Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Aha, so you had one less? In that case, sure—start drinking a day earlier than you originally planned. Instead of Tuesday, aim for Monday. You mean today? 🙂

Laura Mendoza said:Aha, so you had one less? In that case, sure—start drinking a day earlier than you originally planned. Instead of Tuesday, aim for Monday. You mean today? 🙂

thanks😉

Hello everyone.
I am aware that there are countless discussions regarding birth control pills and their various side effects, yet I decided to start this thread because I thought perhaps another woman might be experiencing something similar to what I am going through, especially since I haven't been able to find much information on this specific issue lately.

To get straight to the point—as my title suggests—whenever I am taking oral contraceptives, I occasionally experience a sharp, stabbing sensation near my heart that is intense enough to make me resort to shallow breathing. If I attempt to take a deep breath, the pain pierces me again, and these episodes usually last anywhere from thirty seconds to a couple of minutes.
About three years ago, I went in for a cardiac checkup due to this exact same issue, and my cardiologist assured me that everything was fine; he mentioned I have a minor irregularity in a heart valve, but noted that such things are quite common in young people and shouldn't be a cause for concern. I pointed out that the pain specifically occurs while I am on the pill, but he felt there was no connection, a sentiment my gynecologist echoed when I brought it up to them as well.
I have been using these pills for several years now—roughly eight, I believe—with intermittent breaks. During those breaks, I typically don't face any such issues, but while I am actively taking them, it happens maybe once or twice a month, though sometimes an entire month can pass without a single episode.

I was wondering if anyone else here has had similar experiences, and if you truly believe that oral contraceptives could be the underlying cause of this discomfort.

Thank you so much.😘

I feel it isn't quite right to move my thread, especially since I provided such a clear explanation for why I started it in this specific section. I would really prefer it not be relocated to the contraceptive pill category, because I’m hoping to connect with someone who actually has the answers but doesn't happen to be on hormonal birth control themselves.
There are so many discussions here regarding various tablets, yet none of them seem to address my specific inquiry, which—while perhaps not strictly tied to tablets—might still find an answer if placed elsewhere. I would be truly grateful if you could move my topic back to the main forum index, as I am hoping to reach those members who might possess the right knowledge to help me out. Thank you.

Thomas Roberts9 said:Hello everyone.
I am aware that there are countless discussions regarding birth control pills and their various side effects, yet I decided to start this thread because I thought perhaps another woman might be experiencing something similar to what I am going through, especially since I haven't been able to find much information on this specific issue lately.

To get straight to the point—as my title suggests—whenever I am taking oral contraceptives, I occasionally experience a sharp, stabbing sensation near my heart that is intense enough to make me resort to shallow breathing. If I attempt to take a deep breath, the pain pierces me again, and these episodes usually last anywhere from thirty seconds to a couple of minutes.
About three years ago, I went in for a cardiac checkup due to this exact same issue, and my cardiologist assured me that everything was fine; he mentioned I have a minor irregularity in a heart valve, but noted that such things are quite common in young people and shouldn't be a cause for concern. I pointed out that the pain specifically occurs while I am on the pill, but he felt there was no connection, a sentiment my gynecologist echoed when I brought it up to them as well.
I have been using these pills for several years now—roughly eight, I believe—with intermittent breaks. During those breaks, I typically don't face any such issues, but while I am actively taking them, it happens maybe once or twice a month, though sometimes an entire month can pass without a single episode.

I was wondering if anyone else here has had similar experiences, and if you truly believe that oral contraceptives could be the underlying cause of this discomfort.

Thank you so much.😘

Read the bold part. Do you seriously think it has nothing to do with the pills? 😕

Have you tried a different brand? And did you ever get blood work done because of the pills (platelets, or other stuff related to blood clotting)?

Also, from what I can tell, you're on Yasmin. My lawyer used to take those and had to stop because she blacked out a few times and just felt terrible overall. Once she switched to a different brand, all the problems vanished.

melloworca6 said:Read the bold part. Do you seriously think it has nothing to do with the pills? 😕

Have you tried a different brand? And did you ever get blood work done because of the pills (platelets, or other stuff related to blood clotting)?

Also, from what I can tell, you're on Yasmin. My lawyer used to take those and had to stop because she blacked out a few times and just felt terrible overall. Once she switched to a different brand, all the problems vanished.

I'm certainly not being dense here; I actually finished medical school. I've cycled through four different types of birth control over the years, and the results are always the same. The only thing is that my cholesterol tends to spike a bit when I'm taking them, but otherwise, my blood work comes back perfectly normal... so, there's your answer.

Thomas Roberts9 said:I feel it isn't quite right to move my thread, especially since I provided such a clear explanation for why I started it in this specific section. I would really prefer it not be relocated to the contraceptive pill category, because I’m hoping to connect with someone who actually has the answers but doesn't happen to be on hormonal birth control themselves.
There are so many discussions here regarding various tablets, yet none of them seem to address my specific inquiry, which—while perhaps not strictly tied to tablets—might still find an answer if placed elsewhere. I would be truly grateful if you could move my topic back to the main forum index, as I am hoping to reach those members who might possess the right knowledge to help me out. Thank you.

First off: You know the subforum rules as well as anyone, and you went ahead and bypassed them by opening a new thread anyway, even though this current one covers the subject.

Second: If all you wanted was to discuss chest discomfort—regardless of whether it involves birth control—then you should have posted that in General Health (which is where that belongs) rather than Women's Health. So, really, your argument doesn't hold much water. Besides, based on everything you described, I suspect the pill is indeed the culprit.

Third: Just because there happen to be other threads about contraceptive pills doesn't mean you get to start a new one here; this space is intended for general issues, experiences, and anything falling under the umbrella of contraception—including what you mentioned, which has already been chewed over two hundred times already. And yes, we keep separate topics for each specific pill just to make things easier for everyone; otherwise, the forum would descend into absolute chaos and these threads would become miles long.

Fourth: You're well aware that commenting on moderator actions or warnings is strictly prohibited in threads that aren't specifically designated for that purpose.

Thomas Roberts9 said:I'm certainly not being dense here; I actually finished medical school. I've cycled through four different types of birth control over the years, and the results are always the same. The only thing is that my cholesterol tends to spike a bit when I'm taking them, but otherwise, my blood work comes back perfectly normal... so, there's your answer.

Forget the basic blood work. Did you actually test for clotting issues? Mine looks perfect too, until I went in for immune testing and realized it was a total circus.

Since I got sick, I've dealt with all kinds of doctors. There are so many types out there that I don't trust anyone 100% until they run every single necessary test. If they haven't done anything besides standard blood work, demand a referral to a hematologist and get everything related to coagulation checked.

Based on how you described it, that stabbing sensation sounds like it's linked to the pills. You said it yourself—it doesn't happen when you aren't taking them. 🤷

@ Samuel Morgan40: It was my mistake not to categorize this under 'health,' though I assumed it would be moved to the women's health section regardless...

Anyway...
My doctors don't believe the issue stems from my birth control. Throughout my life, I've used four different brands—Diane, Yasmin, Logest, and Triquilar—and I always made sure to take breaks every six to twelve months. The pain specifically occurs while I'm taking the pills. During a cardiology exam about three years ago, they found a minor deformity in my heart valve, and my doctor suspects the discomfort is related to that valve rather than the medication, but I can't help wondering why the pain only surfaces when I'm on the pills.
My blood work is fine, though my cholesterol levels tend to creep slightly above the normal range whenever I'm using them.

So, does anyone have any insight?

Thank you.

I suppose I should probably share my thoughts on this, though I’m quite certain my perspective isn't particularly profound or especially helpful to anyone else here. It just feels like the right thing to do, even if I tend to overthink these small matters more than most people ever would. kaže:
Forget the blood count for a second—did you happen to run any tests on the coagulation levels?

I am doing fine. Just like I mentioned in my message to you—the VK and VZ (the bleeding duration and the clotting time) were both within the normal range, so everything seems to be okay.

I suppose I should probably offer some sort of reflection on this, though I often find my own thoughts to be a bit too meandering and perhaps a little too quiet for such a public space. It seems we are all just trying to find our footing here, aren't we? kaže:
John Thomas2, the way you described it makes it seem like those sharp pains are directly tied to the medication itself. After all, you mentioned quite clearly that when you aren't taking them, that stabbing sensation just isn't there. 🤷

Yeah, I suspect there might be some connection to those tablets, though my doctors don't seem to share that particular theory. My gynecologist actually reviewed my blood work results and assured me that everything looks perfectly fine. 🤷

Thomas Roberts9 said:@ Samuel Morgan40: It was my mistake not to categorize this under 'health,' though I assumed it would be moved to the women's health section regardless...

Anyway...
My doctors don't believe the issue stems from my birth control. Throughout my life, I've used four different brands—Diane, Yasmin, Logest, and Triquilar—and I always made sure to take breaks every six to twelve months. The pain specifically occurs while I'm taking the pills. During a cardiology exam about three years ago, they found a minor deformity in my heart valve, and my doctor suspects the discomfort is related to that valve rather than the medication, but I can't help wondering why the pain only surfaces when I'm on the pills.
My blood work is fine, though my cholesterol levels tend to creep slightly above the normal range whenever I'm using them.

So, does anyone have any insight?

Thank you.

Thomas Roberts9, if you suspect the doctors are wrong, trust your gut. DON'T TAKE THE PILLS UNTIL YOU FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PAIN.
Pressure your doctor to run specific tests for thrombophilia... and I won't repeat myself, just copying my old post...

"you girls who have numb hands, tingling, or chest pains—what are you going to do? stop taking the pills or do something else?"

Ladies... with symptoms like these, don't mess around. STOP taking the pills IMMEDIATELY and get to a doctor. 🙂
You need more testing to figure out what's actually happening.
Just switching brands isn't enough in these cases; if these symptoms are caused by an underlying issue, then ALL oral contraceptives are FORBIDDEN for you.

Symptoms like this might be totally harmless (or linked to something else like heart issues, thyroid, stress...), but they could also be life-threatening...
You probably remember the panic a few years back when a couple of girls passed away...
It's about some of us having clotting disorders we don't even know about, which don't show up on STANDARD BLOOD TESTS, but can trigger suddenly under certain conditions (like hormone therapy, surgery, pregnancy, etc.).

So react when you notice any symptoms you've never had before.
You know how it goes—better safe than sorry. Take care of yourselves.

I took pills for over 10 years (used Yasmin for the last few). I didn't have any side effects while using them.

Now that I'm dealing with pregnancy issues, they ran extra tests.
Turns out I have a hereditary blood clotting disorder I never knew about.
With those kinds of disorders, oral contraception is STRICTLY PROHIBITED because it's life-threatening.
When I told my OBGYN that I'd been on birth control for years, she said: 'You have no idea how lucky you are.'

Basically, if you suspect anything, go to the doctor right away...
Also, FYI, if there's a history of strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, or deep vein thrombosis in your family... then your chances of having these issues are higher.

best regards

ps. if you're wondering why doctors don't always order these tests... the answer is obviously that they're expensive, so they're only done if they specifically suspect something.

@David Lewis63: I still have about ten tablets left before the course is finished... should I just go ahead and finish them all? The pain has flared up two or three times over the last couple of days, and since I can't get an appointment with my doctor until Wednesday, I won't be able to head in tomorrow with a prescription right away.

Thomas Roberts9 said:

I suppose I should probably share my thoughts on this, though I’m quite certain my perspective isn't particularly profound or especially helpful to anyone else here. It just feels like the right thing to do, even if I tend to overthink these small matters more than most people ever would. kaže:
Forget the blood count for a second—did you happen to run any tests on the coagulation levels?

I am doing fine. Just like I mentioned in my message to you—the VK and VZ (the bleeding duration and the clotting time) were both within the normal range, so everything seems to be okay.

I suppose I should probably offer some sort of reflection on this, though I often find my own thoughts to be a bit too meandering and perhaps a little too quiet for such a public space. It seems we are all just trying to find our footing here, aren't we? kaže:
John Thomas2, the way you described it makes it seem like those sharp pains are directly tied to the medication itself. After all, you mentioned quite clearly that when you aren't taking them, that stabbing sensation just isn't there. 🤷

Yeah, I suspect there might be some connection to those tablets, though my doctors don't seem to share that particular theory. My gynecologist actually reviewed my blood work results and assured me that everything looks perfectly fine. 🤷

That isn't enough. My current clotting levels are fine too, even though I have hereditary thrombophilia (they found mutations in some genes)... basically, I'm prone to those kinds of issues. Everything stays fine until it suddenly doesn't..😢

They checked me for genetic coagulation disorders (FV, FII, PAI-1, MTHFR, ACE gene mutations). You can get that done at Mayo Clinic.

Of course, I'm not saying this has to be your situation..

Thomas Roberts9 said:@David Lewis63: I still have about ten tablets left before the course is finished... should I just go ahead and finish them all? The pain has flared up two or three times over the last couple of days, and since I can't get an appointment with my doctor until Wednesday, I won't be able to head in tomorrow with a prescription right away.

I guess I wouldn't take them. Maybe just force the doctor to actually take you seriously.

Good luck..

Thomas Roberts9 said:

I suppose I should probably share my thoughts on this, though I’m quite certain my perspective isn't particularly profound or especially helpful to anyone else here. It just feels like the right thing to do, even if I tend to overthink these small matters more than most people ever would. kaže:
Forget the blood count for a second—did you happen to run any tests on the coagulation levels?

I am doing fine. Just like I mentioned in my message to you—the VK and VZ (the bleeding duration and the clotting time) were both within the normal range, so everything seems to be okay.

I suppose I should probably offer some sort of reflection on this, though I often find my own thoughts to be a bit too meandering and perhaps a little too quiet for such a public space. It seems we are all just trying to find our footing here, aren't we? kaže:
John Thomas2, the way you described it makes it seem like those sharp pains are directly tied to the medication itself. After all, you mentioned quite clearly that when you aren't taking them, that stabbing sensation just isn't there. 🤷

Yeah, I suspect there might be some connection to those tablets, though my doctors don't seem to share that particular theory. My gynecologist actually reviewed my blood work results and assured me that everything looks perfectly fine. 🤷

Have you ever checked your thyroid levels? You can get those exact same symptoms with thyroid issues—shortness of breath, sharp pains, getting tired super fast, and all that.

And they want you sent to a hematologist. Everyone else is just left guessing whether it’s actually related to clotting or not. Personally, when I was dealing with immunology stuff, I had to get some hematology tests done too. There are autoimmune diseases that mess with your blood clotting, and those won't show up on your standard, run-of-the-mill panels.

If I were in your shoes, I’d stop taking those pills immediately. My cousin actually just quit her prescription for similar reasons right in the middle of her cycle. Her veins started acting up—horrible pain and swelling—and she was honestly terrified that if she finished the pack, things would only get worse.

I have, I’ve spent some time looking up symptoms online, though I haven't found much helpful this year... so, to summarize my thoughts: should I just stop taking my pills tonight and head straight to the doctor this Wednesday?

And if I do, will my period show up within the next few days now that I've stopped the medication? I wonder if it might cause a sort of sudden shock to my system.

My friend did it the exact same way and got her results within a few days without messing up her cycle—everything went back to normal for her. It could go down the same path for you, or things might get a little wonky, meaning it could take a couple of months to find a steady rhythm again. It’s all highly individual.

Understood. Thank you. I will be sure to reach out if any news arises or if there happen to be any unusual findings...

Thomas Roberts9 said:@ Samuel Morgan40: It was my mistake not to categorize this under 'health,' though I assumed it would be moved to the women's health section regardless...

Anyway...
My doctors don't believe the issue stems from my birth control. Throughout my life, I've used four different brands—Diane, Yasmin, Logest, and Triquilar—and I always made sure to take breaks every six to twelve months. The pain specifically occurs while I'm taking the pills. During a cardiology exam about three years ago, they found a minor deformity in my heart valve, and my doctor suspects the discomfort is related to that valve rather than the medication, but I can't help wondering why the pain only surfaces when I'm on the pills.
My blood work is fine, though my cholesterol levels tend to creep slightly above the normal range whenever I'm using them.

So, does anyone have any insight?

Thank you.

What kind of deformity are we talking about on your mitral valve?

So, I’ve got mitral valve prolapse—basically just a "heart murmur." It’s not even something you actually treat, really; you just get checked out every couple of years at the doctor. But sometimes I get these quick little stabs of pain in my chest for a few seconds, maybe when the weather shifts or whatever. My cardiologist told me it’s totally normal, though. I guess it's nothing to sweat.

Whatever, we can just sit here guessing diagnoses now, which is pretty pointless. I’m with the girls on this—you really need to get some thorough testing done. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be touching birth control again until I figured out why my chest is hurting.

copperraven53 said:What kind of deformity are we talking about on your mitral valve?

So, I’ve got mitral valve prolapse—basically just a "heart murmur." It’s not even something you actually treat, really; you just get checked out every couple of years at the doctor. But sometimes I get these quick little stabs of pain in my chest for a few seconds, maybe when the weather shifts or whatever. My cardiologist told me it’s totally normal, though. I guess it's nothing to sweat.

Whatever, we can just sit here guessing diagnoses now, which is pretty pointless. I’m with the girls on this—you really need to get some thorough testing done. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be touching birth control again until I figured out why my chest is hurting.

They suspect something similar in my case too; depending on the report, they call it a heart murmur or mitral valve prolapse... and my doctor mentioned it's quite common in younger people. However, I can't quite wrap my head around why the symptoms seem to vanish, or become so faint, when I skip my medication, yet once I take them, I get this stabbing sensation that forces me to take shallow breaths because any deep inhale triggers it again... it lasts maybe 30 to 90 seconds before things settle back to normal, which is honestly such an uncomfortable way to feel 😢.

Anyway, I spoke with the gynecologist's nurse, and she advised me to keep taking the pills and to come by for my referral in the next few days.