Side Effects :
• Effects on the reproductive system and breasts:
- bleeding and spotting between periods, lack of periods (amenorrhoea), unexpected or unusual vaginal bleeding, changes in discharge from the cervix, cervical erosions (this may be seen when you have a smear test), cycles where you don’t ovulate (anovulation), breast pain and tenderness, a milky discharge from the breast when not pregnant or breastfeeding (galactorrhoea)
• Effects on the nervous system:
- headache, depression, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, confusion, nervousness, a feeling of intense happiness (euphoria), feeling sleepy, loss of concentration, vision problems
• Effects on the stomach and intestines:
- feeling or being sick, constipation, diarrhoea, dry mouth.
• Effects on the liver:
- disturbed liver function, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
• Cysts and tumours:
- a liver disorder, such as a benign liver tumour. These mostly do not cause any symptoms but can sometimes be felt. Benign liver tumours can sometimes cause severe abdominal pain.
• Effects on your metabolism:
- altered fat levels in the blood, alteration of blood sugar levels, increased levels of insulin between meals and existing diabetes getting worse, decreased tolerance to some sugars like glucose, adrenergic-like effects (e.g. fine hand tremors, sweating, cramps in the calves at night), effects on the adrenal glands (e.g. Cushingoid syndrome), cloudy vision, sugar in your urine.
• Effects on your heart and circulation:
- blood clots, including clots in the lung, and swelling in the veins due to blood clots, stroke, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, increased blood pressure, feeling your heartbeat, clots in the blood vessels of the retina (this causes visual problems), heart beating faster (tachycardia).
• Effects on your skin and hair:
- acne, increase in body or facial hair, hair loss, itching, rash, hives.