Yasmin pill vs Rigevidon

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 tried Yasmin due to the positive reviews and experiences of friends. Unfortunately, it just goes to show how individual birth control can be, as I didn't get on well with it, unlike my friends. I went on it hoping it would clear my skin up, but sadly my skin got a lot worse- really nasty cystic acne on and around my chin/mouth. I also had extremely sore boobs the whole time- the point where I couldn't even lift my arms above my head and i had to wear a sports bra 24/7 due to the pain. It also made my IBS intolerable and it was just generally unpleasant experience. I wanted to share my experience as I'd heard such positive things about it, but it just wasn't for me. I'm now on the Evra Patch and I absolutely love it.

Don't get this contraception if you want to keep your good mental health. It almost ruined my relationship, I turned into a complete monster. The short periods and the clear skin was nice but it really jeopardised my relationship and ruined my mental health. Coming off was the best thing I could've ever done for myself.

I started taking Regivedon combined pill in order to have periods as a peace of mind I wasn’t pregnant, as my mini pill I was taking (cerazette) stopped them. The first week was a massive rollercoaster of emotions and by the end of the week I was exhausted, but this was fairly normal (not usually this extreme) as my body has to adapt. Afterwards it was a general downward slope of mood swings with very negative episodes lasting longer and longer and eventually came off it after realising. I felt like a weight had come off. Everyone is different though, they say mini pill affects mood more but for me combined was hell! Pre warning though I have had past experience with very low mood and depression so I am probably more susceptible.

Was recommended the pill to help with my mental health, however it left me feeling miserable. have more mood swings and awful cramps daily. I would never recommend this option to anyone

The first week of taking this pill made me feel extremely nauseous and unwell to the point I couldn’t get out of bed. I gained 10kg in 5 months on this pill. It made my so hungry all the time. It did help my painful periods and made them more manageable but i was putting on weight at an uncontrollable pace so I had to stop this pill.

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.