeding is definitely lighter and sometimes doesn't even occur, with no cramping, which I experienced on Yasmin. 

Eloine pill-review-id-21308764-e56d-4a83-a5ed-e0faafbc77b2

Really like this pill. Have tried nearly every contraceptive there is but it just feels like this one agrees with me! Like the fact i know exactly when my period will come because of the placebo pills