Switching from Combined Pill to Progestin Only Pill - Birth Control Message Board

hollandlop · 03-14-2007, 05:40 PM

Hi. I just went to see the gyno today and told her about my migraine headaches.

I was taking Alesse 28 and she told me that the estrogen could be causing my migraines to be worse.

So she switched me to progestin only pills. Unlike Alesse, I need to take these every day, without any breaks in between packs.

Has anyone been taking the Progestin only pills? Will I experience irregular periods a lot? Will it shorten my period?

The gyno told me I might experience irregular periods at first but then it should go away.

Can anyone tell me their experience on these pills?

kari0345 · 03-15-2007, 06:59 AM

I've been taking the mini pill (Ortho Micronor) since August of last year. I was getting migraines too with regular combined pills so they switched me. I haven't had any problems with the mini pill. I do have some occasional spotting, but nothing unbearable. My periods stayed pretty normal, about every 28-30 days, and are still pretty light (lasting about 4-5 days). Best of all, my headaches have greatly improved. I've had a couple, but they are tolerable, and nothing like the ones I was getting before.

Hope it works out for you too.

hollandlop · 03-15-2007, 11:33 AM

Thanks Kari.

Just one more question. Did you experience irregular periods when you first switched pills?

So besides getting less headaches, do you feel any differences between the combined pill and the mini pill?

Hehe, I guess that's 2 questions.

kari0345 · 03-16-2007, 06:30 AM

It did come early a couple of times (maybe 3-4 days or so), but overall it's been fairly predictable. But it was usually pretty regular even when I wasn't on the pill so that might be a factor too. Other than less headaches, I can't really tell any difference in the mini pill and the combined one.

Did you doctor explain that it's a little less effective than the combined ones? You need to be very careful about taking it at the same time every day and make sure you don't miss any pills. I use one of those small travel alarm clocks to remind me to take it every day. God knows I'd forget half the time otherwise.

Hope this helped you.

hollandlop · 03-16-2007, 07:08 PM

Thx a bunch!

I'm hoping my period will get lighter and more predictable.
That's also half of the reason why I started the BC pill. I used to get very long and heavy periods. And they were unpredictable. But after I started taking Alesse, they were shorter and I always had it on the 28th or 29th day.

So hopefully my period will stay the same after I begin the mini pills.