I think it is important to remember certain things with any contraceptive pill.
1) Each pill will affect every woman differently, depending on their own body's chemistry. What causes minimal or no side effects for one woman, may be "the pill from hell" for another.
2) Cilest is considered to be an oestrogenic pill (the progestogen Norgestimate isn't one to cause many progestogenic effects such as acne, hair loss, low libido), therefore if you are getting these problems, you will need a pill that uses a different progestogen, or lower oestrogen (less than 30mcg) such as Mercilon.
3) You need to give any combined pill AT LEAST 3 cycles before you decide whether it suits you. I would suggest 5 or 6 cycles, because then you can really tell if you're getting any benefits from it, because the first 3 cycles are really just the settling-in period.
4) Cilest is approved in the USA as an acne treatment (called Ortho-Cyclen) and is good for that, but if you have moderate to severe acne, try Dianette or Yasmin.
5) If a pill doesn't suit you, change it! Don't waste your life feeling rubbish.
To the man who has written that Cilest has ruined his marriage and that his wife is crying constantly since the birth of their 2nd child - could it be something like post-natal depression? The combined pill should regulate hormones and help minimise moods, but if theire's an underlying cause, that should be sorted out.
And weight gain isn't really down to pills. I know this will seem harsh, but actually the low dosage of modern pills really cannot cause weight gain. You can get water retention due to the oestrogen content, but the actual effect on lipids is minimal. It is more likely the increase in hunger to be cause the increase in pounds (and I speak as a woman who has gained weight on the pill!!).
Here's a website to help you if you're concerned about pill choices:
http://www.plymouthformulary.nhs.uk/73-Contraceptives/
