Not sure what you've decided and I'm not here to change it, just looking for help myself. But I'm with you about concerns of side effects. I tried a few pills and it kinda aggravated something like leg bloat/cramps?? I'm not even sure how to describe it. It wasn't really cramping. I don't know. It was just uncomfortable.(bear in mind though that I have likely a preexisting condition that I had also started treating near that time) It did help regulate my period though and alleviate the physical aches and pains and probably the moods. It's a tough call. I personally went for the regular periods over the regulated ones, but it's becoming a problem again, particularly for my partner, but also because I get debilitating symptoms to where I'm either in bed for the physical aches or just depressed. :/