What's the best contraceptive pill for me?

There is no one pill that suits everyone. The pill that works best for you will depend on a number of factors, such as your lifestyle, general health and medical history.

When starting on the pill, your doctor will recommend the one they feel will work best for your lifestyle and body. That doesn’t mean a lifelong commitment to that pill, as sometimes it might take some trial and error to find the ideal contraceptive pill for you.

The most commonly prescribed and well known combined pills in Ireland are Yasmin, Microlite, and Ovranette. The most frequently prescribed progesterone-only pill, or mini-pill, is Cerazette.

Once you’ve started on the pill, you will need to see whether you experience side effects. It’s common to get mild side effects during the first 3 months, but they should improve as your body adjusts to the medication. If you don’t feel the side effects are improving, or if they bother you, you may need to change your pill.It’s quite common to need to try a number of different pills before finding the one that works best for you. Once you find the right one, you can usually take it until you reach the menopause, so it’s worth trying different options to get the best result in the long term.

Some contraceptive pills have been found to improve acne. However, this applies only to combined pills that have oestrogen.Acne can be caused by changes in your hormones. This is why it often occurs during your teenage years. An increase in hormones called androgens triggers the production of excess sebum, an oily substance that protects your skin. This can block your pores and make you more likely to develop spots.Contraceptive pills that contain oestrogen can counteract the effect of androgens and improve your skin. However, contraceptive pills that only contain progesterone can make acne worse sometimes. If you have acne, you might find that a combined pill works better for you.

If you’re breastfeeding, you can’t take pills that contain oestrogen. In that case, you might find that a mini pill is the best option for you. Mini-pills only contain progesterone and don’t affect milk production.Some mini pills have a stricter time window for you to take it every day. So if you have an irregular sleeping pattern due to your new baby, it might be harder to manage. Some mini-pills, such as Cerazette, can be taken up to 12h late, allowing greater flexibility.

The first generation of contraceptive pills created had a much higher hormone content than the second or third generation pills that are currently available. These first-generation pills are no longer prescribed.Second generation pills include Microlite and Yasmin, as well as other very commonly prescribed pills. These have a lower hormone content than their first-generation predecessors.The third generation of contraceptive pills use different hormones and hormone doses. The goal behind these lower hormone doses is to decrease the likelihood of getting side effects.That being said, every woman reacts differently to the pill and it is difficult to predict whether a second or third generation pill will be better for you.

Migraines in women are often caused by changes in hormone levels, which naturally occur each month. Oral contraceptives can help with your migraine, but they can also make your symptoms worse. Recent studies have shown that pills with less than 20mg of oestrogen are less likely to cause headaches or worsen existing ones.Some women might experience migraines during the pill-free break. This happens because of the sudden drop of oestrogen. If you experience these types of migraines, speak to your doctor, as you might be recommended to take the pill without a break to solve this issue.If you experience dizziness, sensitivity to light or visual disturbances when you have a migraine, you might not be able to take the contraceptive pill.If you are known to have migraines with aura, you should not be on a combined pill, but you can usually take a mini-pill instead.