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I still get bad cramps and heavy periods but less mood swings now that I have stopped. 

I started taking Rigevidon to help with mood swings, bad cramps and heavy bleeding and it just made all of them worse. I was missing school on my period and had brain fog a lot of the time as well as having even worse mood swings to the point where there was no point continuing with it. I was prescribed it when I was 13/14 purely for the symptoms above and not offered any alternatives except for the pill

Combined pill-review-id-2ffbf5f7-633d-4f74-9652-af1a15ec9519

I was previously using Mercilon after Loestrin were not produced anymore. Mercilon made me so miserable, it changed my moods made me super sensitive, I would literally cry for insignificant reasons, gave me pretty strong headaches every time I was on the no-pill week. I felt very depressed and anxious, doubted myself and sometimes paranoid. Eventually I noticed I am not like this normally and finally decided to change this pill to Norimin. All those effects disappeared, my moods are stable and no depression at all. Only downside is that the sex drive is pretty low, but I guess it doesn't affect me as bad as the other side effects mentioned before. So, I'm pretty conform with it. Apart from the contraceptive purpose, I take the pill to help me with bad acne and polycystic ovaries which I was diagnosed more than 10 years ago, and the pill was the recommended treatment for that. 

Norimin pill-review-id-7a9d0270-e900-49ea-973a-8bf7f8555449

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

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

I probably haven’t been on it long enough to be able to say with full confidence that it’s definitely working for me, however compared to other hormonal contraceptives I’ve used it’s definitely pretty good. I’ve been taking it back to back with no pill break as the main reason for going on it was heavy/painful periods. The periods have of course stopped but there’s been a lot of spotting - tmi but it’s not really blood that I’m spotting and more dark discharge but it’s annoying nonetheless. I haven’t noticed a change to my sex drive but I have had more sex with my partner recently since not having to rely on condoms is a massive weight off both our minds - having said that the spotting does stop me from wanting to have sex sometimes. 

My boobs have gotten bigger, which to be honest for me is a win although they’re super sore. 

I’ve been getting pretty gnarly headaches/migraines but again I’m not 100% these are down to the pill as they seem to be triggered by a hangover and then progress into a migraine. They have increased since taking the pill, though. 

The last thing is my mood is quite erratic at the minute. Again, I can’t say fully that this is due to the pill as my moods beforehand were a bit all over the place as well thanks to PMS. 

Overall I’m happy with it so far and will continue to take it unless any side effects get worse. 

Sunya 20/75 pill-review-id-1c60f075-c774-4296-9f18-c9d11836ae33

I started microgynon at the start of January 2022 it's now June and I'm in the process of changing to a different pill. Microgynon had massively increased my hormonal acne cross my chin and upper arms, and it has caused me to gain nearly 10kg even though I go to the gym for 6hrs a week and eat healthy. In the last 3 months my period has been starting 3-4 days before I'm supposed to take my 7 day break, and my periods have become heavier and longer in the last 3 months. Absolutely loved the pill when I first started as it made my periods regular, light and pain free, this has unfortunately changed the longer I was taking it. Now I'm switching to marvelon to hopefully reduce the acne and stop the weight gain. 

Microgynon 30 pill-review-id-7340495e-1337-4639-8cee-4319527f13c4

I’m currently still taking this pill but looking to change. This is the third pill I’ve tried but hasnt been good. I’ve had severe an anxiety and depression. Haven’t felt like myself on it. Get frequent mood swings which last about hour or so, cry a lot. Overall would not recommend for your own sanity. However I didn’t notice any weight gain or change. My period last 1-3 days and very light

Millinette 20/75 pill-review-id-c835de1b-510c-4c34-a60b-fc65f4556452

In terms of contraception, great. However, I have undesired side effects. 

Levest pill-review-id-3c7049e7-2d7c-4716-991e-2020f3d066bb

I didn't notice a major difference afterwards but my skin did get worse with spots and more oily, realised it was affecting wearing contact lenses and my periods were back heavy, bad cramps and feeling sick. Gained weight coming off it as well.

I was on it for approximately 7 years after being diagnosed with PCOS. Never had any issues with being on it. Periods became regular and lighter and my skin was relatively clear. Had the usual spot on my chin every month but that was about it.

Millinette 20/75 pill-review-id-40addabf-4442-4af9-ba3c-4e732e73ccc4

My spots started to get a little worse once stopping Eloine, but nothing major, just the odd one… but then I started to get loads around my jaw line, and under my chin and neck. It’s not about 6months since stopping it, and my spots have just hit rock bottom, they’ve gotten really bad again. 

When I stopped the pill - the back pain didn’t completely go until about just under 2 months.

I’m currently debating whether to go back on Eloine, as I’m worried the back pain will happen again (I have heard that some people return to pills and will experience completely different effects to before). 

Honestly this pill majorly helped my spots. The spots on my face and back/chest cleared up almost instantly, like literally almost straight away. I literally wouldn’t even break out, I very rarely had the one pimple pop up. 

I stopped this pill due to back pain (was slightly unsure whether it was acc from the pill of not), which went once I stopped the pill. The back pain was odd, it was in the lower part of my spine?!

Eloine pill-review-id-df33e3aa-7b4e-4761-9c01-813196137283

A very empowering contraceptive method that allows women to learn about their own bodies and to work around what's natural to avoid pregnancy.  Any symptoms that I have listed such as migraines occur during PMS.  I would highly recommend the Sensiplan method as it has a typical failure rate of just 2%, and a perfect use of 99.6%. 

Symptothermal method-review-id-f6c68bb8-dfd5-45d7-96cf-cc2e7eb2271d

Was on the combined pill but changed a couple of months ago to natural cycles. Mood generally better, sex drive much better, skin slightly worse, periods & cramps much the same (bad, but that’s just me and my womb) 

Natural Cycles App-review-id-56c3a176-95f0-4797-b885-cace1e37256f

It was the best decision I made. I feel so much better changing to this method

Natural Cycles App-review-id-b8527836-cef7-49e8-b02a-4143006992d9

I've been using Natural Cycles for years, both for preventing a pregnancy and for conceiving. I can't recommend this enough! It's a great birth control with no side effects, and you get to learn so much about your own body

Natural Cycles App-review-id-8001dd27-3d3b-47dd-a142-7afdb61709c7

I am so happy with the Natural Cycles app, which has not only enabled me to leave hormones behind but also taught me so much about my body.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-244326e2-6482-4675-bc31-e348d08ecb96

After 10 years on hormonal contraception it's been amazing to get my cycle back and be clear of hormones without worrying about pregnancy. The app is so informative and even as a nurse I have learned so much - I'm embarrassed to say I never knew that you could only get pregnant up to 5 days per cycle. I like the fact that I know my own cycle now (which I never have before) and the fact it's regular reassures me as I was worried that hormonal contraception could have been masking issues which I'd have not known of. I've recommended Natural Cycles to several people already! Can't imagine myself going back.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-82e01c0a-ff94-45f3-bb73-ef7b3ce2a361

I started with Natural Cycles because it was hormone-free, what I didn't know is that it would give me so much information about my body. I realized how little I knew about my body and I started to feel connected to it thanks to Natural Cycles. I have also used the app to help me plan a pregnancy and with all the data the app had already I was able to get pregnant on the first try and felt in control in the process.

Natural Cycles App-review-id-a36a3f4d-72d6-444c-8470-5a8cbdfe2f55

After being on various pills for over 6 years, battling with unpredictable weight gain/ loss and emotions all over the place, I decided to come off any form of contraception and instead use a cycle tracking app. I started with Flo which is free but still used condoms whether I was ‘fertile’ or ‘infertile’ as I didn’t yet trust the method and was still learning about cycles in general, never mind my own (stuff I didn’t get taught in school). Flo generally predicted my period but I still did worry as it would predict a certain day and my period would come days later and I was in turmoil with worry. 3 months ago I invested in Natural Cycles. It is SO effortless to use - if does require daily temp checking but I have easily added into my routine (take my temp as soon as my alarm goes off). So far it has predicted by period bang on every month, even when my cycle varies. additionally it has not only educated me about my own cycle, but it has given me so much more confidence in my own cycle and I feel a lot more relaxed when it comes to sex with my long term partner, as there are certain times of the month when contraception does not need used and it feels good! I hope that for now while I don’t yet want a baby, that this method continues to work for me and then when the time comes to want children, this method will also aid me in that journey! 

Natural Cycles App-review-id-e068d6ed-9c8d-49ff-b710-dd04454b62a6

There are several methods under the symptothermal umbrella term, and efficacy rates are based on learning with an instructor. I learnt with an instructor from fertility UK, this was very affordable for a lifetime of cycle knowledge and a year of chart support. The method involves me taking my temperature upon waking and observing my cervical fluid throughout the day, recording this information on a chart which I use to work out my fertile and infertile days. This method is easy to use once you have learnt. The number of infertile days is very dependant on the individual users cycle, but I typically get ten days where I can go unprotected once I have confirmed ovulation and also four days at the beginning of my cycle available to use. The rest of my cycle would be considered my potentially fertile/fertile days, where barrier methods (reducing the efficacy to that of the barrier) or abstinence/non penis in vagina sex would be necessary. A consideration is that the altered sexual behaviour would have to have the sexual partners cooperation too, as they would also have to be willing to use a condom or have alternative sex on the fertile days. I personally have found this method very empowering, having real-time data of what my body is doing and fertility status, working with my cycle phases instead of fighting against them. Learning about my body and reproductive health in ways that are not talked about in society and it is knowledge that should no be hidden from menstruators.   

Symptothermal method-review-id-6adb8f83-78ce-4a4a-b8d7-37e7fac0084e

Honestly after being on the pill for 3 years (various types) I am never going back. Natural cycles app takes an algorithm of your temperature as soon as you wake up and it’s completely natural. I have never had any problems with this and I love not having to take a pill as it is completely natural. My whole friendship group have been using natural cycles and it works amazingly for us all.

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