Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Hey everyone
I've been diagnosed with PCOS, and my gynecologist put me on Belara pills
I couldn't find a specific thread about this particular brand of birth control, so does anyone have experience using them?
I'm new to all of this and could use some insight.🙂

Hannah Walker5 said:Hey everyone
I've been diagnosed with PCOS, and my gynecologist put me on Belara pills
I couldn't find a specific thread about this particular brand of birth control, so does anyone have experience using them?
I'm new to all of this and could use some insight.🙂

I actually just got a prescription for those exact pills this morning myself 😁. It seems like they're a relatively new option on the market; I checked the price at the pharmacy and $33 wow, they aren't cheap.
From what I can gather, they're plant-based 🤷

Hey there, lovely ladies 🙂 I have a quick question and I wasn't quite sure which corner of this community would be the best place to drop it, so I’ll just give it a shot here. 😁 I was wondering, does anyone know what the regulations are regarding carrying a box of birth control across the border from Mexico? Additionally, is it actually possible to claim a tax refund on those items if I'm traveling back into the States?

So, I picked up a recipe for Belare this morning. Does anyone actually know anything about them?

Clearly, there are new options on the market, and it looks like OB-GYNs have started recommending them.
Once I start opening these up, I’ll start a thread here on this PDF so we can discuss our experiences. It might actually help other women out.

Hannah Walker5 said:Hey everyone
I've been diagnosed with PCOS, and my gynecologist put me on Belara pills
I couldn't find a specific thread about this particular brand of birth control, so does anyone have experience using them?
I'm new to all of this and could use some insight.🙂

I’m on Belara for PCOS too. From what I gather, they only recently hit the market here in the States. I finished my first pack on Wednesday, and my period arrived today—day 23 of my cycle. I'm taking a break until Thursday when I start the next box. So far, I haven't had major side effects, though my breasts were sore and swollen for the first week or so. After that, it settled down. One annoying thing, though, is that I've had this brownish discharge every single day since my period ended, right up until this current bleeding started. Just a little bit every day. 😲 I called my OB-GYN about it, and he mentioned it might just be normal for the first month while the body adjusts. He also suggested it could mean the dose is too low; if it happens again with the second pack, we might have to switch to something stronger. I'm a little apprehensive about that, honestly. These have actually been quite manageable so far—aside from that discharge—and who knows how I'll react to a higher dose... 😕

Sam Lopez11 said:I’m on Belara for PCOS too. From what I gather, they only recently hit the market here in the States. I finished my first pack on Wednesday, and my period arrived today—day 23 of my cycle. I'm taking a break until Thursday when I start the next box. So far, I haven't had major side effects, though my breasts were sore and swollen for the first week or so. After that, it settled down. One annoying thing, though, is that I've had this brownish discharge every single day since my period ended, right up until this current bleeding started. Just a little bit every day. 😲 I called my OB-GYN about it, and he mentioned it might just be normal for the first month while the body adjusts. He also suggested it could mean the dose is too low; if it happens again with the second pack, we might have to switch to something stronger. I'm a little apprehensive about that, honestly. These have actually been quite manageable so far—aside from that discharge—and who knows how I'll react to a higher dose... 😕

It’s definitely better to move to a stronger dose than to deal with bleeding for 15 days straight in a single month.
That was my experience with Yaz—and man, I gave it a shot for a whole year before giving up. Once I switched to a higher dose, everything smoothed out perfectly.
It might just be your body adjusting, but if it doesn't clear up, there's really nothing to fear 🙂.

I wanted to start using birth control pills, but there's a catch: my gynecologist refuses to prescribe them. It isn't even about my health; it's just based on his own personal beliefs. My cycle is incredibly irregular, too. What should I do? Should I just go see a private doctor?🤷Please advise.

Honestly, just find a new OB-GYN. Especially if your cycles are all over the place—like, if everything else looks fine on paper but you're still struggling, they should’ve been talking about hormone therapy already. And look, they need to give you a prescription if you ask, plain and simple—it's about your health protection. I don't get how a doctor can let their own personal opinions get in the way of writing a script.

So, what’s the actual deal with getting birth control through a private doctor versus using the public healthcare system? Like, how much would a private doc even charge just for the visit to handle that? And honestly, how long does the whole process usually take?

Chloe Gray5 said:Honestly, just find a new OB-GYN. Especially if your cycles are all over the place—like, if everything else looks fine on paper but you're still struggling, they should’ve been talking about hormone therapy already. And look, they need to give you a prescription if you ask, plain and simple—it's about your health protection. I don't get how a doctor can let their own personal opinions get in the way of writing a script.

I went in for hormone testing and everything looked fine. But he doesn't think cycles lasting anywhere from 15 to 60 days are cause for concern. He just blames it all on stress.

Hey ladies, first time posting here.🙂
I have an appointment this Thursday with a private OB-GYN, Dr. Silvia Babic. I’ve heard nothing but great things about her.😁
The main reason I’m finally going is because I can’t keep putting this off anymore. My cycle is constantly irregular, and my last period was back on September 11th. Nothing since.🤷

Here’s what I’m wondering: I assume I’ll probably be prescribed some pills, which usually start on day one of a period. But since mine hasn't shown up yet, what's the move? Do I just sit around waiting for nature to take its course before I can start them, or can she prescribe something to jumpstart the whole process? I've heard that's an option.😕
What are your experiences or thoughts on this?

Thanks.🙂

Hey—just dropping by to say hi! Hope everyone’s having a good one. kaže:
I checked my hormone levels and everything came back normal. But he’s basically brushing off these cycles that swing anywhere from 15 to 60 days—just chalking it all up to stress.

Like, doctors usually check your hormone levels if you're dealing with PCOS—since that can totally mess with your cycle regularity.

You should probably get some other tests done—like blood work (CBC, liver panels, etc.), a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Pap smear. I think that’s everything. If those all come back clean + you don't have any history of thrombosis (which is already a risk factor), they'll just prescribe the pills.

Hey—just popping in to say hi! Hope everyone’s having a good one. ✨ kaže:
Hey—so, looking at the difference between hitting up a private clinic versus using your standard socialized healthcare—it really comes down to speed and convenience. With a private doc, you’re basically paying for the "VIP lane" so you don't have to wait forever. If you're just going in to get a prescription filled or a quick check-up, a private provider might charge you a consultation fee that's significantly higher than your usual co-pay—think somewhere in the ballpark of a decent dinner out or a nice steakhouse meal depending on the city. As for how long it takes? Private is usually a breeze—you're often in and out in twenty minutes—whereas the public route can feel like waiting in line at a DMV on a Monday morning.

Man, if you had to pay for all those private tests, it'd cost you an arm and a leg—just stick to the blood work, seriously. $133Yeah, you still gotta get that Pap smear, the Dad test, and a pelvic ultrasound done—not sure what those run for right now. Honestly? If I were you, I’d take your insurance referrals to your regular OB-GYN to get the scans covered for free, then just bring the results over to the private doctor later.

Hey—just dropping in to say hi! Hope everyone's having a chill one. — Anthony Watson7 kaže:
Hey girls—first time posting here!🙂
Heading to a private OB-GYN for the first time—seeing Dr. Silvia Babic. I’ve heard nothing but great things about her—fingers crossed!😁
The main thing is that I just can't deal with the waiting game anymore—my cycle is always all over the place, and since my last one on September 11th, absolutely nothing has happened.🤷

So, here’s what I’m actually wondering about—I’ll probably end up taking those pills, the ones you know you start on day one of your period. But if my cycle isn't even happening right now, what am I supposed to do? Just sit around waiting for nature to decide to show up so I can start the meds? Or is there like, a different kind of pill she can give me to actually get things moving? Pretty sure that's a thing.😕
What are you guys seeing out there—anyone got any experiences or thoughts to share??

Thanks!🙂

So, there are pills specifically for triggering your period. Then you've got birth control—if you start those on day one, they kick in right away, but if you miss that window, you’ve gotta use backup protection for the first ten days before they actually start working properly.
Maybe better to not mix up period induction stuff with birth control—that sounds like a recipe for disaster. You should definitely run it by your OBGYN first. They’ll probably send you for some extra tests anyway to figure out why your cycle is MIA. Hope everything's all good! 🙂.

Thanks, appreciate it.🙂
I'm heading in for a full workup—basically the whole nine yards. When I was scheduling the appointment, she mentioned she’d send over the specific blood tests needed, and once those are done, she'll write the prescription. Though, if this is a private clinic, does that mean I'm paying for the script too? Or just the meds?🙂 Hopefully they aren't breaking the bank.😁
Another thing: I've never actually had blood drawn before, aside from a finger prick.😁 So, honestly, the whole situation has me feeling pretty uneasy.😁

I also assumed I could just start taking the pills as soon as I get them. But will they actually be effective during this window before my period starts? Based on the math, it looks like that won't happen until 2013.🤣

Once you start taking them, just use extra protection for the first 10 days—then you're good to go, even if your period doesn't show up right away. And don't worry, the pills will get your cycle back on track eventually 😉.

Regarding the actual pills, everyone pretty much prescribes Yaz since it's a fourth-generation option. Those are basically $50. Other brands fall into that same ballpark too, maybe around $20 bucks
. There's also an option you can get through supplemental insurance called Lindynette, which costs about $11. You've got Lindynette 20 and Lindynette 30. The 20s are comparable to Yaz, while the 30s are a bit stronger. It’s always better to start with the lower dose—not because of protection, obviously, but just for cycle control. If you end up getting those annoying breakthrough bleeds, then you can always switch to the stronger one.

(I'm not saying Lindy is the "holy grail" or anything—personally, they work way better for me than Yaz did. I just wish someone had pointed them out before I started my current ones, especially since the price difference isn't exactly small)

Adam Rogers2, how was your experience dealing with cellulite, both on yourself and others?

I’m on the three-month pill because I have two kids and the last thing I need is an accidental pregnancy. Honestly, the anxiety of trying to time things or dealing with a last-minute emergency is more than I can handle. I’m 34, and I recently read somewhere that birth control isn't recommended for women once they hit their mid-30s. Should I stop taking them? I'm starting to worry if continuing might actually do some damage.

Can someone please help me out?

I’ve been on Diane 35 for about a year now. My skin actually cleared up after just three months, so I kept going. But lately—specifically over the last three months—my skin has totally turned against me. I’m breaking out again, and they're those nasty, inflamed ones, mostly along my chin and jawline. What could cause such a sudden shift if I haven't missed a single pill? Should I stop taking them altogether? I already had some blood work done, and everything came back normal.
🙂

Chloe Gray5 said:

Hey—just dropping by to say hi! Hope everyone’s having a good one. kaže:
I checked my hormone levels and everything came back normal. But he’s basically brushing off these cycles that swing anywhere from 15 to 60 days—just chalking it all up to stress.

Like, doctors usually check your hormone levels if you're dealing with PCOS—since that can totally mess with your cycle regularity.

You should probably get some other tests done—like blood work (CBC, liver panels, etc.), a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Pap smear. I think that’s everything. If those all come back clean + you don't have any history of thrombosis (which is already a risk factor), they'll just prescribe the pills.

Hey—just popping in to say hi! Hope everyone’s having a good one. ✨ kaže:
Hey—so, looking at the difference between hitting up a private clinic versus using your standard socialized healthcare—it really comes down to speed and convenience. With a private doc, you’re basically paying for the "VIP lane" so you don't have to wait forever. If you're just going in to get a prescription filled or a quick check-up, a private provider might charge you a consultation fee that's significantly higher than your usual co-pay—think somewhere in the ballpark of a decent dinner out or a nice steakhouse meal depending on the city. As for how long it takes? Private is usually a breeze—you're often in and out in twenty minutes—whereas the public route can feel like waiting in line at a DMV on a Monday morning.

Man, if you had to pay for all those private tests, it'd cost you an arm and a leg—just stick to the blood work, seriously. $133Yeah, you still gotta get that Pap smear, the Dad test, and a pelvic ultrasound done—not sure what those run for right now. Honestly? If I were you, I’d take your insurance referrals to your regular OB-GYN to get the scans covered for free, then just bring the results over to the private doctor later.

I’m actually planning on seeing a private specialist because I just can't make it to my usual doctor right now.
I’ve heard stories that a lot of gynecologists won't even bother with testing and will just prescribe pills instead. I even read somewhere that if you're a young, healthy woman, you might not even need all these screenings. I was planning on getting them done in about a month or so—would that be okay?

Also, is the price around $120 for both public clinics and private ones, or is there a huge difference?

And one more thing—are the referral systems still the same, or is everything at the hospital connected online now? If you know what I mean! XD