Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

I’m currently taking Diane 35—and now I have to go in for this TBC (tuberculosis) test—so I was wondering if that’s going to mess with my birth control effectiveness... Will I need to use extra protection??

Which of these pills actually works better for clearing up acne?
Qlaira or Yaz?
And look, if anyone here has actually tried both... it’s obviously different for every woman out there, but if someone has some real experience, please let me know! thanks🙂

Hey, does anyone actually know which pills are the newest on the market right now? Like, what’s the latest tech out there? Looking for the freshest stuff available.
So, Yaz was the one who recommended gin to me, and now I’m sitting here wondering—are there any newer versions out there? You know, something maybe a bit easier on the system with fewer side effects?

electrichound78 said:Hey, does anyone actually know which pills are the newest on the market right now? Like, what’s the latest tech out there? Looking for the freshest stuff available.
So, Yaz was the one who recommended gin to me, and now I’m sitting here wondering—are there any newer versions out there? You know, something maybe a bit easier on the system with fewer side effects?

It doesn't quite work like that.

Hey everyone! =)

So, I just got my first prescription for birth control today—Lindynette 20—but my gynecologist totally caught me off guard. He didn't think I needed any blood work or anything else before starting them, which I honestly assumed was standard procedure. Should I be worried? maybe? ^^

Also, if you've used them, please let me know what you think! 😁

Brian Nelson10 said:Hey everyone! =)

So, I just got my first prescription for birth control today—Lindynette 20—but my gynecologist totally caught me off guard. He didn't think I needed any blood work or anything else before starting them, which I honestly assumed was standard procedure. Should I be worried? maybe? ^^

Also, if you've used them, please let me know what you think! 😁

Look, ideally, you should get those tests done. But honestly, if you aren't in a high-risk category—meaning you don't smoke, don't have high blood pressure, issues with blood sugar, clotting disorders, or a family history of blood clots—then skipping the blood work isn't necessarily a cause for alarm. Best regards.

Hey guys, I'm dating a girl who started taking birth control pills. In my opinion, it’s a great way to handle contraception since you don't have to worry about unplanned pregnancy, but these things definitely come with side effects. For her, her libido has completely tanked—both sex drive and general interest. We rarely get to hook up anyway because we don't have much privacy, and even when we do, she isn't feeling it. I should have mentioned that before she started the pill, she was a totally different person. We used to go at it multiple times a day. I'm wondering if any of you have dealt with this, how you handled it, or if anyone knows why such a drastic change happens. Don't think I'm just some jerk obsessing over sex; I've got plenty of patience, but right now, I'm honestly in a tough spot.

Jesse Smith6 said:Hey guys, I'm dating a girl who started taking birth control pills. In my opinion, it’s a great way to handle contraception since you don't have to worry about unplanned pregnancy, but these things definitely come with side effects. For her, her libido has completely tanked—both sex drive and general interest. We rarely get to hook up anyway because we don't have much privacy, and even when we do, she isn't feeling it. I should have mentioned that before she started the pill, she was a totally different person. We used to go at it multiple times a day. I'm wondering if any of you have dealt with this, how you handled it, or if anyone knows why such a drastic change happens. Don't think I'm just some jerk obsessing over sex; I've got plenty of patience, but right now, I'm honestly in a tough spot.

A drop in libido can definitely be a side effect of oral contraceptives; it's actually listed in the fine print. Personally, my own drive actually went up once I started them, mostly because that constant, nagging anxiety about pregnancy finally evaporated, and I honestly don't know a single woman whose desire plummeted because of them, so I suspect it might not be quite as common as people claim. Before you pin the whole thing on the medication, though, maybe take a moment to consider whether the issue might actually be rooted in the relationship itself rather than the chemistry.

Nathan Baker said:A drop in libido can definitely be a side effect of oral contraceptives; it's actually listed in the fine print. Personally, my own drive actually went up once I started them, mostly because that constant, nagging anxiety about pregnancy finally evaporated, and I honestly don't know a single woman whose desire plummeted because of them, so I suspect it might not be quite as common as people claim. Before you pin the whole thing on the medication, though, maybe take a moment to consider whether the issue might actually be rooted in the relationship itself rather than the chemistry.

I honestly don't know what to tell you. Everything seems to be working fine.

Honestly, my libido was way lower when I was on those pills🤷
And Ugh, I also dealt with migraines all the time during sex

Maybe tell your gynecologist and see if you can try some different meds

Nathan Baker said:A drop in libido can definitely be a side effect of oral contraceptives; it's actually listed in the fine print. Personally, my own drive actually went up once I started them, mostly because that constant, nagging anxiety about pregnancy finally evaporated, and I honestly don't know a single woman whose desire plummeted because of them, so I suspect it might not be quite as common as people claim. Before you pin the whole thing on the medication, though, maybe take a moment to consider whether the issue might actually be rooted in the relationship itself rather than the chemistry.

Don't let him scare you too much, 🙂
lower libido is actually a pretty common side effect of these medications.

I’m just not sure if switching up the type of pill would make a difference—maybe it would...

Hey, bubica, which ones were you switching from and to?

If people can't handle a little flirting, they should just go tell the doctor!

I actually stopped doing all that 😁 mostly because I'm trying to get pregnant, so... yeah! 😁

Hi everyone.
I’ve been on Novynette for a year now without any side effects. My cycle is as predictable as a Swiss watch.
Anyway, here is what’s on my mind. I was catching up with a friend the other day who just started taking Yaz. She mentioned they cost her about $10 per pack $24. Meanwhile, my Novynette is only $0.25! 😕 Then you have Diane 35 at $0.35 $17... and the list goes on. I realize there’s a difference in the standard of living between us and elsewhere, so a direct price comparison isn't perfect, but I’m curious: are Novynette much cheaper than other brands where you are? It actually worried me a bit how inexpensive they are, especially since I read somewhere online that they were supposed to be pulled from the market.

So, if anyone has reliable information—say, from a gynecologist, a nurse, or even a close family friend 😁—regarding how good or bad these pills are for your health, please be kind enough to share. 🙂

Just to reiterate, I’ve been using them for a year and they work great for me...

If Diane doesn't explicitly state they should be purchased over-the-counter, you really ought to include a link—just dropping random info like that isn't the smartest move. 🙂

Around here, those are actually cheaper than other options since you can get them with a prescription—meaning the government essentially picks up part of the tab for us.
Diane works the same way with prescriptions too, so I actually think they end up being free, though their main purpose isn't really contraception.

And honestly, I’m mostly asking because there isn't a direct link available. Someone just started this rumor online—you know, the "I heard it through the grapevine" type of thing. That’s why I want to dig into it. I haven't stumbled upon anything negative about them yet, aside from people just spreading hearsay... Look, they work fine for me, but I don't want to wake up one morning realizing I've accidentally invited a whole new set of issues into my life...
It’s not like you can just pick these up over the counter here either, so I had to get a little creative 😁 since they’re quite affordable.
Wait, hold on—which ones are you saying aren't primarily intended for contraception? Are we talking Diane or Novynette?

Good morning.🙂

I've been on Cilest for quite a while now, but I’ve run into a situation that leaves me completely stumped. I was prescribed an antibiotic for a throat infection, and I’m well aware that antibiotics can interfere with birth control effectiveness. Here’s the catch: I’m supposed to start my next pack today, which also happens to be the very first day of my placebo week.
The instructions are useless regarding this specific scenario. I understand the "seven-day rule"—where you need seven consecutive days of active pills after finishing an antibiotic course—but that applies when you're actually taking the hormones. What happens during those seven days of being off the pill?
Can an antibiotic still diminish the efficacy of the birth control if I’m currently in my break?
I have no idea how long the medication stays in my system, especially since my last dose of antibiotics falls on the final day of my break.
Do I need backup protection? If so, for how long?
Sorry for the long post, but this is incredibly confusing.🤷

silverrider2 said:Hi everyone.
I’ve been on Novynette for a year now without any side effects. My cycle is as predictable as a Swiss watch.
Anyway, here is what’s on my mind. I was catching up with a friend the other day who just started taking Yaz. She mentioned they cost her about $10 per pack $24. Meanwhile, my Novynette is only $0.25! 😕 Then you have Diane 35 at $0.35 $17... and the list goes on. I realize there’s a difference in the standard of living between us and elsewhere, so a direct price comparison isn't perfect, but I’m curious: are Novynette much cheaper than other brands where you are? It actually worried me a bit how inexpensive they are, especially since I read somewhere online that they were supposed to be pulled from the market.

So, if anyone has reliable information—say, from a gynecologist, a nurse, or even a close family friend 😁—regarding how good or bad these pills are for your health, please be kind enough to share. 🙂

Just to reiterate, I’ve been using them for a year and they work great for me...

Just girl talk. Don't sweat it; you can keep taking your medication without worry.

goldenmoose25 said:Good morning.🙂

I've been on Cilest for quite a while now, but I’ve run into a situation that leaves me completely stumped. I was prescribed an antibiotic for a throat infection, and I’m well aware that antibiotics can interfere with birth control effectiveness. Here’s the catch: I’m supposed to start my next pack today, which also happens to be the very first day of my placebo week.
The instructions are useless regarding this specific scenario. I understand the "seven-day rule"—where you need seven consecutive days of active pills after finishing an antibiotic course—but that applies when you're actually taking the hormones. What happens during those seven days of being off the pill?
Can an antibiotic still diminish the efficacy of the birth control if I’m currently in my break?
I have no idea how long the medication stays in my system, especially since my last dose of antibiotics falls on the final day of my break.
Do I need backup protection? If so, for how long?
Sorry for the long post, but this is incredibly confusing.🤷

I don't follow.
Which antibiotic are you taking?

vividsailor7 said:Just girl talk. Don't sweat it; you can keep taking your medication without worry.

Thanks a lot for the response. 🙂

So, which OHC is actually covered under the supplemental list by the SSA here in the States? I’m currently on Yaz, and honestly, it works fine for me—it’s just that the price tag is way over $33. Looking at these other options, they seem to be around 30-$13, which makes for a pretty noticeable difference...