Contraceptive Pill

[natalie_1982]

I came off the pill (Microgynon) about 2 weeks ago and since then my moods seem to be swinging crazily.  Literally one minute I'm the happiest girl in the world and the next I'm irritabe and sad.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Will it go on for long if it is linked with the pill?

[nicola_red]

Yep.  I gave up on 2 brands of pill within a week because of those sort of symptoms.  I'm now trying again on Femodene as they used to work fine for me when I was 16-21 but I'm not even sure if these are agreeing with me. 

[natalie_1982]

I'm not on the pill at the moment Nicola, that's why I came off but it seems to have gotten worse now I am not taking anything at all!  Doc advised me to use condoms and go back in a month or so to try another pill once the hormones of this one are out of my system.  The thing is I thought I;d feel gradually better after stopping taking that pill but it seems to have gotten worse even though I'm not on any!

[nicola_red]

Sorry natalie I did misread the Q - but I do think that messing with your hormones is dodgy generally.  I'm only back on the pill cos I can't afford to pay for my own sterilistaion and they won't do it on the NHS.

[Guinevere]

I had problems with Microgynon and mood swings - I was fine to begin with but then got the mood swings got worse and worse.  Came off the pill for 6 months but the mood swings were still there.  Am now on Mercilon and it's fine - no more moody Guinevere!
Ah, the joys of hormones!

[natalie_1982]

Same as, I don't like the thought of pumping my body full of hormones like that, but equally I don't like using condoms as I don't think they are safe enough.  I have spoken to the doc about other forms of contraception but she seems to think that the pill is best suited!

[Hermia]

Microgynon really ******** my up. I felt ill on it and then really yukky when I came off it. I'm on Trinordial now which is great. As for the not pumping my body full of hormones argument? Ha ha ha! Bring on the hormones. I'm so ill off the pill that I was put on it at 15! I came off it in my early 20s to see what happened, but I ended up so ill again that I was referred to a gynecologist who put told me it was my only option.

[HAnn521]

natalie: I have taken Ortho-Tri Cyclen for about 5 years now off and on...I was off of them (when I was single of course) for about a year and I noticed that my body "missed" them and around that 'time of the month' my hormones were out of control too! I noticed that little things upset me, and I was happy then sad, depressed and didn't even know why my mood would change! When I got back on the pill, my hormones really seemed to level out...my 'time of the month' is much much more relaxed now...without any PMS and rarely any mood changes....

I think that being on the pill is quite a bit like getting used to having a Tylenol for all your headaches...our body gets used to it and when we are no longer taking it, our body reacts in an odd way...with mood swings, etc. I have found that I just generally feel better when I'm taking BC, and my hormones 'level' out...

Bottomline: The best thing to do is talk to your Gynocologist and get her opinion...there may be a better pill for you, or a way to feel better when you're not on them...hope it gets better for you!

[Crazychick]

Very bizarre that you ask! I have been on Ovranette for about 6 six years and had no problems what so ever - always thought I was the lucky one out of my friends. But when I last went to the docs for my next 6 monthly check (about 3 months ago) the nurse said that Ovranette is low in production at the mo and prescribed me with Microgynon instead. She assured me it was exactly the same as Ovranette (ingredients wise) and it was just the 'brand' that changed. However, now that you mention it, these past few months, this one especially, Ive been feeling really low, like s**t basically. I put it down to being stressed with uni work, but I go to America for 5 weeks on Sat and yet still cant seem to get excited about it...and that is not like me!I gardly ever get sad. Maybe there is some difference after all

Oops..didn't realise Id wrote an essay! xxx

[natalie_1982]

Don't worry bout the essay crazy chick!

Thanks so much to everyone for their answers :)

I think I'll just hang in there for a few more weeks to see how things progress.  My poor poor boyfriend......!

[rachel82]

hi natalie, I was taking microgynon for about 4 years during which my weight went up my periods were a bit erratic and I was constantly battling with mood swings. If i wasn't wanting to kill someone then I was really emotional. I decided to stop taking it myself about a year ago and now only use condoms. My moods are so much better, my periods are regular and I've lost a bit of weight. I think that taking the pill really messed with my hormones, talk to your doc as they might advise you on a different type of pill. The mini pill has less hormones in it so it might be a better option. Hope this has helped :)

[cag69]

Hi Natalie and all you others, have any of you thought of trying the contaceptive implant - implanon.   It is a small rod (like a matchstick) that is put in your arm it only contains the one hormone like the mini pill and most other medication (including antibiotics) doesn't stop it working.  The implant stays in you arm for 3 years and once it is in you can completely forget about it don't have to keep to remember taking pills.  I am on my second implant and think its terrific - no mood swings at all.   I turned to this as I couldn't find a pill that suited me.