Hello, I’ve been using the pill for about two years that contains estrogen and progestin hormones, it has been working great for me not really any issues with side effects or anything like that, I suffer from migraines since little and got told by a doctor that the estrogen can cause high risk of stroke since I suffer from aura with my migraines, she’s recommending the standard norethindrone pill that is progestin only but I’m scared that because I’m changing pills it will cause me more side effects that I really don’t want to deal with since I’ve been good with the pill that I’ve been using, I don’t know if anyone uses this pill that can have some information for me that I need to know!

She also gave me other options like the depo pill and stuff but I think I’m more comfortable staying in the pill since I don’t know how the other ones work

it won’t *cause* you side effects by switching, another pill *could* just affect you in a different way. it sounds like you definitely need to switch. there’s that pill or there is desogestrel. that pill has a 3 hour timeframe, desogestrel (which i’m on) has a 12 hour timeframe. you don’t get a break week on either and if you miss a pill, you’re immediately unprotected. so if you’re good at taking your pills either is fine, if you’re usually 3-4 hours out+ desogestrel is the way to go as it allows more leniency.

@onthepillxo the thing is that the migraines have been happening to me since I’m little so they’re not caused by the birth control or started by it, I just don’t wanna have to deal with my body adjusting again to a new birth control and the one I’ve been using has a really good window, and I only use it for 21 days and choose when to end my breaks, so I really like it, I’m in a dilemma right now cause the one I’ve been using has been good to me and I’ve been using it for the past 2 and a half years

I’m surprised you were prescribed the combined pill in the first place given your medical history, that was a serious mistake. I think your health and a decreased risk of strokes is far, far more important than the chance that you may experience different or unwanted side effects on a different pill. Even if you don’t switch you a different pill you need to stop taking the combined pill because you are at an increased risk of having a blood clot/stroke. I know of a girl who nearly died due to a blood clot caused/linked to the combined pill. The implant, hormonal IUD and non hormonal IUD are also options for you.

@Ngssn yeah you shouldn’t have been prescribed it in the first place then

100% you need to switch

@bluerose9 yes I’m now trying to see which options is best for me, I’ve only been on the pill, so I was thinking on sticking with just progestin only pill, the doctor also recommended the depo shot but I Don’t know if it’s good or has worse side effects than the pill

honestly the desogestrel pill is great too, i’ve been on it a year and a half

The desogestrel pill has a wider window (12 hours) than the norethindrone pill (3 hours) so you could ask about that.

@onthepillxo have u gotten any side effects from it? After I took the combined one I don’t have my periods anymore but besides that I didn’t get any other side effects that I know of

@aurielle I would definitely like more a wider window, so that one would be a good option, thank u

@Ngssn everyone reacts differently so there’s no way to know how you will react until you try it, you could have a totally different experience to someone else. ^ the desogestrel mini pill has a 12 hour time frame. There is also a new brand Slynd, which has a 24 hour window and break weeks like the combined pill, ask your doctor if that’s available in your country yet. I will say the Depo shot is the only hormonal contraception that is directly linked to weight changes and you can only stay on it for up to 2 years (iirc) as it can affect bone density long term.

@Ngssn @bluerose9 is right everyone does react different to it, but i didn’t bleed for the first year of being on it if that helps?

@bluerose9 she did tell me about slynd but that one is very expensive and I’m paying out of pocket so the desogetrel would be my best option since I like having the 12 hours timeframe just in case, she didn’t tell me about desogestrel, only norethindrone so I definitely appreciate the suggestion cause it would work best for me

@onthepillxo yes I’m just scared of bleeding like crazy again or having really bad side effects but I guess I’ll just have to give it a shot to see, I hate that I didn’t know about any of this stuff cause now I have to go through the whole thing again lol

@onthepillxo I can’t get the one u recommended cause it’s not on the US 😢 I have to get the norethindrone one

just remember with that pill you have three hours to take it and as soon as you miss one you’re unprotected

@onthepillxo time to have my birth control with me 24/7 and alarms lol, that’s the only thing I liked about the pill I’ve been taking, the window was 12 hours as well

Thank you everyone for your advice, I really appreciate it!

There are versions of 12 hour mini pills available in the US, just check with your doctor x