Progestin only pill (POP) choices

[sparklypickle]

Hi there,

I have previously been on the progestin only pill Cerazette, but it didn't really suit me (Moody, constant bleeding, anxiety, acne, sore breasts), so I switched to femulen (ethinyl diacetate), which seems much better but I have two bleeds a month...(I have been taking femulen for 6 months now) so my GP has prescribed MicroNor(the same as Noriday) (Norethisterone/Norethrindrone) to see if that solves the problem. I understand that ethinyl diacetate is metabolised to Norethisterone inside the body so theoretically there should not be a difference in side effects between the two pills, but I was wondering whether anyone has taken both of these pills. I am slightly concerned because of posts in other forums about MicroNor causing irregulat bleeding and weight gain!!!!

I know that these horrid hormonal concoctions affect different people differently but I would appreciate anyone's experiences about these pills before I start MicroNor,

many thanks

[sparklypickle]

Well, as no-one had anything to say on this topic I went ahead anyway...so far so good, three weeks through and I have only had one period yay! but I am so hungry all the time, I can see how weight gain would be easy!!!

[sparklypickle]

another update, as people seem to be reading but not commenting on this post. I went back to femulen after 6 weeks on micronor. It was making my acne worse, causng constant headaches, hunger,anxiety and a migraine.

Maybe in the future we can have the hormone dose levels tailered for each person, but for now I guess it's just putting up with the lesser of the available evils! I have heard of people taking two femulen tablets a day to stop irregular bleeding, but my GP says this is no longer done, has anyone tried this?

[loopylibra]

I have tried various combined and mini pills over the last 12 years and I still haven't found the right pill for me! After taking a 6 month break from the pill I started taking Femodene which caused severe focal migranes. My doctor advised that I could never be prescribed combined pills again! I was gutted as I've heard about progestrogen only pills and I didn't like the idea of irregular periods but I had few other choices so I gave Cerazette a go. A month of hell on this pill, terrible mood swings, stomach pains, lack of libido and a nasty red itchty rash over my chest and stomach.

I soon realised this was a bad pill for me so off I went to Family Planning for advice. They prescribed me FEMULEN, which I have been on for about 2 months now. I have had 2 light periods and some spotting and no nasty side effects as yet! Have put on half a stone but that could also be coz I stuffed myself over Christmas! So I'm gonna stick with Femulen.

[sparklypickle]

The best of luck with FEMULEN loopylibra, I personally have no side effects at all except the irregular bleeding...It is such a shame that the first choice POP for GPs to prescribe is cerazette when so many people have such awful problems with it! I'm glad I did my research and asked for femulen, although there isn't much info out there on it, I kind of like the idea of taking a pro-drug which is metabolised into its active form once you take it, but that may not be the reason why FEMULEN and MICRONOR could have such different effects on an individual, I suppose the final concentration of norethisterone must be different too.

[sparklypickle]

Hello people, same question again really...Im getting sick again of the 8-16 day cycles on Femulen and wonderd if anyone had experience with other Progestin-only pills (other than cerazete)
thanks

[Jules0797]

Hi, I started taking Femulen mini pill in January 2008 after the doctor refused to prescribe me the combined pill that i had been on for many years. I am over 35 and smoke so apparently at risk of blood clotting with the combined pill. At the start I had terribly heavy periods that lasted sometimes two weeks and were very painful. Then after 6 months my periods stopped. My last period was end of June and so I am now going to do a pregnancy test - which I am terrified of the result hence i keep putting it off. Though definitey doing it tomorrow.
The main thing for me is that the doctor never told me i had to take it the exact time each day. I have only found out by reading various forums and articles. I know i should have read the leaflet but if its so important you'd think the docs would make a point of telling you you only have a 3 hour window in which to take its or its not effective.
Fingers crossed the test is negative anyway!!!!!! Has anyone else experienced the same as me?

[HayleyG]

Unfortunately, due to suffering from headaches and migraines I am restricted to POPs. I have tried Cerazette and Micronor and have suffered from terrible skin with both (it wasnt perfectly clear before, but is definately worse now, feel like a teenager again, v depressin). I'm starting to worry that it is the ingredients that will be in all POPs that my skin does not agree with. Is anyone on a POP that hasn't affected their skin in any way? Thanks! Hayley

[sparklypickle]

Hi Hayley,

I find Femulen ok for my skin, certainly not bad like cerazette, because Femulen has a lower androgenic activity. You may give this a go, you are unlikely to get the twice-monthly bleeds I get!!

[HayleyG]

Hi Hayley,

I find Femulen ok for my skin, certainly not bad like cerazette, because Femulen has a lower androgenic activity. You may give this a go, you are unlikely to get the twice-monthly bleeds I get!!

Thank you. I spoke to my GP yesterday who has prescribed me dianette. Apparently it is anti androgenic and should therefore be much better for my skin than the previous POPs have proved. However, it is a combined pill so may trigger the headaches again As its all about trial and error Ive decided to give it a go, but if the headaches do start again then I will certainly ask him about femulen! x

[HayleyG]

Hi Hayley,

I find Femulen ok for my skin, certainly not bad like cerazette, because Femulen has a lower androgenic activity. You may give this a go, you are unlikely to get the twice-monthly bleeds I get!!

Thank you. I spoke to my GP yesterday who has prescribed me dianette. Apparently it is anti androgenic and should therefore be much better for my skin than the previous POPs have proved. However, it is a combined pill so may trigger the headaches again As its all about trial and error Ive decided to give it a go, but if the headaches do start again then I will certainly ask him about femulen! x

Me again! Didn't like the idea of dianette (horror stories on here and not a pop so likely to cause migraines etc) so actually rang back my GP and asked for femulen instead, which he was happy to prescribe me to try, so fingers crossed! x

[sparklypickle]

Hi Hayley, good luck with Femulen.I think it is meant to have the mildest side effects of all the POPs, but you really must stick to the 3-hour window or its not effective.

I am amazed that any GP would prescribe a combined pill for someone who suffers from migraines, i have asked a total of six GPs (in my time, not all at once!) if they would prescribe me a combined pill and they all said NO WAY! stupid aura. Anyways I know people who had good results with their skin taking Dianette but as soon as they stopped it (and you are only allowed to take it for a certain number of years) their skin became worse than ever, so it may not be the answer fo you either...

[sparklypickle]

New exciting developments in this pill. After taking it for uh 18 months, having twice monthly bleeds, I had a change in bleeding pattern which went 6 weeks, 2 weeks 6 weeks and now it has been 14 weeks!!! I have been to my GP and had hormone tests, my oestrogen is fine so shes not worried about me not having periods, and Im DEFINATELY not pregant (Ive done about ten tests) but I am surprised that the pattern would change after being so regular for so long! has anyone else had an experience ike this?? I don't know how common it is for Femulen to stop periods all together but I found a research article which said it can cuase ammenorrea in a small percentage. MY GP reckons its because I am quite slender, but I havent lost any weight recently......

I dont know if it is related but at the time of the irregular bleeding starting I finished a course of Isotretinoinn (ROacutane) and I came off my antidepresssant (Prozac) I am now back on the Prozac after a disasterous trip to depression central but still no periods....Im not complaining but I have also gone down a bra cup size (back to my pre femulen size) whic is a shame

[jennyofthehills]

I have had a lot of success with the norethindrone acetate .35 pill known as camila tablet. No weight gain, some breakthrough bleeding , but generally a regular period give or take a few days. I have been late 2 or 3 times (a week late) over the last 18 months, causing anxiety about pregnancy. ALso, I am mostly on it to control endometriosis, so I hope this mild form of a pill is enough to protect my fertility. Anyway, good luck. Anyone else had good luck with a mini-pill?

[chris_85]

I tried a few combined pills when I was younger but had heard the mini pill stopped your periods so I gave the mini pill a try. None worked for me - I bled everyday whilst taking them. I was prescribed about 5 different kinds in total over a period of about 2 and a half years. Femulen, micronor, and cerazette ...there were a couple of others but I don't remember the names. I came off the pill altogether about 2 years ago. Went back to the doctors to go back on the combined pill but as I suffer with migraines she refused to prescribe me with them (even tho the combined pill never caused any headache at all) As I don't want any type of coil or injection etc and would only use the pill as a contraceptive she suggested I use condoms instead - very responsible!!