Posts by Carl Flores9

Greetings, weather enthusiasts🙂
I am crossing my fingers that there won't be any side effects🙂

Thank you for the correction.🙂 I was assuming all medical reasons for increased bleeding had been ruled out. Naturally, one should consult a gynecologist regarding this matter first (though perhaps checking this forum first, then seeing a doctor.🙂)

I don't believe there should be any issues here; from what I can see, it’s just some kind of barley leaf extract. Green tea seems even less concerning. There isn't anything similar listed under the drug interactions in the manual, aside from St. John's Wort.
Regarding the lack of energy, I am hardly an authority since I'm a complete lightweight🙂 but I know that once autumn hits, I'm basically a zombie—I just want to bury myself under a mountain of blankets and sleep all day.🙂))

In some cases, gynecologists prescribe birth control pills specifically to manage heavy flows. If you aren't interested in hormonal options, I suggest looking up the menstrual cup discussion on this forum; many women who switched because of heavy periods have reported being extremely satisfied with the results.

@celesta, my mom says, and my godmother says, they call those "old wives' tales." No offense intended, it’s just an expression.🙂 Birth control pills protect eggs because women don't release them every month. Every woman is born with a finite number of eggs that decreases over time. As a woman ages, the quality of those eggs declines. Therefore, if ovulation doesn't occur monthly, those eggs remain, which logically should make them "better." Even if a woman gets pregnant while on the pill—due to missing a dose or being inconsistent—the baby shouldn't be affected. So, old wives' tales; your acquaintance was simply unlucky.😢

I have heard all the nonsense too—don't take the pill or you won't be able to conceive later, you'll gain weight, it will ruin your skin... None of that happened to me! And I have been on hormones for seven years now.

@vision one—Logest, Yaz, and the patch all contain the same amount of estrogen. None of them have the lowest dosage; that would be the hormonal ring.

Which brands are you all using, and where do you typically find them? I’ve been losing my mind today—I checked five different pharmacies and they were completely out of stock. Usually, I can pick it up at the local pharmacy near the city square, but I didn't have the chance to head that way. In the end, I'll just check the pharmacy in Brooklyn or the one at the Mall of America; they claim to always have it in stock.

goldenmoose25 said:I’ve been on Cilest for about a year and three months now, and I have a few questions. If anyone can help, I’d appreciate it.
So, here’s the deal. I always take the last pill in the pack on Sunday night, and my period usually starts on Thursday and lasts until Sunday. This time, though, I want my period to wrap up by Friday—two days earlier than usual. I’m wondering if I can just take two pills from a new pack to shorten the cycle by two days, then go straight into my seven-day break. Does messing with the schedule affect how reliable the birth control is?
My second option is to skip the break entirely and start the next pack immediately. Has anyone actually tried this? Are there side effects if I decide not to take a break for one month, and is the protection just as solid during those times?

I am not entirely certain you should try shortening it, though you can extend the cycle by starting a new pack right after the first. Once, when I attempted this after about two weeks, I experienced spotting that didn't stop until I finally took my scheduled break. It wasn't dangerous, merely an inconvenience.🙂

Carol Scott98 said:Fine, suppose it happens... though I honestly don't see how that's even possible since it's not like an opening is 4 inches wide where things (like a ring or a tampon) would just spontaneously fall out, but whatever...
But having someone manually remove it and "stow it away" for a few minutes or hours during sex 🤣 doesn't sound particularly appealing 👎🤷

It can be removed, but there is no practical reason to do so. Perhaps some men might find it inconvenient, in which case it could be taken out during intercourse; the instructions state you simply rinse it under cold water and reinsert it. It can also stay out for up to three hours without losing its effectiveness. There is no logical point in targeting its removal just to let it "breathe." I do not remove mine at all until the full three weeks are up.

neontinker23 said:They wouldn't be considering selling it if it weren't a complete dump. 😁 It must undergo rigorous inspections and exhaustive testing.

That’s highly unlikely. 🙂

Kate Moore21 said:I feel the same way, and it’s even worse when I consider how difficult it would be to insert or remove it.

To each their own. Some women struggle even with basic menstrual products, whereas I found total relief once I switched over and now I can't live without them. However, I shared those same anxieties regarding the ring—specifically the logistics of removal and whether things might go wrong. Regarding infections, there is likely a negligible risk of anything accumulating on the ring since silicone is an inert material that shouldn't support bacterial growth. At least, that is my understanding.🙂

Edward Murphy4 said:I had a absolutely horrific, nightmare experience with that kind of birth control. I was 14—taking some pills (can’t even remember which ones) because my bleeding was totally out of control. I almost ended up needing a blood transfusion. Took three pills and landed straight in the ER.😢I couldn't even stay on my feet from how weak I felt—I was passing out even while lying in bed!!! Like, seriously, I was losing consciousness while just lying there!🙏🙏

Never in a million years would I ever consider taking anything from that group again.
Obviously, I'm an extreme case, but trust me—that day, I genuinely thought I was dying.☕God forbid I ever need that stuff again, because what I went through is just impossible to put into words. It was terrifying. 👎

Don't worry the girl too much.😢 You can start taking them on the fifth day, though I believe they don't provide contraceptive protection during the first month or the first seven days, I'm not entirely certain. For all pills, the instructions specify when to start and how much protection you get depending on which day of the cycle you begin. And if you are taking them for another medical indication rather than contraception, I believe it really doesn't matter whether it's the first or the fifth day...

neontinker23 said:That’s why my OBGYN recommended the patch, because of vaginal dryness. Or maybe switching pills due to the bleeding...

Is it possible to stop taking birth control pills for a few months and then potentially switch to the patch later if I decide to? I am planning on changing doctors and getting full exams and swabs done by a new specialist, and I really don't want to deal with more pills and all these side effects until then.

Of course you can stop. Just be mindful of the risk of pregnancy if you are using them for contraception.

neontinker23 said:I was only on Yaz for seven months. I don't think the dose is sufficient because, besides my regular period, I always experience mid-cycle bleeding that lasts for an entire week. :/ My OB-GYN told me during the first few months that things would stabilize once my body adjusted, but clearly, they haven't. 🙂 I have dealt with constant inflammation, vaginal dryness, pain, and absolutely zero libido...
Because of this, I am hesitant to switch to a different pill; if the hormone dosage is higher, I fear my symptoms will only intensify. :/

Regarding mid-cycle bleeding, it is directly linked to the estrogen levels in the pill. Generally, a higher estrogen content reduces the likelihood of spotting because estrogen stabilizes the uterine lining. This should typically subside after a few cycles (two, three, or four). When I used Celestrol—which was my first pack a long time ago—I only experienced slight spotting during the first month. Modern pills contain lower doses than older formulations because estrogen is linked to thrombosis risks, so they likely reduce it intentionally, which leads to more frequent spotting. As for your other side effects, I cannot say for certain, though you might find less dryness; estrogen is actually prescribed topically for menopause due to dryness, yet here you are dealing with it for three weeks. Personally, my discharge is slightly heavier than it was on the pill, and those issues are explicitly listed as side effects, including the decreased libido you suffered from while on Yaz.

Rachel Myers14 said:Look, I am certainly no medical expert, so I won't pretend to be making a diagnosis. Of course, there is a risk of thrombosis. However, both my OBGYNs—my private doctor and the one at the clinic—told me that monitoring my blood work isn't even necessary while using this, unlike with the pill, since my initial labs were perfect. That said, I still went in for testing because I tend to overthink things. 😁

A little extra weight never hurt anyone. I also constantly request tests even though my gynecologist insists they aren't required; she claims the thrombosis risk is highest in the first year, yet I have been on birth control—specifically the ring—for nearly seven years without a break. But as stated previously, these are merely statistics. This is why my primary care physician always provides a referral and expresses disbelief at how irresponsible some gynecologists can be.😉))

neontinker23 said:I had issues with pills—inflammation tendencies, doses that were too low, and my libido hit rock bottom—so I'm stopping them. Now I'm wondering if I'd run into those same problems with the ring? :/

You can definitely find it at any local pharmacy since my gynecologist recommended it... though I have no idea what the price tag looks like...

It costs about $50.

Regarding side effects, it is entirely subjective; what works perfectly for one person might be a disaster for another. It all comes down to how the statistics fall on your side. Some side effects are linked to the estrogen component, which remains consistent across most pills except for the dosage, while others are tied to the progestin, which varies significantly from one brand to the next. Since I don't know which specific component caused your issues😢 I would conclude that if you have tried multiple different brands with various progestins (the part listed alongside the ethinyl estradiol), there is a high probability you will face the same issues regardless of the pill or the ring. Unfortunately, mini-pills (those containing only progestin) aren't available here in the US.

Rachel Myers14 said:Why even chime in if you aren't going to contribute anything constructive? You're just trolling.☕
What is wrong with making contraceptive methods as simple as possible for people?🤷 Besides, not everyone finds the ring convenient. Some women can't take oral pills due to liver issues. Additionally, women who experienced migraines as a side effect of the pill often respond much better to the ring. Not to mention the lower risk of thrombosis. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the ring; people simply hold prejudices against new technology.

Unfortunately, the risk of thrombosis isn't any lower than with pills. The hormones still enter the bloodstream; they just enter through the vaginal mucosa rather than the stomach.😢 I agree on the convenience factor, though I was usually able to take my pill on time, even if my phone alarm occasionally caught me at the wrong moment. My partner didn't notice it, though I imagine it might bother some guys. There is plenty of room down there.😉