Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

@leeloo27 — Look, I wasn't trying to play expert or draw big conclusions based on my own life here. It’s not like I’m sitting around worrying about my own health or planning for a pregnancy anytime soon! I was honestly just asking because I wanted to hear some real-world experiences for informational purposes. To be perfectly blunt, this whole topic of birth control pills is a total maze to me. It feels like walking through a fog without a compass. One doctor tells you that you absolutely need to take a break to let your system reset, while another one basically says, "Don't sweat it, you can get back into the action immediately." When you're getting such conflicting advice, it’s hard to know who to trust. Honestly? It feels like nobody! 😁

And look, I’ve had plenty of experience with this. Hormones are still such an under-researched area. I mean, sure, we think we know how they impact certain things, but on the flip side, nobody actually has a clue about their long-term effects. There’s a massive pile of illnesses out there where doctors don't have a single explanation for why they happen—who's to say it isn't just hormones and their imbalances acting as the foundation? 🤷

If I were on the pill, I’d take a two or three-month break just to let my body reset. Purely so I could have some peace of mind. 🙂

Lawrence White5 said:@ Edward Murphy4 - thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂 ...I’m just curious about one thing: once she realized she was pregnant, did she stop taking the pills immediately, or did she keep going for a little while longer after the fact?

She kept taking them until she actually found out. Basically, she didn't notice her period was MIA until she finally hit up her OB-GYN.

Hey girls!

So, here’s the deal: my periods are absolutely brutal—they aren't always on schedule, they last way too long, and the bleeding is super heavy. I’ve tried standard over-the-counter painkillers, but honestly, they barely touch the pain. On top of that, my skin has been breaking out like crazy lately. Since I am sexually active, I’ve been thinking about starting birth control pills for a while now.
I’m definitely not looking to play doctor with my own body, though—so I’m planning to see a gynecologist and I want to make sure I get some blood work done first (specifically a coagulation profile and fibrinogen, if I remember correctly).

I’ve heard that some doctors don't bother running those specific tests, so I was wondering which OB-GYNs you all recommend. I’d prefer someone in the Chicago area, but I'm open to other places nearby—I just need someone truly professional since this will be my very first exam.

Also, what are your thoughts on the pill? Which brands? Why did you choose them?
I'd love to hear about your actual experiences—any side effects you dealt with or general advice you might have.
And what about alcohol and smoking? Does that mess with things?
Lastly, does anyone know roughly how much exams, the pills themselves, and the blood work usually cost?

Got a thread here for birth control pills
And some stuff for gynecologists

Joshua Morgan2 said:Hey girls!

So, here’s the deal: my periods are absolutely brutal—they aren't always on schedule, they last way too long, and the bleeding is super heavy. I’ve tried standard over-the-counter painkillers, but honestly, they barely touch the pain. On top of that, my skin has been breaking out like crazy lately. Since I am sexually active, I’ve been thinking about starting birth control pills for a while now.
I’m definitely not looking to play doctor with my own body, though—so I’m planning to see a gynecologist and I want to make sure I get some blood work done first (specifically a coagulation profile and fibrinogen, if I remember correctly).

I’ve heard that some doctors don't bother running those specific tests, so I was wondering which OB-GYNs you all recommend. I’d prefer someone in the Chicago area, but I'm open to other places nearby—I just need someone truly professional since this will be my very first exam.

Also, what are your thoughts on the pill? Which brands? Why did you choose them?
I'd love to hear about your actual experiences—any side effects you dealt with or general advice you might have.
And what about alcohol and smoking? Does that mess with things?
Lastly, does anyone know roughly how much exams, the pills themselves, and the blood work usually cost?

I don't know how old you are, but before making any moves, you should definitely get your hormones checked. Acne, irregular cycles—all of that could point toward PCOS, so it might be best to figure out what you're actually dealing with before jumping straight onto the pill.

I really don't want to just wing it, so I'm planning to see a gynecologist and insist on getting some blood work done (specifically coagulation profiles and fibrinogen, if I remember correctly).

👍

I’ve heard that some gynecologists don't bother with those specific tests, so I was wondering which doctors you all recommend (I’d prefer someone near Orlando, but I suppose anywhere in Florida works). My main priority is finding someone professional, since this will be my first gynecological exam.

Most of them are pretty professional, more or less. If they won't offer the tests before prescribing the pill, you absolutely have the right to ask for them. You mentioned being near Orlando—I don't live in that area anymore, but I know the general landscape 😁. There’s Dr. Miller (private practice) and Dr. Thompson (the local public clinic). Personally, I wouldn't suggest the latter, mostly based on some rather unpleasant experiences my family members had.

You might want to take a look at this thread that Laura Mendoza6 linked—"Orlando - Gynecologists."

I’m curious about your thoughts on birth control—which brands? Why?
I’d love to hear about your actual experiences, any side effects you dealt with, and any advice you might have.
Also, what’s the deal with alcohol and smoking?
And I'm interested in the costs for exams, the pills themselves, and the blood work.

I don't have any firsthand experience with this, specifically, though I know everyone reacts differently—it really depends on how your body handles it and whether it suits you at all. As for cigarettes, well, it depends on how much you smoke or how old you are, but it’s certainly not ideal to combine them with the pill.
If you use your insurance, you shouldn't have to pay anything for the exam or the labs, unless they need to run a quick Pap smear. As for the price of the pills, I couldn't say; it really fluctuates depending on which brand you end up with.

Hey, what's up everyone—just popping in to say hi! Hope you're all having a killer week so far. kaže:
Hey girls!

Curious to hear what you guys think about birth control—what kind are you on, and why that specific one?
So, what’s everyone’s experience been like—any weird side effects or pro tips you've picked up along the way?
And what’s the deal with the booze and cigarettes?
I'm just looking into how much they charge for checkups, blood work, and lab tests—trying to get the lay of the land.

You won't really know what works for you until you give it a shot—everyone’s built differently, after all.
I tried Yaz—they just weren't doing it for me at first. Way too weak, plus I was dealing with constant breakthrough bleeding... and let's be real, they aren't exactly cheap either. $50 Yeah, I ran into some issues with dry skin too—it’s such a pain.
I'm on Lindynette 30 right now—since they're a bit stronger, I don't really deal with bleeding issues—but there are lighter options like Lindynette 20 too. Honestly, just run it by your OB-GYN when you go in, especially since they can get pretty pricey. $11 I'm switching over to the supplement—my dry eye's actually acting a bit better, but my skin seems to be going downhill. Dealing with more breakouts than usual lately... though honestly, it might just be the stress hitting me hard.

Alcohol doesn't actually make the pills less effective—it’s more like the booze kicks the meds into overdrive, so you feel way more wasted than you should with just a little bit. Definitely gotta watch out for that. As for smoking... honestly, no clue.
If you use your social insurance, the checkups and everything else are free—just like how your Medicare covers certain things. Your OBGYN will basically lay out the whole game plan for you: usually just some blood work, a Pap smear, a standard exam, and a transvaginal ultrasound. Simple as that.

Samuel Morgan40 said:I don't know how old you are, but before making any moves, you should definitely get your hormones checked. Acne, irregular cycles—all of that could point toward PCOS, so it might be best to figure out what you're actually dealing with before jumping straight onto the pill.

I really don't want to just wing it, so I'm planning to see a gynecologist and insist on getting some blood work done (specifically coagulation profiles and fibrinogen, if I remember correctly).

👍

I’ve heard that some gynecologists don't bother with those specific tests, so I was wondering which doctors you all recommend (I’d prefer someone near Orlando, but I suppose anywhere in Florida works). My main priority is finding someone professional, since this will be my first gynecological exam.

Most of them are pretty professional, more or less. If they won't offer the tests before prescribing the pill, you absolutely have the right to ask for them. You mentioned being near Orlando—I don't live in that area anymore, but I know the general landscape 😁. There’s Dr. Miller (private practice) and Dr. Thompson (the local public clinic). Personally, I wouldn't suggest the latter, mostly based on some rather unpleasant experiences my family members had.

You might want to take a look at this thread that Laura Mendoza6 linked—"Orlando - Gynecologists."

I’m curious about your thoughts on birth control—which brands? Why?
I’d love to hear about your actual experiences, any side effects you dealt with, and any advice you might have.
Also, what’s the deal with alcohol and smoking?
And I'm interested in the costs for exams, the pills themselves, and the blood work.

I don't have any firsthand experience with this, specifically, though I know everyone reacts differently—it really depends on how your body handles it and whether it suits you at all. As for cigarettes, well, it depends on how much you smoke or how old you are, but it’s certainly not ideal to combine them with the pill.
If you use your insurance, you shouldn't have to pay anything for the exam or the labs, unless they need to run a quick Pap smear. As for the price of the pills, I couldn't say; it really fluctuates depending on which brand you end up with.

Look, I actually see Karačić, and I can say nothing but positive things about him. I’d honestly recommend him because he isn't half as flaky as others; he tells you exactly what’s happening, and if you have questions, he actually takes the time to answer them. He’s widely known as one of the better diagnosticians out there. My mom has trusted him her whole life too, and she hasn't had a single complaint. But regarding what you said about not having good experiences—I've heard similar stories from others, so it really just comes down to the individual. Some doctors just click with you, and others simply don't.

I was just in for an ultrasound a few days ago (went to see Dr. Roe in Orlando) and my ovaries look absolutely perfect, like I don't even have PCOS. They're totally clear and normal, but let's be real: that is entirely thanks to the birth control. If I stopped taking them, everything would go right back to the way it was. Still, I’m satisfied because at least I know that with medical help, things are functioning the way they should. Until I’m ready to plan for a baby, I’m sticking with this (assuming no side effects pop up, but thank God, I haven't dealt with anything major in these last couple of years).

Hey ladies, I was wondering how many months it actually took for your periods to become regular after you started taking birth control pills... basically, after my first pack, I got it on day five, then on the second pack it was day two... but today is already day three and I haven't had anything yet, so I’m starting to panic a little about whether it should be consistent by now or not XD. I mean, I know things can skip sometimes and all that, but I guess I'm just being super paranoid and wanted to see what you guys think😁 so yeah

If your bleeding doesn't start on the exact same day, it might never happen that way again. I used to have it on the same day when I was on Celestol, but after a couple of years, things shifted and my period would show up on any random day during the break. It isn't a rule that it has to be every 28 days. You might even get it right before you start the pill. All of that is perfectly normal.

Drew Anderson10 said:Hey ladies, I was wondering how many months it actually took for your periods to become regular after you started taking birth control pills... basically, after my first pack, I got it on day five, then on the second pack it was day two... but today is already day three and I haven't had anything yet, so I’m starting to panic a little about whether it should be consistent by now or not XD. I mean, I know things can skip sometimes and all that, but I guess I'm just being super paranoid and wanted to see what you guys think😁 so yeah

When I started my first pack, my period lasted 4 weeks... now it's day 4 of my second pack and it hasn't shown up yet..

It’s always a bit of a cycle for me—with Yaz, I’m always hitting that second day of white pills, but now with Lindynette, I always start on Tuesday and wrap up the last one by Thursday.

So, I switched from Yaz to Linidynette. My doctor told me to finish all my active pills plus the inactive ones on the Yaz pack first, then start the Linidynette right when I’d be starting the next round of active Yaz pills. But then I checked the Linidynette instructions, and they say if you're moving from a 28-day pack, you should start the first pill right after the last active one. Well, I already finished all the inactive ones and I'm starting Linidynette today, so I guess I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping I'm still actually protected..

So why not just use a condom for the first week or so? Isn't that way more reliable than just sitting there playing the "fingers crossed I don't get pregnant" game? Honestly, I think your OB-GYN might have steered you wrong. From what I’ve seen, every girl I know who switched from Yaz to something else either waited until they were actually active to start the new pill, or if they were already having sex, they just played it safe with extra protection.

The rule is pretty straightforward: when you switch to pills with a lower hormone dose, you start taking them right after your last active pill—basically, once those seven days of placebo pills are finished. If you’re moving to a "stronger" formula, you take the first dose after the inactive pills or the seven-day break, depending on whether you're using newer or older brands.

It’s just common sense. Honestly, I don't see why anyone would struggle with using extra protection. It’s way easier than just "hoping for the best" and dealing with an "oops" moment later.

I honestly thought that was the deal because my doctor—who actually gets paid for this stuff—told me so. If she messed up, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one she gave that advice to. I mean, if I’d bought the pills earlier and actually read the fine print, I probably would’ve called her to double-check, but by then everything was already done. I’d already finished the inactive ones before starting the new pack... I just wanted to see if you guys think what she said makes sense or not. It’s not like I have an issue using condoms; that's exactly why I'm even posting here to get a second opinion...
I’m not exactly the type to just sit around at home praying for the best.😛

Hey ladies, I have a quick question for you all. Any advice would be amazing! So, I recently started taking Microgynon 30 birth control pills. But lately, I’ve been noticing this weird sensation—like a deep tension right between my shoulder blades that just creeps up toward my neck and shoulders. I don't have any other side effects, though. Interestingly, I was on Yaz before this, and I actually felt the exact same thing back then too. I’ve already gone to see a few different doctors, starting with my OB-GYN and even a neurologist. But honestly, the second I describe what I'm feeling, they all just brush it off and tell me it's probably just my cervical spine or a pinched nerve. Now, it’s true that I do have some neck issues, but the fact remains: things feel much worse whenever I'm on the pill. Still, the doctors insist it has nothing to do with the medication. I’m really curious if any of you have dealt with something similar? If you have, please let me know what happened! 😢 I'm getting pretty worried here. Thanks so much in advance! 🙂

I never really dealt with anything like that on Yahoo... I mean, I’ve had extra pounds and a low drive, but nothing quite like this. Maybe you should just take a break from the pill for a bit? If things keep happening even then, you’ll know it’s not them.

Lisa Myers said:The rule is pretty straightforward: when you switch to pills with a lower hormone dose, you start taking them right after your last active pill—basically, once those seven days of placebo pills are finished. If you’re moving to a "stronger" formula, you take the first dose after the inactive pills or the seven-day break, depending on whether you're using newer or older brands.

It’s just common sense. Honestly, I don't see why anyone would struggle with using extra protection. It’s way easier than just "hoping for the best" and dealing with an "oops" moment later.

I switched from Yaz to Lindynette 30—which actually has more hormones—and my OBGYN told me it didn't matter, just start the Lindynette after the last active pill.
I used backup protection for about 10 days since my doctor gave me the prescription while I was already on the inactive pills.

I’m looking for some good pill recommendations.
If I ask my doctor, she’ll just write me a prescription for whatever she thinks is best, which isn't really what I'm after right now.
There are honestly so many different kinds on the market—I can tell by how many separate threads there are—but I’m totally lost, so I figured I’d just post here in the general thread.😁

I’ve been on Cerazette for almost a year now, but I actually stopped taking it a couple of weeks ago.
Way back when, I was on Diane, and then Yasmine after that. They were relatively fine for me, though I'm not sure if they even prescribe those anymore.
Basically, I need something that won't mess with my skin or tank my libido.
It would also be ideal to find something with lower hormone doses, especially since I might have a higher risk for those TE incidents.
Thanks in advance!