Period talk: Questions and advice

They did a number on me. But look, everyone’s different. briskbison28 is right—it’s all about hormones. You shouldn't take them if you don't have to. Sometimes you just have to pick the lesser of two evils.
My biggest issue was having my libido hit absolute zero, and that’s the bottom line for me. That's the main reason I would never touch those pills.

Look, first off, I honestly think this whole big discussion and "joint decision" regarding birth control feels unnecessary...
I mean, you’re an adult. You're mature enough to decide if you want protection via the pill, and your boyfriend shouldn't be weighing in on that choice...

So, your guy is claiming they'll mess with your hormones? Honestly, sounds like he might be a little uneducated on the topic... because plenty of women actually take them specifically to balance their hormones out...
Plus, there are so many different options available these days, ranging from low-dose to high-dose varieties...

Speaking from experience, I'm on low-dose pills and haven't dealt with any issues or side effects at all. Not to mention how much more relaxed and carefree I feel about protection—as long as you stay consistent, the chance of pregnancy is incredibly slim...

And hey, if you end up with a specific brand that just doesn't sit right with your body, you can always switch things up...
As for the whole "are they healthy?" debate... statistics vary, but whenever I chat with my gynecologist, the consensus is that modern low-dose pills aren't harmful. In fact, you don't even need to take "breaks" anymore, and using them can actually lower the risk of cervical cancer and stuff like that...

At the end of the day, the call is yours. Just let him know that while his opinion is valid, the final decision rests entirely with you...

Chloe Collins34 said:Ugh, help! I really want to start taking some birth control, but my boyfriend is totally being a buzzkill about it. He’s super worried that it’s going to mess with my body and cause all these crazy side effects or health issues down the road. Honestly, he's just freaking out, but I feel like I know what's best for me! How on earth am I supposed to get through to him and explain why I want to do this? Any advice would be amazing!😢

First off, I just have to say—can we talk about how much of an absolute legend your boyfriend is? Seriously, that level of selflessness is so rare and honestly pretty inspiring! I’m sitting here thinking, man, he’s such a sweetheart for being so giving like that. But hey, just a little thought for you though... I can't help but wonder if he’s even considered the other option—you know, grabbing some Trojan condoms instead? Just a little food for thought!

Honestly, speaking from my own experience, I am officially a total skeptic when it comes to birth control pills. I was on them for a solid decade—and yeah, I was super careful about it and stayed under a doctor's supervision from day one—but everything changed about six years ago when I had to go under the knife for a breast tumor surgery. Since then, I've just felt differently about it all!

So, I just got back from an absolute marathon of appointments, and honestly, my head is still spinning! I sat down with three different endocrinologists and even a top-tier surgeon to get a straight answer on what’s going on with me, and you guys... they were all saying the exact same thing. It’s unanimous! They are all pointing the finger directly at those birth control pills as the culprit behind everything!

Ugh, honestly, I’m still dealing with those annoying little dark spots all over my face! It’s such a struggle, seriously.

Honestly, my husband and I have been sticking to Trojan for about six years now, and let me tell you, the quality of our sex life hasn't dipped for even a single second! It’s been totally consistent from day one.

Maybe I just got lucky, you know? But honestly, you can never truly tell if you’re actually that one-in-a-thousand miracle case—the math is just way too wild to bet on!

steelsailor74 said:Look, first off, I find this whole idea of having a joint discussion regarding contraceptive choices to be entirely unnecessary...
The reality is that you are an adult woman perfectly capable of deciding whether or not to use birth control pills, and your boyfriend should have no bearing on that personal choice...

Oh please, I actually find his concern quite endearing...😍😍
He is likely just somewhat uneducated on the subject, but at least he is being attentive and caring.
In any case, I suggest you take the lead in educating him; perhaps review some medical brochures together or research options online.
Once you identify what works for you, the matter is settled; if side effects arise, you can simply stop.👍

It’s totally possible you might deal with some side effects, but honestly, you might not experience anything at all. For me, I was just incredibly moody—my emotions were all over the place, and I had zero interest in sex, even though I tried making an effort more than once. Maybe give it a shot, but I wouldn't suggest treating it like a permanent solution for the next ten years. It’s a bit of a trade-off, I guess; it might lower the risk for certain types of cancer while potentially increasing the risk for others.🤷

Chloe Collins34 said:I really want to start taking these pills, but my boyfriend is totally against it. He’s convinced they’ll mess up my system and cause long-term issues... how am I even supposed to explain this to him?? help...😢

So, here’s how I see it... based on what I've been through...🙂So, I’ve been dealing with some irregular cycles, and my doctor put me on birth control to help manage things. Basically, my period would only show up once every couple of months, and when it finally did, it was absolutely brutal. First, I tried Logest. That was a disaster... I gained twenty pounds, and honestly, I'm still fighting to get them off. On the plus side, my cycle became predictable—it would start with a little ache and then wrap up in three days, which was great. But once I realized the weight gain was getting out of hand, I just stopped taking them. After being off them for a few months, my period completely vanished. And when it *did* decide to show up? It felt like I was being stabbed. So, I went back to Yasmin. With Yasmin, the weight hasn't been an issue at all. My only real side effect is some extra hair growth, but that's easy enough to deal with. Way easier than trying to sweat off twenty pounds... you just head to a salon and have it handled in fifteen minutes.🙂My cycle is pretty regular and painless... except for that middle of the month stretch where my nerves just snap. I end up snapping at everyone...🙂

I've been stuck on Diane for ages because I have to—PCOS is a beast—but I’m currently running blood work to see if I can finally make the switch to Yasmin.

It goes without saying that life is significantly better with them than without. I finally kicked the unwanted hair and the absolute disaster that used to be my skin; plus, my periods are regular now and don't kill me (though they weren't exactly a walk in the park before, either). No more back acne—which was a nightmare before starting therapy—and my skin just looks overall healthier. And yeah, obviously there's the 🙂
factor.
The downsides? Water retention is the big one—honestly, that's a huge reason why I'm eyeing Yasmin. I swell up like crazy; I’ll see my weight jump or drop by 6 pounds overnight and I won't even be able to get a ring off my finger. I've also noticed these tiny broken capillaries on my thighs and near my hips. As for cellulite... some people say the pills make it worse, though personally, I think it’s just a matter of age 😁 (it feels like once you hit 20, it just becomes a default setting). Mood swings? Sure, I can be moody and impulsive, but I don't really blame the pills for that 🤷
. Maybe it's just because I've been on them since I was 16, so I honestly have no clue what I'd even be like without them 🤣

So, I’ve been on Yasmin for about a month now... and honestly, I haven't really noticed any major changes or side effects... The only thing is, I get a little bit of nausea sometimes if I take them on an empty stomach—but that's pretty much it. I did have one really intense headache once, which might've been because of the pills, but nothing too scary or anything... I guess for certain things, you just deal with it 😁

I was taking Yasmin. At first, everything felt absolutely perfect... my period arrived right on schedule, lasted about three days, and I barely had any cramps at all—it was just great. But then, a few months in, things took a turn. My periods started lasting five or six days, they became much heavier, and incredibly painful. On top of that, I was dealing with daily headaches, and I actually developed cellulite out of nowhere within just two months. I even broke out in acne—which was such a nightmare because while I was on them, my skin had been totally clear! It was awful. I stopped taking them two months ago now, and I still haven't gotten my period back. I honestly don't get why everything was fine at the start and then suddenly went south, especially since my gynecologist basically gave me an ultimatum during my sixth month!

I was on Yasmin when Yasmin 1.5 years old was my age—well, back when I was taking it—and man, it was rough... I felt terrible, and the skin issues just wouldn't budge.
I switched over to Diane about 8 months ago. My mood has been way more stable, which is huge, but as for my skin—honestly, who knows? I ended up on Accutane, and that’s really what did the heavy lifting for my complexion.

I’m really hoping I can get off these hormones soon without everything falling apart again... fingers crossed.

If only I’d never even started them in the first place.

My experience with Celest was a total mixed bag.
On one hand, I didn't deal with any weight gain, my PMS basically vanished, and my periods stayed totally normal—no crazy cramps or anything. Plus, I didn't end up with those annoying varicose veins or any of that other stuff people complain about, and I definitely didn't have issues with bloating or digestive stuff.
The downside? They absolutely triggered some melasma on my face, which finally cleared up once I stopped taking the birth control.
So yeah, that was the "negative" part—and honestly, it was a pretty big deal to me.

steelsailor74 said:Look, first off, this whole thing about having a "joint discussion" or making a mutual decision regarding birth control feels a bit unnecessary...
I mean, you're an adult. You're mature enough to decide if you want to protect yourself with the pill, and your boyfriend shouldn't really be influencing that choice...

Then there's him claiming they'll mess up your hormones... honestly, sounds like he's a bit uneducated on the subject... since plenty of women actually take them specifically to regulate their hormones...plus, there are so many different types available now, ranging from low-dose to high-dose options...

Speaking from experience, I take low-dose ones and haven't had any issues or side effects. Not to mention how much more relaxed I am about protection; as long as you're consistent, the chance of pregnancy is incredibly slim...

And if you end up with a brand that doesn't sit right with you, you can always just switch...
As for whether they're healthy or not... statistics say one thing, but talking to gynecologists, today's low-dose pills aren't considered harmful, and you don't even need to take breaks anymore. Using them actually lowers the risk of cervical cancer and stuff like that...

Ultimately, it's on you to decide. Just explain to him that while he’s entitled to his opinion, the final call is yours...

A lot of girls using birth control to fix hormonal issues are people who already had imbalances before they ever touched the pill... it's about regulation...
But if your hormones are perfectly fine to begin with, then yeah, taking them can definitely throw things out of whack, because you're basically bombarding your system with synthetic hormones for no reason...

When talking to OB-GYNs, sure, they might say one thing, but pharmacists—the ones who actually know the ins and outs of both the pros and the cons—don't always share that same perspective (at least not the ones I've talked to)😉

Of course, it's her choice whether she uses them or not...

If there's any way you can avoid hormones altogether, I'd highly recommend going that route.
Honestly, if I’d known then what I know now, I would’ve saved myself a massive headache...
There are actually so many different contraceptive options out there these days, too.

Birth control actually totally fixed my cycle for me—no more of those killer cramps!
Plus, I didn't gain any weight at all (honestly, I’ve even been dropping those old pounds). My doctor mentioned I had some tiny ovarian cysts, so he figured the pill would help clear that up too. Even my skin has been super clear lately!
I mean, we're all built differently, and everyone reacts to the pill in their own way. You really can't just group us all together and say it works the same for everyone.

I’ve been on birth control for years—specifically six. Of course, I take a break every two years and stay on top of my regular OB-GYN checkups. Honestly? The only side effects I’ve actually noticed are perfect skin, a steady cycle, slightly fuller breasts, and great hair.
But then again, everyone reacts differently...

And yeah... I haven't ended up with an unplanned pregnancy or brought a little miracle into this world before I was ready.

Thanks to all you ladies for sharing your advice and what you've been through 🙂 😍

Maybe this title is a bit silly, but I couldn't think of anything else better right now.🙂
Basically, I noticed there's an opposite thread about delaying your period, or something like that...
But what I'm actually wondering is if there are any ways to jumpstart it and get it moving sooner?

I guess I'm in a bit of a panic because I'm already a few days late, and honestly, I'm really hoping to get it.🙂
And I know this anxiety isn't helping; I'm stressed out, which probably just makes it even later... Is there any way to "speed up" its arrival?

I was wondering if there’s any way to speed things up—any way to nudge it along so I can just get this over with? I don't take birth control or anything else, I just want to deal with the uncertainty since I'm already a few days late... Is there some kind of method, maybe something natural, to trigger it? 🙂

After using Logest for three straight years, I can say it definitely helped regulate my cycle—it became incredibly predictable, which was a huge change for me. My skin also turned out velvet-smooth, and I noticed some breast enlargement. However, there was a catch: I gained 12 pounds, and losing them has been an absolute nightmare. Plus, my libido basically vanished. Since I stopped taking the pills two months ago, my sex drive has returned, my skin is still holding up okay, I’m not retaining as much water, and the weight is slowly coming off (though it takes a ton of effort). The worst part, though, has been dealing with the side effects. I’ve been struggling with constant infections caused by the vaginal dryness the medication induced. Honestly, I wouldn't be able to shake those issues as long as I was on Logest. My new gynecologist—I switched doctors because my previous one prescribed Logest and completely ignored my complaints without any warning or follow-up treatment—was the one who finally pointed this all out.

Maria Nguyen2 said:The title might be a little silly, but honestly, nothing else came to mind right now 🙂
I noticed there’s a thread for the exact opposite issue—delaying a period, or something like that...
But what I really want to know is if there are any actual ways to jumpstart it and get things moving sooner?

I'm starting to spiral a bit because I'm already a few days late, and I am desperately hoping I'm not pregnant 🙂
I know my own anxiety is probably just making everything worse, and being this stressed can only delay things further... is there any way to "speed up" the arrival?

There isn't really a trick to it, unless you happen to be drinking beer and suddenly cut it out during the last week, which sometimes triggers it.
Just take a breath; it'll work itself out.😉