This is the pill that has caused tragedies

Now I’m not a pill supporter and wanted to make this post as unbiased as possible, but I can’t just ignore the facts. I think it’s important to note that doctors won’t speak really badly of a certain type of medication, because they want you to go on it. And as sad as it is, they would rather issue out pills than the expense that numerous pregnancies will cause the NHS.

Fallan Kurek made headlines in 2015/2016 after her death which was caused by the contraceptive pill ‘Rigevidon’. She had been taking Microgynon, and was all of a sudden switched to this ‘cheaper alternative’ that has ‘exactly the same ingredients’. (I myself have experienced this, but instead of Rigevidon was switched to Ovranette.) I am not a doctor or a scientist in order to be able to know if they ARE in fact exactly the same, but I strongly suspect that they are not. (If they are, then how are they cheaper?)

Fallan had visited the doctors with complaints of leg and chest pains, as well as shortness of breath. Unfortunately, what Fallan was actually experiencing was deep vein thrombosis, and passed away from the effects of a huge clot in her lungs. She had only been taking this new version of pill for 25 days.

I know that these chances are low, and I know this is what doctors will tell you. However I know personal friends who have been hospitalised from this pill, I have seen viral Facebook posts of girls warning others about their near death experiences on this pill. You only have to google ‘rigevidon experiences’ to find numerous news stories about it., and none of them positive.

I know a lot of people may be reading this who are taking it and think ‘well i’m ok’, and that’s fine. Contraception is a personal choice. But I do think it is important to note that your body won’t always stay the same in how it reacts to the pill. I didn’t know this. I learnt this from a private gynaecologist when I went through my own issues with the pill and I had asked ‘but I’ve been on the pill for 9 years so why am I only having issues now?’, to which he informed me that your body is always adapting to how it reacts and interacts to the pill and therefore that is why I suddenly started to experience change.

I think my best advice when choosing any contraception, is to do lots and lots of research. Speak up about it and hear stories from your friends, or friends of friends and come to the doctor appointment with questions that you want answered.

Oh and secondly, put rigevidon in the bin…