A
female
age
30-35,
*yDaysOnceRevolvedAroundYou
writes:I am in a long term relationship with my boyfriend, of whom we are totally faithful of each other. I have had the coil for a long time, but it isn't for me because I don't trust it without condoms, whereas we don't want to use condoms any-more, so I am thinking of changing contraception to the pill, which people say is more effective, but I'd kind of like the low down on the ups and downs of it first, so anything you know about it would be very helpful. thanks.
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female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (21 December 2011):
 I have been on the pill since the age of 16 (I'm now 24) and I honestly cannot say anything bad about it. I have never had any problems, and the weight gain thing is a myth - at the end of the day you put the food in your mouth, the pill isnt force feeding you!
The main thing you need to be careful with is taking it around the same time every day, not forgetting to take it, and remembering to use condoms if you do have sex whilst on antibiotics or if you have been ill (sickness or diorrhea) the day before. If you dont do this the effectiveness is reduced - but generally if you take it properly every day then you will be fine.
There are hundreds of different types of pill out there - the doctor will normally put you on Microgynon to start and see how you get on with it. If it is having side-effects or if you dont feel happy then dont be afraid to go back to the doctors and change the pill you take, it took me a couple of years to find one I was 100% happy with. I take Yasmin which is one of the strongest on the market, it is great for me as I have bad skin (acne & spots) and bad period pain so Yasmin helps with this. It just takes time to find one that is best suited to your body as they all do slightly different things, so dont worry if the first couple you try dont work out too well.
Get your GP to talk you through your options and find what suits you best - you might actually find that if you are a forgetful person then maybe the contraceptive injection (same hormones as the pill) might be better for you. Just explain to your doctor that you want to change from the coil and were thinking of the pill and would like their opinion.
I hope this helps and good luck!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (21 December 2011): your effects will depend on the pill you take.
I started on the pill about 8 months ago. The first one I tried made me severely sick- vomiting, headaches,dizziness. I went and was changed to logynon, which works much better for me.
I found that over the first month of the new pill, my moods were all over the place, and I became quite depressed. However, this didn't last long. I was originally put on the pill for painful periods, and it has most definitely helped in that respect. I still get a few mild cramps a day or two before it's due, but nothing terrible. Although I did find that it has made my periods much heavier than they would have been - but again, that's not hard to deal with. Also, it's good to be able to 'control' your periods - if it's meant to come at a time that would be a bit inappropriate (eg holidays, exams etc) you can choose to skip it.
As far as contraception goes, it definitely gives you that peace of mind, providing you take it right! It's good as a backup to condoms, or if you dont want to use them at all.
I'd definitely recommend trying it out if other methods dont suit you
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A
female
reader, littlegray  +, writes (21 December 2011):
The pill can be very helpful. I've been on it for about two years now and have never had any problems. You have to remember to take it, but once you get in the habit that isn't hard, and they label the packets with the days of the week so it's easy to figure out if you forgot or not. They're also very small, so if you have problems swallowing pills of any sort it's easier.
I would say that it also helps even out my emotional ups and downs that may have been caused by hormones. I also rarely cramp anymore during my period, which used to be a bit of a problem. I honestly don't have anything bad to say about them, other than I know that in a small percentage of women they may cause other health problems (but they talk about that in the instructions to do with the pill, or you can talk to your doctor about it while getting a prescription).
I've never had a problem with the pill and have nothing bad to say about them.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (21 December 2011): Some of the pros and cons depend on the specific pill you choose to take, so the answers you get are likely to vary. I've been on ortho tri-cyclen lo for about 6 years now and am satisfied with it overall. I did notice some weight gain (about 5-10 lbs) after I first started taking it. But it also made my periods shorter and more regular and did wonders for my acne. I like the "control" that the pill gives me... I don't have to rely on my partner to furnish the condom and be willing to use it or worry about what happens if it breaks.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with additional information, including specific statistics about the efficacy of the pill as a contraceptive method and possible side effects (positive and negative) of the pill he or she would prescribe you. Good luck!
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