Can't take birth control pills anymore—what are my options?

Sam Castillo7 said:In that case, you definitely need to consult a hematologist—which would be wise given your family history—and find a serious gynecologist experienced in blood disorders and genetic conditions. Don't go to a private clinic or a small local office; go to a major hospital.

I once had a gynecologist at a high-end private clinic prescribe hormones just to burst my cysts. This was only two months after my thrombosis, so the clot was still technically in my system. Her excuse was that "it wasn't estrogen" and therefore it was safe. 🙄 She even called a colleague to confirm the prescription. It made zero sense to me, so I called my own doctor instead. She told me absolutely NOT to take them, though she didn't have a solution for the cysts either; her plan was just to wait for my period and see what happened. Because I hated their uncertainty and lack of a real plan, I went to the hospital, went straight to the OBGYN department, and spoke with specialists who handle these cases every single day. 😉 They fixed it, very successfully.🙂

Sam Castillo7, thank you so much for the help. 🙂
If I discover anything else, I'll post it here to share with everyone. 🙂
Either way, I'm sticking to condoms until further notice. 😛

What’s the deal with contraceptive patches? My gynecologist mentioned they might actually be a much better option than the pill—though she did give me a bit of a reality check regarding my weight. Apparently, I have to stay under 165 pounds to use them effectively.

Karen White57 said:What about those contraceptive patches? My OB-GYN told me they’re way better than pills, but apparently, I've gained too much weight for them—she said there's a 165 lb limit.

The patch is still loaded with hormones, though.

ironscout15 said:Sam Castillo7, thanks a ton for the help 🙂
if I figure anything else out, I'll let everyone know 🙂
either way, I'm strictly using condoms from here on out until further notice 😛

Look, condoms are pretty much the gold standard—assuming they don't snap! 😬 Besides preventing an unwanted pregnancy, they’re the only real defense against STIs. It's not like I'm even considering the pregnancy thing—I definitely don't want one, so obviously I'm being careful—but catching a disease? That's a whole different level of terrifying.
I'm always Team Condom!👍 It's either that or nothing at all.😁

Is there a higher likelihood that I’ll end up gaining weight or losing weight once I finally stop taking birth control? It seems like most women start taking them specifically to put on a few pounds... at least that was my experience. Now, I'm feeling a bit anxious that those hormonal shifts might cause me to pack on the weight again 🤷

It's all highly subjective; there’s really no such thing as a 'standard' way for the body to react.

swiftbison25 said:Is there a higher chance I'll gain weight or lose it once I stop taking the pill? It seems like most women start taking them specifically to put on a little weight—that was my move too—so now I'm paranoid that the hormone shift is just going to make me bulk up again. 🤷

Basically, you end up retaining a ton of water because of the estrogen. That’s where the extra weight and the bloating come from.😬 Then you've got people whose appetites just skyrocket, leading to even more pounds. Honestly, though, it’s all super individual—everyone's body reacts differently.
Just watch what you eat and stay active.😉

Quick question—someone mentioned patches earlier? How often am I supposed to be applying those, and more importantly, what’s the damage to my wallet? Right now, my pills run me about $33 a month, which isn't exactly breaking the bank, but I end up dropping $400 on them every single year. If patches are even pricier... that’s going to be a real bummer.
Also, what's the deal with those implants? Like, they just tuck a little thing under your skin and it slowly releases hormones over several months?

(God, if my parents found out how I talk about this stuff—they're both EMTs, they'd absolutely kill me😁 )

Emily Morales77 said:Quick question—someone mentioned patches? How often do you actually have to apply them, and more importantly, what's the damage to the wallet? My pills currently run me $33 a month, which isn't breaking the bank, but I end up blowing $400 on them every year. If patches are even pricier... that’s going to be a tough pill to swallow.
Also, what’s the deal with implants? You get some little thing tucked under your skin that just releases hormones steadily for a few months at a time?

(God, if my parents saw how I talk about this—they're both EMTs, they'd kill me😁 )

I’ve used the patches before. They cost roughly $33 per month; you get three in a box. You slap the first one on when your period starts, then the second one after seven days, and the third one after another seven. Then you get a seven-day break where your period hits. You can put them on your hip, stomach, back, or shoulders—they stick really well, so I never had issues with mine falling off. In the summer, I usually just skipped them during the off-weeks. Personally, I find them more reliable than pills because the dosage is consistent in the bloodstream rather than being processed by the liver like tablets. Even if you have a stomach bug or vomiting, it doesn't affect efficacy, and if you forget to change one or don't notice it peeling, you're still protected for another couple of days. On the downside, they tanked my libido for me, made my PMS worse, caused water retention, and spiked my appetite, so I gained some weight. But that's just how hormones work—everyone reacts differently. I'm not using them right now; we're just sticking to condoms.

I just finished posting over on the protection thread, so I figured I’d pop in here too since I saw this one. So, contraceptive vaginal rings are actually a pretty well-known option, and if you're looking for something other than daily pills, they might be worth considering. In my case, I ended up going with Pantex.

Interesting. I've actually been thinking about ditching the pill myself for a few reasons, and this Patentex sounds like a total game changer!
What’s the damage on price, and can you get it with a prescription?

Jamie Davis17 said:So, I just stumbled upon the thread about protection and noticed this one too. Basically, contraceptive vaginal inserts are a pretty well-known alternative... if you aren't able to take pills anymore, you might want to look into this option. In my case, I used Pantex.

Oh, really?! I wasn't even aware something like that existed... 🙄 How does it actually work?
edit: I finally found the right thread 😉
but just like Elizabeth Palmer2, I am curious about the price...

I think the pack cost about$23, maybe two years ago. It comes with roughly 12 pieces, though I'm not 100% certain about the exact count.

Here’s a link if you want to dig into the details http://www.patentex.com/patentex_oval/

They're contraceptive vaginal inserts—you just use them before intercourse, and they have a specific window of effectiveness.

As far as I know, you don't even need a prescription for them here in the States. 🙂

Jamie Davis17 said:The pack was roughly$23 about two years ago. There are about 12 units in a box, though I can't say for certain.

Here is a link if you want more details:http://www.patentex.com/patentex_oval/

They are contraceptive rings used before intercourse; they have a specific window of effectiveness.

I don't believe these require a prescription here in the States.🙂

They aren't prescription-based, but when you buy them, make sure to ask the pharmacist for an itemized receipt in your name so you can claim them on your tax returns. That's how I handled my contraceptive patches and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Oh, this is such a fantastic find! Thank you all so much for sharing this discovery with me! 😍 I am definitely going to give it a shot... hopefully I won't end up being one of those people who accidentally burns everything 😉

swiftbison25, there’s an entire thread dedicated to Mirena if you want to dig into it. After switching to the pill, she kept insisting it was the most reliable birth control out there. Honestly, given my age, I'll probably be moving off Yasmina soon too and making the jump to Mirena myself.

True, but she does let her hormone levels fluctuate quite a bit, so I wouldn't say that's particularly advisable for me either... 🙄

Great topic—honestly, I’m right there with you on this one. 😢

Is it actually true that there’s nothing else out there besides:
pills or patches—yeah, great, just what I need, messing with my veins, cellulite, and whatever other "perks" they claim to offer.
condoms—way too expensive, they break, they chafe, they sting, and let's be real, they’re never around exactly when you actually need them... ugh. 👎
an IUD—absolutely not happening for me. 🤷
diaphragms—where do you even get those? how do you even use them? what’s the damage to the wallet?
vaginal rings—first time I'm hearing about those, might give it a shot, but what are the supposed "benefits"?
Do you use a new one every single time, or does one last for a few days or something?
the sponge—like that thing from Seinfeld, does that even exist in real life? 😁

What else is left? Is there anything else at all?
Aside from old wives' tales and rubbing it on your stomach?

Karen Thomas25 said:Great topic. This is a struggle for me too.😢

Is there really nothing else besides:
pills or patches—which mean dealing with veins, cellulite, and all those "benefits."
condoms—they're expensive, they break, they chafe, they sting, and they’re never there when you actually need them. Just... ugh. 👎
IUDs—not an option for me.🤷
diaphragms—where do you even get one? How do you use it? What's the cost?
vaginal rings—first time hearing about this. I might try it. What are the perks?
Do you use one every single time, or does one last a few days?
sponges—like that old Seinfeld joke. Does that even exist in real life? 😁

What else is out there? Is there anything left?
Aside from old wives' tales and rubbing your stomach?

Haha, that sponge is still a mystery to me, too.😁

I'm using condoms right now and I am definitely not satisfied.😢 Starting tomorrow, I'll check the local pharmacies for those vaginal rings. Hopefully, they work better.😉
There's an entire thread dedicated to them, so take a look..

swiftbison25 said:I would have gone through my entire supply of condoms by now if I could, but I just can't stay consistent. Honestly, this is going to be quite an ordeal for my partner. 🙄 What are your thoughts on the reliability of using withdrawal as a primary method while relying on condoms specifically during fertile windows?

There is a wide variety of IUDs and other contraceptive implants available today, so I would strongly recommend consulting with your gynecologist to discuss your options. In this day and age, you really can't take anything for granted when it comes to your health.👍