I've decided to go back on the pill to help ease my heavy periods.
Can anyone suggest a good one to choose that reduces the symptoms or even stops your period altogether?
I'm also looking for one that won't make me gain weight.
It would be good to hear about your experiences to help me make the right choice.
I've previously taken cileste but it made me hungry all the time.
I'd appreciate any personal feedback, particuarly from KR users in the UK as that's where I'm from, thanks in advance.

Have you installed Linux?

I've been on various pills (microgynon - gave me horrid PMT and did nothing for my spots, cilseste - again, horrid PMT and reduced libido combined with increased hunger, dianette - low libido but not so bad PMT, marvelon - crazy mood swings and painful periods and hungry often) and even had the depo-provera injection. None of them worked 100% perfectly with me, and I found that every single woman has a different reaction to each birth control method. For example, my mum was fine with depo-provera and found it stopped her periods altogether, but it gave me a constant period (for the whole 9 months I used it for - you need to be re-injected every 3 months, and I stupidly listened to the nurses and GP when they said my body would adjust).

My advice to you would be to visit a family planning clinic, since quite often GPs haven't got a clue about the side-effects of the birth control pills they prescribe so willingly. Are you sure you want to go on the pill to ease your heavy periods, given that at some point you'll have to stop (either to have babies, or because your body will need a break to reduce the health risks associated with the pill) and you'll just have to deal with them then? You might want to look into herbal remedies for heavy periods - sometimes, natural alternatives are more effective.

I was on dianette, but stopped because I want to try for a baby in a few years, and I have read that fertility can take up to a year to return, and even then, your cycle might not be back to normal! Also, dianette can lead to liver problems on top of the usual nasties associated with the pill (I know the relative risks are small, but I'm fed up taking pills every day!)

BTW, there is a great herbal tea by Dr Stewarts (or is it Stuarts?) that contains galangal root and acts to suppress the appetite - I use it between meals to curb my snacking, and it really works. I think it's called "what a waist".

I was on Cilest for a while and that made made my depression worse so I came off that. Then I went on Microgynon, that robbed me of my sex drive but got rid of a lot of my period-y problems. I'm now on Yasmin and find that to be the best pill I've been on. I feel relatively normal on it and it's got rid of all my nasty PMT-y mood swings and angry feelings. My periods are really light now but my cramps are still dreadful though. Urgh.

Thanks for the that.
I've heard a lot of positive things about Yasmin so I'm considering it too.
Apparently the low dose means you're less likely to gain any weight.
I've tried chammomile tea and black cohosh supplements in regards to the natural approach but it didn't really change my killer pains and other symptoms.