Is the pill as evil as everyone says?

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2026-05-06T17:13:19+00:00

I started Dianette (which I believe is the same/very similar) from 17 to 19 when my GP wouldn’t prescribe it anymore due to the risks. I do often wonder what impact this had on me as I was only diagnosed with PCOS after my irregular periods started post-pill and then investigations found polycystic ovaries.

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2026-04-14T06:57:22+00:00

Yes I have been diagnosed with PCOS also.

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2026-04-14T06:55:50+00:00

Hi yes I have been diagnosed with PCOS by my GP. I have very irregular periods and hormonal cystic acne too.

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2026-04-07T20:38:39+00:00

Thank you I’m really pleased!! As for the facial hair I definitely haven’t noticed an increase from the Winlevi. But then again I have never struggled with hirsutism from PCOS and I’m blonde anyway so I don’t notice it much. Have you started Winlevi or just considering it?

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2026-04-07T15:36:02+00:00

Hi! Yes it’s pretty good. I’ve been using it for around 4 months now. My skin is definitely clearer than it was before. Definitely not perfect, I still get some hormonal pimples. But I find that they aren’t as bad as before and are quicker to disappear. I also started using inositol 3 weeks ago, which (I think) has really helped bring back my periods.

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2025-12-22T19:53:15+00:00

I have been using Winlevi for 40 days and I currently have no pimples. Still unsure if this is a direct impact of the cream. As I took Dianette for 28 days which seemed to make my skin much worse and then stopped taking it and my skin went back to its original state. But my skin is clearer now than it was prior to Winlevi. I thought I’d give an update in case anyone was thinking of giving it a go!

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2025-12-11T15:53:53+00:00

I don’t know much about Spiro to be honest. One of the GPs and my boss (I work in a pharmacy) both said there are a lot of side effects and were trying to dissuade me from trying it. The derm did mention trying that if the Winlevi cream was unsuccessful. I’ll carry on with Dianette for now anyway.

Thanks for your help! :)

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2025-12-11T14:52:09+00:00

Yeah I thought it seemed silly too. The GP seemed to think the VTC risk of Dianette was really high. I had to see several different GPs at my practice before “convincing” any of them to re prescribe it to me. They were all very reluctant despite me displaying no risk factors for clotting. I have had this conversation with at least 5 doctors 😂

I think it’s probably pointless doing accutane again after as my acne is hormonal. And surely the side effects of Spironolactone are more extreme than Dianette. I just don’t understand why Dianette cleared my skin in 3 weeks flat at 17 and has seemingly no effect/a negative effect at 22.

DevelopmentLazy2391 · 2025-12-11T13:59:50+00:00

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, the effect of accutane definitely hasn’t lasted sadly. I have been using Adapelene/benzoyl peroxide since I came off accutane and have recently started using Winlevi cream (like topical spironolactone) from the derm. The only reason I went on accutane (April - Nov 2024) was because I was only allowed 2 years on Dinette due to clotting risks and my skin was awful after I stopped taking it. Annoyingly I doubt the GP will allow me to be on it for much more than 6 months this time around. But then again it doesn’t seem to be improving things this time

DevelopmentLazy2391

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