Side Effects of the Mini Pill

Updated on January 13, 2012
J.B. asks from Marrero, LA
8 answers

Hey moms,
I have been on the mini pill for a few weeks now bc I am nursing my 2 month old and my hubby is scheduled for his vasectomy in a couple weeks. I only have to be on it until he is cleared of semen, so I think like a few months more maybe. But I just HATE this pill. I was ok at first but now, this week I am miserable. First off I have had lots of bleeding, not fun after finally stopping post partum bleeding. Now I feel so fatigued, I have no interest in sex and I am hungry ALL the time. I just started weight watchers and this is so hard to deal with. I have three small children and I just want to know when these side effects are going to chill out! If you have taken this pill did it get better for you? I took it after my first son was born and had the low sex drive thing but I didn't know it was a side effect until I got off the stupid thing and felt like myself so I researched it and found that low drive is a common side effect. But I did not have the fatigue or the bleeding, these are new, don't know if it bc I am five years older or what. I talked to my hubby about the sex drive thing so he would know it has nothing to do with him and we are just going to work around that bc we know it is short term and he knows I love being with him, it's just the pill. But the bleeding is awful and the fatigue is really getting to me. Then part of me says well maybe it is all in my head bc I just hate being on medication and if I just change my mindset, it will all be ok. I know the sex thing is real bc I have had plenty of exhausted sex and fully enjoyed it but the fatigue and stuff maybe I am just blaming that on the pill, but the bleeding? I mean that is not in my head... Anyway, I guess I am just looking for some sympathy and encouragement that I can get through this short time on this stupid pill and to hear if any of you had these symptoms and they did let up. Thanks!

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G.G.

answers from Austin on

If you think it's the pill, get off of it immediately! Why suffer through this when you have other options. Use condoms or the contraceptive gels/foams and use the "pull out method on top of that." We've dodged pregnancy for 5 years going this route and I'm fortunate in that I get pregnant pretty easily (do I love having to use them...no....but it's not that bad at all!). You will only have to do this for 3 or 4 months and then his vasectomy will have had time to solve this problem.

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A.R.

answers from Houston on

I have the same side effects and I have been on the mini pill for nearly one year now. The periods alone were enough to drive me nuts. Three weeks of bleeding, one week of a break and then starting up again with two or three more weeks of bleeding. My symptoms have steadily gotten worse. At first my libido was okay and I could explain it away as post partum adjustments. Now there is no excuse and I have taken myself off of it. Birth control treats every woman so differently. You should probably talk to your doctor about alternatives if you are having difficulties you can't live with. Good luck.

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M.M.

answers from Detroit on

I'm so sorry! I was on the minipill when breastfeeding too and HATED it. It made me feel horrible all the time, my period was super erratic (weeks of bleeding at a time, then nothing when it was supposed to happen, etc.), headaches, sadness, nausea, just total misery. I gave it about 12 weeks and then just gave up. We just started doing natural family planning (charting, etc.) instead. So, definite sympathy from me! But no success story. Sorry!

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M.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I was on the mini-pill for a short time, and was having all sorts of issues with it. One of my friends mentioned to me that it is abortifacient. I didn't believe her, so I researched it myself. Turns out she was right. It is highly abortifacient. This can cause all sorts of problems with your body, especially if you got pregnant during that cycle. Your period would not be normal. These pills are a nightmare. I got off of them immediately, and my body regulated to normal again. That was actually a catalyst for us to research birth control in general, and just simply trust God with our family size. This made a huge impact on how we viewed our children and our family. This was almost 10 years ago for us. We have only had 2 children since then, amazingly. Of course, we'd love more, but we didn't always feel that way.

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D.G.

answers from Chattanooga on

It could be because of the dieting and nursing you are tired all the time. Though then again I remember after having my kids when they was that little sex was the last thing on my mind. It could be still just after having the baby things every time you can have different effects to your body.Things will get better

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A.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I experienced bleeding, also. Not sure about the other things because those are all somewhat my norm.

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

My advice would be to talk to your OB, maybe there is another options while breastfeeding. I think some of what you are experiencing is normal after birth stuff. Like the fatigue and low sex drive. I also would recommend waiting on Weight Watchers. The weight will come off, right now you need extra calories to feed your baby so as long as you are watching your portions and eating health combinations, don't stress. If you are hungry eat!

I just came off the mini pill myself and I didn't experience the extremes that you are but I felt pretty icky for the first few months. I chalked it up to normal after birth stuff. After all I was up all hours of the night lol. Once we got a sleep schedule under control it go a lot better. Of course they are constantly changing their sleep pattern so it gets better, then not so good, then great, then blah...lol

I would definitely ask your OB about the bleeding, call the office and talk to the nurse. I know my OB's nurse is great for that kind of stuff.

Good luck and hang in there, after all it's not going to be for too much longer and you will be back to normal!

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M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

I was on the mini-pill for 18 months while nursing my first and I never had any symptoms you are describing. I've been on it again now for about 2.5 months and haven't noticed anything different. I don't even get my period while on it. I think you should call your doctor and maybe get a different dosage. It sounds like it's really reaking havoc on you.

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