Yasmin pill vs Microgynon 30 pill

Overall didn’t impact mood positively but greatly helped with acne and cramps

Made the mistake of changing to the Progestogen-only/mini pill 'Desogestrel' August 2023. Caused me to be deeply depressed while on it, and I also experienced serious gastro-related episodes (twice) where I woke in the middle of the night and nearly fainted while on the toilet, with bad stomach aches then following for the next week or so. More relevant now, that pill also caused my skin to break out badly, the worse I'd ever had it (being a person before who had ever only experienced a few spots here and there). These spots were almost always appearing around my mouth around. Once I realised this pill was causing all of these symptoms, I came straight off and was advised to go back on a previous combined I'd been on for years. Depression and the gastro episodes cleared up, but the acne did not. I then experimented with coming off hormonal contraception altogether, hoping my skin would go back to normal. It did not, so I consulted the GP about a pill that was known for clearing up acne effectively. She put me on Yasmin, which I started 25/1/25. In the first month I did experience some feelings of nausea that I have heard people talk about, but that was only in the first few weeks on it. Also had one headache that went on for a couple of days, which is unusual for me, however I had also read that was common and I haven't experienced one since. Regarding my skin, it seemed to get a little worse for the first month, plus maybe a couple of weeks. I am now almost 2 months on this pill (having taken one 4 day break after my first pack, and now in the process of taking 3 packs consecutively) and I am hopeful that the frequency of spots is steadily going down. I also worked with ChatGPT (my very own virtual PA, haha) to create an oil-reducing skincare routine, so that might also be helping. Another positive is that my breasts have gotten larger, but no weight gain other than that! Will update again when I'm at 3 months on.

I was reluctantly put on the Yasmin pill by my GP as I wasn’t coping with previous contraception pills. I didn’t have a good experience with Yasmin. I was spotting very often and got regular nausea and headaches, so in total, was on it for about 2 months before I decided to come off of it

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!!!

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.

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.

This was the absolute perfect pill for me. I had no side effects other than slightly sore breasts in the first couple of months.

I was given this pill when I was 15 and didn't really know any other options for hormonal contraception. I didn't really notice any negatives for the majority of the time - I was on the combined pill for about 9 years altogether and did switch pills towards the end at one point but it's hard to remember why now as it was so long ago. I think it was because I was struggling to lose weight and also had little to no sex drive. I didn't have enough knowledge of hormones and contraception side effects at that time to know if it was my pill or other factors causing these - I wish I knew what I know now about this topic!

Was on combined pill from around age 16 to 19 with no major issues apart from a bit of weight gain (and bigger boobs) ,until I became very depressed which seemed to clear up when I came off the pill. Difficult to say if it was the cause. Had a break for a while and then tried taking the combined pill again around age 24. Unfortunately this time it made me very sick for the first few days every month to the point of vomiting multiple times. I switched to the progesterone only pill and have never looked back!

Originally went on the contraceptive pill to control and ease very painful and heavy periods, it helped and made my periods regular and easier to deal with. However, around 12 months in I began having regular migraines with aura which are dangerous when using this pill, it was an amazing pill other than that major side effect I had no emotional affect because of it.