Posts by Brandon Evans10

slyfox72 said:I have a few questions regarding birth control pills...
My gynecologist gave me a referral for some blood work, which I’ve already gone ahead and done.
She also handed me a referral for a coagulation profile—but honestly, I have no idea what that actually entails. Is it just a standard blood draw like the other tests, or is there something more to it?
Also, I was wondering about the cost. Are these pills covered, or do I have to pay out of pocket? I have supplemental insurance and I'm an adult, so I wasn't sure. And do they require a prescription every single time? Specifically, do I need to keep heading back to the gynecologist for a new script after I finish every single pack, or is there a different process?

Well, if you're taking them for contraception, yeah, you'll need a prescription and you'll have to pay for them. Prices vary depending on which brand you end up on—something like Estaryll might be around $20, Yaz is roughly $40, so that's the general ballpark for what you'll be looking at.

If you're taking them specifically to deal with acne or skin issues, then your doctor will write the prescription for that, and usually, they'll prescribe something like Diane-35, which in those cases is typically covered by insurance.

When you get the prescription, it'll actually specify how many packs it covers—say, for 6 months or even a year—so you definitely don't have to go back to the doctor every single month for a new script.

As for the coagulogram—you were actually supposed to hand over that second referral when you went in for your blood work. They would've just taken an extra tube of blood to run that specific test. Basically, they just want to make sure your blood clots normally.

Don’t go taking a break for a few months—just stick to this seven-day gap, okay? I actually did the exact same thing when I was switching from one pill brand to another, so just keep going as usual. And honestly, if it makes you feel better, maybe use some extra protection during that month just to be safe and give yourself that peace of mind.

Once those 7 days of downtime finally roll by 😉

Grace Jones3 said:Ugh, Nuvaring. Honestly, my OB-GYN actually suggested that to me once, but I don't know—the whole idea of just having something sitting inside me for three weeks straight? It just doesn't sit right with me. 😲

Same here. And honestly, if I'm being totally real, the thought of actually having to put it in—or worse, taking it out—makes me want to hide under my covers.

It could honestly be anemia—you really ought to go get your iron levels checked out just to be safe 😉

gentletrucker29 said:Hey everyone! So, I've been reading up on these exercises for a few days now, but honestly, I'm feeling a little lost... I was wondering if any of you have actually tried them? How do you even know if you're doing them right? I gave it a shot, but I seriously can't tell if I'm hitting the right muscles! Like, should it just be those pelvic floor muscles, or am I supposed to be engaging other parts too?

It’s basically like you're trying to hold in your pee.

Emily Davis9 said:Hey everyone, I’ve got a quick question for the group!
So, what are the actual odds of a girl getting pregnant if she's already on birth control pills—and like, her period shows up perfectly regular every single month after finishing a pack—but then, on top of all that, they also use the withdrawal method? Just trying to wrap my head around how much extra "safety" we're talking about here!

Zero. Honestly, none. As long as she’s actually being consistent with them—like, taking them every single day at the same time or pretty much the same time—she's good.

Hannah Roberts86 said:Well, I already ruled out pregnancy right off the bat. If I were pregnant, I’d feel it—I'd have symptoms or at least some kind of sign, you know? It’s definitely not pregnancy, especially since my periods are so irregular lately... honestly, I usually only get them if I take those hormone pills to jumpstart things.
And besides, my OBGYN told me a couple of months ago that my uterus was enlarged, and then after taking Duphaston, my period finally showed up. In the meantime, I actually went to see a private specialist, and he told me everything looked totally fine. He didn't mention anything about an oversized uterus or any other issues.
So, what I'm really wondering is, what else could an enlarged uterus mean? (besides being pregnant)😕? Is that even a common thing or should I be worried?

If everything else checks out, then just find a new doctor! Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if this one even knows what they're doing.

Hey, I just wanted to jump in here because—honestly?—this whole thread has been living rent-free in my head all morning. I was sitting there with my coffee (trying to be productive, obviously, but failing miserably) when I saw this, and I just had to say something. Does anyone else feel like we’re all just circling the same drain sometimes? Like, you think you’ve finally figured out the pattern, you’ve got the rhythm down, and then—BAM—everything shifts. It’s like that time I tried to reorganize my entire home office last month—I thought I was being so efficient, getting everything in its perfect little place, and then I realized I’d moved my printer to a spot where I couldn't even reach the cord without standing on a chair! Total disaster. Anyway, I digress. What I mean is, regarding what we were discussing earlier... it feels much deeper than just the surface stuff. There's this underlying tension that everyone seems to be ignoring, and I can't be the only one feeling it, right? I really believe if we look at it from a different angle—maybe a bit more holistic, if that makes sense—the answer becomes so much clearer. Just a thought! I'm probably overthinking it, as usual—my friends always tell me I need to learn how to "just let things be," but some of us were born to analyze, I guess! What do you guys think? Am I totally off base here? Please, don't hold back—I genuinely want to hear the real take on this. kaže:
Yeah, yeah, I totally caught on to that—it really hit me. But nah, I’m good, thanks though! 😉

No worries at all—just let me know what you think! Honestly, I'm dying to hear your take on everything.😉

Brenda Torres37 said:Oh, really? So, do you find Yaz works better? Is there actually any noticeable difference at all?

Well, I’m taking Yaz, not Yasmin—they're super similar, but Yaz actually has even lower hormone levels. Honestly, I don't see much of a difference, at least not from what I can tell—I'm just about finishing my first pack anyway.

Brenda Torres37 said:Hey ladies, I have a question.
I’ve been on Cilest for five months now, and I’m thinking about switching over to Yasmin. Should I just jump straight into the new pack, or is it smarter to take a break first? I was considering taking a month off in between. Honestly, I’m still playing the guessing game trying to figure out which pill actually works for my body. Trinovum was absolutely brutal on me, and while Cilest is alright so far, I had some spotting right in the middle of my cycle last month along with my regular period. It was probably just stress, but I still want to see if there's a better option out there. What do you all think?
Thanks.

Honestly, it’s probably best to just switch immediately. If you take a break, your body basically has to go through the whole "getting used to hormones" thing all over again from scratch—it’s way more of a shock to the system than just transitioning smoothly.
I switched from Cilest to Yaz myself and, honestly, I didn't even notice a difference during the transition.

amberheron64 said:I haven't taken anything today—though, theoretically speaking, I really should have by this evening, and now I’m just sitting here completely stumped on what to do next...

The ones I’ve been using—they were the 21-pill packs, and then there's the Diane-35 variety... honestly, I'm lost. I'll probably just take a break from them, though I truly have no clue what the right move is.

It’s the most frustrating thing—the old packaging says to take a break, but these newer ones tell you to just keep going. It's like even the manufacturers can't make up their minds... they don't even know!

Thanks for any advice you might have.

Look, if you just start taking them again without doing a break, you're protected right away—but if you decide to wait those 7 days, you definitely need to use backup protection for that month because you're switching from a higher dosage to a lower dosage pill.

shadowfox49 said:Ugh, I can’t quite put my finger on it.
My hormones are absolutely wrecking me today. I'm feeling incredibly on edge, so I wanted to ask for some advice.
Is there anything natural out there that actually works to help me relax and chill out? (And no, I don't mean chocolate, comfort food, or hobbies—though I know stuff exists specifically for PMS). My mood is just all over the place; one minute I’m crying, the next I’m furious, then suddenly everything feels great, and it just keeps looping like that.
Oh god, my boyfriend is calling right now. If I snap at him or go full psycho, what then? 😢

Chamomile 😍
which kind are you drinking?

Sarah Garcia12 said:Has anyone else noticed their sleep getting totally messed up while on birth control? Like, could there actually be a connection? Ever since I started taking Diane35, I feel like my sleep quality has taken a serious dive compared to before... though, to be fair, I was never exactly a champion sleeper to begin with.

It’s actually the complete opposite for me—since I started taking them, I feel like I could sleep twenty-four hours a day.🙂

shadowfox49 said:awesome, thanks! 🙂
really caught my eye!

No worries at all 😉
Basically, cases like that are—as I mentioned before—extremely rare

shadowfox49 said:Can I ask a question that’s probably been asked before? I just haven't seen an answer to it yet (sorry if I missed it!).
What actually happens if a woman gets pregnant but doesn't realize it and keeps taking birth control pills for another few weeks or a month? Will standard pregnancy symptoms show up? Won't there be a period during the break? And what happens to the embryo?
Also, what about pregnancy tests? Will they come back positive because the body thinks it's pregnant while on the pill (that's how they work, right?), or will they still be negative?

If someone actually finds themselves in that situation—which, honestly, sounds incredibly rare—they’d likely suspect something is up when their period doesn't arrive during the pill break. They'd take a test, and it should give a totally accurate result. Basically, if she isn't pregnant, it'll be negative; if she is, it'll be positive, regardless of whether she was still popping those pills. Once it turns out she is pregnant, she’d stop the medication immediately and head to her OB-GYN. From there, the doctor can refer her to specialists who run tests to check on the health of the fetus—you know, to see if the extra hormones had any impact on the development.

amberheron64 said:Alright, look—I’m a bit stumped here. Why on earth am I being told I don't have the right to ask about Diane anymore?! Has anyone else dealt with something similar? It feels a bit sudden, doesn't it?
And another thing—are these blood results actually from the specialist? I’ve got the white cell count, red cell count, clotting time, enzymes... all that good stuff. Honestly, I have no idea what other test results they could possibly be looking for!

Man, I'm not sure—you should probably just head over there and check with the doctor.
Things might have changed since the New Year rolled around 🤷

amberheron64 said:So, Sad Sam called her gynecologist to get a prescription for Diane—you know, the birth control—and the nurse told her they need to see results from a specialist (some kind of OB-GYN expert, frankly) before they'll even consider if they can write the script. And apparently, they aren't covered by insurance anymore! Now she’s looking at paying about $33 per go.
I mean, since when?! It finally clicked why my GP didn't just hand over the prescription, but I honestly don't get it—if I've been taking them for two years without a single hiccup, why the sudden change in attitude?!

They did mention she could get a prescription for Logest instead, which my boyfriend rushed out to pick up immediately. Logest runs about $33—but is that for a three-month supply like Diane, or just for one month? Honestly, I have absolutely no clue what Logest is, so I'm looking for some firsthand info from anyone who knows!

Logest is roughly $27 for a one-month supply.

Jesse Rogers8 said:Help me please...
Back in May 2009, I started taking Logest—and naturally, I had my blood work done beforehand, everything was perfectly fine. Yet, during that very first month, right in the middle of my cycle, the bleeding started. Of course, I rushed to my gynecologist, who simply told me it was just an adjustment period. I continued the Logest for another five months, and every single month it was the same story—fifteen days of bleeding followed by my period.
After that initial visit, she recommended I try Xyzal; I took it for a month, but the symptoms were identical. Then came Triquilar for three months, and now I’m in my third month of Yaz, and once again, it's the exact same thing. I went to see her today, and her response? She thinks I should just be a little more patient??????? Now, she has given me a referral for blood work and a full coagulation profile. What exactly can they find from a large coagulation panel? Has anyone else dealt with this? My doctor claims she sees 8,300 women and only one other has this issue—she mentioned some sort of connective tissue disorder might explain it... help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A coagulation profile basically shows how fast your blood clots. Honestly, it might just be that those pills aren't strong enough for you—both Logest and Yaz only have 0.020 mg of ethinyl estradiol. You might want to ask about Celestima; it has 0.035 mg. Just speaking from my own experience, Logest really didn't sit right with me (I had the same bleeding issues and some other stuff), but once I switched to Celestima, everything was smooth sailing—no extra bleeding at all from the very first dose.

I mean, what’s even the point of having fertile and non-fertile days if you're already taking 😕😕😕
? Like, seriously, why bother tracking all that stuff?