Birth control pills: yes or no??

So, I’ve got a quick question about the pill:

I have this friend who’s deep into that whole alternative, "holistic," my-grandma-wouldn't-approve-of-this kind of spiritual wellness scene. She refuses to take any actual medicine—not even a single pill. She’ll always try to back up her nonsense with some "data" or "research" or whatever else she uses to justify it.

But she straight up said that if a mother takes the pill, there's a 30% higher chance her child will be gay.
That sounds like total nonsense to me, but is there even a 0.1% chance that it’s actually possible?

Yeah. I take them specifically because one day, when I have children, I want them to be gay. 🙂

I was on Triqvilar for over a year, and honestly? My circulation completely tanked—it was a disaster. On top of that, I was dealing with leg cramps practically every single day.
While they don't supposedly impact fertility directly, it really makes you wonder why doctors insist on a several-month break before trying to conceive. 🤔
Look, pills have their perks, I guess, but the downsides can be just as significant—so you really need to weigh your options carefully.

Morgan Lopez10 said:I was on Triquillar for over a year. My circulation went completely out the window, and I was dealing with leg cramps every single day.
They don't affect fertility directly, but it really makes you wonder why everyone insists on taking a break for a few months before trying to conceive. 🤔
The pill has its perks, sure, but it has plenty of downsides too, so you really need to weigh your options carefully.

Well, it seems obvious that if you were on those pills for over a year and feeling that way, they weren't the right ones for you. It isn't normal to suffer like that, and you shouldn't have stayed on them so long if they were causing such issues.

And honestly, I don't see what's so controversial about needing a little hiatus before trying to get pregnant. We are talking about hormones here—it only makes sense that you'd want to let everything settle back into a natural, stable equilibrium before deciding to start a family. That’s just my layman's take on it, but it seems perfectly logical to me; I fail to see where the actual problem lies.

After going through all my test results, these were the exact ones suggested to me—so I didn't just pick them out of thin air.
I really just wanted to emphasize that these hormones aren't exactly harmless—I mean, you can't just take a quick break for a month; you have to step away for at least six months.

[:
I I really have to agree with what restlesshound27 said... pumping yourself full of hormones isn't exactly a walk in the park for everyone.
Did you ask Dr. Ginac why the pain is hitting you so hard? Any chance there are cysts involved?🤷

Thank God I don't have anything like that. Ginac told me everything looks fine (I even went in for a swab and a Pap smear...), and that the pain is just my uterus cramping up while trying to get rid of everything... that’s the gist of how he explained it to me.🙄

Morgan Lopez10 said:After going through all my tests, those were specifically the ones recommended to me, so I didn't just pick them out of thin air.
I simply wanted to point out that these hormones aren't exactly harmless, especially when you have to take a break for six months rather than just one month.

Well, I wasn't suggesting you took them without cause... It’s just that until you actually start a regimen, you can't know for certain if it suits you. Though, presumably, common sense dictates that if you start feeling unwell, you should stop... I was lucky enough that the first ones I tried worked perfectly for me. Some of my friends had to cycle through several different brands before they found one that didn't cause issues.
I agree that they might not be completely benign, but sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of two evils... constantly relying on Advil is likely far more damaging... plus, birth control does offer some very positive side effects. 😁

I decided to do a little digging on Google regarding pregnancy after stopping the pill, and honestly, I couldn't find much information suggesting you actually need to wait several months... instead, this is what I stumbled upon on the Mayo Clinic website:

The moment you experience withdrawal bleeding after discontinuing oral contraceptives, your body has completely metabolized the hormonal components of the contraceptive. This typically occurs within 24 hours, though it can vary slightly; regardless, you can begin planning for pregnancy as soon as your first period following the cessation of oral contraceptives arrives. Please be mindful that during the metabolism of the active ingredients in oral contraceptives, higher amounts of folic acid are consumed, which is essential for proper embryonic development. For this reason, it is advisable to start taking folic acid during your final cycles of oral contraceptive use.

And then there's this on WebMD:

Dr. Branko Radaković 01.17.2006 11:59 AM
Re: pregnancy after the pill
Once you stop taking birth control pills, there is no need for a waiting period if you wish to conceive. If you had regular cycles prior to starting the pill, you can generally assume you will become pregnant relatively quickly, provided all other health factors for both you and your partner are optimal for conception.

wanderinghound62 said:😢😢😢 So what tests do I actually need if I decide to go on the pill (or whatever else)? Is all this stuff really unavoidable and necessary?😕 Did any of you ladies actually do them?

Liver panels, coagulation tests, and maybe a CBC, I can't quite remember.

Morgan Lopez10 said:They won't affect pregnancy, but people always wonder why you need to take a break for a few months before trying to conceive.

Probably because of folic acid, if you weren't already taking extra supplements while on the pill.

Ashley Harris said:When I talked to my Ginac about birth control, the first thing she asked was if I wanted more kids. I said no, and then she just went: "In that case, I can easily give you Yasmin."

I guess every doctor who prescribes oral contraceptives to young women is just irresponsible scum sabotaging Dr. Anthony Baković.😕

ambertinker41 said:—but regarding the pill, she straight up claimed there’s a 30% higher chance of having a child with a homosexual orientation if the mother takes them.
To me, that sounds like total nonsense—pure pseudoscience—but is there actually any truth to it, even if it’s just some tiny 0.0001% possibility?

🙄

Whoever gave you that information seriously needs to stop reading those fringe wellness blogs run by amateur gurus.

I’ve been doing some deep reading on this... but honestly, the idea that birth control alters your personality like some people claim? Sorry ladies, but those are just fairy tales.
I actually conceived exactly when I planned to right after I stopped taking my pills. Thank God my kids are healthy and thriving. As for this nonsense about birth control causing behavioral issues... tell that person they need to see a psychiatrist immediately. Their mental state concerns me far more than any hormone!
I totally get why women worry, especially if they aren't well-versed in how these things work, but this kind of exaggeration is completely unnecessary. At this rate, we'll be claiming the air itself is toxic next.