Microgynon 30 pill vs Gedarel 20/150 pill

I used Microgynon for several years, as advised by my GP from the age of 15. I remember feeling very, very miserable at times and very angry and having a feeling of 'this is not me, this isn't who I am.' After taking the pill for nearly 10 years, I started to experience chronic stomach pain which would result in me being hospitalised every 7-8 months over a 5 year period. The first time I was admitted, I genuinely thought I was going to die. I had never experienced pain like it and was taken to hospital by ambulance. I was under a specialist for gastro problems, had multiple tests multiple times to try and find the cause of my flare ups. I would be put on a morphine drip once admitted and after a few days of tests would be discharged. The cycle repeated itself like this for the next 5 years, each time the pain being worse and eventually on my last hospital admission, blood in my vomit. I had ultra sound scans, blood tests, x-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, biopsies taken from my stomach, a camera that I had to swallow to monitor my digestion, blood and urine samples taken in the dark and sent off to a specialist lab in Cardiff to see if I had an auto immune disease, discussions on could it be cancer? Could it be another rare auto immune disease that was incurable? I had Oramorph prescribed to me at home to take as and when I had a flare up as when I was admitted to A and E each time, this is what I was given. I nearly lost my job working in a primary school due to time off and not really having an explanation in a formal diagnosis as to what was causing this issue, going through a disciplinary each time. Every time I was admitted to A and E, I would be asked if I was on any medication and every time I said 'just the pill'. I asked several health professionals several times, if this could be the cause of my reoccurring pain? I was told each time, no the pill can't do this to you, you would have pain more often. It was the suggested that it could be psychological, basically was it all in my head as tests all came back with nothing. I felt worthless. It was NEVER suggested to me that I should stop taking it to see if it changed anything. One day I decided to stop taking it. This was 5 years ago now and I have not had another episode of chronic stomach pain since. I had follow up appointments with my specialist who said 'it was as rare as hens teeth' for the pill to have caused this but he agreed and truly believed that it had been the cause of my reoccurring, 5 year battle, with chronic and debilitating pain. From being given the pill from such a young age, and a lack of education as to what is in it and what it actually does in order to work, I look back and can't believe what my body went through. Not just with the hospital admissions but with the constant bombardment of hormones that made me feel depressed, angry and at times despondent, all the time being told these feelings are 'normal' side effects. Treat your body with kindness and think about what you are expecting it to tolerate.

What they don’t tell you and should, is that if you have had a pregnancy effected by Hyperemesis Gravidarum, is that you may not be able to tolerate estrogen. It doesn’t apply to everyone, but sadly, it did apply to me and I had to come off them very quickly, because for me, it was exactly like being pregnant again, I was throwing up around the clock.

Didn’t like being on this pill. Caused vaginal dryness to the point where sex hurt. Libido on the floor, so low!!!

I took the combined pill (first Rigevidon and later Gedarel) for more than 2 years. The first few months after taking Rigevidon I had nausea and tender breasts but this settled after about 2-3 months. I developed migraines that would coincide with the break week (pill-free days). I tried switching to skipping break weeks and taking the pill for several months in a row (until I got several days of breakthrough bleeding, usually every three months), but I still got migraines randomly throughout the months and also almost every time I did eventually take a break-week. I switched to Gedarel but this did not change anything about the migraines. I had to take break weeks more often with Gedarel since I would get breakthrough bleeding more quickly (every two months). Overall I liked being able to skip periods and I think my skin/acne and hair growth maybe improved slightly. However, because of the migraines I eventually switched to a progesterone only pill.

Was an okay pill, had been taking for around a year if not longer but I got pregnant on this pill so am now changing pill type/brand

I started using contraception again to help manage my PMS, particularly the mood swings a week before my period. At the time, I was also struggling with severe anxiety, which made PMS even harder to cope with each month. I hoped contraception would help regulate my hormones and provide some relief. Initially, I was prescribed Rigividon, but it didn’t work for me. A week before my period, I had intense emotional spikes, irritability, increased appetite, cramps, and breast tenderness. While I could just about manage it most of the time, I worried about how difficult it might get during stressful periods. My nurse suggested switching to Gederal. Since switching to Gederal, my experience has been much better. My periods are lighter, and my PMS symptoms have improved significantly. I feel much more emotionally stable in the week before my period. However, I tried skipping the 7-pill free days to avoid the break, but by the third packet, I felt PMS symptoms building up again, including mood swings. I have had a small amount of reoccurring dermatitis on my nose and chin since starting the pill. Overall, Gederal has been a much better fit for me compared to both Rigividon and my experience without contraception. It’s made a noticeable difference in managing my PMS and emotional well-being.

I was only on this for a month, no issues at the beginning, however gradually my mood worsened and I began getting very severe cramps and heavy bleeding. Checked with a doctor and was due to the pill not being strong enough for myself personally.

At the start all was going great but in the last 2/3 months things have started going really downhill, I have started shedding hair at an alarming rate, I have gained weight, I have developed thrush on my boob, my eczema is awful, the skin on my face is so oily, I constantly feel down and sad which I used to only experience when I was in the week before my period. It’s definitely not a long term solution.

Have been using Gedarel for 2 weeks now, the initial side effects in week 1 were strong.I got dizzy, was nauseous and slightly depressed.By week 2 I didn't feel as bad, my boobs started to hurt and I got light cramping, my moods are still up and down but not as severely.Overall ive had mild symptoms.

Breast pain was too much I could not even lie down.

This definitely helped me with my PMS symptoms. No significant changes to my weight. I had more sensitive skin / allergic reactions during my time on it but not necessarily due to the pill. My mood was pretty similar to when I was off the pill.

It was alright however I gained weight on it and it made me have horrible mood swings

Having been on this pill for a year, I noticed that I hadn't felt like myself for a while. I found myself with persistently lower moods. Even during times of joy, the feeling felt dampened. This is the primary reason I decided to stop taking this pill; no contraception is worth losing yourself to! I am still in the early stages of being off this pill, but I feel relieved to have made the choice. It did make my withdrawal bleeds ("periods") very light. However, I do also think it completely suppressed my libido. I (being naive) thought that being on a low dosage pill, I might have fewer symptoms, but it just hasn't worked for me. I just wish there were more non-hormonal options out there.