Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]
in Women's Health ·
Lisa Myers said:Yesterday on the German RTL midday news, they reported on how French pharmacies are pulling third-generation birth control pills off the shelves due to specific active ingredients. They listed three types—I didn't catch them all, though Qlaira sounded familiar—and showed pictures too. Apparently, these are twice as risky for heart and brain issues compared to older versions like Cilest. There were just too many cases that couldn't be linked to anything else except the pills, especially since we're talking about young women with zero other risk factors. If anyone wants to look it up, there should be a clip of the segment on their website.
I was on the pill for about ten years. I used to be a huge advocate for them. Honestly, part of me still misses that sense of security they provided. I don't trust much else that much. But because of a series of circumstances, I had to stop. Permanently. I remember every single doctor I saw for my other health issues would ask, "Are you on contraception?" If I said yes, the response was always, "You have to stop immediately." As time went on, I started saying "no" because I had already quit, but they would still write "on oral contraceptives for 10 years" on my medical records, even though I haven't taken them in two or three years. I'm not saying the pills made me sick, let’s be clear. I’m just pointing out how my checkups go. While I was taking them, all my tests came back perfect. Everything didn't start flaring up until three years ago. Why it still matters today that I took them once, I don't know, but clearly, it matters.
Looking at the big picture, taking the pill doesn't seem consequence-free anymore. I don't know... I'm certainly never going back to them. Plus, I'm over 35 now, which is an added risk factor and all that.
@fastidious: Your doctor's explanation feels a bit thin to me. Breakthrough bleeding usually happens precisely when the pill isn't working. That's when you switch to something else. It isn't normal to be on birth control and experience breakthrough bleeding.
I'd advise everyone to really dig into the medication leaflets and check for interactions—both for the pills and those psychiatric meds you mentioned. I don't think there's a universal answer because not every tablet has the same active ingredients. If the warning is there, it's there for a reason. Sure, manufacturers list a ton of stuff to protect themselves legally if an interaction occurs, but they wouldn't bother listing it if there wasn't a genuine possibility of it happening.
Maybe we shouldn't rely quite so heavily on what a doctor says. Two different gynecologists told me completely opposite things, so if the experts can't agree, how am I supposed to know? I found it better to stick to the instructions and even contact the manufacturer directly. That's what I eventually did, and it was the only way I felt satisfied with the answer.
My experience with birth control hasn't been great either. Bad bloodwork, mood swings, spotting, chest pains, high blood pressure, and gaining 10 pounds after just one year on them... 🤷 Maybe they aren't actually good for women's health, despite how much everyone praises them.