Hey everyone,

i got my period when I was 12. For years it was very irregular and heavy and painful. When I turned 18, I was put on microgynon 20 ed to regulate my period. It didn't really do much, so I was put on the stronger microgynon 50 ed, to which my body responded. In the two years that I was on 50 ed, I gained a lot of weight (albeit, that was good considering I used to be a waif) then eventually it plateaued, and my body became more womanly.

The down side was that I was really emotionally screwed up by it. Around 3 years ago (i was 21), I decided that it was getting to be too much for my body, so I got off it and decided to let my body fix itself. Unfortunately, since then, I have not had regular periods, and i've gained a significant amount of weight (unhealthy amount) and i'm a relatively healthy eater with a relatively normal, active life. The good thing about getting off it, has been that my moods, which have ruined many a relationship, have become more rational and stable again.

Now, i'm 24, and I still don't have my period regularly, and the last time I had a pap smear, I brought it up with my doctor who said that I might have "sleepy ovaries" and they will "wake up with time". That was about... Two years ago. I vowed never to go on a pill again, considering the effect it had on my life as a whole, and I generally don't like messing with my body like that, but... My best friend told me about yasmine, which is reputed to be one of the best pills around, dubbed "the beauty pill".

I have read some pros and cons about yasmine, being that they can make you absurdly moody to the extreme, i've heard that some people experienced similar things to morning sickness for up to three months, i've read that some people bled constantly for weeks after first starting it, and that people gained significant amounts of weight. On the upside, i've heard it clears your skin, keeps your weight at a steady plateau, and doesn't affect your moods.

I guess my question is, although I am aware that everyone's body is different and will react differently, are there any definites? Are there any certainties or studies or statistics whereby I can make an informative decision about whether to get on yasmine, or if it will have the same effect on me as microgynon?

My situation is this - I haven't seen my fiancee in 6 months as his work is based overseas and mine is based here, and... I really want to make love to him without a condom, without getting pregnant! He arrives in a little over a week... And I need a solution. I have been told that yasmine works as a contraceptive in a week... And I would get on the pill again if just for the 10 days he's here...

Can anyone offer any ideas or advice?

I've thought about female condoms and other contraceptive methods, but I feel most comfortable with the pill... Unless there are other methods that i'm aware of; so please post any info or links that may help me.

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance,

rose.