Birth control pills: yes or no??

wanderinghound62 NewcomerOP

4 messages
joined Mar 2008

#1 · Mar 12, 2008

Hey ladies...😉

So, here’s the situation: my periods have become absolutely brutal. I’ve been relying on Voltaren Forte to get through them, but lately, it feels like they just don't touch the pain anymore... nothing works. I finally went to see my gynecologist, and he suggested I try birth control—specifically Yasmin—to help manage the cramping and hopefully make life a little more bearable.😢

But then there's the other side of things. I've heard all these stories about how being on the pill can mess with you down the road... whether it's when you eventually want to get pregnant, or if you run into issues with fertility, miscarriages, or high-risk pregnancies later on.😲

I'm stuck in this bit of a dilemma... I really wanted to reach out and see if any of you have shared experiences or anything you've learned before I make a final call. 🙄

Thanks so much!!!🙂

Nicole Lee4 Member

21 messages
joined Oct 2007

#2 · Mar 12, 2008

Oral contraceptives definitely come with their own set of side effects, but I’ve honestly never heard anything about them causing issues with fertility after you stop taking them—not once. In fact, if anything, they can actually help lower the risk of certain cancers.
Listen to what your doctor says, though, and make sure to get some liver function tests done first. If you have any underlying liver issues, you really shouldn't be on them. But if your levels look good? I don't see why you shouldn't take them.

wanderinghound62 NewcomerOP

4 messages
joined Mar 2008

#3 · Mar 12, 2008

Nicole Lee4 said:Birth control pills definitely have side effects, but I’ve never heard anything about them causing issues with future pregnancies, let alone anything like that. If anything, they might even lower the risk of certain cancers.
Just listen to your doctor... and get some liver function tests done. Women with existing liver issues shouldn't be taking them, but if everything looks normal, I don't see why you wouldn't take them.

I haven't heard anything about the cancer thing before... hmm...
Either way, sounds fine. 👍
Unfortunately, though, I have heard stories about women having trouble conceiving, allegedly because of those pills. 😢

And this whole liver check... 😕
Is that really necessary??

Jeffrey Walker3 Regular

261 messages
joined May 2010

#4 · Mar 12, 2008

Hey, can you guys check my bloodwork? I'm wondering if my liver looks okay 😉

wanderinghound62 NewcomerOP

4 messages
joined Mar 2008

#5 · Mar 12, 2008

Amanda Alvarez35 Asks:
So, I saw the blood work results... just wondering if they actually checked to see if the liver is doing alright... 😉

😢😢😢 So, what exactly am I supposed to do with those test results if I actually decide to go through with the pill... or whatever else is out there? Is this whole process truly unavoidable? Seems like such a massive, unnecessary hurdle just to get started...😕 Is that really you... my girls...?

Has anyone else here actually had their gynecologist recommend using birth control pills... for any reason at all?

hiddenscout362 Active Member

111 messages
joined Apr 2007

#6 · Mar 12, 2008

I was on Yasmin for about six months. My period only lasted three days (it used to be five or six), the bleeding was super light, and I didn't have any cramps at all. Plus, everything arrived right on schedule every 28th day.
recommend !!! Maybe I'll start taking them again myself (to be honest, I only stopped because I was already dealing with so many other medications for different issues and didn't want to overload my system with even more hormones).

Brenda Sanders46 Member

17 messages
joined Oct 2007

#7 · Mar 12, 2008

wanderinghound62 said:😢😢😢 So, like, what do I actually need to do regarding those tests if I decide to go the route with the pill (or whatever else)? Is it seriously unavoidable and super necessary?😕 Have any of you girls actually done this?

Has anyone else here had their doctor recommend birth control for some reason other than just prevention?

Don't mess around here—you really have to get blood work done... first off, that’s the only way to figure out which specific pill won't wreck you, and it helps dodge any risks involving liver damage... hormones aren't something you play with, you know? You have to take them seriously, even if they're just tiny little doses.🙂

Laura Mendoza Active Member

132 messages
joined Feb 2008

#8 · Mar 12, 2008

Of course you need to get your blood work done; I don't see what the issue is there. 🤷
Pills can certainly cause various side effects, but they absolutely have no impact on your future fertility, so there is no reason to worry about that.

steelhawk31 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Oct 2006

#9 · Mar 12, 2008

wanderinghound62 said:😢😢😢 What exactly am I expected to do regarding those blood tests if I decide to go on the pill (or something similar)? Is it truly unavoidable and absolutely necessary?😕 Did any of you ladies actually do that?

Has anyone else here, besides myself, had their doctor recommend birth control pills for any particular reason?

I started taking them for that very same reason, and honestly, life has been so much easier... I've been on them for a few years now. Before this, I used to swallow enough Advil to numb a horse just to get through one period! About 3 or 4 days before my cycle would start, the cramps would kick in for a day or two, then nothing for two days, and then once the bleeding actually started, three more days of agony... without the painkillers, I simply couldn't function. Now, I rarely need anything at all since the pain isn't intense anymore. Maybe once every few months I'll take a single tablet, but most of the time, I don't need a thing. My periods last about 4 or 5 days now, whereas they used to drag on for 6 or 7. The flow is lighter too. For me, personally, it was a massive help. I recently tried taking a little break to see how things would go—I'd almost forgotten how miserable it used to be, but the memory came rushing back quickly, so I went right back to my prescription.🙂

And yes, you definitely need to get those blood tests done. It’s really nothing to be embarrassed about, even for someone like me who is deathly afraid of needles.😁 I make sure to have them redone every year... it's better to stay on top of things so you can have some peace of mind.

blueseal12 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Aug 2008

#10 · Mar 12, 2008

So, how do these hormones actually show up for you guys?
Like, patches? Has anyone here tried them yet?

restlesshound27 Member

36 messages
joined Dec 2006

#11 · Mar 12, 2008

I’ve had such a rough time with birth control. After my procedure and dealing with early-stage cervical issues again, I tried switching things up. My periods got lighter, sure, but man... I felt heavy, depressed, bloated constantly—just honestly felt terrible.

Then I gave holistic medicine a shot, and it was seriously the only thing that actually helped me feel like myself again...

Now, I bleed a little more on the second day of my period, but everything else feels totally normal. Oh my God. Honestly, I'd much rather deal with this than force hormones into my body; they just aren't for me.

northernlynx7 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Aug 2007

#12 · Mar 13, 2008

wanderinghound62 said:So, if I actually decide to go ahead with the pill (or whatever else is out there), what exactly am I supposed to do about that test result? I mean, is it really unavoidable? Is it absolutely necessary? I guess I'm just wondering if it's truly required.😕 Was that you ladies working on my kids?

Has anyone else here had their gynecologist recommend using the pill for any reason at all? I'm curious if this is something others have dealt with.

You really need to get those tests done. What are you so afraid of? It’s just a quick blood draw, that's all.😛
My gynecologist prescribed them to me for one very simple reason: birth control.🤣
But honestly, I just stopped taking them because they made me feel absolutely revolting. I never used to deal with breakouts, but those hormones turned my skin into one giant pimple. It was gross. On top of that, I felt like I was starting to put on weight in such a weird way. So, I just decided to stop swallowing them altogether.
Well, looking at my friend's situation, her OB-GYN actually recommended the pill because she was dealing with irregular cycles, debilitating cramps, and terrible acne. It’s funny how that works, but all of those issues just completely cleared up once she started taking the medication.😉

And just like restlesshound27 said, I guess flooding your system with hormones isn't exactly a walk in the park for everyone.
Have you asked Ginac why the pain is hitting you so hard? I mean, have you checked to see if there are any cysts or anything like that?🤷

Karen Young17 Member

44 messages
joined Sep 2017

#13 · Mar 13, 2008

hiddenscout362 said:I was on Yasmin for six months. My period lasted about three days—down from the usual five or six—the flow was very light, and the cramps were nonexistent. Plus, everything arrived right on schedule, every 28th day.
recommend !!! Maybe I'll start back up again myself (though I originally stopped because I was already taking quite a few other medications for different issues and didn't want to overload my system with extra hormones.)

Well, my experience was actually the complete opposite... I only took it for a week and ended up with terrible pains, even though I wasn't even on my period yet. I eventually switched over to Triquilar, and honestly, the pain has vanished.😍

Eric Booth39 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Oct 2003

#14 · Mar 13, 2008

So, I was having this chat with my OB-GYN about birth control, and right out of the gate, she asks if I’m planning on having more kids. I told her no, and then she just goes: "Well, in that case, I can easily put you on Yasmin." Now, looking back, I totally failed to ask what her actual recommendation would be if I *did* want children down the road. I completely blanked. But honestly, who knows? Maybe in ten years, after I've had two girls, I'll decide I want another little guy running around. I'm still young—I've got at least another decade of fun left in me before I have to make any permanent decisions!

blueseal12 Newcomer

7 messages
joined Aug 2008

#15 · Mar 13, 2008

northernlynx7;13057873 said:
But honestly, I had to stop taking them because they did absolutely terrible things to my skin. I never dealt with breakouts before, but those hormones turned me into one giant pimple. It was gross. Plus, I had already

I felt the exact same way. When did you finally quit? And how long did it take for the breakouts to clear up?😕 Did they actually go away?

Nicole Lee4 Member

21 messages
joined Oct 2007

#16 · Mar 13, 2008

Look, maybe they just didn't sit right with you. I was actually one of the first people using them—I think they were called Celest back then when they first hit the market—and I dealt with bleeding for three whole weeks.
But once I switched over to a different brand, I never had a single issue again..

mistywolf17 Active Member

67 messages
joined May 2007

#17 · Mar 13, 2008

Karen Young17 said:Actually, I had the exact opposite experience... I only took that pill for about a week and the pains were just unbearable, even though I wasn't even on my period at the time. I ended up switching over to Triquilar, and I guess I don't have any pain anymore. 😍

Well, you're a bit of a special case here, since you didn't wait until the first day of your period. I guess maybe you should be looking at your own timing rather than blaming the pill. 😉

Ashley Harris said:When I was talking to my OB-GYN about birth control, her first question was whether I planned on having more kids. I told her no, and she just went, "In that case, I can easily prescribe Yasmin for you." Honestly, I didn't think to ask what exactly she meant by that in relation to my future plans. I totally blanked. But who knows? Maybe in ten years, after I have two daughters, I'll decide I want another boyfriend. I'm still young; I guess I’ve got at least another decade of freedom left!

Honestly, you could just take a whole box of Yasmin and call it a day. I guess it’s practically a way to say goodbye to your reproductive years. 🙄

northernlynx7 Newcomer

9 messages
joined Aug 2007

#18 · Mar 13, 2008

blueseal12 said:I feel the exact same way. When did you finally stop taking them? And how long did it take for the breakouts to clear up?😕 and did they actually go away?

🙂 Well, it was quite a while ago, but I think they cleared up after maybe... one or two months. They completely vanished once my body finally got back to its normal state, because I honestly never dealt with any acne at all until I started that whole adventure with the pill.😠

Karen Young17 Member

44 messages
joined Sep 2017

#19 · Mar 13, 2008

mistywolf17 said:Look, you’re a bit of an outlier here since you weren't waiting for the first day of your period. Don't blame the pill—it's likely just on you. 😉

Man, how on earth did you remember that? 😂

Though I don't think there's much of a connection there... I honestly just feel like they aren't the right fit for me.

mistywolf17 Active Member

67 messages
joined May 2007

#20 · Mar 13, 2008

Karen Young17 said:Man, how on earth did you remember that? 😂

though I suppose it might not be all that relevant... I just feel like they don't really suit me...

I have a damn good memory, 😁

maybe it doesn't matter, or maybe it actually does. 😁

Birth control pills: yes or no??

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