Posts by Paul Rivera

Are you taking anything else along with the pill?
I ended up with a full-body rash from an antibiotic once (Augmentin). I assumed it was just the pill, but I guess it turned out to be an amoxicillin allergy after all. 😁

I guess life just keeps throwing curveballs. Maybe that's all there is to it. kaže:
We actually have the Durex Elite, Ultra Thin, and Real Feel options. It’s pretty rare for that kind of thing to actually work out, I guess. 😢

Yeah, he’s got some kind of mental block there. It's probably not going to get better anytime soon because that constant anxiety over using a condom is just too much. I know a couple who dealt with the exact same thing—he couldn't do the condom thing, and they lived in different cities, too. Once the girlfriend switched to the pill, everything was fine, I guess.
Look, pills aren't exactly peak health, and they definitely cost more than just going unprotected, I guess. But for me, that’s still better than living in constant fear of an unplanned pregnancy. Maybe eventually he'll chill out enough to handle condoms, but maybe he just needs more time. 🤷

Chloe Gray5 said:I was just saying I wouldn't use the pill for only two days out of the month—I didn't say doing nothing was better—but hey, it's her call and there's no point in me lecturing her... she knows exactly what happens when you skip protection.
Before I started on the pill, I always used condoms—and honestly, not once did things work out without protection.

I don't get it. I didn't mean for that to come off like an attack, I guess. 🙂 Condoms are obviously the best way to go here, but since that clearly isn't working, I guess birth control becomes a necessary evil if she wants protection. Maybe.

Chloe Gray5 said:Personally, I wouldn't bother popping pills just for a couple of days—but hey, it really just depends on you.

I suppose it’s still better than having no protection at all.😲 🤷
And what kind of condoms were you using? Maybe try some ultra-thin ones so they feel less intrusive.

hollowtrucker2 said:Hey, is it actually possible for birth control pills to trigger yeast infections—like Candida?

I was on Yasmin for two years and Yaz for about a year, and then I made the switch over to Cilist...
Now that I’ve transitioned to Cilist, I feel like I'm in a constant battle with Candida. It just won't quit, and honestly, I've tried absolutely everything under the sun to get rid of it... It usually seems to flare up right about a week before my period starts.
I never dealt with these kinds of issues while I was taking Yasmin or Yaz. Everything else remains exactly the same as it always has been—my partner, my diet, my workout routine... nothing has changed except this.

It can definitely cause it. Honestly, I never dealt with Candida once until I started the pill.😳
I'm taking beta-glucan now, so maybe that'll help clear things up.

quietpilot87 said:The first month or two on Yaz was pretty rough for me. Depression, paranoia, crying spells, just being overly emotional. Maybe it's linked to other things going on in my life, but the timing seems too coincidental 😁

Physically, I feel mostly fine. But those emotions 😠 I guess I'm hoping they pass eventually.

For me, these symptoms only showed up in the last few months, even though I've been on Yaz for almost a year. You'd think these changes would hit right at the start when you begin taking the pills 🤷
That "grayness" (and this intense, indescribable craving for sweets) hits right before, during, and after my period 😳 I never had these issues before.

Aside from the psychological stuff, I've noticed my immune system has taken a sudden dive over this past year 😳

Still, I'm terrified of switching to something else (like Claire) because I'm worried it might actually be worse 🤷

The movie isn't terrible, but I really expected more from it. It felt a bit monotonous to me, though maybe I should give it a second watch to see if it actually clicks 🤷

brightmoose6 said:Can anyone help? I started a new pack on Sunday, May 6th. Then the day before yesterday (Saturday, May 12th), I missed one. I got back on track yesterday and today, but now I’ve started some spotting. What should I do? From what I understand, I just need to keep taking them as usual but use extra protection for the next seven days, right? And what about this bleeding? Thanks!

I just read that when I realized I missed one on Sunday, I was supposed to take both the missed pill and my regular one at the same time, but I didn't. Should I take two today? I still have that one from Saturday sitting in the pack.

Which pills are we talking about?

Generally, the rule is that if it’s been more than 12 hours since you were supposed to take it, you take the missed one plus the current one. And yeah, you'll probably need backup protection for a week.😉

Since it's been a few days now, I guess you should do what oola suggested and just call your doctor to be safe.🤷

I know St. John's Wort can interfere with birth control effectiveness. It says so on the pill packaging, and you can find it on the web, too.
As for the rest, I haven't a clue, though I suspect maybe only the St. John's Wort is truly critical 🤷

Regarding chamomile tea, I think someone like Dr. Suban might have recommended it 🤔

Rachel Young3 said:

It’s a romantic comedy set back in Victorian-era England, focusing on the invention of the very first vibrator...

Apparently, it's based on actual events.

The cast features Felicity Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Hugh Dancy.

Directed by Tanya Wexler

IMDb
Wikipedia
Trailer

Doesn't look half bad to me. From what I saw in the trailer, it actually looks pretty fun...

Sounds pretty cool, I might have to check this out. 🤣 😁

The IMDb reviews look good:

The comedic pacing is refreshing, tasteful and does not feel cheap which is impressive if you consider that some of the biggest laughs stem from scenes that depict the masturbation of middle aged women.

😬

Interesting plot, though it’s weighed down by clichés and, naturally, a predictable ending 😁 Some of those romantic scenes were honestly a bit much for me 😬

I can't say I expected much more, given it's exactly this kind of movie.
Rachel did a decent job with her role, even if it wasn't quite what some of you described.
One scene actually reminded me of The Notebook, although this film doesn't even come close to that one 😁

Justin Rogers5 said:I didn't take anything because I was clueless. The cramps started at 10, but my period didn't actually show up until noon. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I should even bother taking them?🤷

Maybe just take it now. Since you technically started at midnight, you basically have all day to get it down.🙂 Just don't wait past midnight, or you'll be counting that as day two.

Justin Rogers5 said:Got my period today, so I need to start on the pill. Should I just take the first one now since it's day one, or does the fact that it's almost midnight mean I should wait until tomorrow? I'm only taking them to fix my cycle and stop these sore breasts.

Maybe I'm responding too late, but if it were me, I'd probably just take it right after my period started—say, around 11 PM—and then stick to that same time every night.
If not, I guess you could just start tomorrow morning and keep taking them at the same time every morning (like 8 or 9 AM). 🙂

Taylor Smith3 said:My gynecologist tends to talk quite fast, so I constantly find myself forgetting to ask him all these details. I actually brought up Lyndinette when he was writing my prescription for Logest, and he mentioned that Lyndinette isn't prescribed for contraception. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that clearly implies they are prescribed for women dealing with menstrual irregularities. Since I didn't start taking pills primarily for protection but rather to manage my cycle issues, I could have easily just asked him to switch the script and call it a day. But instead, I'll just be stuck paying full price for these pills.$27 🙂

I'm not sure where he gets that from; a friend of mine is on Lyndinette and takes them strictly for birth control. 🤷

Jeremy Taylor3 said:I take Diane, and it doesn't cost anything because it's prescription-only—you just pay the $3.25 copay at the pharmacy. You get a box containing three packs, which covers you for three months.

Just $3.25 😳

Usually, Yaz is around $50 😬 and Qlaira is about the same, I guess.

Samuel Allen5 said:Are you kidding me? Since when?! 🙂

It’s been about two weeks now, I guess. Maybe longer. 😳 I'm thinking about heading to Mexico soon. Everything is half the price there, I guess. Maybe. 😁

Susan Harris89 said:How long can one reasonably stay on birth control pills? A year? Two? Three? Five? And when the time comes to switch things up, how long does that mandatory "break" actually need to be?

On another note, because of my higher body weight, I’m told I can’t use those "light" formulations—at least, that was the verdict from my OB-GYN. My hormone levels have been shifting quite a bit lately; after hitting a total catastrophe a few years back, things have settled into something more "normal," which will obviously play a major role in deciding which contraceptive makes the cut.

It’s pretty clear you can't just stick with the exact same pill for your entire life; you eventually have to rotate them. Personally, I’ve never stayed on one brand for an extended period, so I’m genuinely curious about what options are out there and whether I’ll actually find something that works for me—specifically something that doesn't leave me bleeding constantly or feeling like I could eat a whole steak in one sitting. Let's see if such a miracle actually exists.🙂

I'm wondering the same thing. I heard you need a break after two years, but I don't know if that's even reliable.🤷

I've been perfectly fine on Yaz. It hasn't messed with my appetite and I haven't had any side effects. But then again, it's a weaker pill, so it probably wouldn't work for you...

Susan Harris89 said:@tour, you certainly can, though if you aren't planning on picking this back up in about two months, I wouldn't suggest hitting the pause button just yet. If you’re telling me you intend to carry on in a month or two, then breaking the momentum might be a mistake.

On another note, I caught some news recently suggesting that Pfizer had to pull several million boxes of birth control off the market because, due to a manufacturing error, they simply weren't effective. It apparently involved a handful of different brands, but I was just listening to the radio at the time, so I didn't catch the specific names. It seems to be happening here, much like it does in the States. They’re bracing for lawsuits 🙂 whereas I’m just expecting a sudden surge in toddlers 😁

Here’s the story - 👎
Pfizer announced the recall covers 14 batches of Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 batches of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets.

Luckily it isn't Bayer; if it were, I think I might actually lose it.😬

melloweagle93 said:I’ve got a question too—honestly, I think I just need someone with actual experience to talk me down from my own paranoia. So, up until now, I’ve always relied on condoms for protection. But because of PCOS, I’ve had to start taking Yaz. I’m nearly through my third pack now, and I haven't really noticed any side effects—which is fine—but I’m also barely seeing any of those "positive" changes people talk about. Since starting the pill, there hasn't been any mood shifts, no bloating, no breast enlargement, no weight gain or loss... I haven't even seen my skin clear up (I don't have a ton of acne, but I was really hoping those few stubborn spots would finally vanish). The only real win is that my periods aren't painful anymore, which is a huge relief.
I guess what I'm wondering is: how effective are these pills really when it comes to preventing pregnancy? To be honest, both my partner and I are getting pretty tired of the condom routine, but I can't shake this feeling of anxiety—like, what if these hormones aren't actually doing their job? I mean, I don't have side effects, but maybe that means they aren't "strong" enough? Especially since Yaz has one of the lowest hormone concentrations on the market. 🙂
I read somewhere that birth control is 99.97% effective, which sounds pretty solid on paper, but knowing my luck, I’d probably end up being part of that 0.03%. 🙂
Hopefully, some experienced women here can help ease my doubts and this constant worrying. 😁

Don't sweat it; the pill is genuinely safe, and honestly, much more reliable than condoms. If you've managed to stay safe with condoms so far, the pill will likely feel even more secure. 😁
Yaz is definitely effective, despite having lower hormone levels. I don't have any complaints myself; my boyfriend and I use the pill as our only method of contraception, and everything has been fine. 🙂

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:I know perfectly well that adding extra hormones and chemicals is hard on my body, but at my age, having a small chest is genuinely an issue for me.
The real problem is that we have a family doctor, and she finds out about every single medical visit if I try to go on my own. I'm also terrified of talking to my mom about this; I know it would just stress her out, and she'd definitely tell me not to do it—just like any typical American mother.
One more thing: regardless of how much they grew for you, how long did it take? Did it happen quickly, or did it take quite a while before you noticed even a slight difference? 🙂

I get that you're feeling insecure about it, but maybe it's just something you have to accept. 😉 I'm not much older than you myself (I'm 20), and I felt just as awkward showing up in a swimsuit at prom because I'm on the skinnier side, but eventually, you kind of stop caring and learn to love yourself as you are. 🙂
And don't worry, guys aren't going to reject you just because you have small breasts. 😁 Anyone who would do that isn't worth your time anyway (it's a cliché, I know, but it's true, I guess 😁).

To be honest, I didn't even notice a change myself; it was actually my boyfriend who noticed they felt a bit fuller to the touch 🤣 after about a month. Actually, I feel like they were a tiny bit fuller during the first two months, but then they seemed to settle back to normal, even though I'm still taking them 🤷.

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:Hey everyone! 😁

I'm 17, and I've been thinking about starting birth control for a while now. To be completely honest, my main motivation is wanting my breasts to grow so I can actually fill out a swimsuit this summer. Since I want to be fully informed before I make any moves, I have a few questions. If you have a moment, please help me out 🙂:
1. What has your experience been regarding breast growth from the pill? Also, is it okay to take them just for that reason? 🙄
2. Can I just go out and buy them on my own?
3. Is there any way to keep this from my parents? It would be really awkward, and I'd rather avoid the lecture or them making a huge deal out of it for no reason.
4. Are there a lot of side effects?

🤣

Look, honestly, don't go messing with your body using chemicals just because you want a little extra volume. You’re only 17; your body is still developing, and things usually settle in by your early 20s. 😉
1. Mine didn't really grow—maybe they look a tiny bit fuller, but that's about it. 🤷
There wasn't much difference. I had some aches during the first couple of months, but after five months, I don't feel anything. My chest has always been small. 😬
2. No, you definitely need a prescription from a gynecologist.
3. You can keep it private, but you'll still need to find a doctor to examine you and order blood work.
4. It's different for everyone, I guess. Some people deal with nausea or heavy bleeding, others get depressed or gain weight, and for some, there's absolutely nothing at all. 😁