the Combined Pill; and to women who can't for medical reasons tolerate the estrogen in the Combined Pill.

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1 Why Yasmin Is it safe to take the Pill in your teens? Most medical experts agree that starting the Pill in your teens will not harm your health in any way. Nor will being on the Pill for a number of years interfere with your ability to get pregnant later in life. The main things you need to consider are whether you feel mature enough to cope with a sexual relationship, and that you are protecting yourself from STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) by using a barrier method of contraception, such as condoms, as well as using the Pill. I would like to start the Pill, but I'm worried about the medical exam you have to have first. What happens exactly? Your first gynaecological exam is simply a health check to make sure that you have no infections and that your reproductive system is working as it should. It can be embarrassing at first, but you soon get used to the routine and these checks are essential to ensure that nothing is wrong with your genital organs and that you are able to get pregnant when you want to at some later date. Is it true that the Pill makes you put on weight? This is an old-fashioned idea, and was once true for many women. Nowadays, however, there s a range of new low-dose oral contraceptive Pills that seldom have this effect. If you suffer from fluid retention, which is one of the key causes of weight gain, ask for details of the new Pill containing the new category of progestogen, drospirenone. Among other beneficial effects, it helps prevent water retention. Some people say the Pill helps acne, and others say it makes it worse. Which is true? Neither, as there is no need to be on a Pill that will make your spots or acne worse. In fact, there are now new low-dose oral contraceptive Pills which can clear up skin problems altogether in just a few weeks, and go on keeping acne at bay. One of these contains the new progestogen, drospirenone, which has been found to have a dramatic effect on skin problems. I get really bad period pains. Is it true that the Pill can help? Some girls do suffer from cramps and pains, which vary from mild to severe. Period pains are quite common when you are younger and your reproductive system is getting up and running in the early stages. The Pill is well known for its therapeutic effects and going on it usually eases these cramps or gets rid of them altogether. What's the difference between the Pill and the mini-pill? When people talk about 'the Pill', they usually mean the Combined Pill. It contains two different synthetic hormones progestogen and estrogen - and is the most reliable oral contraceptive there is. The Mini-Pill contains progestogen only, and is often called the POP short for Progestogen Only Pill. The POP (or mini-pill) is marginally less reliable than the Combined Pill because it has to be taken at exactly the same time every day, or evening, with a margin of error of only three hours. If you are late in taking the POP (mini-pill) your risk of an unwanted pregnancy is greater than with the Combined Pill. For this reason, it tends to be prescribed mainly to older women who have the discipline to take the Pill as regularly as required; to breast-feeding mothers, who should not take the estrogen in

2 the Combined Pill; and to women who can't for medical reasons tolerate the estrogen in the Combined Pill. Will being on the Pill make me promiscuous? Being on the Pill won't turn you into a different person but it will mean you can have sex as and when you want with little or no planning without risking an unwanted pregnancy as long, that is, as you take the Pill properly. What the Pill cannot do, though, is protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The trouble with STDs is that, if they're not properly treated, they can damage your health, especially your reproductive system, so that it can lead to severe diseases. It can also make it difficult for you to get pregnant later on. Many STDs show no, or very few, symptoms. If you have taken a risk and are worried, ring your nearest large hospital to find out where the closest STD clinic is for a test, or call your doctor's surgery or family planning clinic. Unprotected sex exposes you to the risk of STDs and it is best to use a barrier method of contraception such as condoms as well as the Pill. Even in a one-to-one relationship with someone you trust, you always have to consider the sexual history of your partner's previous partners. I suffer from fluid retention and a tendency to put on weight? Is there anything I can do about this? Yes, there is. Ask your doctor for details about a new Combined Pill, containing a new progestogen called drospirenone, which helps to prevent fluid retention. Switching to this new Pill will mean you re less likely to put on weight due to water retention. What should I do if I take my Pill late or forget to take it? Your course of action will depend entirely on what type of Pill you re on: Combined Monophasic Pill, Combined Triphasic Pill, or the POP (progestogen-only or mini-pill). It ll also depend on which brand of Pill you have been prescribed, and how many Pills from your current pack you have already taken. For general information about missed Pills, see Missed a Pill?, and for specific information about missing monophasic Combined Pills (the type of Pill that most women take) see I forgot to take my Pill. I get really bad spots around the time of my period. They re making my life a misery - they always come out when I'm going somewhere special. What can I do? Some women are more prone to spots than others. But one thing you can always be sure of, if you re going to get a spot it ll always emerge at the worst possible moment! Some of today's new oral contraceptive Pills have additional positive benefits, such as improving the skin, and can clear spots altogether. In particular, there is a new Pill containing the new progestogen, drospirenone, which can improve your skin and clear the spots and blemishes you would normally get when you have your period. My breasts get very painful and tender just before and during my period. Being on the Pill hasn't made any difference. Should I speak to my doctor about switching Pills?' Most of us are reluctant to trouble the doctor with what seem like minor ailments, but tender breasts, caused by fluid retention, can be very uncomfortable or even painful, which is more than enough reason to book an appoint to see your health practitioner. You could consider asking your doctor or family planning advisor about a new kind of contraceptive Pill, which contains a new hormone called drospirenone and has been found to counteract fluid retention.

3 I really don't know what I'm looking for when I check my breasts for lumps or signs of breast cancer. What's the right way to do it? Breast cancer is curable if it is diagnosed early. So it really does pay to make a habit of checking your breasts at least once a month. Here's how to do it properly. I'm on the Pill and I still get spotting, or slight bleeding in between periods. My doctor says it's nothing to worry about. Why does it happen? Slight staining or breakthrough bleeding is likely to occur if you have taken your Pill late or have missed one. It s also very common during the first three months that you re on the Pill but doesn t usually mean that anything is wrong. Spotting or slight bleeding is also more likely if you re on the POP (progestogen-only Pill, or mini-pill). Don t stop taking your Pills if you do, you won t be protected and could get pregnant. If it happens more than one month running, or lasts for more than a few days, make an appointment with your clinic or doctor. I'm on the Pill, but I've missed a period. Could I be pregnant? If you miss a period altogether, feeling worried that you're pregnant is understandable. But if you have been taking your Pill at the same time every day, and haven't missed any days, this is extremely unlikely. If you have not taken your Pills correctly, have been having sex and miss two periods in a row, stop taking your Pill, use another method of contraception and arrange to see your doctor for a pregnancy test right away. `Does the Pill have adverse effects? Possible adverse effects include: weight gain (usually temporary) weight loss mood changes breakthrough bleeding/spotting headaches missed period nausea (feeling sick) tender breasts If you have any of these problems, arrange to speak to your doctor. Many of them can be solved pretty easily by a change of Pill. Rare but severe side effects of the Pill: It is very rare to develop severe complications on the Pill. But uncommon though these are, you must stop taking your Pill and call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms: severe abdominal pain chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing blood severe headache that makes you dizzy, weak or numb blurred vision, double vision or loss of sight severe pain in the leg

4 deep depression yellow skin (jaundice) you find a breast lump you experience sudden speech problems I was on the Pill before, but I came off it because it made me put on weight. Do all Pills have this effect? The body chemistry of each individual woman is different, which can make finding the right contraceptive Pill difficult for some women. Your doctor is likely to recommend that you wait until you've been on the Pill for three months or longer, to allow your body to adjust and to see what kind of effect your particular type and brand of Pill is having. There is now a new Pill containing a new synthetic progesterone called drospirenone, which helps to prevent fluid retention. Women on this Pill are very unlikely to put on weight. My mum says the Pill used to give her headaches and a bloated feeling. Has the Pill changed since those days? It certainly has. Today's new low-dose oral contraceptives have very few side-effects and those rare symptoms that do occur in some women are likely to subside once the body adjusts to being on the Pill usually after the first three packs. I suffer from fluid retention at certain times of the month, which makes me feel fat and ungainly. I've been on the Pill for more than a year - what can I do? Water retention is a very common problem. And the extra water your body stores around the time of your period can literally tip your scales. However, some contraceptive Pills are less likely to encourage the body to hang onto water than others. You might consider speaking to your doctor about switching your Pill. Can going on the Pill help my mood? The Pill itself can reduce the impact of a range of pre-menstrual symptoms, which in turn will make you feel better all round. Stomach cramps, headaches, increased fluid retention, spots and acne are all problems that can be solved by taking the right type of oral contraceptive. Preventing weight gain, clearing problem skin and an improved sense of wellbeing all through the month are just a few of the ways in which the Pill can improve your quality of life. And it looks as if the Pill containing the new progestogen, drospirenone, may directly boost your mood, too. I ran out of Pills on holiday and missed two. Is there a risk I will be pregnant? In this kind of situation it's always better to contact your doctor. As a general guide, though, if you're late in taking your Pill or you've missed it altogether, always use a back-up method of contraception (eg condoms) until you start the next pack. For general information see Missed Pills. For more detailed information about missing the Combined Pill (the one that most women take), see I forgot to take my Pill.

5 How long will I take to get pregnant when I come off the Pill? You could get pregnant any time. In fact, it is now thought that the first two weeks after you stop taking the Pill are a particularly fertile time a fact which surprises many women who find they're expecting a baby right away after coming off the Pill. Contrary to popular belief, the Pill's effect doesn't linger, after you stop taking it. Unless you want to be pregnant, keep taking your Pill until you are 100% sure you're ready to go ahead. Is there any special diet you can follow to reduce the symptoms of premenstrual tension? Today's new low-dose oral contraceptive Pills can do a lot to reduce the impact of pre-menstrual symptoms, such as cramps, headaches, increased water retention and tender breasts. But your diet can play a big part, too. Certain foods have been found to help ease PMS symptoms, including those that are rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6.