Posts by Robert Newman5

Andrew Anderson6 said:Exactly. I had really beautiful, mature follicles myself while I was on Diane... I think Doc 5 listed them once before.

I’m honestly a total novice here, but: what actually are follicles, and how do they relate to ovulation? In other words, how can you tell if you're ovulating even while on birth control?
Thanks!

This isn't the most comfortable topic to bring up, but I was hoping to hear about other people's experiences. What exactly is this, how does it happen, what are the treatments, and what actually helps?...
I spend a lot of time sitting down for work, and lately, I’ve been feeling this stinging sensation near my anus when I go to the bathroom—especially if I use rougher toilet paper. I've also noticed some blood on the paper. Maybe I just irritated the skin, or maybe it's something more?
Thanks, everyone.
P. S.
I came across this link:
https://macapnd.com/76Hk

Thanks to everyone for the replies.
Of course we read the instructions, but there's no harm in gathering a bit more information. And sure, I asked the gynecologist a ton of questions, but you know how it is—you forget things in the moment.
And yeah, I worry about her! It's because I care, and I honestly think that's how it should be.

Jessica Cook64 said:No, during the time you're taking the pill, ovulation doesn't happen, so the bleeding isn't an actual period—it's just withdrawal bleeding caused by the medication. It's almost impossible for a woman to get pregnant while on oral contraceptives because without ovulation, pregnancy can't occur. So, that's the short version: don't worry about pregnancy if she takes her pills regularly! 🙂

Okay, thanks.
That’s what I thought.

Though, from what I understand, the pill supposedly works in three ways:
a) it prevents ovulation (which is why the bleeding isn't a "real" period, since that happens when the uterine lining breaks down after an egg isn't fertilized)

b) it makes it harder for sperm to travel through

c) (well, if those first two fail—at least, that's my understanding) it leaves an embryo without nourishment, because the structure of the uterine lining, which should support the embryo, has been altered.

I have to say, that third option really saddens me! I definitely wouldn't want that to be the case. I really hope the pill just works by preventing ovulation and that's it!

Thanks for the reply!

Jos nesto: does that bleeding mean she isn't pregnant?
I'm asking because, from what I can tell, it doesn't look like a typical period.
Basically, how can you tell if someone is pregnant or not once they start taking birth control pills?

Generally speaking, it takes about a month for your body to adjust. In the meantime, just stick to using condoms... there’s nothing silly about continuing to use them, especially since it sounds like you're both quite young. 🙂

You're welcome!
How long does it actually take for the body to adjust? How can you even tell? Hmm... I definitely think it’s worth checking in with a gynecologist for a bit more insight.

Honestly, during that famous seven-day window, she really ought to be bleeding. It gets to the point where we actually start building a routine around it, and it becomes part of our sexual desires for those specific days of the month.

Yeah, you're not wrong—there's definitely some truth to that too!
But theoretically—can we actually rely on the effectiveness of the pill if we decide to sleep through that window?

In the past, people used to take these breaks every two or three years for about six months at a time. Nowadays, birth control pills for women use much milder hormone mixes—things like Trinovum or Cileste, for example—so you don't necessarily need to take those breaks to get the same results. At least, that’s what my doctor told me.

Her gynecologist didn't say anything... She’s taking that "thing with a C," I think—oh, wait, I forgot! :-) ...Celestine...? And they didn't mention anything about taking a break either. Maybe when she goes in to pick up her prescription, she just won't get it, along with an explanation that she needs to take a hiatus?

d) Side effects are always a bit hit or miss—some people don't notice anything at all, while others run into issues. If that happens, you can always try different pills or switch up your type of contraception entirely. From what my girlfriends tell me, common things that pop up include headaches, breast tenderness, and weight fluctuations. I also hear that a loss of libido is pretty frequent, especially for those taking Trinovum.😕 Ugh, nausea...
I don't have any problems at all...

I feel bad that they’re keeping quiet about it, because in my opinion, there’s just no point. If you have to endure something like that, it’s honestly not worth the trouble.

Anyway, she really needs to go see a gynecologist first. She shouldn't be buying any pills on her own without professional advice. It’s best if she gets liver function tests and other screenings done before sitting down with her doctor to discuss which specific birth control might actually be right for her.
🙂

Anyway, it happened—I did the research, picked up the pills, and I’m about to start taking them. But honestly, I feel like I still need to squeeze a little more information out of her...
You're welcome!

I’ve never used birth control pills before, so I was wondering:

a) how long should we wait after starting them before it's safe to have sex?
b) can you have sex throughout the entire cycle (including during those 7 days when you aren't taking any)?
c) how long does the break last when you stop taking them (I don't mean the 7-day gap, but the actual month or whenever they aren't being taken at all)?
d) contraindications—I’ve heard headaches can happen and that a gynecologist might need to prescribe different ones, but I wasn't thinking about side effects like that. On some medical websites, they claim that taking pills increases the risk of cervical cancer! Now, maybe that’s just a sensationalist article, but... still. Also, I heard that pills help with PCOS and actually lower the risk of breast cancer. But that part about the cervix really worries me...

We’re going to double-check everything with our doctor, but until then... thanks everyone for the answers!