Cap or diaphragm vs Combined pill

Apart from the issue I'm currently dealing with (it getting stuck inside of me), I LOVE the diaphragm. I found out I wasn't never fitted (which is why it kept getting stuck upon removal), so my new, awesome doctor actually sized me. It's easier than popping in a tampon once you learn how to do it and then ya pop it out the morning after sex. No side effects, no hormones, no emotional hangover. It's very hard to find though. Pharmaceutical companies don't want women to buy one silicone object that lasts for the rest of your life, so finding the right size and actually getting it has been a challenge. My mom used it and only got pregnant to have me (her only child) and I've been using it for 5+ years with no issues.

I've used Caya several times over the past couple years (they last up to 2 years- due for a new one now). I use it on the edges of my fertile window (with fertility awareness) and/or combined with withdrawal or condoms to boost efficacy during the fertile window. Always use with Caya/Contragel- they come with an applicator to re-insert the gel into the vagina, as you need to reapply the gel each time you have sex. Watching the YouTube instructions on how to put it in (plus the instruction manual in the box!) helped me understand how to use it properly and to have an idea of how it was inserted properly.

I used the caya cap. It has been a game changer after previously taking the pill. I feel in control, no need to remember to take a pill, just put it in when needed. Better than condoms as it is women based and not detectable. Effect of not taking hormonal contraceptives has been amazing. All the side effects that I had ( migraines, reduced sex drive, dryness, breast tenderness, strong period pains, breakthrough bleeding and emotionalness) all gone. I wish someone had told me about it before!

This pill has been awful for me. I went on as had really bad irregular periods but i have seen no change except bleeding in between, extreme abdominal pain and hair loss. I have also seen my skin which is normally clear be breaking out all the time. I am only speaking of my experience

Apart from the vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive, i’m happy with this pill as it did not have any really negative side effects for me, plus it grew my breasts which i liked.

I was only on this for 2 weeks because my anxiety was sky high. I had panic attacks so bad my chest hurt and I couldn't breathe. At the time, I had nothing to worry about in my life. It is scary because if I had taken Marvelon during the time I was severely depressed, then this pill might've sent me over the edge. GP said it wasn't the pill. However, a few days after stopping Marvelon, the anxiety and panic attacks disappeared. It was definitely Marvelon.

main thing for me was the super low sex drive. filling this out, interested to also see sweating a lot as an option. As I do sweat a lot, very easily so very interested (and hope) that is a side effect as looking to change/come off.

I am using microgynon to manage endometriosis. Before starting I was having significant pain, nausea, and depression due to the pain. I am taking this pill without breaks, so not having periods is really helping reduce my endo symptoms. I have had a lot of mood problems with other pills, but if anything my mood is slightly better. I think it was just that my endo pain was so bad it was making me feel really low. I am still having some breakthrough bleeding with this pill, but much less than other pills.

No real bad side effects although I would say it’s given me more of a low mood but nothing too serious. No weight gain at all and sex drive still the same.

I was prescribed this by a gynecologist to treat PMDD. It has worked amazingly, my mood has been very stable since I started it 10 months ago. My symptoms are gone, my energy levels are normal, I’ve been more patient with the kids. The only issues are hair loss when I started (which sorted itself out after a few months), low sex drive (but it was low any way). The only issue is the slight clotting risk due to oestrogen, it fills me with fear. It is supposed to be lower than other combined pills but due to my age and other risk factors it concerns me. I am considering trying Slynd to see if it has a similar effect, but I’d happily go back to this if need be. A very good pill!

To be honest I’ve been on this before, but I took packets back to back so I wouldn’t get a period which worked, but now months later I’ve started it again, because my cycle was irregular from August due to plan b usage, and I now bleed on my pill free break, it gives me a sense of reassurance I’m not sexually active anyways it’s been like that for a month now, but atleast I know my cycle is more regular, only thing I would say is around day 4 of me being on the pill free break aka my first day of bleeding I experienced cramps and very bad breast pain PMS syndromes but it went down and it went from heavy bleeding to light bleeding.

I initially wanted a pill that would help decrease my light acne, address mood swings, and alleviate awful cramps. I also hated using pads as it made my skin irritated. In the first month, it was all fine; shortly after, my acne was pretty much gone with just a few pimples left at the end of the month due to PMS. My period almost stopped completely, and my cramps were significantly lowered. After 2 months of usage, I noticed a pattern: 3 weeks with constant anxiety and depression, and then in the fourth week, I felt normal, a few days before the end of the pills. It proceeded to be this way for 5 months. Then I started to feel nauseous, and my awful cramps were back, alongside the increased breakthrough bleeding. I'm now trying to find a combined pill that meets my needs and doesn't give me severe anxiety and depression for 3 weeks of the month. My advice is: if you are like me and naturally have long PMS, I don't recommend this pill. I've tried other birth control pills before, but none were worse than this one. My doctor said it happened due to the fact that Qlaira tries to imitate the natural flow by altering the hormone quantity throughout the month, and keeps up the promise, but when you naturally have bad mood swings, it is not a good thing.

I swapped to Yasmin after trying so many and I felt like I’d struck gold! My skin improved loads (but must also note was under a dermatologist as well) but my skin has continued to be really clear My mood is a lot better provided I run the packets back to back - do find my mood plummets whenever I have a 7 day break but only do this once every 3-6 months I do get headaches but unclear if it coincides with Yasmin but GP is requesting I stop due to this however I’m reluctant due to have good this pill has been!