Contraception

[kitten123]

Hey,

I have been on several different pills in the past including Loestrin, marvalon, microgynon and the most recent cerazette. I was given cerazette last because i told the doctor i get migraines it was ok, i had my period non stop for 3 months then had nothing. the other pills i used i wanted to help my acne also.

I stopped using cerazette at the beginning of april. im still not back to normal yet as i didnt have my period until aug 2nd and then not again until last week. Ive also had the occasional spotting and just dont generally feel normal. My acne has gone completely out of control, it is worse than it has ever been before. Im not sure whether this is due to stopping the use of the pill.

I have started seeing someone new and we have been talking about starting to use the pill again (we are both going to get checked for stds etc before hand). However im not sure what i should consider or whether its too soon to go onto another pill and i should let the effects wear off for longer? I also wanted something that would help to clear up my spots. I have had migraines all my life, they are not since i started taking the pill (i started aged 18, 21 now) but i also dont get them very often. Im not even sure if they can be classed as migraines anymore as although they are extremely bad, 90% of the time if i take paracetemol or ibuprofen it clears up within about an hour or so.

Does this mean i could go back onto the combined pill as ive heard pop are worse for spots. Or is there another method that i could consider?

Sorry for the essay!

Thanks

[Brandye]

You have certainly tried a variety of pills. Yes, the acne could have been affected by stopping the pill. In the time since April the after-effects should be gone and, I suspect, that you are back to a naturally irregular cycle. There is no need to wait longer after Cerazette

I, personally, do not prescribe the pills for anything other than birth control; if a woman needs an iron supplement or acne treatment, then do those but focus on contraception with hormones.

It is time for a long talk with your doctor and you should describe exactly the side-effects you experienced with each of the pills you have been on. The doctor can lay out the alternatives including other pills or the ring for hormonal birth control or, perhaps, you may wish to consider an IUD. Some doctors will not insert the latter until after a woman has had a baby but with women who have not tolerated the pill (various), the IUD (without hormones) should be acceptable.

Have a real counseling session with your doctor or a knowledgeable trainer at a women's clinic. Remember, the goal is contraception. There are other treatments for acne.

[kitten123]

Thank you for your reply! I will book an appointment at my local GP, i think its the nurse that deals with contraception