I've just received my first pack of Cilest which is apparently the closest thing to my regular birth control pill, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, in the UK. The only major difference I could see if that Cilest is all one level of hormones where as Tri-cyclen is three different levels of hormones.

Tri-Cyclen: ''Each white tablet contains norgestimate 0.180 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg. Each light blue tablet contains norgestimate 0.215 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg. Each dark blue tablet contains norgestimate 0.250 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg.''

It says on the box that Cilest is 250 micrograms norgestimate and 35 micrograms ethinyl estradiol so a bit more of the second ingredient than I am used to.

Has anyone made the switch from multi-level hormones each month to one level? How did that work for you? I don't really understand what the difference is.

Any med students out there that could give me an idea of how I might react to a higher dosage of ethinyl estradiol than I'm used to having? Is it likely to make any difference at all, that extra 10 micrograms per day?

I'm trying to find a job and I've just moved and I'm stressed out as it is, I can't deal with additional mood swings etc from switching pills at the moment!

I know you guys are always great for advice and information I've read bad things about Cilest online but I know not every pill is right for everyone and since I'm already used to taking what appears to be a 'sister' pill I hope everything will be fine.

Thanks!

Triphasic pills tend to produce mood swings because of the shift in hormones week to week - I just switched to a monophasic pill, haven't been on it long enough to tell if it's helping, but the triphasic pill definitely wasn't working well for me. I don't really have any other advice to offer, but I hope it works out for you!

Cool. Thanks for the help guys I never had a problem with the one that switched hormone levels but perhaps my mood will be even better now that I'll be on one that doesn't!

Thank you

I used ortho tri-cyclen for several years before switching to ortho-cyclen (all the same level). I didn't really notice any difference at all in my moods. My periods probably got a bit lighter if anything. And it is possible to skip the placebo week and skip your period. That never works for me, but I hear it is possible.

It doesn't really work for me either classicrock, I've tried. I've found the only way to actually skip a period or put it off is to take the pills of the same level from a different pack after I finish the row of that level in my current pack (if that makes sense) so perhaps it will work now that they are all the same level of hormones.

On day 2 of the new pills and haven't noticed any difference, moodiness, etc so think I'm good to go!