side effects???

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2003
side effects???
1
Thu, 03-11-2004 - 3:58pm
I have a couple of questions/concerns

I have been on Alesse for about 2 1/2 years now, and just recently heard some horror stories about the pill. one person who used to work in a Dr's office had heard stories about extreme cronic migraines being caused by the pill, and that one patient was told that if she didn't come off the pill now she would be blind by the time she was 40! This really concerns me...The only Side effects that I discussed with my Dr. were the ones you hear about on all the commercials; stroke, heart disease etc... and I was told they were not anything I needed to worry about as I am a young, healthy non-smoker. Has anyone else heard any stories about such side effects?

Second, I have been feeling for about the last 6 months of so a loss of libido. I love my boyfriend very much, and we have a great relationship so I just don't understand why i am feeling this lack of interest. I was weondering if it might be related to the pill as I have heard it can cause a loss of libido. For the first year or two on the pill I didn't have any of these problems. Can such symptoms develop over time?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: k8brit
Thu, 03-11-2004 - 6:41pm
Hi k8brit, welcome!

You can look at the prescribing information for Aleese on the Wythe site at: http://www.wyeth.com/content/getfile.asp?id=84 It does mention migraines and ocular lesions but the chances of those sorts of things occurring are extremely slight for a young, healthy, non-smoking woman.

However, loss of libido when using hormonal contraceptives is very common. I was on OTC for 3 years and during the last year my interest in IC dropped to nearly zero. When I came off hormones 24 cycles ago my libido came roaring back in less than a week. You might want to talk to your doc about a pill change.

Good luck

      Jill