Hey guys, need some advice. I’ve been on the pill Dretine for I think 7 years now. I can’t exactly pin point when I started to feel like this but I feel like my libido is on the floor! I hardly feel an interest in doing anything to myself or with my partner (I’ve been with him 6 years btw very much still in love and all the attraction is still there so it’s not that). I’m wondering if this is to do with how long I’ve been on the pill? I was fine when I started the pill, nothing changed. I know I need to speak to my nurse about it but I just feel like something is so wrong with me and it’s making me upset sometimes. My partner is brilliant and never forces me into doing anything I don’t want to do - I have spoken to him about how I feel and he obviously said get some professional advice but he even said if I need to come off the pill to give myself a break and see how I go on for a while we will use protection he doesn’t have a problem with that at all, we don’t want children. I know I wouldn’t ever want to go on the implant, coil or have the injection - just personal choice. I would consider the patch though. Has anyone ever been on the patch? What’s it like? Positives and negatives pls. Has anyone ever felt the way I have too after being on the pill for so long? I just feel crazy atm and it’s getting me so down. xxx

Libido fluctuates naturally, it doesn’t have to mean your birth control has got anything to do with it. However it is a possible side effect, which you can experience even years into using it. Its very difficult to determine where it is coming from but I can tell you that it’s got nothing to do with how long you’ve been using your pills for. Swapping to a different pill or method might help but it’s not guaranteed to change anything in regards to your libido. Be aware that if you do swap to something new it is possible you may experience new side effects as well.