Cilest Experience: Bloating, Mood Swings & Unsuccessful Period Skipping

Question
I have recently changed from Marvelon to Cilest. On Marvelon I was feeling rather bloated and had mood swings from time to time, so I decided to switch to something new. Cilest was my next alternative, but twice (in 5 months of being on cilest) I have tried to skip my period (missing the 7 day break by starting a new pack) and it never works. I still bleed as usual half way through the new pack and my boobs are so painful! There was a time when I really needed to skip my period and Cilest let me down!! Marvelon never let me down in this situation. Is Cilest not right for me? Please could you explain why this is happening? Should I switch back to marvelon?

One last question- When skipping one period, could I skip the next one too or is it health related to have your next period before doing it again?

Answer
Hi Xtal,

Breakthrough bleeding is always a possibility when trying to extend your pill cycle and skipping periods. Individual brands affect women differently, so it is possible that breakthrough bleeding on Cilest is more common for you than on Marvelon. Whether or not to switch really depends on which side effects you are more willing to put up with. You can also try a third brand to see if that is better for you.

There aren'to health related issues with skipping more than one period in a row. The period you experience is not the same period as the one you get when off the pill because your uterine lining is not building up each month. Rather, it is a withdrawal bleed due to the drop in hormones during the inactive pill week. This is why periods become shorter, lighter, and sometimes stop when on the pill. If you want to be on the pill on a more continuous basis, I suggest you talk to your doctor about options. The extended cycle birth control pill called Seasonale is designed for only 4 periods a year, but any monophasic pill can be used in this way-you just need to make sure your prescription and insurance will cover enough packs each year.

I think the best thing for you to do is to make an appointment with your doctor to go over the side effects you had while on Marvelon and Cilest and to discuss the possibility of prolonging your pill cycle. He/she will then be able to direct you to an appropriate brand.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions let me know.

-Mia