The mini-pill???

[Bendybops19]

Hey,

Just been changed from dianette over to the mini-pill.

This is basically because dianette is so strong i was a bit worried, and because i have migraines which apparently is made worse on dianette.

Havnt actually picked up the prescription yet, but want to find out about it!

My main confusion is, i have read that you take it constantly? So do you have a period?? :confused: When i took dianette i had a 7 day break for my period.

I know i should have asked my doctor when i was there today :rolleyes:

Hope someone can help! Feeling a bit anxious about not knowing when/if i will get a period on it!!

[Savvy_Sue]

There will be a Patient Information Leaflet in with your prescription which should answer all your questions.

My main memory of those days (!) is that I knew the mini-pill wouldn't work for me because you have a much shorter 'window of opportunity' to take it - couple of hours IIRC. Since I regularly forgot :o to take it at the weekends because my 'routine' was different, I would never have managed on the mini-pill!

These days I guess I'd have a daily reminder on my mobile phone! :D

[Bendybops19]

There will be a Patient Information Leaflet in with your prescription which should answer all your questions.

My main memory of those days (!) is that I knew the mini-pill wouldn't work for me because you have a much shorter 'window of opportunity' to take it - couple of hours IIRC. Since I regularly forgot :o to take it at the weekends because my 'routine' was different, I would never have managed on the mini-pill!

These days I guess I'd have a daily reminder on my mobile phone! :D

LOL - did u have a period when u took it? I have so many tablets to take every night i have a routine :rolleyes:

[Ted_Hutchinson]

Medic8 mini-pill info (http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/minipill.html)

[Bendybops19]

Thanks for the Ted.

Had a quick read through! Still confused as to whether i will have a period or not though. it says this:

"One pill is taken each day. There is no seven-day break when taking the mini pill, unlike the combined pill where you take active pills for three weeks and have a 1-week break."

So does that mean there will be no periods for the whole time i take the mini pill?

[Sheel]

You do still have periods , but they can be irregular and sometimes can stop

[Bagpuss1973]

Hi Bendybops19


Whether you have a period of not will depend on your body. I took the mini-pill for a while and did not have any periods which was rather nice to be honest.

You may experience some "spotting" for a while so may need a panty-liner to sort out that one but other than that you should have no problems.

Cerazette is a good one if you have problems with remembering it as it has a "12 hour" window like the combined pill for you to take it.

It will not do you any harm taking it everyday as that is the way it is made.

Goodluck

Bagpussx

[Bendybops19]

Thanks every one for the replies :)

Bagpuss1973 - The doc did warn me of spotting, fingers crossed it wont be too bad!!

Hopefully the mini-pill will be better for me than the dianette! All the horror storied i've heard about it!

[Savvy_Sue]

LOL - did u have a period when u took it? I have so many tablets to take every night i have a routine :rolleyes: I never took the minipill, like I said I knew it wouldn't work! Actually I gave up on the pill entirely, had one too many scare when I'd forgotten to take it! Which was good, because when I did want to get pregnant at least I didn't have to wait until my periods had settled down or restarted, and my hormones weren't all up the creek.

But I was in a very stable marriage, so getting pregnant wouldn't have been a complete disaster anyway, just very very difficult for us at the time!

Having said that, name a method of contraception and I can NAME a baby born to a mother using that method! :eek:

OK, I'll be honest, there are a few exceptions to that: female sterilisation - I did hear a woman on the radio who'd got pregnant after that! - and those rod thingys, and sponges (which I've never known anyone use), and female condoms (described as 'like making love in a carrier bag' although I don't know if the speaker was talking from personal experience). Or anything 'new', ie since I left the baby chitchat rounds!

But the pill, condoms, male sterilisation, cap, ovulation signs, coil - I can name a baby!

[bonvonnie]

isnt the mini pill the one you have to take at the same time every day??

I was on the combined pil, but it made me suffer from bad migraines, so I discussed it with OH and he said dont take anything.

Now married with 2 kids, I'm back on contraceptive, as we dont want anymore children. I'm taking the hormone injection, which is once every three months, and i think its great. just had my 3rd one, and my periods have stopped completey!! hows that for money saving on towels/tampons etc.

I dont know your history, but i'd recommend anyone whos had kids and wish for no more, to try the injection. its so easy, no need to take a pill every day ... etc

[furrypig]

Mirena coil seems to be the way forward in contraception.
The most reliable after sterilisation and anyone (more or less) can use it.

Worth thinking about if unable to use the combined pill or if the memory isn't so good!!

[Savvy_Sue]

Mirena coil seems to be the way forward in contraception.
The most reliable after sterilisation and anyone (more or less) can use it.Before anyone panics, I will admit that I don't know which kind of coil my friend was using when she got pregnant. I do know that it was not uncommon in those days for pregnancy notes to read "Watch out for coil during delivery!" May be pre-Mirena.

But why would you need a coil post sterilisation? Except to sort out ghastly periods and fibroids or whatever?

[Ellie2758]

Cerazette is good I find. I do get some spotting but nothing like periods.

Hope this helps

Ellie

[Savvy_Sue]

I just found half a packet of marshmallows on the table ... :rotfl:

I don't really do periods any more, but I think I'd have needed them all when I did, and they wouldn't have lasted long.

[Becles]

I tried the mini pill but it didn't agree with me. All was great for about 3 months. Managed to take it as instructed and just had light spotting instead of periods - great!

After 3 months I started getting really bad tummy cramps then started bleeing very heavily. I thought it was a period and just put up with it for about 3 days, but then the pain got unbearable and the bleeding got heavier still. A thick night time pad was completely soaked through in about 2 hours :eek:

Saw my GP who said I was having some sort of reaction to the pill. I was given some other hormones to stop the bleeding and pains, which settled it down.

Probably an odd bad experience rather than something that happens to nearly everyone, but if you do start to feel ill and bleed heavy, see your GP ASAP!

I'm on Cilest (normal pill) now, and have had no problems at all with that.

[Savvy_Sue]

You are all very lucky these days to have so much choice. I remember now pill didn't suit me as it made my breasts swollen and unbearable to touch - these days I'm sure someone would say "Evening Primrose Oil" which has sorted the problem I have now I've got a coil to stop bleeding half to death during my periods - but then my GP just said I either had to put up with it or come off the pill or use mini-pill. Which as I've already said I'd ruled out as impractical!

TBH it was a relief to come off at the time, get 'my' body back, and use good old barrier methods.

And do remember girls, nothing beats barrier methods AS WELL AS THE PILL if you are NOT in a stable relationship. Pill may stop you getting pregnant, it doesn't stop anything else.

Which brings me neatly back to the gynotex thingies. I have a feeling that if you DO have sex during your period (tail end maybe?) you are more vulnerable to STIs etc.

[mini]

MSE is not the ideal place to get advice on contraception which is why the thread is being closed, please ask you pharmacist or ring NHS Direct for advice personal to you.

You can read here for information on what the health board on MSE is for http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=310909&postcount=1

regards, mini