Posts by Laura Mendoza

Jesse Cruz3 said:Has anyone else here dealt with weight gain from birth control?
I was on Yasmin and my weight wouldn't budge from 123 pounds... now I've been on Logest for two months and I'm already up to 132!??!?!
Do you think I could get back to my old weight quickly if I switched back to Yasmin?😢

Not quite. It’s totally plausible to see a 1–2 kg jump on the scale due to water retention—especially during those first few months on medication—but 4 kg? That’s a stretch. Have you noticed your appetite ramping up lately, or have you been sticking to your usual routine?

Harold Campbell4 said:Help... I stopped taking birth control—I'd been on it for 3 years—and my period showed up after a few days like usual, but now my next one is already 14 days late 😕 I’m actually losing my mind here... even though my friends keep telling me the same thing happened to them. Has this happened to anyone else? 😢

Jamie Barnes60 said:I totally stopped taking my birth control this month and now my period is already six days late. This is driving me absolutely CRAZY!

But get this—my friend was at a concert in Nashville, and her cycle was delayed by a whole two weeks during the break. So... yeah...

To’s perfectly normal for them. Sadly. 😢

Megan Rivera98 said:she took a pregnancy test today and it was negative...
she was expecting her period around Tuesday or Wednesday...
it's Friday now... hopefully she didn't take it too early...

It isn't too early, but if her period doesn't arrive by next week, she should run another test or just head straight to her OB-GYN.

Morgan Torres said:@ Laura Mendoza - I am taking them, but I didn't see that listed as a side effect anywhere.

Look at it this way: while sore lips might not be the issue, dryness definitely is. Is this a one-time thing that only happened during her cycle?

Linda Cook58 said:I need some advice.
On August 21st, I took my last birth control pill after three years because I have to take a break due to my cholesterol levels. I had my period normally on August 23rd, but according to my cycle tracking app, my next one was supposed to arrive by September 19th. It still hasn't shown up, and I'm almost two weeks late.
I took a pregnancy test this morning and it was negative.

Should I head straight to the gynecologist, or is it pretty common for things to get wonky when you stop taking the pill? Should I just wait a bit longer?

It’s definitely common, but don't let it drag on too long. At the very least, give your doctor a call—you don't necessarily need an immediate appointment.
Regarding the cholesterol, did your doctor suggest the pills were the cause? While it makes sense to pause them for now until your levels stabilize, keep in mind that diet and genetics usually play a much larger role than birth control does.

Linda Rodriguez38 said:But here is my actual PROBLEM:
I should be getting it tomorrow, or in the next few days.
But for the last 3 or 4 days, I've been feeling absolutely miserable.
I have lower abdominal pain, I'm exhausted, I can't do any physical activity because I have zero energy, plus digestive issues, nausea, and these intense waves of pain... I have no idea what's going on...
Theoretically, I shouldn't be pregnant.
But I have never felt this awful during the days leading up to my period.
I guess it might just be part of getting older, but this is so draining that I'll lose my mind if it happens every single month...

I occasionally deal with certain symptoms or pains that don't happen often, but they do occur. So... unfortunately, anything goes when it comes to that time of the month...

Morgan Torres said:Does anyone else experience painful lips during their period? Last month was a nightmare. I felt completely dehydrated inside and my lips were hurting like crazy.

Sorry, I haven't been following everything—are you on birth control? Because that can be a side effect too...

Megan Rivera98 said:A colleague and I are debating this...
Yasmin stopped taking her birth control right at the start of all these recent issues... which means she should be getting her first period soon after being on the pill for eight months straight.
Since they had sex around day 12 or 13 of her cycle...
basically right when her fertile window opens... is there a chance she's pregnant?
They were careful and he didn't finish inside her...
I'm telling her the odds of pregnancy are slim...

What do you mean by "careful"? If they just relied on him pulling out, then yeah, there’s definitely a chance. Look, Vadigavan isn't exactly a foolproof method, especially during those peak fertile days.

Jamie Barnes60 said:So, my primary care doctor just handed me a referral for some coagulation testing.

That’s even better. I know some doctors won't hand those out. For instance:

Christian Thompson9 said:So, I went to see my doctor a couple days ago to get a blood work referral—mostly because my OBGYN is in another city and I couldn't make the trip right now—and she told me she couldn't sign off on it. Apparently, it has to come from the specialist.
I honestly thought she was just giving me the runaround...
And since my period started anyway, I ended up just starting the pills before even getting the blood work done.

I don't get why she wouldn't just give you a standard referral for blood work, including liver enzymes. It makes zero sense that a gynecologist would need to be the one to authorize that. 😕

Scott Campbell53 said:So, I’m on the pill, and I finished my last pack this past Sunday. The instructions say there’s supposed to be a 7-day break between packs, so I’m trying to wrap my head around the math here. Should I actually start the next pack on Sunday (which would be the 7th day of the break), or wait until Monday? To me, starting Monday just feels more logical, but I can't be sure. 🙂To make things even more confusing, my period showed up yesterday, and it’ll probably be over by Monday. Since I started the very first pack on the first day of my period, now I'm just totally lost. I know I’m being a total pain, but I’m a complete beginner at this whole thing and I feel pretty clueless right now.

You need to start the next pack on Monday. Since your period arrived right on schedule, everything is working perfectly. You won't get your period on the first day of a new pack; it happens every 28 days. 😉

Jamie Barnes60 said:Tell them you need a full blood count, liver function tests, and coagulation factors.

You can request a referral for a CBC and liver panels from your primary care physician for free; however, you'll need to see your OB-GYN specifically for the coagulation test referral.

By disrupting your cycle slightly like that, it’s hard to pin down an exact date for the next one, but you're likely looking at about 28 days rather than something immediate.

It’s definitely possible that climate change is playing a role in those delays. I see it happening all the time with the girls studying alongside me who aren't originally from San Francisco. For instance, one friend of mine was working up near Martha's Vineyard until the end of August, but she actually got hers on July 19th—meaning she was running over a month late.

It isn’t typical for every cycle, but it is quite common for the first or the first two to three.

Yes, absolutely.

If you ask me, I truly believe there’s no need to stress over it.

That’s exactly what always happened to me, every single time, which is why I finally just gave up on cigarettes and all five of them. I honestly don't know why you're still trying. ☕

Check out this similar thread:

Just stick to these healthy habits and stop obsessing over "getting results overnight."

It isn’t exactly normal if you’ve been on them for seven months already. Look, it’s definitely possible for your period to lighten up while you're on birth control, but if what you’re seeing is really more like discharge than actual bleeding, it wouldn't be a bad idea to mention that to your gynecologist.

Dammit, when are you finally going to realize that this is just too personal to be anything else? 🙄 Just look at Yasminke—what works for her works for a massive group of women, but clearly doesn't work for you. So, what's the move? I honestly don't get why you think anyone else's experiences on here are going to help you. At the end of the day, some women find that every single pill suits them perfectly, while others find that not a single one does. ☕

Come on, don't start too. We've already had two separate threads dissecting this exact issue. She didn't even bother seeing a doctor despite having side effects—which is just more proof that you have to actually pay attention to your health and monitor how your body reacts to changes.

Look, she could be late for a dozen different reasons, especially if her cycle isn't usually consistent to begin with. Regardless, you should definitely have her get blood work and hormone panels done; maybe the doctor will even prescribe birth control to help regulate everything. Just take her to a gynecologist—you don't need a referral from a primary care physician to see one!

I have to admit, I was expecting even more from this. 🤷 But Mila is absolutely stunning. 🙏😍

Rachel Walker45 said:Quick question for you ladies who usually go swimming while on your period. I've never used tampons before, so I'm wondering if I need to go with a larger size for swimming to prevent leaks, or does that even matter? Also, do I need to change it after every swim, or can it last through, say, an entire afternoon? This is just a regular period, day three...

Regardless of which size you choose, it’s going to soak up water. You might find you have to swap it out every time you get out of the pool (if you have access to a restroom), and honestly, that’s what I’d recommend doing.

Donna Hill8 said:Lately, my ovarian function has been acting up. I haven't had my period in months. I saw my OB-GYN, and he told me I need to get my hormone levels checked and said this likely won't be fixed without medication.

Now, I really don't want to be on pills, and I strongly suspect all of this is a result of the bulimia I've been struggling with—but I didn't mention that to the doctor...

If I stop the behavior, will everything fix itself, or have I permanently messed up my hormones and ovaries??

Don't say "IF"—try to actually quit! If that is indeed one of the reasons your hormones are haywire, things certainly won't bounce back overnight. It could take several months, if it happens at all.

Why haven't you scheduled an appointment with your OB-GYN yet? Dealing with cramps and breast tenderness for three weeks straight without your period starting is far too long. It’s also possible that wearing a wet swimsuit might have irritated things if you're prone to sensitivity in that area. I would strongly suggest seeing a doctor if this persists and your period still hasn't arrived. The sooner, the better. An exam isn't nearly as scary as people make it out to be—it takes about two minutes, and at least you'll finally have some answers. Don't let fear hold you back. 😉

Dana Miller2 said:I’m sweating more, so I like to imagine it’s actually melting away my cellulite.😁

🙏🙏
The heat doesn't bother me personally. It just takes about 10 to 15 minutes to adjust before I feel comfortable. I usually keep a window wide open, keep some water handy, and have a towel ready to wipe off. If it gets truly unbearable, I just head into the living room and crank up the AC. 🙂