Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

So, some new Logest pills hit the market recently—they have a super low hormone dose (or so my aunt tells me)—and I’m currently three months into using them. I actually switched over from Trinuvum, which I had been on for years, because I started experiencing these light spotting issues between periods. But, honestly? The exact same thing is happening with these new ones, and it’s starting to worry me—even though the fine print says it's perfectly normal during the first few months.
I was wondering if anyone here uses these specific pills or maybe knows a bit more about them? I have a steady boyfriend, and I feel absolutely terrible that this is happening...

Olivia Sanchez7 said:New Logest pills with a really low hormone dose recently hit the market (according to my niece), and I’ve been on them for three months now. I switched from Trinovum, which I used for years, because I started having these light spotting issues between periods. But now, the same thing is happening with these new ones, and it’s starting to worry me—even though the packaging says it’s totally normal during the first few months.
I was wondering if anyone else is using these or knows more about them. I have a steady boyfriend, and honestly, it's pretty embarrassing when this happens...

If you want any actual, useful information, we need the full picture: your age, whether you've been pregnant before, and your general health status.
If you're fairly young (which I'm assuming), that tiny hormone dose might just be too low for you. These only have 20mcg of estrogen. You might want to try a slightly stronger version, maybe 30mcg or 35mcg, and that should do the trick.
Another option is to take a three-month pack without the placebo pills, effectively skipping your period entirely.
There’s always a workaround; you just have to find it.

Hope that clears things up for you.

quietfox17, your response is off base.

Breakthrough bleeding is a common occurrence with low-dose pills, typically during the first few months of use.

Most often, it resolves itself if you just exercise a bit of patience.

However, you neglected to mention this:

If breakthrough bleeding persists beyond six months, or if it starts occurring after long-term use, you should see a gynecologist for an exam and a consultation.

I’m not so sure about that... I experienced breakthrough bleeding once after two years on Cilest, and my doctor—after doing a full exam and blood work—switched me to a different prescription immediately. His explanation was pretty straightforward: Cilest had simply become too weak for my body to handle. Since switching, I haven't dealt with any more spotting. Plus, during that checkup, he actually noticed I was still ovulating while on Cilest, which just confirmed I needed something "stronger."😉 😁So, I don't buy this idea that breakthrough bleeding is just something your body needs to "adjust" to. In my opinion, you just need to find the right pill that actually works with your system. It took me three tries, but I finally found success with Triquillar, and I couldn't be happier. I should probably mention that I spent almost those entire two years on Cilest essentially walking a path of misery. Because of that misguided belief that I just had to "get used to it," I endured horrific side effects and didn't even bother telling my doctor because I thought they weren't important. For two whole years, every single morning, I dealt with intense nausea—just imagine living through that for two years straight. I had pounding headaches, vision issues, vaginal dryness, and bouts of depression. But, according to common wisdom, I guess that's just "normal"... When I finally mentioned it to my doctor, he absolutely lost his mind.😲Once I switched pills, I never felt those side effects again.🙂

Nathan Collins2 said:When I told my doctor about it, he literally lost his mind.😲 I swapped out my pills, and I haven't even "felt" them since.🙂

Well, duh! Why on earth did you put up with that for two years?? 😲

They're too weak, you say?? Good grief, what does that even mean—that they aren't actually doing anything?? 😲

John Thomas2 said:Exactly! Why on earth did you put up with that for two whole years?? 😲

They’re too weak, you say?? Jesus, what does that even mean, that they aren't effective enough?? 😲

I acted like such a fool, just taking his word for it when he told me "that’s just how it is." I actually thought it was normal.😢 Plus, my hormones have always been a mess, so I figured that was just my body reacting. But damn... now I know better.😁
When he told me they were too weak, I even questioned myself—like, if they’re that weak, I could have gotten pregnant this whole time.😲 I’ve even been ovulating for the last couple of months, which I noticed myself, but I didn't go back to him after that breakthrough bleeding. I honestly don't know if I could have conceived, though apparently, I was lucky enough to avoid it based on what he said.😁 That being said, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't working... look, just ask your doctor. They actually know you, they know how your body functions, and they’ll give you the real answer.

My doctor told me that birth control pills shouldn't be felt at all while you're taking them. You shouldn't be having any symptoms whatsoever. Even when women complain about gaining weight from them... even then, it means they aren't right for you and you need to switch. It took me forever to find the right one, but I finally found success with Triquillar, which is also part of that "new generation" of pills.🙂

Nathan Collins2 said:My guy told me the pills shouldn't even be felt while you're taking them... any symptoms at all are a bad sign. Even when women complain about gaining weight from them... even then, it means they aren't working right and you need to switch.

Yeah, my partner said the exact same thing. Said I have to tell him immediately if I notice any weight gain, because apparently ovarian function messes with how your body regulates weight. Weirdly enough, I actually lost a little. 😳 😁 😉

I’ve been on Triqilar for about three years now—and honestly, I’ve finished five different prescriptions total.
Until just recently, I was dealing with some bleeding that lasted for three weeks straight—which was a nightmare because I really needed to finish the full course as prescribed. I'm finally taking a break from it now.🙂

Folks, thanks for all the responses.🙂
Everything is finally back to normal—the bleeding has stopped (though it always seems to flare up about a week before my period starts)—which basically means that all those fun little romantic acrobatics with my guy are officially back on the menu!😁 😎 .
You know, you’ve really opened my eyes—I’m only just now starting to connect the dots. It hits me that I haven't actually taken that long, month-long break between cycles where you skip the pills for a bit. Plus, there's the matter of the dosage—Logest carries significantly fewer hormones than the Trinovum I was on before. It all starts making sense now.
No... shouldn't my girlfriend have filled me in on all of this? 😕 I mean, honestly...

Olivia Sanchez7:
Seriously, shouldn't my girlfriend have filled me in on all of this? It’s honestly ridiculous. You expect someone to just stumble into a situation like this without any heads-up? No way. There are certain things you just assume your partner is going to share, especially when it actually matters. It feels like a massive oversight, and frankly, it's frustrating to be left in the dark while everyone else seems to be on the same page. 😕 Look, I’m just going to say it because someone has to: this whole situation is completely ridiculous. Honestly, if you sit back and actually look at what's happening, it’s pretty obvious where this is headed, and frankly, it’s exhausting. People keep trying to sugarcoat things or pretend there isn't a glaring issue right in front of our faces, but I'm not interested in playing along with that kind of nonsense. It’s one thing to have a disagreement, but it’s another thing entirely to ignore reality just to keep the peace. I’ve always believed in being straightforward, and right now, the straight shot is that this simply doesn't add up. It's frustrating to watch, and even more frustrating to feel like I'm the only one willing to point out how flawed the logic is here. I'm not looking for an argument, I'm just stating the facts as I see them. It's that simple.

Look, I’m just going to say it because someone has to: the sheer level of redundancy in this field is getting ridiculous. It feels like every time you walk into a medical clinic these days, you’re met with an endless loop of specialists. You go in for one thing, and suddenly there’s a gynecologist, then another gynecologist, and then maybe a third one just standing around. It’s overkill. We’ve moved past "specialized care" and straight into "why do I need a whole committee to handle a single appointment?" It’s inefficient, it’s unnecessary, and frankly, it’s exhausting to deal with.😉 Just because someone holds a medical degree in gynecology doesn't mean they actually know what they're doing. Having those letters after your name is one thing, but being a damn good doctor is an entirely different ballgame. There are plenty of specialists out there who have spent years in school just to end up being mediocre at best. Expertise isn't just about passing exams; it's about actual competence and intuition, which you can't always find in a textbook.
Look, you have to understand how this works: every single doctor out there has their own personal theory about everything, based strictly on whatever they’ve seen in their own practice up to that point. It’s all subjective. In my case, my doctor hasn't missed the mark once yet... so you really need to make a choice. Either go back and challenge the way she's handling things, or just stop playing games and ask her the very thing you already know the answer to.🙂

I took Diane once and it was a total disaster—fifteen pounds heavier, completely bloated, totally out of it, like a goat that’s been electrocuted...
Then I had a dental issue and my dentist gave me Celest, and now everything is just perfect...

It was actually the exact opposite for my friend...

It isn't really a problem that they didn't warn you about all that beforehand. Plus, there's basically zero variety when it comes to tablets in our market anyway...

I think we might have had a thread like this before, but I can’t find it now—maybe it got nuked or something. Anyway, look, I need some help from any girls out there using Diane 35 birth control. Can you explain the timing? Like, when am I supposed to start and when do I stop? I heard it helps with hair growth and those annoying breakouts on my neck, but is there anything else I should know? This is my first time ever dealing with birth control, so naturally, I’m freaking out with a million questions 😕 My doctor gave me a script, and I think he said to start on the fifth day of my cycle, then just skip the rest of the month and start again on day five...? But honestly, I wasn't really paying close attention and I'm totally lost

Please, give me all the details 🙏

That gynecologist is a total jerk!!!!! I’m going to go look for that old thread about Diane-35, but they don't even prescribe that for birth control anymore!!!!! 🙄 😠

If you can, maybe try switching to some kind of mini-pill or a micropill!!!

I was actually looking for this exact thread recently and couldn't find it for the life of me
(shoutout to Steven Ruiz, by the way)
My doctor put me on them because of PCOS. I tried to push back, but she’s insisting I stick with it for at least a year now
Oh, and she told me to start taking them the first week after my period ends, and that I need to be extra careful about pregnancy during the first month
But you totally confused me with that bit about the breakouts. I was told mine would clear up, but honestly, being 33, I'm dealing with more skin issues now than I did back in puberty
I was originally hoping for Cilest, but my doctor hasn't even heard of that one 😢

Taylor King7 said:I was actually looking for that same thread recently and just couldn't track it down.
(By the way, thanks Steven Ruiz!)
My doctor prescribed them to me for PCOS, even though I really pushed back on the idea, but she insists it's necessary for at least a year now...
Oh, and she did tell me to start taking them during the first week after my period, and that for the first month, I should use extra protection against pregnancy...
But you've got me a bit confused regarding the breakouts; I was told mine would clear up, yet here I am at 33 dealing with more skin issues than I ever had back in puberty...
I was actually hoping for Cilest, but my doctor hasn't even heard of it...😢

Honestly, I can't find that specific topic either... I wonder where it vanished to...😕

But, to sum it up: that Diane-35 has truly proven to be dangerous. I read about a woman in Canada—I'm not entirely certain if there were others—who passed away after being on Diane... Of course, I realize it’s likely a combination of circumstances and a tragic accident, but still: if you can avoid it, and it's just for standard contraception, then please, avoid it. And if it's for PCOS, definitely seek out a second opinion!!!

Taylor King7 said:I was looking for Cilest, but this one doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere.😢

😲 And where does she even live? In some remote corner of nowhere? Unbelievable.😢

placidbear46, I’d highly recommend Logest—they’re the latest formula, lower hormone levels, and generally fewer side effects. Take a look at the contraception thread; most women using them are quite satisfied, myself included.🙂 You start on the first day of your period—it’s pretty straightforward. My only side effect was a slight increase in breast size—maybe a cup or two—but they’re already settling back to normal.😁 😉

Justin Gonzalez87 said:Wait, hold on... did you guys just see that? I think I might have misheard or maybe I’m just seeing things, but it felt like someone just let out a massive, unmistakable blast... honestly, it was loud enough to shake the floorboards here in my living room... I can't even begin to describe the sheer audacity of it... seriously though, if we're all sitting here being polite, someone really needs to say something about that one... it was practically an announcement... anyway... back to what we were saying...😁 )

You know, if I ever get my hands on you, you big dummy... you’re gonna be in for it... 😠
If I don't have any curves to show off, I might as well just make my hips do all the talking, right? ... 🙄😁

Damn this night shift!😁
😉

Justin Gonzalez87 said:😲 And where does she even practice? In some backwater clinic in the middle of nowhere? I can't believe this.😢

I'm actually out in Canada, just outside Toronto.
I tried looking up the ingredients online—thinking maybe I could find something similar to bring her—but honestly, nothing turned up.
Actually, when I was staying in Vancouver, my doctor gave me something with basically the same formula, but it didn't work for me at all. I just tossed the whole stack of paperwork in the trash.😵

I'm feeling pretty nauseous and honestly just terrified to take it, so I'm going to go see a different doctor.

And regarding those upper thigh issues... seriously, if they get any thicker, it's going to be way too much.

Well, I actually tried Diane 35 around two months ago, and oh my goodness, let me tell you—my veins started acting up and cracking, so I felt absolutely dreadful and just had to stop taking it immediately. But then, my roommate started on it, and her skin cleared right up, her chest actually filled out, and she’s honestly as happy as a butterfly now! So, yeah, that’s the long and short of it... maybe give it a shot yourself and see how it goes.