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shadowharbor said:I have a few friends who take birth control pills to manage things like menstruation, acne, or hormonal imbalances... It seems to me they all decided at some point to try going off them, yet in the end, every single one of them returned to the pill. One even mentioned trying certain herbal teas, but nothing ever worked.
Hormones certainly impact libido; even the pills themselves can have a negative effect. However, it is generally understood that testosterone plays a more significant role here than estrogen.
It looks like I’ll probably have to head back to oral contraceptives... I don't really see any other way to handle this.
shadowharbor said:What exactly do you mean when you say they will cause more harm than good? You mentioned taking them for a long time, but you didn't mention experiencing any side effects. I am not denying that side effects exist, but it seems to me that you are simply against them altogether—assuming that "they will eventually hurt me" just because all pills are inherently bad.
Most women fear precisely those things: weight gain, a lower libido, mood swings, or hormonal imbalances—issues you are already dealing with. Your condition could actually improve, and even if you notice things getting worse, you have the option to stop taking them.
I assume you’ve had blood work done and know your hormone levels aren't where they should be. You also know that, for now, these pills are the primary treatment, and only while you are on them. I don't know what your experience was like before; whether you had side effects then or if you felt better, only you can say. You are aware of all the facts, and as the patient, the decision to accept this therapy rests entirely with you.
I didn't experience any side effects from them. It was more that I was persistently hoping everything would just return to normal on its own through natural means, but I can see that my condition is actually worsening.
So, can a decreased libido also be caused by hormonal imbalances?
Well, let me jump straight into it...
Basically, I’ve been dealing with hormonal issues since I was sixteen. I started taking birth control pills back then, but I’d go through these cycles where I’d stop on my own, then start again, and so on. I’m twenty-two now, and for about a year, I haven't been taking them at all. To be honest, I’m hesitant because I’m worried they might end up doing more harm than good in the long run. Maybe I'm wrong, but generally, I'm just not a fan of those pills; I really only take them if it feels absolutely necessary. So, getting back to my hormones and my cycle... whenever I stop the pill, my period basically disappears. When I finally do get it, I notice it only lasts about two days, and it isn't even actual bleeding—just this tiny amount of brownish discharge. To make matters worse, I feel like these hormonal shifts are starting to take a real toll on me, both mentally and physically. I'm wondering what you all think. For starters, I've gained quite a bit of weight. It’s not that I’m overeating, but I’m not exactly on a strict diet either, yet the scale just keeps climbing. Before I stopped the medication, I was hitting the gym regularly, but even that didn't seem to make a difference. The whole situation is incredibly stressful, and I'm feeling a bit lost. On top of that, my libido has completely vanished. It’s not that I don't want to be with my boyfriend—he’s actually being wonderful about it and says he’ll wait as long as it takes for things to settle down in my head—but I know it’s hard on him, and it’s hard on me too. It's not like there's any attraction left in me at all right now, which is really frustrating. I’m writing all this because I’m looking for some advice. Should I try going back on the pills to see if that stabilizes everything? Or is there something else I should be looking into? I just don't know what's happening with my body anymore. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.