Mini-pill

I was on the mini pill for a few years and it worked - never got pregnant. However my new doctor told me that it's easier to get pregnant on the mini pill, so now I am a bit worried to get back on it again. I just thought to pass this on to you so you maybe take extra precautions...

Looks like others have already said this but yes, the mini-pill is only for breastfeeding mothers. Once you stop nursing, you should tell your doctor to get another source of birth control.

Dear A.,

In my acupuncture and oriental medicine practice, I frequently see women who have suffered long-term side effects from ANY form of chemical birth control pill. Even when the pill is originally prescribed to treat heavy bleeding (not your case), it tends to merely "suppress" the symptoms without changing the underlying hormonal imbalance, and when the woman eventually gets off the pill (years later), the original problems return with a major vengeance. And I am left to clean up the mess (and restore the woman to hormonal balance) with acupuncture and herbs. Fortunately, it can be done! But I have very strong reservations about long-term BCP use because of the introduction of foreign chemicals that the body's cells don't know how to handle, and the possibility of long-term carcinogenic risks.

Have you considered either a diaphragm or cervical cap as an alternative form of birth control? Neither of these will alter your own natural hormonal balance, and once you learn to use them, they're easy and become second nature. Ask your OB-GYN for details.

Warmly,

S. I., L.Ac.
Lotus Wellspring Healthcare
456 E. Mission Road, Suite 100
San Marcos, CA 92069
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.lotuswellspring.com

I took the mini-pill after I had my daughter and I remember having heavier bleeding and more intense cramping also. I think it has a lot to do with things getting "back to normal." Give it another 6 months and your periods might return to the way they were before you gave birth. For me they did, but for lots of others I hear they became heavier and more intense. Good luck.

I am not familiar with the minipill, and you know that you can always get pregnant if you are sexually active. I got pregnant while I was nursing, and the baby was 6 months old. I gt pregnant while having an IUD in.

take precaution! I have many friends who did get pregnant on the mini pill! I would opt for a safer birth control! I got an iud and its great!

two weeks after i stopped breastfeeding, i got pregnant! my oldest daughter is ONLY 14 months older than her sister. i was taking the mini pill after my first child in hopes of low dose, and low impact on milk production. i might as well have been eating tic-tacs! i have a close friend who did the exact same thing!

I never took the mini-pill, but I know THREE women who have recently gotten pregnant on it. My understanding is that you should only take it if you are breastfeeding. If you have stopped, why not go back to your regular form of birth control?

Hi A.,
I took the mini pill for a year while breastfeeding and I never had a problem with it. I continued on the pill for a while after I stopped breastfeeding and I didn't get pregant. The pill may not be the cause of your heavier periods... My periods changed after I had my first son. Way before I had taken the mini pill.. Talk to your doctor there may be somehting else that's causing your periods and cramping...
good luck

I didn't get pregnant while on the mini pill, but it did mess up my period schedule and length. I would call the dr and see if you can get a different pill sooner than your appointment. It took me about 2 months to get back to normal.

I have two kids a one year old and a three year old boys.I bottle feed both tried breastfeeding didnt work out. my girlfriend breastfeed on the mini pill as long as u take it everyday same time u should be fine. my girlfriend took it at different times missed one or two and ended up pregnant. a year to the day her second was born. dont know how her periods were. mine lasted 4 weeks after baby. and I am on the IUD mirena the first month on it had my period the entire month after that been fine. sometimes after baby takes longer for yor body to adjust back. wait another month and see if your periods get better if not then definetly go see your doc.

I had my first daughter in March of 2006. I went directly on the mini-pill 6 weeks after deliver. I nursed until my daughter was 9 months old (December). I continued on the mini-pill and just as I was thinking I needed to switch back to something else, in May, I found out I was pregnant with my second child while still taking the mini-pill. I would be careful if you stop nursing and are only using the mini-pill for contraceptive purposes. Lucky for us we were just thinking about trying again and I gave birth to our son three days ago :-)

Yes, you can, I was told it was about 95 percent effective, but if you are getting your period it may be less. The way I understand it, and of course I am not a doctor, is that it is a progesterone (I think thats how you say it)only pill. The reg. birth control pills have two active hormone ingredients. I actually met a couple of moms who where switching over from nursing to bottle feeding and got preg. You may want to call your doctor and request a prescription change over the phone if you are not nursing anymore, they may change it without you going in. Hope that helps....I know I sweated big time!!!
K.

Hi A.,

Three of my kids are 'pill babies.' My first came along while I was on the full-strength pill, my second came along while I was on the mini-pill and trying to breastfeed (but my milk was failing). My third bullied her way past the mini-pill while I was still breastfeeding well PLUS using condoms and rhythm method (because I didn't trust the mini-pill). Vasectomy is the only method that worked for us.

I don't remember if the mini-pill altered my periods at all ... perhaps because by the time I'd recovered from delivery I was only a couple of months away from a new pregnancy. But I do know that after my third baby, my periods were just out of control. Really heavy, long and painful -- totally not what I was used to. My doctor put me on the regular pill just to regulate me, and that really helped. Good luck! :-)

I GOT PREGNANT ON THE MINI PILL AFTER I STOPPED BREASTFEEDING!!! If you stop breastfeeding, immediately use another form of birth control. I breastfed my first son for a year. I quit around his birthday which was June 10th. I kept taking the mini pill, thinking I would switch as soon as I got around to making an appt., Well, I got pregnant with my second son on July 18th, about a month after I had stopped breastfeeding. I was really freaked out, but it ended up being the best possible timing. Now they are 5 and 6, and best friends, and I recommend to everyone having their kids close together because it is actually easier. Your daughter is still so young, so another type of birth control is necessary. I can't comment on the period, because I actually never got one in between.

I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant with a baby that I conceived while I was breastfeeding AND taking the mini pill. The mini pill is only good if you are breast feeding exclusively (no supplemental bottles). If you're not breastfeeding you need to get on the real deal. I was breast feeding and supplementing because my milk supply went down. I got one period, and thought, "Uh-oh," since I knew that meant that I had ovulated. So I counted out 14 days from the first day of my period to estimate my ovulation and used a condom 2 days before through 2 days after that date. Then waited to start my next period to see if I was going to return to my 28 day cycle. Well, apparently I didn't have a 28 day cycle because I never had another period, I was pregnant (7 months after my son was born). If you don't want to get pregnant I would recommend using condomns every time you have sex until your Dr appointment.

A.,
From what my doctor told me, the mini-pill is specifically for breastfeeding mothers. If you've stopped breastfeeding, the mini-pill may not be effective as birth control for you. Also, my doctor told me if I was getting regular periods each month on the mini-pill, it was probably not working effectively as birth control, despite breastfeeding. When I had my son over a year ago, I was breastfeeding him exclusively, and I did not have a period until the month or two before I weaned him. You may need to see if you can get in to see your doctor sooner, or use another form of birth control in addition to the mini-pill unless you want to have another baby close to your previous one. Good luck!

I took the mini-pill while breastfeeding from about two months after my baby was born until she was 6 months old. I did not have periods during this time. I was taking the pill every day (there were no inactive pills) so I was under the impression that I would not have a period until I stopped taking the pill. The doctor specifically told me that when I stopped breastfeeding, I needed to call immediately for a change in prescription to a regular birth control pill. If you have stopped breastfeeding, I would call and request a change right away.

Hi A. -
I am currently feeding my 5 month old who was conceived on the mini pill :o) I was nursing until about 6 months with my first son and my doctor didn't seem concerned about putting me on the full strenth pill. I know that with the mini pill it's important to take at the same time every day...which I did. I didn't notice any differences in my cycle or cramps and such. So just be prepared. My boys are only 18 months apart...but I don't consider my second an accident - simply and extra special gift from God - He obviously wanted me to have two boys close together!

From what I understand, women are not "supposed" to get pregnant on the mini-pill. However there are some women who still do. Good luck!

I am not familiar with the mini pill. (Birth control pills and I didn't get along well- migraines, irritability, etc...) But, after two children, I do know that heavier periods and cramps are common for a few months after giving birth. Your body and hormones are still getting back to normal. Your periods may change after having a child too. Personally, I would suggest that if the pill is causing unpleasant side effects; try a different birth control pill or option. There are plenty out there these days. Talk with your doctor and see what would work best for you. After the birth of my daughter - our second child, we decided not to have any more. I went with Depo Provera which stopped my periods completely. That was great for me. However, it isn't a really good option if you want to get pregnant again as it could take up to a year for it to get out of your system. I have been off Depo for a year (since my husband decided to have a vasectomy) and I have yet to have a period - which is fine for me. I am 42 and don't miss them and don't want any more children.

Hi. My sister got pregnant while she was breast feeding and on the mini pill. I don't know about her periods though. I did not breast feed and got on the pill when my son was 8 weeks old and my first 3 periods were terrible! I bleed a lot and had terrible cramps. I would talk to your doctor and see what he can suggest. Be careful when having sex, the mini pill is only 80% affective.

Hi A.,I am an ob/gyn np who have heard similar problems with some of my patients and these are few things you should know about progestrone pills/mini pill :
1.everybody react differently to any kind of hormone.
2.you have to let your body to adjust to the new hormone and that takes 3 to 4 cycle/months.
3.you have to take one pill every day at the same time or you might have problem with your bleeding / increasing chance of getting pregnant when ever you miss a pill or you take your pill late.
4.the failure rate with perfect use when you are breast feedingis is 0.3%,same as combined hormone.but when you stop breast feeding the failure rate changes to 8.0%.
5.it is not a bad idea to change to combined pills when you stop breast feeding.
6.there are other options for you if you continue to have problem.be sure you discuss this including possible side effects of each method/failure rate with your provider.

I am a mom of a just turned 1 year old. I have been on the mini pill since right after she was born. (I started menustrating right away) I stopped nursing about 3 months ago. The problem I have with the pill is that I still don't have regular periods. I have one every two months or so. When I do have one, it is very heavy, but not with a lot of cramps.

It could just be your first couple periods after your birth. With my son, I had long heavy periods for the first 3 or 4, and with my daughter (just 6 months), it took 4 months to have a period, but the two I have had are very heavy and longer than normal.

HI A.,

I got pregnant on the mini-pill and I was still breastfeeding. Be careful. They don't work like a "regular" pill. If you miss one it's all over with. Don't ever forget your pill.

I never had problems with heavy periods while I was on the mini-pill. You might want to call your doctor about it. I've found that if I call after hours and leave an emergency message that I can actually talk in person with my doctor. Try it out.

Good luck,
H.

I never went on the pill between babies. I never got a period while nursing either. It surprises me that you are getting a period if nursing full time. We used the with draw method. It worked for us beautifully. Actually we started withdrawing a year before I got pg with my first. I got off the pill and wanted to cleanse my body of it before I got pg. It worked then too.

Good Luck,
D.