Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

What specific research should be conducted before starting any pill regimen?🙂

Look, I’m still on the pill, and honestly, my cycle has been pretty predictable since I started taking them, but something weird just went down and now I’m spiraling because I have no clue what to do. So, here’s the deal: I finished my period normally and took a seven-day break from the pills like you're supposed to do. I started back up again, but then I totally messed up—I missed a day, tried to play catch-up by popping two pills at once the next day, and immediately after that, my period came crashing back in. It’s only been fifteen days since my last one! Now I'm sitting here wondering if my hormones are just completely haywire or if something else is going on... could I actually be pregnant?????????????????????????? Please, someone, I need some help here!

vividgull51 said:What specific research should be conducted before starting any pill regimen?🙂

The absolute essentials—the stuff you really can't skip—are the basic blood work: a CBC, liver function tests, a coagulation profile, and cholesterol levels. Honestly, if you want to be thorough, it’s also a good idea to get your hormones checked, though I've noticed that most gynecologists rarely bother ordering those unless there's a specific reason to.🙄

And of course—the standard gynecological exam. 🙂

Is there anything more comforting than a perfect pita? A warm, soft bread can change an entire meal. It is a simple pleasure, yet it feels significant. Does anyone else find themselves searching for that ideal texture? kaže:
The most essential tests are the basics: complete blood counts, liver function panels, coagulation profiles, and cholesterol levels. It would also be highly beneficial to check hormone levels, though you'll find that many gynecologists rarely order them.🙄

And of course, the standard gynecological exam. 🙂

Thank you.🙂
Tomorrow, I have my medical checkup scheduled. However, I’m also heading to the social services office, and I’m honestly not sure how their process works. Will they handle all the necessary searches and background checks right there? Or will I end up having to hire a private investigator to get everything sorted out?🙄

nimbleskipper12 said:Look, I’m still on the pill, and honestly, my cycle has been pretty predictable since I started taking them, but something weird just went down and now I’m spiraling because I have no clue what to do. So, here’s the deal: I finished my period normally and took a seven-day break from the pills like you're supposed to do. I started back up again, but then I totally messed up—I missed a day, tried to play catch-up by popping two pills at once the next day, and immediately after that, my period came crashing back in. It’s only been fifteen days since my last one! Now I'm sitting here wondering if my hormones are just completely haywire or if something else is going on... could I actually be pregnant?????????????????????????? Please, someone, I need some help here!

Look, I don't know which specific brand you're on, but you really have to follow the instructions—you know, those little leaflets that tell you exactly what to do if you miss a dose. If you just start winging it and doing your own thing, it’s honestly no surprise that your body's internal rhythm is all out of whack and you ended up bleeding again. And honestly? You can't be pregnant if you're actually having a period xD

I know this has probably been asked five hundred times already, but here we go again 😁
If I took my last pill on Friday, and then had a seven-day break, do I start back up on Friday or Saturday?
Personally, I’d say Saturday, but I’m not entirely sure 😁

Does it actually specify which day of the week on the packaging? For instance—and this is just how I tend to handle things—I always make sure to start my pills on the exact same day every single week. So, if I happened to kick off a cycle on a Saturday last time, I’ll pretty much always be starting the next pack on a Saturday too.

Exactly, the first pill is always on the same day

But if you look at it based on the last one—mine ends on Tuesday, so the next set starts Wednesday. So if yours wraps up on Friday, you're starting again on Saturday! 🙂

Alright, thanks.🙂

Good evening. I’m not entirely certain if this is the most appropriate thread for my specific issue, but I’m hoping it’s the right place to seek some clarity.
Regardless of how trivial the question might seem to some, I have a strict policy against messing around when it comes to medication, so I figured I would ask.

I recently consulted with my gynecologist regarding some irregular menstrual cycles. My timing is all over the place—sometimes it's every two weeks, sometimes two and a half, occasionally three—and the PMS symptoms I deal with are absolutely miserable.
The doctor prescribed Logest tablets and instructed me to start them on the first day of my period. However, my cycle typically begins with some brownish discharge mixed with a little blood, and the actual heavy flow doesn't kick in until the following day. Should I begin the regimen as soon as I notice that initial brown spotting, or should I wait until the clear, heavy bleeding starts the next day? I don't want to miscalculate this since I'm not an expert on the mechanics of it. 🙄

Thanks in advance! 😉

Koala, I found that my period started out pretty much the same way back when I was taking Logest—and honestly, even after I stopped altogether. I just kind of assumed it was the start of my regular cycle.

Bryan Diaz said:Koala, I found that my period started out pretty much the same way back when I was taking Logest—and honestly, even after I stopped altogether. I just kind of assumed it was the start of my regular cycle.

Thanks 😉

Hi there.
I have a problem/question.
Last month, my gynecologist wrote me a prescription for Logest because I wanted to start on birth control pills.
After taking them for about a week, I started having stomach pains and cramps. I thought it might be some kind of inflammation, so I went to see a different gynecologist since mine wasn't available. He did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine.
I thought maybe it was something with my bladder, so I went for tests, but those also came back normal.
The pain lasted until I finished the entire pack and got my period.

I started the second pack ten days ago, but the pain returned a couple of days ago. I’ve stopped taking them for now. I don't have an appointment with my gynecologist until Wednesday, so I wanted to ask for your opinions—has anyone else dealt with similar issues?

urbanharbor13 said:Hi there.
I have a problem/question.
Last month, my gynecologist wrote me a prescription for Logest because I wanted to start on birth control pills.
After taking them for about a week, I started having stomach pains and cramps. I thought it might be some kind of inflammation, so I went to see a different gynecologist since mine wasn't available. He did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine.
I thought maybe it was something with my bladder, so I went for tests, but those also came back normal.
The pain lasted until I finished the entire pack and got my period.

I started the second pack ten days ago, but the pain returned a couple of days ago. I’ve stopped taking them for now. I don't have an appointment with my gynecologist until Wednesday, so I wanted to ask for your opinions—has anyone else dealt with similar issues?

I'm not on Logest myself, but those stomach pains could definitely be a side effect of that specific pill. Have you had a chance to check the fine print in the medication guide yet?

Sarah Castillo74 said:I know this has probably been asked five hundred times already, but here we go again 😁
If I took my last pill on Friday, and then had a seven-day break, do I start back up on Friday or Saturday?
Personally, I’d say Saturday, but I’m not entirely sure 😁

You always start back on the same day of the week... so if you took the first one on a Saturday and the last one on a Friday, it means you start again on Saturday. ☕

vividfalcon5 said:Good evening. I’m not entirely certain if this is the most appropriate thread for my specific issue, but I’m hoping it’s the right place to seek some clarity.
Regardless of how trivial the question might seem to some, I have a strict policy against messing around when it comes to medication, so I figured I would ask.

I recently consulted with my gynecologist regarding some irregular menstrual cycles. My timing is all over the place—sometimes it's every two weeks, sometimes two and a half, occasionally three—and the PMS symptoms I deal with are absolutely miserable.
The doctor prescribed Logest tablets and instructed me to start them on the first day of my period. However, my cycle typically begins with some brownish discharge mixed with a little blood, and the actual heavy flow doesn't kick in until the following day. Should I begin the regimen as soon as I notice that initial brown spotting, or should I wait until the clear, heavy bleeding starts the next day? I don't want to miscalculate this since I'm not an expert on the mechanics of it. 🙄

Thanks in advance! 😉

Bryan Diaz said:Koala, I found that my period started out pretty much the same way back when I was taking Logest—and honestly, even after I stopped altogether. I just kind of assumed it was the start of my regular cycle.

That is exactly what I asked my doctor, and he told me to just wait until the actual bleeding begins... So, based on what you all are describing, I think I'll wait until that second day when the full flow starts, since most of these packs say you can start anytime between the first and fourth day of your cycle, so waiting an extra day shouldn't be an issue at all.

urbanharbor13 said:Hi there.
I have a problem/question.
Last month, my gynecologist wrote me a prescription for Logest because I wanted to start on birth control pills.
After taking them for about a week, I started having stomach pains and cramps. I thought it might be some kind of inflammation, so I went to see a different gynecologist since mine wasn't available. He did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine.
I thought maybe it was something with my bladder, so I went for tests, but those also came back normal.
The pain lasted until I finished the entire pack and got my period.

I started the second pack ten days ago, but the pain returned a couple of days ago. I’ve stopped taking them for now. I don't have an appointment with my gynecologist until Wednesday, so I wanted to ask for your opinions—has anyone else dealt with similar issues?

It seems highly probable that you're experiencing side effects, essentially just your body having a poor reaction to that specific formulation. Perhaps it might be worth trying a different brand to see how your system responds?🤔

urbanharbor13 said:Hi there.
I have a problem/question.
Last month, my gynecologist wrote me a prescription for Logest because I wanted to start on birth control pills.
After taking them for about a week, I started having stomach pains and cramps. I thought it might be some kind of inflammation, so I went to see a different gynecologist since mine wasn't available. He did an ultrasound, and everything looked fine.
I thought maybe it was something with my bladder, so I went for tests, but those also came back normal.
The pain lasted until I finished the entire pack and got my period.

I started the second pack ten days ago, but the pain returned a couple of days ago. I’ve stopped taking them for now. I don't have an appointment with my gynecologist until Wednesday, so I wanted to ask for your opinions—has anyone else dealt with similar issues?

Hmm... honestly, it sounds like you're probably just having a bad reaction to that specific brand. You might want to try a different option. Personally, I take Novynette and they work wonders for me; my doctor suggested them specifically because they tend to be very easy on the system.🙂

Has anyone else dealt with cholesterol spikes from birth control?
I’m currently on Logest, and my levels are up—though the fine print says it could be because of the pill.
I don't want to quit taking them altogether, though.
I tried Cilest (which was awful) and Yasmin (that gave me total death anxiety over everything), so Logest feels okay for me... aside from this cholesterol thing. I’m just not sure if there are other options available here in the States. Like, is Yasmin everywhere, and what’s the deal with it? And things like Novynette—are those even an option for us?

My cholesterol levels were looking pretty good after being on pills for just over a year. They haven't checked them since, though! Fingers crossed they send me in for bloodwork and tests sometime this year. I’m heading back next month for my refill and check-up, so I'll ask if I can stay on the meds for another six months before we start trying for a baby... Last year they didn't even bother sending me for labs. 🤦

Honestly, I'll probably just head to a private clinic and get everything tested there anyway once it's all done.

It’s entirely possible for your cholesterol levels to spike slightly; however, despite all the pharmaceutical gimmicks out there, a marginally elevated cholesterol reading in women is actually harmless.

What does "slightly elevated" actually mean? My lab results show the limit is 5, but mine came back at around 6.3—if I’m remembering correctly.
I don't think it was high when I was at Yasmin Hospital—I can't quite recall if it was my first time seeing an elevation (maybe around 5.2) while I was still at Yasmin or if I had already moved over to Logest? But I'm pretty sure I was already at Logest by then. Is it actually possible for one type of bacteria to bump it up while another one doesn't?