Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Nathan Baker said:A missed pill could always result in pregnancy. It might, or it might not. Even having unprotected sex during fertile days doesn't necessarily lead to pregnancy. Taking your pills consistently isn't paranoia; it's just a sign of maturity and responsibility.

Look, Sashica, please—every warning is welcome here, truly. But I hadn't even given Noah Myers8 a second thought until this post appeared, and then her advice telling another user to just double up on their dose actually led that person to do exactly that. It was completely useless, and frankly, I don't know what else to call it besides sheer stupidity. The original quote is just as bad. People on these forums tend to follow the lead of a single post like that. Next time, someone might think, "Oh, look at that, if I miss one, it won't matter, there's no chance I'll get pregnant." Honestly, it surprises me that posts like these aren't deleted immediately. I suspect I'd be banned less often if I didn't feel the need to constantly step in and point out these kinds of things.

Of course it can. And I am certainly not saying that being consistent with the pill is paranoid, nor am I saying it doesn't matter if you miss one.

Besides, I presented that as one of two possible solutions.

Nathan Baker, look, like you already know and have been told before, we don't do moderation talk here. Go hit up the site admins for that.

Nathan Baker said:A missed pill could always result in pregnancy. It might, or it might not. Even having unprotected sex during fertile days doesn't necessarily lead to pregnancy. Taking your pills consistently isn't paranoia; it's just a sign of maturity and responsibility.

Look, Sashica, please—every warning is welcome here, truly. But I hadn't even given Noah Myers8 a second thought until this post appeared, and then her advice telling another user to just double up on their dose actually led that person to do exactly that. It was completely useless, and frankly, I don't know what else to call it besides sheer stupidity. The original quote is just as bad. People on these forums tend to follow the lead of a single post like that. Next time, someone might think, "Oh, look at that, if I miss one, it won't matter, there's no chance I'll get pregnant." Honestly, it surprises me that posts like these aren't deleted immediately. I suspect I'd be banned less often if I didn't feel the need to constantly step in and point out these kinds of things.

If you'd actually read Yasmina's instructions instead of immediately jumping on another user (just like Sabina should've done), you'd see the manual itself says if you miss a pill in week one or week two, you take it as soon as you remember, even if that means popping two pills at once. In the first case (week one), you’re supposed to use extra protection like a condom, but in the second case (week two), the contraceptive effectiveness is still there (no extra protection needed). For the third week, there are two different ways to handle it.

So, yeah, not all birth control pills are the same. Some brands say don't take two at once if you miss one, while others totally allow it. Bottom line: read the damn instructions!

Obviously, nobody's saying that even if you take your pill perfectly on time every single day, nothing is 100% foolproof when it comes to pregnancy—not hormones, not condoms. But I really don't see why there needs to be this massive panic if someone is just following the package insert and their doctor's advice.

It’s honestly not a matter of being unable to follow the instructions—I pretty much have them memorized at this point. My actual issue is that I CANNOT for the life of me remember exactly when I missed a pill,, and now what? The manual doesn't offer any guidance for scenarios like, "If you can't recall which specific week you missed your dose (was it week 1, 2, or 3?), then just do this and that..."

I know for a fact that I took my pill last Friday (06/03),—and I've been consistent from then until today.. but as for the time before that🤷 I haven't the slightest clue!

Pregnancy isn't what I'm losing sleep over; that's not even my main concern here. What I really need to figure out is how to proceed, because my gynecologist is currently traveling and I can't get a hold of him. Besides, I want to be fully protected by next week—I have zero interest in taking these pills and just *assuming* I'm covered, only to end up in a mess.

And here’s another little hiccup regarding the instruction manual: these pills were imported from Bulgaria😁 so they're printed in Bulgarian using Cyrillic script😁 haha

sabina, gle, the same thing happened to me recently—I just forgot to take my pill. Simple as that. I didn't even know which one I missed. I didn't do anything about it because I couldn't figure out which week I was in (I'm on Triquilar, and his packaging always confuses me). I had one extra pill left over, so instead of taking it, I just tossed it and took a standard seven-day break.
For the first seven days of the new pack, I used backup protection.

Don't stress too much about taking two pills at once; it’s not the end of the world. For context, an emergency contraceptive pill has way more hormones than those two Yasmin pills you took. Most girls don't face any serious issues after taking one.

Personally, I wouldn't advise skipping your break to start a new pack immediately. It can trigger heavy, prolonged bleeding that's a nightmare to deal with. It might not happen to you, but it's a risk. Besides, you've already stressed your body out by missing a pill and then doubling up unnecessarily. Adding a back-to-back pack on top of that seems like overkill—especially since you mentioned your partner is traveling and you haven't had sex anyway. 🤷

If I were you, I’d just take the normal break and then start a new pack. Use backup protection for the first seven days if you end up having sex, and leave it at that.

So, here’s the deal: I’ve been on Lyndinette for the last three months, and after chatting it over with my OB-GYN, I decided to switch back to Yasmin. Basically, after finishing my Lyndinette pack, I had my usual seven-day break for my period, but instead of starting Lyndinette again, I just jumped straight into Yasmin without any gap. Is that actually okay??

Look, when you're switching from one pill to another, there are usually two ways to handle it. One way is the method you just used, where you transition directly. The other option is to take a break between packs, though if you go that route, you’ll need to use extra protection during that first month of starting the new ones—in your case, Yasmin.

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I’d play it safe and use backup protection for the first month regardless, simply because you're dealing with a different hormone combination.

briskmoose90 said:sabina, gle, the same thing happened to me recently—I just forgot to take my pill. Simple as that. I didn't even know which one I missed. I didn't do anything about it because I couldn't figure out which week I was in (I'm on Triquilar, and his packaging always confuses me). I had one extra pill left over, so instead of taking it, I just tossed it and took a standard seven-day break.
For the first seven days of the new pack, I used backup protection.

Don't stress too much about taking two pills at once; it’s not the end of the world. For context, an emergency contraceptive pill has way more hormones than those two Yasmin pills you took. Most girls don't face any serious issues after taking one.

Personally, I wouldn't advise skipping your break to start a new pack immediately. It can trigger heavy, prolonged bleeding that's a nightmare to deal with. It might not happen to you, but it's a risk. Besides, you've already stressed your body out by missing a pill and then doubling up unnecessarily. Adding a back-to-back pack on top of that seems like overkill—especially since you mentioned your partner is traveling and you haven't had sex anyway. 🤷

If I were you, I’d just take the normal break and then start a new pack. Use backup protection for the first seven days if you end up having sex, and leave it at that.

So, what you're saying is that once I start the new pack (the 21-day kind), I should use backup protection for the first seven days?
Because that's exactly when I'll need it—my boyfriend is coming to visit.

How does one go about managing the water retention that often hitches a ride with birth control pills? I’m preparing to start on Diane soon, and I’d really like to be ahead of the curve on this. Would taking potassium help mitigate the swelling?

And honestly, ladies, how much do you actually trust oral contraceptives? Personally, I’ve always been a bit of a worrier—someone who prefers the peace of mind that comes from using condoms alongside the pill, just to be absolutely certain.😁

darkwalker2 said:How does one go about managing the water retention that often hitches a ride with birth control pills? I’m preparing to start on Diane soon, and I’d really like to be ahead of the curve on this. Would taking potassium help mitigate the swelling?

And honestly, ladies, how much do you actually trust oral contraceptives? Personally, I’ve always been a bit of a worrier—someone who prefers the peace of mind that comes from using condoms alongside the pill, just to be absolutely certain.😁

Regarding the water retention thing, I have zero clue. I can't help you there because in the two years I've been on the pill, I haven't dealt with any bloating at all.

As for protection, I feel most secure using the pill. Look, nothing is ever 100% foolproof, but out of all the options available (unless you go for sterilization), it’s easily the most reliable method—provided you actually take it correctly.

Using a condom alongside it feels like way too much effort for me. If I were going to bother with condoms, I wouldn't even bother with the pill.🤣

Ultimately, it's your call. If you're genuinely terrified, just use both until you find some peace of mind.

darkwalker2 said:How does one go about managing the water retention that often hitches a ride with birth control pills? I’m preparing to start on Diane soon, and I’d really like to be ahead of the curve on this. Would taking potassium help mitigate the swelling?

And honestly, ladies, how much do you actually trust oral contraceptives? Personally, I’ve always been a bit of a worrier—someone who prefers the peace of mind that comes from using condoms alongside the pill, just to be absolutely certain.😁

There isn't any way!!😁 If your body decides to hold onto water, you're stuck. Your only move is to swap brands and pray the next one treats you better... Take my word for it, I’ve been through the ringer with this. I’ve tried four different types, and every single one left me with swollen legs (some worse than others). Last year, I took a break from them, and my legs practically deflated!😲 I was so used to my legs feeling like two heavy logs that I couldn't believe they actually looked normal! 😉 Six months ago, I went back on the pill—a new brand, obviously—and it’s the exact same story. I gained 6 inches around my legs just like that! 😠

And trust me, I tried everything under the sun: working out, using anti-cellulite creams, chugging water and green tea, snacking on carrots and celery... I didn't touch any actual diuretics, just natural stuff like drinks, fruits, and veggies. Nothing worked. That fluid is driven by hormones; it stays until you stop taking the hormones. That's the cold, hard truth.☕

Look, you might not even run into this issue, so there's no way to know for sure right now. Once you start, you'll see. Good luck!😉

Anthony Cruz12 said:So, what you're saying is that once I start the new pack (the 21-day kind), I should use backup protection for the first seven days?
Because that's exactly when I'll need it—my boyfriend is coming to visit.

Yeah. Use backup for the first seven days of the new pack.🙂>

Is there any way to pick up some pills over the counter just to push my period back by a few days?...

mellowcobra82 said:There isn't any way!!😁 If your body decides to hold onto water, you're stuck. Your only move is to swap brands and pray the next one treats you better... Take my word for it, I’ve been through the ringer with this. I’ve tried four different types, and every single one left me with swollen legs (some worse than others). Last year, I took a break from them, and my legs practically deflated!😲 I was so used to my legs feeling like two heavy logs that I couldn't believe they actually looked normal! 😉 Six months ago, I went back on the pill—a new brand, obviously—and it’s the exact same story. I gained 6 inches around my legs just like that! 😠

And trust me, I tried everything under the sun: working out, using anti-cellulite creams, chugging water and green tea, snacking on carrots and celery... I didn't touch any actual diuretics, just natural stuff like drinks, fruits, and veggies. Nothing worked. That fluid is driven by hormones; it stays until you stop taking the hormones. That's the cold, hard truth.☕

Look, you might not even run into this issue, so there's no way to know for sure right now. Once you start, you'll see. Good luck!😉

Ugh, how awful... my doctor keeps telling me these aren't quite enough of a reason to switch medications because my current prescription is specifically for PCOS and acne, which helps me immensely.
I really don't want to deal with that bloated feeling caused by hormones. I think I'll try increasing my potassium intake first; that should hopefully kickstart things, maybe 😁

darkwalker2 said:Ugh, how awful... my doctor keeps telling me these aren't quite enough of a reason to switch medications because my current prescription is specifically for PCOS and acne, which helps me immensely.
I really don't want to deal with that bloated feeling caused by hormones. I think I'll try increasing my potassium intake first; that should hopefully kickstart things, maybe 😁

Don't spiral just yet. Everyone reacts differently; there’s no universal rulebook here. You won't know until you actually start the regimen. I take birth control for PCOS too, though I never used Diane. It's true that those minor issues aren't usually enough reason to swap meds immediately—even if my doctor did mention it's not normal for my legs to swell by 6-7cm. Usually, I get hit with a whole laundry list of side effects, which is why I end up switching. Honestly, I've already gotten used to having thicker legs, and I'd tolerate it if everything else was fine! Health is priority one; aesthetics come second. 😁

Here’s some actual advice. Before you even touch the first pill, grab a tailor's tape and get precise measurements: waist, hips, thighs, and calves. Note exactly where you're measuring so you stay consistent. Check back once a month. If you're actually retaining water, this data will be your smoking gun when you need to prove to your doctor exactly how much these pills are messing with you...

Never heard about the potassium thing, but ask at a local CVS. They'll likely have an answer... Best!👋

darkwalker2 said:Ugh, how awful... my doctor keeps telling me these aren't quite enough of a reason to switch medications because my current prescription is specifically for PCOS and acne, which helps me immensely.
I really don't want to deal with that bloated feeling caused by hormones. I think I'll try increasing my potassium intake first; that should hopefully kickstart things, maybe 😁

Look, if you're retaining a ton of water and your doctor won't budge on the prescription, then find a new doctor. You shouldn't be dealing with side effects like that once you've adjusted to the medication.
For now, though, don't panic. Just see how things play out.

Thanks, ladies!
I’m trying not to get ahead of myself and spiral into a panic, mostly because I’ve actually been on Diane before a few years back, so I have a pretty decent handle on how they tend to affect my system. It’s less about making wild assumptions and more about expecting a repeat performance of what I’ve already lived through, if that makes sense. 😉
Anyway, thanks, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Did any of you deal with weight gain after you stopped taking those pills? If so, what kind of strategies did you use to manage it—besides just dieting, I assume? 🙂

darkwalker2 said:Thanks, ladies!
I’m trying not to get ahead of myself and spiral into a panic, mostly because I’ve actually been on Diane before a few years back, so I have a pretty decent handle on how they tend to affect my system. It’s less about making wild assumptions and more about expecting a repeat performance of what I’ve already lived through, if that makes sense. 😉
Anyway, thanks, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Did any of you deal with weight gain after you stopped taking those pills? If so, what kind of strategies did you use to manage it—besides just dieting, I assume? 🙂

The water weight left just as fast as it arrived. A few months after I stopped the pills, I started seeing a real difference. After four months, my hips dropped by 4cm, and by nine months, it was down 7cm! Since I couldn't tell if I was losing water retention or actual fat, I tweaked my diet too, ending up losing about 18-20 lbs total. But here's the kicker: once I finally felt good about my body, I had to get back on the pills, and now I'm right back at square one (+12 lbs in the hips and +11 lbs total).😢

I don't know how long your break is, but you must have noticed a change if you were retaining water before. If you didn't pack on massive weight, maybe it all just sheds naturally once you stop... Try measuring yourself the way I suggested, then you'll know. I keep an entire spreadsheet of measurements spanning three years! It stops being a mystery when my jeans suddenly feel tight or start slipping off. It's always a question of whether it's the pills or not. 😁

mellowcobra82 said:The water weight left just as fast as it arrived. A few months after I stopped the pills, I started seeing a real difference. After four months, my hips dropped by 4cm, and by nine months, it was down 7cm! Since I couldn't tell if I was losing water retention or actual fat, I tweaked my diet too, ending up losing about 18-20 lbs total. But here's the kicker: once I finally felt good about my body, I had to get back on the pills, and now I'm right back at square one (+12 lbs in the hips and +11 lbs total).😢

I don't know how long your break is, but you must have noticed a change if you were retaining water before. If you didn't pack on massive weight, maybe it all just sheds naturally once you stop... Try measuring yourself the way I suggested, then you'll know. I keep an entire spreadsheet of measurements spanning three years! It stops being a mystery when my jeans suddenly feel tight or start slipping off. It's always a question of whether it's the pills or not. 😁

I can't recall if you mentioned this already, but have you considered switching to a different brand or type of birth control altogether?
Anyway, thanks for the input; I'll try to keep a tighter grip on all of this. 😉

darkwalker2 said:I can't recall if you mentioned this already, but have you considered switching to a different brand or type of birth control altogether?
Anyway, thanks for the input; I'll try to keep a tighter grip on all of this. 😉

Starting my new pill today—Novynette! Switching over from Yaz, which uses drospirenone. Supposedly that’s meant to help flush out excess water. Yeah, right! 😂
I don't know if anything will actually change, given that I’ve stuck by others for so long, but I have to give this a shot... ☕

Good luck!

Since I haven’t touched birth control in about two years, I’m honestly out of the loop regarding what’s actually on the market these days... To be completely honest, I made the decision to stop taking them because I started developing visible veins in my legs, and I was genuinely worried about the risk of thrombosis. So, I suppose I’m wondering if there have been any recent advancements... specifically, if there are any newer pills out there that are much better managed when it comes to those kinds of vascular concerns?