*Gary Sanchez* said:So, I was just thinking about all you ladies out there on birth control (like Yaz, Loestrin, or Sprintec) Are you guys aware that there's an increased risk for blood clots, strokes, or even heart attacks? Plus, it can really drain your levels of--well, zinc, folic acid, vitamin C, E, and those B vitamins—which might explain why some people feel so moody or depressed while on them. 😲 😲 😲
I wasn't sure if anyone knew... so... just wanted to give you a heads-up.
It’d probably be a good move to grab some vitamin and mineral supplements.
Thanks for the heads-up.
I used a hormone patch, but honestly, the side effects felt exactly the same.
The clot thing makes sense, and let's be real—so many women deal with cellulite because of hormonal contraceptives too.
I take a multivitamin and try to eat clean, but at the end of the day, I still think using this stuff is better than having no protection at all.
Western medicine hasn't really done much for me in certain cases either—you just have to accept that it isn't a cure-all. There's no point getting angry about it; better to just look into other methods.
Nathan Collins Man, I seriously thought you’d vanished into thin air.😲 You’re clearly an expert at navigating every gadget and corner of the web—but you think you can dodge the doctor for a hundred years? Do you actually use that internet for anything useful? Look, a PC isn't just for gaming, and the web isn't just for hanging out on forums.🙄 whatever.
this one hits home too 👍
Just so you know—a former classmate of mine caught an early-stage uterine tumor during a routine annual checkup. Pure luck, really.
If you ever get sick—God forbid—you'll be examined by everyone from the residents to the interns, not just some senior attending.😉
I finally got over my own fear by just seeing a female gynecologist—once I did that, the anxiety just evaporated.
~*Plu. said:Good grief, you’re only 18. Don't you think it's time for a checkup? You mentioned sleeping with that guy—so if you let him get handsy in private, why are you so terrified of a doctor...? It isn't that scary—takes maybe five minutes tops. Definitely go for the exam regardless of the birth control stuff.
Anyway, hey there, I'm new here 😁
Exactly!
The exam isn't mandatory just because of the pills, but once you're already at the clinic, the doctor will probably want to check you out anyway—and honestly, it's just good practice.
briskpilot55 said:Oh boy... thanks a million, everyone—really.
Just one more thing—what’s that doctor’s appointment actually like? Are we talking a specialist like a gynecologist, or just a regular GP? And what do they even do during the exam if you're only going in for birth control pills?
I need a gynecologist. How old are you?
I honestly think young women—starting around 18, though earlier never hurts—should be hitting up their gynecologist for regular checkups. It’s one of those things that prevents so many headaches down the road.
Even if you aren't looking for birth control—just a routine check—I’d still say go see a gynecologist. Better safe than sorry, right?
It was just a pelvic exam—nothing painful, though. Just one of those things you have to get through.
The catch is, you might just skip the whole "dying of old age" thing if someone's in desperate need of an organ and you've already signed up to be a donor.
People do all sorts of things when there's serious money on the line. 😢
I first heard it from my family doctor. Then, through my professional work, I ended up talking to people involved in tissue typing—which is obviously a required step for transplants. And they were the ones who told me: never, ever agree to be typed! (Unless it’s absolutely necessary for my own health). The logic is that once you're in those registries, if you happen to fall ill at the wrong time, someone else—ideally someone with deep pockets—might need a match, and things could "accidentally" go sideways for you...
People don't talk about this stuff openly, but the people close to me—family, friends, colleagues—all felt I needed to be warned.
And it's not just an issue here in the States. In some parts of the world, these networks—organ trafficking, essentially—are much more organized; wherever there's demand, they make sure there's supply...
😲
I'm young, I'm healthy, and I'm pretty easy to make disappear—I don't exactly have a powerful cartel looking out for me.
I haven't signed up yet, but after hearing all this, I've been rethinking my decision lately.😕
Back when I was in college, I worked full-time selling parking permits... absolute bliss—just me, the scorching Los Angeles heat, and endless asphalt🙄
The second summer, I moved on to selling sandwiches at the local pool.
By the third summer, I’d worked my way up to a boutique, and by the fourth, I was at a travel agency.
Every gig lasted about two months—I'd knock out my finals, work through the break, and then have just enough left in September to blow all my cash on a trip.🙂
I just heard the most heartbreaking story about this young dad fighting for his life—his own heart actually gave out during his last surgery. He’s been hooked up to machines in an ICU for weeks now and isn't going anywhere, mostly because the donor list is endless and he’s barely even made a dent in it.
He’s got two beautiful kids, ages 3 and 5.
What’s your take—would you sign up to be an organ donor after you pass?
Personally, I'm all for it. At the end of the day, what we leave behind for our loved ones isn't some physical body—that stuff is temporary and eventually fades away anyway—so why not give someone else a shot at life?
Then there's my friend—who heard the exact same story—saying she wouldn't want her body "violated" like that. 😕
It really comes down to the dosage... my husband—who’s a chemist—always says 😉
And I actually trust him on this. He’s the one who hands me these sweeteners (though, honestly, a single pack of 60 tablets lasts me nearly three months)—which is probably for the best, considering we haven't even finalized my life insurance policy yet 😉
If they’re causing you pain, then they definitely aren't right for you—or they were just poorly made.
Since it’s a change in how your foot is supported, you really need to ease into it over a week or so. Don't just try to wear them all day right out of the gate.
My husband deals with flat feet and has used orthotics for years (Spreiz-Senk)—it's not exactly a luxury for us. Here in the States, insurance usually covers a couple of pairs a year, and he says this latest set—which we had custom-made by an orthopedic specialist friend of ours—is perfect.
They shouldn't hurt, but you should feel the pressure; otherwise, it feels like you're wearing nothing at all.
Personally, I find shoes without any arch support—you know, the ones that are totally flat inside—to be incredibly uncomfortable.
Either I look for shoes that already have built-in support, or I'll get some inserts made specifically for my midfoot.
Sean Grant85 said:Three?! Where on earth did I say I had three already.
I’ve just got two little ones—unwanted, sure—but they take up the biggest space in my heart, constantly fighting each other for more room.
Yesterday, right as we were getting intimate, my wife mentioned she totally forgot her pill last night and had to catch up this morning—so, yeah, 😠 reading through all your advice and "convincing," I guess I had to be extra careful about finishing outside this cycle.
Honestly, I think a vasectomy might be the best move for me—rather than messing with hormones that disrupt your wonderful female bodies altogether!!!!!!
What kind of opinion are you trying to push regarding the mother of your children? Honestly, I highly doubt the concept of "making love" even exists among you people.😉
Pills aren't exactly the perfect contraceptive for people who get forgetful.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to handle things.
Sean Grant85 said:Is that kind of sudden shift normal for just one cycle? Don't hormones usually do their own thing? I know a woman who started her pills a day early—basically kicking off her cycle sooner. She’d been taking them for 21 days straight without an issue, then she was supposed to have a 7-day break. But she couldn't quite remember when the next pack was due, miscounted by a day, and just started early anyway. Everything turned out fine. The hormone levels are pretty intense—I guess once you miss a day, you just have to be careful during that window (maybe just those first 7 days?). Since the hormone levels dip during the break, once you start the next pack after 7 days, they spike back up, which should handle the prevention part.
Or am I totally off base here?
Sean Grant85, please stop talking nonsense. It's not about what you're saying—which is mostly garbage anyway most of the time you're on this forum—but someone might actually take your crap seriously.🙄
As a direct result of your "successful" birth control method, you ended up with three kids you didn't want (and those were your own words).
Well, at least don't go seven days without protection—or use withdrawal, at least for a week—and then you can do things your way. It'll be fine...
Where on earth are you getting this advice?
You have no idea which pill she’s on—say, if she’s only twenty-one days into a month-long cycle—so seven days of "being careful" doesn't mean a thing. She needs to stay protected until the entire cycle wraps up; until she starts a brand new pack, she isn't 100% safe.
Please—when you're handing out these "professional" tips—think about what kind of mess you could actually make of someone's life. 😠