The Contraceptive Thread - information and questions

Hey,
I was prescribed Microgynon 30 today at my GPs and was told (and also read in the leaflet) to start taking it on the first day of my period so that I was protected straight away. However im very unlikely to be having sex in the first few weeks after starting the pill as I live in a different city to my boyfriend for uni etc. (And i am also not planning to have sex without a condom initially anyway). Therefore I was wondering whether to start it the first day AFTER my period as then I should have my pill free week when my period should be due anyway (although I know its very unlikely that they will be on time or they may be messed up for a while). So shall I do what I was told and just start it the first day of my period or wait til after? Opinions please.
Thanks in advance

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Hey, Can anyone recommend a pill that doesn't cause spots/acne? I was on microgynon 30 for nearly a year and my skin went from always clear to spot prone. The doctor changed me on to Cilest which i've been on it for nearly three months now, at first my skin cleared up and returned to how it was before i started taking birth control but recently it's starting to break out again and i'm getting really down about it as i can't seem to get rid of them. Can anyone recommend a different one that is less likely to cause spots? Thanks x

Hi all,
I took microgynon back to back for about 4/5 months as per doctors instructions. I'm now back to taking it normally today after finishing a 7 day pill-free break. Am I protected against pregnancy? I took about 6 packs back to back. Thank you

Yes you're protected during your 7 day break.

Am I protected now despite having taken 6 packs back to back?

Am I protected now despite having taken 6 packs back to back?

Hey girls,

I'm looking for anyone who has, or used to have, a history of "abnormally" painful menstrual cramps. This refers to any of:
Being so painful you can't walk
Vomiting because of the discomfort
Heavy painful periods involving changing a tampon every half hour
Painkillers not helping because it's so intense
Getting pains at any time of the month, no matter where you are in the cycle (just being worse around period-time, obviously).
Unable to do back-to-back pill packs because of breakthrough bleeding and incredible cramp pain whenever you try
Etc etc, you get the picture.

I've been tested for all STDs and things like inflamed ovaries and endometriosis - all clear.

The next suggestion is switched from the pill to something else. So basically has anyone similar switched to a contraceptive method that is both just as effective as the pill, and has helped with reducing the severe pain (or at least in reducing heaviness of periods which has in turn reduced the pain?).

Thanks for any help!

Hey girls,

I'm looking for anyone who has, or used to have, a history of "abnormally" painful menstrual cramps. This refers to any of:
Being so painful you can't walk
Vomiting because of the discomfort
Heavy painful periods involving changing a tampon every half hour
Painkillers not helping because it's so intense
Getting pains at any time of the month, no matter where you are in the cycle (just being worse around period-time, obviously).
Unable to do back-to-back pill packs because of breakthrough bleeding and incredible cramp pain whenever you try
Etc etc, you get the picture.

I've been tested for all STDs and things like inflamed ovaries and endometriosis - all clear.

The next suggestion is switched from the pill to something else. So basically has anyone similar switched to a contraceptive method that is both just as effective as the pill, and has helped with reducing the severe pain (or at least in reducing heaviness of periods which has in turn reduced the pain?).

Thanks for any help!

Hey girls,

I'm looking for anyone who has, or used to have, a history of "abnormally" painful menstrual cramps. This refers to any of:
Being so painful you can't walk
Vomiting because of the discomfort
Heavy painful periods involving changing a tampon every half hour
Painkillers not helping because it's so intense
Getting pains at any time of the month, no matter where you are in the cycle (just being worse around period-time, obviously).
Unable to do back-to-back pill packs because of breakthrough bleeding and incredible cramp pain whenever you try
Etc etc, you get the picture.

I've been tested for all STDs and things like inflamed ovaries and endometriosis - all clear.

The next suggestion is switched from the pill to something else. So basically has anyone similar switched to a contraceptive method that is both just as effective as the pill, and has helped with reducing the severe pain (or at least in reducing heaviness of periods which has in turn reduced the pain?).

Thanks for any help!

This might sound strange, even gross at first but hear me out.

Consider switching to reusable/alternative menstrual products. That is, menstrual cups and cloth pads.

Within the reusables community, we've noticed that about 80% of women report that their periods get shorter, lighter and less painful within the first couple of months of switching, and we're not sure why, but best guess is its the absence of chemicals in the products that draw out the menstrual flow, among others. A lot of women are sensitive to them, and some more than others. If you've had all the investigations done, might be worth looking into. If it really doesn't appeal, trying chemical free, unbleached organic disposables (the main UK brand is natracare) might help too.

On the contraceptive/medical side, the best thing to do might actually be trying a different type of pill. Pills have the most diversity in hormone levels so that might be the best first step. Its not uncommon for women on the progesterone only pill to stop having periods, and its good to try the POP first if you're considering anything like the implant longer term as it has the same basic hormones.

Has your doctor ever prescribed mefenamic acid for the pain? Its a painkiller thats often used for painful, heavy periods.

One of my friends said that Mirena helped her with problem periods. I also second the menstrual cup suggestion; I found mine got better after I switched to a femmecup from tampons.

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The Mirena is known to reduce the heaviness of your periods and in some cases stop it altogether. It can be painful at first, but it may be worth it at the end. It definitely helped me. Oh, and it's also more effective than the pill, in the effect it has and that you don't have to remember taking anything.

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