As I am breastfeeding my son there are a limited number of Contraceptive Pills which I can take. The one my doctor prescribed for me is Micronor - sometimes refered to as the mini-pill.
WHAT ARE THEY
They are a progesterone only pill and works basically by thickening the vaginal fluid (so that the sperm cannot get to the womb - ha gotcha) and by changing the lining of the womb so that eggs cannot grow there. They are a small, white, round pill and come in a packet with days marked on it to help you 'remember' to take them.
You think you may be pregnant You have a problem with your circulation, such as phlebitis or blood clots You have, or have ever had: - a heart attack - a stroke - jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice whilst taking the pill You have - severe liver problems - liver tumours - tumours of the breast, womb or ovary - unusual or irregular vaginal bleeding which your doctor does not know about
Obviously though, as with all medication, you should discuss carefully with your doctor if you think you have ANY medical problem, or reason, that could affect the effectiveness of this pill, or affect your health.
EFFECTIVENESS
As this pill only contains progesterone, as opposed to 'combined' pills which contain both progesterone and oestrogen, they are slightly less effective (but not much less). However, as with any form of contraception they only work if USED PROPERLY.
HOW DO YOU USE THEM
You should start using this pill on the first day of your period, OR 21 days after the birth of your child - starting on these days will give you immediate protection. If you start on any other day, or have missed a pill by accident, you should use extra protection for 7 days. This pill is supposed to be taken daily, whole, and at the SAME TIME EACH DAY. You do have a margin of 3hrs in which to take the pill, but if you are more than 3hrs late you should treat this has having missed a pill (ie use extra protection for 7 days). Once one pack is finished you have to start straight away on the next pack - so if you are on the pill for 1yr you will have taken 365 pills during the duration of the year.
Headaches Migraine Nausea (if you are sick or have diarrhoea you should treat is a missed pill) Vomitting Breast Changes (if you're breastfeeding like I am you probably wouldn't notice this - lol) Changes in weight (doesn't say which way) Changes in sex drive Patches of darkened skin Rash Depression Breakthrough bleeding and spotting Irregular cycle lengths (I've always been irregular so wouldn't know if it affected me in this way anyhow) Benign liver tumours Malignant liver tumours (reported on rare occasions in long-term users of the pill)
Again, any of these effects, or any others not mentioned should be reported to your doctor.
WHAT DO I THINK
Well.............I'm going to the doctors to ask for a change. There are several reasons for this. The first reason being that it is VERY hard, especially when you have a young child to look after, to remember to take the pill at 'the right time'. If something happens which causes you to forget the pill within the 3hrs then extra protection has to be used for a WEEK (what a bore!). Reason number two is that I have discovered that it does give me headaches - I discovered this by my own little experiment by leaving it off for a while then restarting, repeated a few times. The third reason is the most important reason - once I have been taking it for a whole week (my periods are still pretty irregular because of breastfeeding) my sex drive vanishes - just goes. I spend a whole week thinking we'll have a nice passionate weekend only to get to the weekend feeling like I couldn't care less. So, what do I do? Stop taking it and, what a surprise, I'm feeling like sex.
Well I think thats enough of the private life of Gwen and Nicky. Hope this op has been of some help - its my first of this kind - so please be nice :-)
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Very interesting. I was on micronor for approx 1 year and during that time my sex drive completely vanished and I put on over a stone in weight which nothing would shift. I am very active and have always had a very high metabolic rate and found it very easy to loose weight - not any more! I have been off micronor for 15 months now and I still cant loose weight and my metabolic rate is very sluggish. I have been tested for hypothyroidism which has come back negative (no surprise there!) and have also had my hormones tested as it seems, even after all this time, that they have not returned to normal!
MonkeyMoo 18.06.2002 16:42
I was on this for a while but I totally stopped having periods (which is normal for some people) - no good I like bleeding if it's proof I'm not pregnant! back on microgynon now and happy
MichelleScott 18.08.2001 15:18
So if I start taking this and then stop I should get a sex drive?! Great op.
Jul 13th, 2001
very helpful by (91%):
helpful by (9%):
