Posts by Jamie Johnson6

Carol Brooks41 said:I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading up on this topic lately, specifically regarding the risk of blood clots. It seems like almost all contraceptive pills carry some level of that risk, though I did come across information suggesting that Logest stands out slightly due to having a somewhat higher risk profile compared to other options on the market.
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I truly believe that if you stay on top of your health by getting regular blood work done and everything comes back looking perfect, you can rest easy knowing that birth control isn't going to trigger a stroke. It really all comes down to monitoring those levels consistently.
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I wasn't actually aware of how Logest functioned in that way. Unfortunately, it seems like quite a few doctors don't really take those specific factors into account when they're advising patients. When you reach the point where taking birth control pills becomes an absolute necessity—and I mean there's truly no other option on the table—it almost feels futile to worry about the nuances, because dealing with hormonal imbalances already carries its own set of cardiovascular risks. It really leaves you stuck in a position where you have to weigh the lesser of two evils; you're essentially deciding which path feels more manageable, whether it's navigating those vascular concerns or facing the potential risk of something like endometrial cancer.🤣

Chris Lopez59 said:It seems there aren't any set rules, 🤷 but my logic is that pills with a minimal hormone dose, like Logest, should always be the first choice. If they don't work for you—like they haven't for me—then you switch. It feels much safer than starting out with high-dose hormones right away... wouldn't you agree?

I have to disagree 😁 because I feel that anyone who jumps straight to those "heavy-duty" pills when they aren't medically necessary should probably look into other contraceptive methods entirely (that’s just my personal take after going through box after box), and we really ought to agree that these medications aren't exactly "healthy," even when we need them for therapy; they are more of a necessary evil.
(On another note, we spend so much time reading online ads and instruction leaflets... it pays to actually consult a reputable endocrinologist or an internist about how these affect your blood vessels and overall health.)

In fact, especially for those of us dealing with PCOS, the most serious and dangerous issues—the ones far more concerning than skin texture or cellulite, such as blood sugar levels, vascular health, and cholesterol—can actually be exacerbated by taking the pill.
For instance, the warnings often state that people with diabetes shouldn't take them, and neither should those struggling with weight, yet borderline blood sugar is frequently cited as a contributing factor to PCOS itself. It creates this frustrating loop where, if you aren't having a period, the risks of other complications rise, forcing us back to the pill anyway.
So, I don't think it makes much sense to debate "max vs. min" doses; instead, we should get our hormone levels checked and find a skilled specialist who can tailor a specific dosage and find the right pill for our unique needs.
I think it's fairly obvious to everyone here that you don't actually have a true menstruation while on the pill, since your own natural hormones aren't really part of the equation anymore.

placidgardener99... I’m keeping my fingers crossed 😁 that things turn out differently for me...
Who knows, I might check back in with an update in a few months, though honestly, it's all very subjective; in my own experience, I haven't dealt with any side effects from Diane, yet I seem to get every single one when I take Logest. 🤷

Were you taking anything else alongside Yasmina, and how did you find the whole experience?

Elizabeth Price85 said:Regarding this matter. I... I truly believe that Yasmin is an ideal choice for women who are generally healthy and don't have any underlying hormonal imbalances. I remember when my sister first started her own journey with birth control, and we spent hours discussing how much easier things are when your body is already functioning quite smoothly on its own. For someone without those extra physiological hurdles, it seems like a very reliable option.I’ve always looked at it this way: Diane is primarily a therapeutic tool, and the contraceptive aspect is really just a convenient little bonus that comes along with it.
I used to struggle quite a bit with my hormone levels being all over the place, but thankfully that's behind me now; however, I’ve decided to transition back onto Diane because, honestly, they just seem to suit my body much better.

I don't quite see it that way, because when you look at the actual ingredients, they are specifically formulated to tackle excess male hormones—essentially addressing the symptoms of PCOS. It’s very similar to how Diane works; of course, everyone reacts differently, and what works wonders for one person might not sit right with another. I suspect someone with a background in chemistry could provide a deeper dive into the specifics, but it isn't necessarily about how "mild" the medication feels, but rather about the precise composition of the formula itself.😉

Just like any other standard birth control pill, Yasmin works by using a specific combination of synthetic hormones—estrogen and progestin—to prevent ovulation, which effectively makes pregnancy impossible while you're taking it. What really sets Yasmin apart from the older options I've encountered, however, is that it utilizes a newer type of progestin called drospirenone. This particular ingredient is quite clever because, beyond just doing its job with hormonal regulation, it actually offers some additional diuretic and anti-androgenic benefits as well. It’s a bit of an upgrade in terms of how it interacts with your body, according to Dr. Damir Mamuzić.

Elizabeth Price85 said:I completely agree. I was on Diane for about three or four years, and they worked beautifully for me. However, after my surgery, I switched over to Yasmin, which turned out to be a total nightmare because I dealt with bleeding for the entire month—plus a few other little side effects that were just hard to deal with.
Now that I'm recovering from my second procedure, I am heading straight back to Diane without a second thought. I just hope I can finally get my hands on them. 😉

But what specifically are you agreeing with?
In my opinion, what you described might actually prove the exact opposite: Yasmin might simply be too mild for your system, which could explain why you experienced that constant bleeding. From what I’ve gathered regarding their compositions, Diane and Yasmin are much more comparable in terms of purpose and makeup than they are to Yaz or any of the others...
Furthermore, Diane is primarily intended as therapy for women who truly require those specific hormone levels (where contraception is really just a secondary benefit)...
I'll leave it to the pharmacists here to correct me if I'm wrong, though I am a bit skeptical about making direct comparisons at all.

placidgardener99 said:I couldn't agree more; I’ve spent countless hours researching every single pill out there because I just couldn't wrap my head around why gynecologists insist on calling things like Yasmina "mild," especially since my side effects were actually much more intense than what I experienced with Diana.

It’s quite clear that for those who truly need these medications most, the concept of "mildness" doesn't really mean anything at all...
While Yasmina does offer certain advantages over Logest for women managing PCOS—specifically regarding water retention and androgen levels—
I suspect only medical specialists can truly weigh all the variables, given that you simply cannot compare certain pills directly since they aren't identical in composition (it isn't just about the dosage).
In my own experience, Logest caused me the most difficult side effects, and I know a friend who didn't even have PCOS but had a terrible reaction too, simply because her body didn't respond well to it...😉

placidgardener99 said:I honestly feel like I’ve become quite boring, even to myself lately. 😠Just to ensure everyone in this community stays on the same page and has the right information, I’ll mention this once more for our collective benefit: Yasmin actually contains a significantly higher hormone dosage compared to options like Logest or Cilesta.
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I’m not so sure about Logest myself—it hasn't quite sat right with me lately—but regarding Cilesta, are you absolutely certain about that?

I find myself feeling quite inquisitive lately, almost like a curious young girl discovering the world for the first time. It’s funny how, even as an adult, that sense of wonder doesn't truly fade; it just settles into a quieter, more thoughtful rhythm. I was sitting on my porch in Seattle yesterday, sipping some tea and watching the clouds roll in over the mountains, and I found myself wondering about all the little mysteries we overlook in our daily rush. There is such a gentle beauty in simply asking "why" and letting the questions linger for a while. kaže:
I'm not entirely certain if this topic has already been posted, but I figure there's no harm in checking just in case, and honestly, it never hurts to be thorough. 🙂
So, I’ve been on Yasmin for about five months now, though my gynecologist decided to switch me over to Logest four months ago because I was experiencing breakthrough bleeding every other month. He claimed it was due to having an "insufficient hormone dose," but then it turned out that Logest actually contains a lower dosage than what I was previously taking, which leaves me feeling quite confused about his reasoning for the change.
Welcome to the community! Please feel free to share any experiences you might have or any advice you'd like to offer—we would truly love to hear from you. 🙂

I had a very similar experience myself when I was dealing with logestom-krvaral; I ended up struggling with it for well over a month. 👎
I consider Diane and Cilest to be my own. pasaleWell, my endocrinologist decided to switch me over to Yasmin, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how everything unfolds.
Sometimes I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed when I look back at how many of those pills I used to take, though looking at things from this new perspective, it’s still quite hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that anyone would actually take them just to facilitate uninhibited sex. To be perfectly honest, I was right there with you before all these health issues started, using them for that exact same reason.😛I just wanted to mention that, purely so there wouldn't be any misunderstanding between us.

placidfox55 said:elevated liver enzymes, shifted insulin and blood sugar levels, feeling hungry all the time, skin darkening around the neck, groin, and armpits, little skin tags appearing on the neck and chest area, family history of diabetes, PCOS...

Do you think this sounds like metabolic syndrome?

Could you please share where you read about this? It’s the first I’ve heard of these specific symptoms, though if you're asking me personally, the answer is yes, I definitely have it. 😢

Jamie Price5 said:It isn't necessarily PCOS... I just had my ultrasound done...
And I actually did all those tests on day 21; they were supposed to be done on day 3, but I didn't get my referral in time, and since my periods are so irregular, I just went whenever I could.
Yeah... I'm definitely going to see an endocrinologist as soon as possible.
What kind of treatment were you on?

In my experience, you really ought to have everything tested between days 3 and 5, except for progesterone. Even though some labs list values based on the cycle, I ended up repeating everything because I made that exact mistake once myself. I completely understand the struggle of trying to schedule testing when your cycle is unpredictable; you try to time everything perfectly, but then the timing shifts, the results end up being off... Honestly, I might even suggest doing that ultrasound again. I remember one OBGYN couldn't see anything at all during my scan, yet two others told me I was a textbook case.

I honestly haven't a clue what else could cause those specific results, other than PCOS—though I don't believe I ever had those "ketosteroid" tests checked.

My own treatment plan was for PCOS, and I only took unknown for my blood sugar levels—I didn't even need the birth control pills, and everything eventually leveled out. You'll find out more from your doctor, as I'm sure they'll want to run additional panels. Just a bit of advice: try to secure your referrals early so you can go exactly on the day they recommend (my endocrinologist prefers day 5, while my OBGYN wants me there by day 3). I tend to be quite proactive about it; I usually prepare everything ahead of time or even pull a few extra tests myself when I arrive at the clinic, otherwise, I feel like nothing ever gets scheduled properly.

What day of your cycle are we looking at? I’m fairly certain you were testing your progesterone and everything else on the same day, right? It was actually quite similar for me—I was sitting at a 17... but after going through some treatments, things finally leveled out and returned to normal.
Time to run to the endocrinologist.

Amy Lee18 said:Are you serious? Why? Isn't that just some old urban legend? 🤷

It’s definitely not a myth, and it really matters for both before and after.
However, it isn't a form of contraception, despite what Matthew thinks—he'll probably hear about this soon enough...😁

Sage is such a fantastic natural antiseptic. I've even used it as an oral rinse for my mouth—which is probably exactly what you need for this particular area too.🤣

I honestly feel like these soaps are addictive; when I was younger, almost nobody even used them, but now I just can't imagine my routine without them. Just on a whim, I tried going completely without any product and just using water, and for those first ten days, everything felt absolutely revolting and unhygienic—it was this constant sensation that I wasn't clean, even though I wasn't actually dealing with any health issues. Eventually, things settled down (or perhaps I just lowered my standards), but now I find myself back to using them again... although there are moments where I just want to toss everything in the trash and wait for summer to arrive so I can finally enjoy some nudism and be free from it all.😳

In my experience with ST, the social worker there is currently looking at a two-month wait just to process some paperwork. ☕
It really comes down to a choice: I can either pay up to speed things along,
or I can shell out a bit more to just handle everything privately and save myself the headache.

Angela Wright said:Oh, come on now, there’s really no need to be embarrassed. It isn’t like you went and did something truly outrageous with a bottle of Coca-Cola.😉 😍
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I have to say, I appreciate your attempt at comfort, though I suspect if it weren't for that Coca-Cola incident, he'd probably still be sitting there feeling awkward and fidgeting.🤣

Grace Doyle7 said:Severe, you think? 😲

Honestly, it feels like a step in the right direction—certainly a better outcome than dealing with endometriosis.
When I talk about "heavy" symptoms, I’m referring specifically to what I personally experienced during that period when everything felt completely out of sync. My cycle was totally unpredictable, my hormone levels were swinging wildly in every direction, and I had an excess of follicles which caused my ovarian volume to increase—which might actually be where that pain is coming from. Sometimes things just settle down on their own, but please tell me you haven't skipped seeing a doctor?
I just wrote this for you simply to show how things can be both everything and nothing all at once. How much do all these symptoms actually apply to us laypeople? Honestly, I feel like there’s little point in overanalyzing every single response here. At the end of the day, everyone’s body is its own unique ecosystem; even when two people walk in with the exact same diagnosis, they often deal with completely different struggles.
If you haven't made it to the doctor yet, please, take my word for it—you’ll likely do more harm to your current condition by spending all your time reading about symptoms online. Between the constant fear, the irritation, and the endless worrying, you're only making things worse. If there really is a hormonal imbalance at play here, that level of uncertainty and stress can be incredibly taxing on your system.
Isn't it much better to take just three minutes to look everything over so you can finally have some peace of mind?
I’ve come to the conclusion that you haven't actually seen a gynecologist before now, so I feel like I have the freedom to be completely honest with you:
Believe me, I find myself saying that far too often when I'm at the bar.😛 As a true veteran of these situations, I really believe it isn't worth letting anxiety get the best of you just because of laziness or that awkward feeling of having to leave. Honestly, once you finally pull the trigger and do it, you'll feel such an immense weight lift off your shoulders. You have a great recommendation in your hands, so just go for it.

Donna Chase12 said:Based on those symptoms, you might be looking at endometriosis first😢

Based on what she described, this could actually be a more severe case of PCOS. Because of that, I’d suggest heading straight to a gynecologist.

urbansailor68 said:It’s usually nothing to worry about, really. You just have to get used to her presence, because once she decides to settle in, she isn't going anywhere else. 😉

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Wait, what?!!😲
I just hope they don't decide to make a nest right here.

You’ve read my post correctly, though I’m feeling a bit sheepish because I only just realized she wasn't actually there 😳 (and please don't ask why it took me this long—I’ve been wearing these scratched-up Ray-Bans lately, and I have a bit of a persistent fruit fly problem around the kitchen
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It’s right in front of my left eye, usually in the evening, in that exact same spot where I see this little speck drifting and passing by constantly 😕
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To be honest, I don't know the first thing about eye conditions (though I’m fairly well-versed in other medical stuff 😬), so what could this possibly be? Is it something dangerous?