Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Hey ladies, I need some advice.
If I’m looking to quit these pills, do I actually have to finish the whole box? Like, what happens if I just toss them in the trash while I'm still halfway through the pack?

Larry Howard4 said:Hey ladies, I need some advice.
If I’m looking to quit these pills, do I actually have to finish the whole box? Like, what happens if I just toss them in the trash while I'm still halfway through the pack?

Nah, you just get your period a little earlier and that's about it. 😉

Aside from Diane 35—which, let’s be honest, feels like it costs a small fortune these days—what other pill options are there that don't require you to shell out extra cash at the pharmacy?

Quick advice needed! I’ve been on Loestrin for about three and a half years now without any issues. Last night, right after taking my pill, I dealt with some diarrhea, though I didn't think much of it at the time. I took my next dose this morning around 10:30 AM. Since last night's pill was taken late—around 12:30 AM instead of my usual 9:00 or 10:00 PM window—and today's was taken 12 hours later, I'm wondering if I should use extra protection? If so, is just backup enough? Thanks.

Look, if you’re worried about getting pregnant, just use a condom. You were drinking yesterday, and you were drinking today. What do you think happens? Do you really believe that as soon as you swallow a pill, it magically travels through your system and results in immediate diarrhea? It doesn't work like that.

On another note, why does every doctor suggest waiting two or three months after stopping birth control before trying to conceive? Like, what’s actually the risk if I get pregnant right after I stop taking them? I'm on Yasmin.

Larry Howard4 said:Look, if you’re worried about getting pregnant, just use a condom. You were drinking yesterday, and you were drinking today. What do you think happens? Do you really believe that as soon as you swallow a pill, it magically travels through your system and results in immediate diarrhea? It doesn't work like that.

On another note, why does every doctor suggest waiting two or three months after stopping birth control before trying to conceive? Like, what’s actually the risk if I get pregnant right after I stop taking them? I'm on Yasmin.

I’m pretty sure it was the first one, since the instructions say if you take it within four hours, it won't be absorbed in time. After the second one, the same thing happened just a few hours later :/ I called the local clinic today and they told me I need extra protection... good luck with the questioning.🙂

Hey everyone,
I was wondering, which specific hormones actually get tested when you have blood drawn? I know they look at sexual 😁 levels, but which ones specifically? 😁

There are probably about seven different places out there where you can get tested—doing the cycle thing from day two to five, then checking progesterone and estrogen on day twenty-one. It’s like trying to find a specific specialty clinic in a massive city like Chicago; you just have to dig through the private clinic websites to find a solid list of who actually offers those specific panels.

I mean, aren't they supposed to check your hormone levels before you even think about starting birth control—like, before they move on to liver function tests?🙂

They test your hormone levels—first, just to figure out which ones are actually acting up, and second, to see which specific pills will actually work for you. Because they aren't all cut from the same cloth, and the hormone concentrations vary from one to another. Right? At least, that’s how I made sense of it.

Not really, or at least not most of the time... it’s rare for any gin to actually work like that. If you’re dealing with specific issues and go to the doctor looking for a "cure," then maybe—but otherwise, if you just show up for a routine blood test or something at the clinic and they ask about your medical history (including family stuff) and then prescribe the one with the lowest hormone levels, that's usually the move

I’ve dealt with skin issues my entire life—nothing extreme, just those annoying little flare-ups that come and go, sometimes more intense than others. That’s really the main reason I’d be looking into this. 🙂

Larry Howard4 said:Look, if you’re worried about getting pregnant, just use a condom. You were drinking yesterday, and you were drinking today. What do you think happens? Do you really believe that as soon as you swallow a pill, it magically travels through your system and results in immediate diarrhea? It doesn't work like that.

On another note, why does every doctor suggest waiting two or three months after stopping birth control before trying to conceive? Like, what’s actually the risk if I get pregnant right after I stop taking them? I'm on Yasmin.

Look, the main issue here is likely that oral contraceptives can deplete your folic acid levels. Folic acid is absolutely critical during those first few weeks of pregnancy to prevent fetal defects. If you conceive immediately after quitting the pill while your body is running low on folate, it could mess with the baby's development...

Women who haven't been on the pill can just start taking folic acid once they're pregnant, but for those who have been using them, you need to start much earlier. That’s probably why they recommend that buffer period—to let your system "clear out" the hormones and replenish those nutrient stores.😉

Hey there.
I have a question—if a woman is on birth control but ends up pregnant anyway, how harmful is it if she keeps taking the pills for a while before realizing what happened? Also, how likely is it that she would experience normal bleeding during the pill break even if she were actually pregnant?

Hopefully, I haven't made this too convoluted! 🙂

mellowcobra82 said:Look, the main issue here is likely that oral contraceptives can deplete your folic acid levels. Folic acid is absolutely critical during those first few weeks of pregnancy to prevent fetal defects. If you conceive immediately after quitting the pill while your body is running low on folate, it could mess with the baby's development...

Women who haven't been on the pill can just start taking folic acid once they're pregnant, but for those who have been using them, you need to start much earlier. That’s probably why they recommend that buffer period—to let your system "clear out" the hormones and replenish those nutrient stores.😉

Ah, thanks for the info. So, theoretically, if I start taking folic acid before I actually stop the pills, there shouldn't be any issues, right?

Larry Howard4 said:Ah, thanks for the info. So, theoretically, if I start taking folic acid before I actually stop the pills, there shouldn't be any issues, right?

Yeah, you can even start while you're still on them. A friend of mine was planning for a baby recently, and her OB-GYN told her to start folic acid a few months before ditching the pill—and keep it up until she actually conceives. It’s not like it builds up in your system; any extra just gets flushed out through your urine. You won't overdo it. Good luck!

Thanks a million.🙂

I have a question.

I’m taking Logest. This is my fifth pack. Everything has been perfect so far; no issues at all, and I’ve been very satisfied. I had some spotting only during the first month when I started. Everything was fine until this month. Now that I’ve started the fifth pack, I began experiencing spotting on day 10. It’s been happening since Monday, so today marks the sixth day of spotting. Every time I use the restroom and wipe, there is blood—ranging from pink to deep red. I haven't missed a single pill; I take them right on schedule and feel great, so I don't understand what this bleeding signifies. I am continuing with the pills.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Thanks for the help.

Can I just head over to an urgent care clinic, ask them to run some blood work to check if my liver is doing okay, and just pick up my pills there? Basically, can I skip seeing the specialist altogether?
PS, how do they even decide which specific pill is right for someone if they aren't actually testing hormones? I looked into hormone testing and man, it is incredibly expensive... so I have a feeling most places don't bother doing it unless it's absolutely necessary.

PPS, what else do they typically look for in a standard blood panel besides liver function?

Not gonna happen.
Your gynecologist will list everything you need on the blood work referral anyway.