Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

I mean, look, I wasn't exactly expecting miracles overnight... but I can't shake this feeling that my dermatologist isn't really planning on keeping me on this specific regimen much longer. It feels like they're constantly nudging me toward these other options—the premium ones, naturally—which I have absolutely zero interest in. Honestly, it’s just not happening; besides, those expensive alternatives won't actually address my hair thinning or the texture issues I'm dealing with. So, I suppose I’ll just wait and see what they have to say in about two months when I head back in for my follow-up. They won't give me a six-month prescription, just three. If I can actually find another specialist with an opening, I might even consider switching doctors altogether.

Anyway, if my memory serves me right, I think the instructions mention you should start seeing some actual improvement after about three months, so just keep that in mind... though I guess it’s all highly individual and depends on how severe your symptoms are to begin with.

Yeah, it totally depends on how bad the symptoms are. For certain types of hirsutism or hair loss, they won't even prescribe Diane because it’s—well, "too weak." He says acne clears up after three months, hair growth takes a year or two, and for actual hair regrowth? Way longer 😢. That’s his take, anyway. I haven't started anything yet myself—honestly, I'm just too terrified to even begin
. If only there was some kind of miracle cure for PCOS 🙂. Maybe they'll find it eventually—medicine is moving at breakneck speed—but it feels like nobody actually gives a damn about PCOS, neither here in the States nor anywhere else in the world. It just keeps getting worse and becomes a massive issue, but apparently, doctors only bother paying attention once a woman can't get pregnant. Until then? You're basically on your own 😁. I mean, I've got my pride too, so I doubt I'll be begging on my knees for a referral just to get my hormones checked and figure out what's wrong... Ugh, look at me rambling off-topic 🙂)))

I guess I'll weigh in on this too.😬
I started the pills mainly for protection, even though my PCOS is pretty mild. My skin has already cleared up significantly—I'd say by the third week. I never really dealt with acne, just the occasional breakout during PMS, but everything feels much fresher now, and those tiny little scars are slowly fading away.
As far as hair growth goes, I haven't noticed any major changes yet, at least.
My appetite has definitely increased a bit, but I haven't put on any weight; I suppose I just have a fast metabolism. Yaz works wonders as a diuretic, too.😁
Regarding the dosage, I don't feel those PMS symptoms anymore—not even the pain. I used to be popping Ibuprofen constantly, but now it only lasts about two or three days. I’m satisfied so far, I guess.🙂

Regarding weight gain from birth control, I can tell you I’ve put on about 11 pounds over the last four months. Before this, it was an impossible mission for me—fast metabolism, zero appetite—but since starting the pill, my hunger has spiked and I'm eating things I haven't touched in years. So, maybe it's just me, but I'm convinced it's the pills because I haven't changed anything else besides starting them.

Hey,
I’ve been a "patient" on Triquilar for about 12 or 13 years now. Is there anyone else out there who’s been on pills for that long? Personally, they work great. No side effects, though I did put on a few pounds back when I first started—but honestly, I needed it. I stay on top of my checkups and everything looks fine. My only real fear is STOPPING them; I think I might be dependent. 🙂 Plus, I’m not even sure I’d want to get pregnant right now.
P.S. When I went to pick up my prescription recently, my gynecologist actually asked if Triquilar was still even a thing, since he hasn't prescribed it in years. 🙂

I saw someone mention my handle earlier. Not that it matters. People always have something to say when they think nobody's listening. Anyway, back to what actually matters. kaže:
Might as well weigh in on this myself. 😬
I started taking birth control primarily for protection, even though my PCOS is on the milder side. I’ve already dropped about a month and a half's worth of weight, and my skin cleared up around week three. To be fair, acne was never really an issue for me—just the occasional breakout during PMS—but everything feels much fresher now, and those tiny little scars are slowly fading away.
Regarding hair growth, I haven't noticed any significant changes, at least for now.
My appetite has been picking up lately. I haven't actually put on any weight yet, though—luckily, my metabolism is pretty fast. I’ve been using A Yaz as a diuretic, and it works wonders. 😁
Regarding the amount, I don't really feel those PMS symptoms anymore. No pain at all—I used to just lie there incapacitated, popping Ibuprofen like candy—and it only lasts about two or three days. Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied with how things are going. 🙂

I’m thinking those pills might actually be worth it for me too. I don't deal with acne, but I definitely get those occasional breakouts during my cycle, and honestly, putting on a few extra pounds wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. So, I wanted to ask—since I’ve never taken birth control before—should I tell my gynecologist exactly what I'm looking for? Like, if I want to use them for contraception but also specifically want to boost my appetite, should I be upfront about that, or is the doctor just going to pick whatever they want for me?

He didn't really press me about it; he just asked what I’d prefer to use, and I told him I wanted the Celest set, so he gave them to me. But you should definitely tell him what you plan on using them for—I'm sure he'll be open to your ideas and requests.

northerntrucker4 said:

I saw someone mention my handle earlier. Not that it matters. People always have something to say when they think nobody's listening. Anyway, back to what actually matters. kaže:
Might as well weigh in on this myself. 😬
I started taking birth control primarily for protection, even though my PCOS is on the milder side. I’ve already dropped about a month and a half's worth of weight, and my skin cleared up around week three. To be fair, acne was never really an issue for me—just the occasional breakout during PMS—but everything feels much fresher now, and those tiny little scars are slowly fading away.
Regarding hair growth, I haven't noticed any significant changes, at least for now.
My appetite has been picking up lately. I haven't actually put on any weight yet, though—luckily, my metabolism is pretty fast. I’ve been using A Yaz as a diuretic, and it works wonders. 😁
Regarding the amount, I don't really feel those PMS symptoms anymore. No pain at all—I used to just lie there incapacitated, popping Ibuprofen like candy—and it only lasts about two or three days. Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied with how things are going. 🙂

I’m thinking those pills might actually be worth it for me too. I don't deal with acne, but I definitely get those occasional breakouts during my cycle, and honestly, putting on a few extra pounds wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. So, I wanted to ask—since I’ve never taken birth control before—should I tell my gynecologist exactly what I'm looking for? Like, if I want to use them for contraception but also specifically want to boost my appetite, should I be upfront about that, or is the doctor just going to pick whatever they want for me?

My doctor gave me a few brochures about all the different options, though she did suggest Yaz. Next time I went in, I told her I’d decided on Yaz and she wrote the prescription 🙂 (obviously, I had bloodwork done first to make sure everything was fine)

Thanks you all 🙂 I’m going to go consult with my OB-GYN. It’s definitely worth a shot...

Nathan Baker said:I think I already touched on this earlier... basically, you probably won't experience actual bleeding just yet. You might get some spotting that lasts a day, a few days, or it could even stretch until you're finishing the next pack. Honestly, it varies so much from person to person that it’s hard to say for sure; sometimes nothing happens at all. Usually, the withdrawal bleeding doesn't really kick in until that break after your second pack. Every scenario is on the table, so just let us know how it goes... though, I'm not quite sure why you're asking if it happens only after the full pack—you'll be taking that break between the second and third packs, so there's no need to run them back-to-back. That’s when the bleeding typically occurs.

Hmm... I'm on Novynette, so I buy the 21-pill pack and then take a seven-day break where I'm supposed to bleed... So I was wondering if I’d bleed after the first pack, you know, after those 21 pills... But even though I started two days early, I ended up bleeding exactly on the 28th day, and it lasted three days like usual, so everything is fine now...

The only thing is I haven't really had much of an appetite, but I'm not sweating it too much. 🙂 Not that I wouldn't mind dropping a few pounds here and there. 🙂

I’m having an issue too 😁
Basically, my second-to-last period was on October 28th, then my last one was December 2nd. (And honestly, I was losing my mind in between because I was convinced I was pregnant.) 😁 On the first day of my period, I took Microgynon, and now it's day two, but the bleeding is way lighter than usual... So I'm wondering if this is actually normal? I’ve been reading stuff online about false periods, and now I’m starting to spiral again :/

Yeah, it’s perfectly normal that your period feels lighter now; it’s just one of those things that typically happens once you start on the pill.

Nathan Baker said:Yeah, it’s perfectly normal that your period feels lighter now; it’s just one of those things that typically happens once you start on the pill.

Can you even take a pregnancy test while you're on your period? Or should I wait until it stops? Just want to be safe and check.🙂

👋

I’m thinking about getting back on birth control after taking a three-year break. I used to be on Yaz, but I definitely wouldn't go back to that because it felt way too strong and gave me a bunch of side effects.
Since my facial skin is super sensitive and I’ve finally managed to get everything under control, I really want to find the lowest-dose pill out there—something gentle that won't trigger any issues. Does anyone know which ones are the mildest?
I just want to feel totally prepared before I head into my appointment with the OB-GYN... 🥳
The main things I'm worried about are weight gain and breakouts, obviously. 🙄

hollowlynx6 said:👋

I’m thinking about getting back on birth control after taking a three-year break. I used to be on Yaz, but I definitely wouldn't go back to that because it felt way too strong and gave me a bunch of side effects.
Since my facial skin is super sensitive and I’ve finally managed to get everything under control, I really want to find the lowest-dose pill out there—something gentle that won't trigger any issues. Does anyone know which ones are the mildest?
I just want to feel totally prepared before I head into my appointment with the OB-GYN... 🥳
The main things I'm worried about are weight gain and breakouts, obviously. 🙄

The lightest options (meaning the ones with the lowest hormone levels) are Yaz and Loestrin, as far as I know.
For me, Yaz actually cleared up my skin, and I barely deal with any other side effects.

Kimberly Rivera14 said:Can you even take a pregnancy test while you're on your period? Or should I wait until it stops? Just want to be safe and check.🙂

Technically, yes.

*Paul Rivera* said:
As far as I know, Yaz and Qlaira are currently the ones with the lowest hormone levels.
Personally, my skin cleared up beautifully when I was on Yaz, and I barely dealt with any other side effects at all.

Thanks! 🙂When I was taking Diane, everything was covered by my insurance, but I'm guessing these newer ones might cost a bit more out of pocket even with coverage..? 🤔

hollowlynx6 said:Thanks! 🙂When I was taking Diane, everything was covered by my insurance, but I'm guessing these newer ones might cost a bit more out of pocket even with coverage..? 🤔

Everything except for Lyndette20, though even then, their coverage is only partial, which means you end up footing the bill all over again every single month... if my math serves me right, it’s roughly around... $12Regarding those pills everyone seems to be buzzing about lately—honestly, if you’re looking for a straight answer on the exact price, you aren't going to find much comfort in a single number. It’s all a bit of a moving target, isn't it? Between the retail markups at places like CVS or Walgreens and whatever specialized pharmacy decides to charge that week, the cost fluctuates more than my interest in most modern art. You might see one price online through a mail-order service, only to realize the shipping or the insurance co-pay turns it into something entirely different by the time it actually hits your doorstep. It’s a bit exhausting, really, trying to pin down a definitive figure when the whole system feels designed to keep you guessing. Just keep your eyes open, because the "sticker price" is rarely the final act.

hollowlynx6 said:Thanks! 🙂When I was taking Diane, everything was covered by my insurance, but I'm guessing these newer ones might cost a bit more out of pocket even with coverage..? 🤔

Ugh, Medicare is unfortunately pretty pricey, and it doesn't cover much health-wise either. You have to pay monthly, I guess. $39It’s a single blister pack containing 28 pills, though I guess four of them are just placebos. Maybe that's the catch.
I'm not entirely certain about Qlairu, but I guess the price is probably hovering around the same mark. $40I guess there were only two placebos. Maybe.

Nathan Baker said:Everything except for Lyndette20, though even then, their coverage is only partial, which means you end up footing the bill all over again every single month... if my math serves me right, it’s roughly around... $12Regarding those pills everyone seems to be buzzing about lately—honestly, if you’re looking for a straight answer on the exact price, you aren't going to find much comfort in a single number. It’s all a bit of a moving target, isn't it? Between the retail markups at places like CVS or Walgreens and whatever specialized pharmacy decides to charge that week, the cost fluctuates more than my interest in most modern art. You might see one price online through a mail-order service, only to realize the shipping or the insurance co-pay turns it into something entirely different by the time it actually hits your doorstep. It’s a bit exhausting, really, trying to pin down a definitive figure when the whole system feels designed to keep you guessing. Just keep your eyes open, because the "sticker price" is rarely the final act.

Yeah, those new-gen Lyndette pills are something else, even if there’s barely any info on them online. They're way cheaper than the old ones, though. I guess.

I honestly feel like Novynette has a lower hormone dosage than Yaz. Back when I was on Yaz about three or four years ago, I thought they were pretty decent... now that I've switched over to Novynette, I haven't dealt with any side effects at all (I guess my appetite isn't huge, but I'm not really losing sleep over that). It seems like Lyndette20 might be on a low-dose regimen too. But really, it all comes down to which OB-GYN you see. And honestly, we shouldn't ignore the elephant in the room: the fact that doctors often get kickbacks—sponsored conferences and stuff—from specific pharmaceutical companies for pushing their brands. Most pills are fine, but some doctors just have their favorites.

🙂For instance, I’m certain some gynecologists will swear by certain probiotics to protect vaginal microflora. Look, there's nothing wrong with that, and it's actually helpful, but it's not like you absolutely have to buy the specific brand that the doctor scribbled on your prescription pad.

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hollowlynx6 said:👋

I’m thinking about getting back on birth control after taking a three-year break. I used to be on Yaz, but I definitely wouldn't go back to that because it felt way too strong and gave me a bunch of side effects.
Since my facial skin is super sensitive and I’ve finally managed to get everything under control, I really want to find the lowest-dose pill out there—something gentle that won't trigger any issues. Does anyone know which ones are the mildest?
I just want to feel totally prepared before I head into my appointment with the OB-GYN... 🥳
The main things I'm worried about are weight gain and breakouts, obviously. 🙄