Microgynon is not being phased out. It also isn't the same pill rebranded. They are saying it's the same pill, but it's basically cheaper than Microgynon, so that's why they're favouring Rigevidon instead. But if it's cheaper for the same ingredients, it's clearly not the exact same pill.
I had no end of issues with Rigevidon, and for months I had doctors and nurses telling me I had to just get used to it. I was on Microgynon for 5 years before it, with no issues whatsoever. I took Rigevidon for about 6 months to try get my body used to it. It made me depressed to the point my partner could tell something wasn't right. I was insecure, and basically a raging lunatic for 6 months, to the point it nearly made us split up. It wasn't until we sat down and pin pointed it was around when I started taking this new pill, that I suddenly completely changed. I had mood swings, couldn't sleep, lots of weight gain (around 2 stones in just over a month, with the same diet & exercise as before). I had a loss of sex drive, bad headaches, heavier periods and yet I was still being told that my body just needed to get used to it.
Eventually saw a doctor, who admitted she had had lots of women/girls tell her similar stories, and she was trying to fight the point that it clearly isn't the same pill. They might say they're the same ingredients, but there's a reason one is a lot cheaper than the other. Since they swapped me back to Microgynon, all the above symptoms have disappeared. But every time I go to get my prescription, it ends up being a massive fuss as they prefer to give the cheaper alternative. No end of women are complaining about breast pain and blood clots with Rigevidon too. So if any of you think something isn't right, please go speak to a doctor or nurse and express your concerns. Also if they tell you, you can't have Microgynon, tell them you know it's not true and demand alternatives. I understand the NHS are trying to save money, and I'm all for that. But when it's causing people this many problems, I have a feeling it was a rash decision, rather than a long thought out plan.