Cilest pill vs Rigevidon

The first few years on this pill were okay, my skin cleared up and I had regular, light periods. My mood has been consistently low though, whether that was entirely due to the pill I'm not sure, the last few years have been stressful for everyone. The worst side effect I had was periodontal breakdown - I didn't know birth control pills were linked to this, but if I had, I probably would have stopped taken this pill sooner. I now need to spend loads of periodontal treatment.

I've been using this pill since I was 17. I took a break for a progesterone only implant for a year which didn't work for me so I've moved back to cilest. This has worked as well as contraception can I think. Minimal side effects while my acne is much better. I take it until I break through bleed (about 10 weeks) to keep my endometriosis and adenomyosis at bay. It does the best any treatment at the moment can. I would note I have previously been told by my NHS GP that Cilest has been discontinued. At the advice of a pharmacist this isn't true, it's just simply more expensive than other pills so I have been able to continue using this pill.

I began to get thrush very badly to the point the itching was excruciating. I would then get water infections which twice led to developing kidney infections. Before this pill I had only ever had cystitis and thrush once or twice and they weren't that bad and would go away quickly. On this pill, I was in a constant state of having thrush, a water infection, both. It was horrendous to the point I could barely leave the house. Nothing worked to treat it until I found Optibac probiotics for women which would keep them at bay somewhat but the only thing that really helped was stopping taking this pill and taking these probiotics. I cannot explain the impact this had on my life and the pain caused by having these conditions chronically.

This was my first contraception given to me by my GP at age 19. I believe Rigevidon is the cheapest which is why often it is what many are prescribed, that is what I learned from watching a doc by Davina McCall! It took me years to realise my mood swings and emotional outbursts were a side effect, not a true reflection of who I was. I felt like I had too many artificial hormones inside affecting my mental heath and the close relationships around me. I also suffered with acne. Once I moved to the implant (which really wasn’t a scary or painful procedure), mentally I have been in such a better place.

I was prescribed this pill mainly for my moods and it really did help. I was taking the pill for many years and every month when I had my break in tablets I would get a headache. I thought it was a symptom of PMS but after having a pill review with my GP they advised me to stop taking it. Since I stopped I haven’t had one headache which is quite worrying. They always ask about migraines in the questionnaire but never headaches so it didn’t even occur to me that it might be the pill causing this

Started off on this pill, I'm one of those lucky people who are never sick but while on this pill I would quite regularly feel nauseous a few hours after taking it and on about 5 occasions would vomit aswell, which for me was very unusual but after switching to a different pill these side effects went away.

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 have been on the combined pill for over 5 years now. I went on it at 16 and I am now 21 years old, whilst I have been on it it’s served me well no horrific side effects. However, over the years my sex drive has got worse and worse and I feel unless I’m on my pill break my mind doesn’t feel clear. I am scared to come off it as I do not know what other best alternative but I think I may change to the copper coil to natural cycles to let my body have a natural cycle. I just feel forcing your body to not ovulate cannot be good for it, I need my natural cycle back for peace of mind.

Was put onto Rigevidon after being on the mini pill and not agreeing with it due to constant breakthrough bleeding and UTIs/vaginal dryness. Rigevidon was great for nearly a year and really liked how regular my periods were and had no breakthrough bleeding as long as I did 21 days on, 7 days off rather than taking back to back packs. After a while my mood declined to the point I felt numb and libido declined. I switched to a lower Oestrogen but then after another round at the mini pill as well went back onto Rigevidon as it had been the best one for me and wanted to try it again but I do suffer from migraines but never with aura so I had been deemed safe to use the combined pill as long as I was aware of symptoms to watch out but suddenly developed aura with my migraines so came off Rigevidon and have been fine since.

I had quite a negative experience with the pill . I was prescribed it in 2020 after being diagnosed with PCOS , I was given this to lighten my flow which was very heavy and clear up my skin which had broken out in under the skin cystic acne at the time. Although my periods became more regular they still fluctuated quite a bit. My periods were also incredibly painful and even when I wasn't on my period I began to experience chronic abdominal, pelvic and back pain (I've recently been diagnosed with endometriosis). I also experience horrendous mood swings and had to go on an anti depressant to manage them. I would not try this pill again. I also had suicidal ideation and thoughts when I was on the pill.

I’ve tried microgynon and ceracette to manage my heavy and painful periods before being put on rigevidon. Although, my period is generally lighter, there are major side effects that make me want to stop this pill. My mental health has been at its lowest - one minute I’m fine, the next I’m hysterically crying for no reason. I get irritable extremely quickly and I lash out with very little consideration of what I say and do. It’s damaging. I’m not sure whether this is related to the low mood or the pill itself but I’ve experienced a huge decrease in appetite. The thought of eating makes me nauseous. I also feel extremely fatigued and tired all the time but that can also be due to my anaemia and vitamin deficiencies. My breasts also feel tender and fuller. I am considering changing as it is beginning to affect my day to day and the relationships with people around me. I just do not feel like myself.

I used this pill continuously but my body rejected it. I had 2 breakthrough spotting bleeds every 6 months but after 1 and a ½ years I had a full blown period while on the pill. So I had to come off it. Had no issues on it other than that because I have endometriosis, the pain built up and during self pleasure I'd get debilitating cramps. This stopped after coming off the pill. However no one talks about how hard it is to come off the pill. Your hormones are bring shifted and changed and the emotional toll is so harsh. I've had the worst anxiety and paranoia and it's really hard.

I was weary to go on Rigevidon after switching from a mini pill which caused non stop bleeding and decreased sex drive however, I was positively surprised. For me I found the side effects minimal if not positive: clearer skin and slightly bigger boobs. I take it without a break which means I only bleed every few months and find it a convenient method of contraception.