Mini pill?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Mini pill?
5
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 2:42pm
Hi! Does anyone take the mini pill? Do you have anything to about it-positive or negative? I have never taken the pill-my husband is a saint. We have a three month old and we can use condoms again going forward, but my doctor offered a mini pill prescription-I am just debating about filling the prescription!

Thank you for your input!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2004
In reply to: acs2424
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 6:29pm
Hi there,

I took it for about 5 months. I thought it was lousy. Not only do you absolutely have to take the pill at the exact same time (a lot less lenient than the bihormonal pills) but it gave me oily skin, breakouts, and my hair was falling out.

Because every woman is different there is a chance it may work for you. You can always get off that pill if you decide its not right for you. It just wasn't right for me!

Take care and good luck!

J :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: acs2424
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 7:34pm
in my experience (with micronor),the mini pill made my periods very heavy,painful and very irregular.I did not like it.maybe you'll have better luck.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: acs2424
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 6:54am
The progestin-only pill is not as good at controlling ovulation as the combination pills. It's a very small dose of progestin, which is good for some, but that's why it absolutely has to be taken at the same time every day (within a half hour). The combination pills give you a longer window of a couple hours because the progestin dose is much higher (why it's coupled with an estrogen).

The most common side effect of POP's is irregular bleeding. Because ovulation is not always controlled, you may still have regular periods, and that would mean that you're relying on thickened cervical mucous to protect you from pregnancy (keeps the sperm out). If ovulation is controlled, because there's no inactive week like with the combination pill, you will start bleeding at some point in time when your body decides it's time. Maybe these will be at regular intervals, maybe not, or you might get a little of either situation. Other side effects can include those mentioned, like skin changes, mood changes, etc.

If both of you are fine using condoms, why worry about it? I used condoms for five years before going on the pill and things were pretty simple then. ;)

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
In reply to: acs2424
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 9:06am
Thank you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
In reply to: acs2424
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 6:53pm
I went on the mini pill 6 weeks after my baby was born. It worked great for me until I started up my periods again. After that my period was never predictable sometimes it would come every 30 days sometimes every 50 days and sometimes not at all. It sure made me go out and spend $$ money on pregnancy tests just to make sure when I did not get my period that I was not pregnant. Over all it worked well for me. My DH does not like condoms so the mini pill was a good alternative.

Good Luck.