Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Hey everyone, so I’m officially starting Yaz today—first time on birth control—because my doctor wants me to manage some endometriosis issues. But, ugh, I’ve completely lost the plot here because I just noticed these weird broken capillaries—or spider veins, or whatever they actually are—on my right leg. They're like little purple branches, maybe 2cm long, spreading out all over the place. Now I'm spiraling a bit and wondering if it's even safe to start the pill with this going on. Does anyone have any clue if this is a dealbreaker? 🙏

Wait, did I miss something? — Just checking in! — hope everyone's having a good one. kaže:
Hey everyone—so, I’m starting Yaz today for my endometriosis. But, total brain fog moment... I completely overlooked these burst capillaries (or whatever they are) on my right leg. They're like little purple branches, maybe 2cm long—super annoying! Does anyone know if it's actually safe to start the pill with those there? Any advice would be amazing—thanks! 🙏

Of course you can—honestly, the beer won't make much of a difference for me. My face is already a roadmap of broken capillaries because I have those salty little spots everywhere I bump my head—so yeah, go ahead and start drinking! 😉

Does anyone have any experience combining pills with allergy tablets? To be specific, I’ve been on Lindynette 20 for seven months now, and I need to start taking allergy medication—I usually stick to Allegra or Claritin—but now I’m feeling a bit uncertain. I’ve received conflicting information regarding whether adding the tablets might compromise the efficacy of my current regimen.

I’m not exaggerating.

And honestly—following the instructions is the smartest move. Check the pills you're taking and see which medications they interact with. Then, look at the active ingredient in these allergy tablets and check if it’s listed in those interactions. If it isn't (and frankly, this is the first time I've ever heard of allergy meds interacting with birth control—I've used this exact combo for years), then there’s no interaction. Don't believe everything you hear or read. All I ever did was follow a pharmacist's advice: never take any other pill at the same time as my birth control. I always wait at least an hour between them. Whether that actually matters or not, I have no clue—I'm not a pharmacist—but that’s what I stuck to.

Lisa Myers said:I’m not exaggerating.

And honestly—following the instructions is the smartest move. Check the pills you're taking and see which medications they interact with. Then, look at the active ingredient in these allergy tablets and check if it’s listed in those interactions. If it isn't (and frankly, this is the first time I've ever heard of allergy meds interacting with birth control—I've used this exact combo for years), then there’s no interaction. Don't believe everything you hear or read. All I ever did was follow a pharmacist's advice: never take any other pill at the same time as my birth control. I always wait at least an hour between them. Whether that actually matters or not, I have no clue—I'm not a pharmacist—but that’s what I stuck to.

I was absolutely certain they didn't lower efficacy. I went through the list of ingredients myself—checked them all—and nothing should have any contraindications with birth control pills. However, I stumbled upon some medical health portal where a gynecologist suggested those tablets might actually decrease protection, which left me feeling quite perplexed...

Could someone give me a quick answer, please? I completely forgot to take my pills today (and I was supposed to have the first dose already), so I guess I'm wondering if it's okay to just start tomorrow, or maybe I should just take two at once... hmm... what should I do? (I'm already on my sixth box and I've always been super consistent with them)

I was told allergy meds should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach—since they can be a bit rough on the stomach—and then save the pills for the evening because of the drowsiness... so that's what I've been doing lately..

Alright ladies, I'm curious—how many of you are on the pill? Personally, I've been taking them for two years now and I am honestly thrilled with the results. Unfortunately, I’m constantly hearing people talk down about them from the sidelines, whether they're coming at it from a religious angle or a health standpoint, claiming they cause weight gain. For my part, I haven't gained a single ounce; in fact, I actually dropped 10 pounds! :DDD Most of the girls spouting this nonsense have probably never even tried them. What do you all think? As far as I'm concerned, I'm giving the pill a definite green light, and it's not just because of the contraception factor.

It’s actually been about a year since I last took them, though I did use them consistently for three years prior, and honestly, I was incredibly satisfied with the results. For me, the primary motivation was dealing with acne; my complexion cleared up beautifully, which felt absolutely wonderful, and even my back became perfectly clear! On top of that, I usually suffer from debilitating menstrual cramps, but while I was on them, those pains subsided by about 80%, and my periods became much lighter and shorter—just perfect. 🙏
I also noticed that my breasts seemed to increase in size, and my cycle became incredibly predictable, always arriving on the exact same day, which were such fantastic benefits!
Regarding weight, I did find that I tended to retain a little bit of water, though it wasn't overwhelming; I gained maybe 7 or 8 pounds, nothing too drastic...

The downside was that my cholesterol levels spiked, and a few other lab results weren't looking great after those three years, so I eventually decided to stop taking them based on my gynecologist's recommendation. Since then, the acne has returned—not quite as severe as it used to be, but still quite noticeable—and my back isn't as clear either. My cycle has also become a bit irregular lately, though thankfully things seem to be improving now.

Part of me really wishes I could start taking them again, but I simply don't want to risk messing with my bloodwork like that, especially since I'm currently on antidepressants, and mixing the two isn't something I should do.

I have a quick question. If I'm on birth control pills and had unprotected sex two days ago, but I'm supposed to start an antibiotic today—which I know can lower effectiveness—does that concern apply to the encounter from two days ago too, since sperm can live for up to five days? Or should I just not worry about the past encounter and focus on being extra careful during the antibiotic course and for seven days after?

analogpuma99 said:I have a quick question. If I'm on birth control pills and had unprotected sex two days ago, but I'm supposed to start an antibiotic today—which I know can lower effectiveness—does that concern apply to the encounter from two days ago too, since sperm can live for up to five days? Or should I just not worry about the past encounter and focus on being extra careful during the antibiotic course and for seven days after?

Don't worry, everything is fine. Once you start the antibiotics, just use backup protection and you'll be all set.

Forgive me, but I really don’t have the patience to comb through all 200 pages just to find one answer before asking here. How many days of taking Triquilar does it take before unprotected sex is actually safe? I’ve been on them before, obviously, but with occasional breaks. Every time I restart, I play it safe and avoid anything without a condom for the first month, only feeling confident once I start a second pack. But honestly, whether it's my hormones or just restlessness, I'm tempted to break my own rule this time if it's truly safe. Everyone I talk to claims you're protected from day one, but I have my doubts. I’ve taken eight pills so far. I was on a six-month break and restarted exactly eight days ago on the first day of my period.

Can anyone help me out? 🙂

Please, no judgment here...
I have one question. Is it actually smart to take birth control pills just for the sole purpose of increasing my breast size?
Also, what does the whole process look like at the gynecologist's office? Do I need to go through my own primary doctor first, or can I just book an appointment and call it a day?

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:Please, no judgment here...
I have one question. Is it actually smart to take birth control pills just for the sole purpose of increasing my breast size?
Also, what does the whole process look like at the gynecologist's office? Do I need to go through my own primary doctor first, or can I just book an appointment and call it a day?

I’m worried you’ll end up disappointed with the results.

I won't tell you "no" or lecture you—if you've already made up your mind, nobody's going to change it—but if you're going to do this, at least do it right and make it worth the effort: get a real exam. Don't gamble with your health. Book an appointment with a gynecologist for an initial check-up if you haven't had one yet; tell the receptionist when booking that it's your first visit, and if you're looking for pills, insist on getting hormone bloodwork done before anything gets prescribed.

Those tests will show which specific pill is best for you—and whether you should even be taking them at all. Not all of them are created equal.

You don't necessarily need a referral from your GP to see a gynecologist; you can call their office directly and ask if they're accepting new patients. If you go to a private clinic, obviously, you'll be paying out of pocket for the exam and the labs.

There’s a whole list of reasons why I don't take them. At first, they made my breasts swell, so I stopped for that reason, but then the side effects were just awful. Now, since switching to Yaz, they haven't grown at all, but I still deal with inflammation every single month and have to use vaginal suppositories...

You really can't predict how your body will react to birth control or what the impact will be.

I’m inclined to agree—you probably shouldn't take them just for that reason. Every body reacts differently, you know? It’s entirely possible they won't increase in size at all. And even if there is some change, it would likely be so minimal that you’d end up feeling disappointed.
If you do decide to go ahead with it, though, please make sure you do thorough research first—just like John Thomas2 already suggested.

So, I’ve been doing some digging and I’m seeing all sorts of side effects listed... and hair loss is definitely one of them. About two years ago, I went through a really rough patch with my hair. I tried everything under the sun—drinking every supplement out there, using every product imaginable. Now I'm thinking, maybe that could happen again? :O I don't want to take that chance. Honestly, I'd rather deal with smaller breasts than end up bald. I'm getting a little spooked by all these side effects, especially since it seems like everyone I see who stopped taking them ended up with some kind of "issue." Looking at it now, maybe this whole idea was a bit foolish on my part. :/
What do you guys think? Is it possible for my hair to start falling out again if I've already dealt with that problem before?

I personally believe that hair loss is an extremely rare side effect that might occur. In fact—from what I understand—birth control pills could actually help reduce hair shedding. At least, based on my own experience, I’ve noticed significantly less hair loss during this past year while I've been taking them.

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:So, I’ve been doing some digging and I’m seeing all sorts of side effects listed... and hair loss is definitely one of them. About two years ago, I went through a really rough patch with my hair. I tried everything under the sun—drinking every supplement out there, using every product imaginable. Now I'm thinking, maybe that could happen again? :O I don't want to take that chance. Honestly, I'd rather deal with smaller breasts than end up bald. I'm getting a little spooked by all these side effects, especially since it seems like everyone I see who stopped taking them ended up with some kind of "issue." Looking at it now, maybe this whole idea was a bit foolish on my part. :/
What do you guys think? Is it possible for my hair to start falling out again if I've already dealt with that problem before?

I can't speak to the hair loss, but whatever issues you're facing, it's far better to talk to a doctor than play guessing games here. Sure, the side effects people mention are real—but you have to realize there are countless people on medication who feel fine and have zero reason to browse forums like this. It’s essentially like walking into an AA meeting and concluding that everyone in your city is an alcoholic.😬
Those who aren't—or those who don't experience side effects—usually won't show up in these threads.

Regardless, you really shouldn't skip seeing a gynecologist—have an honest conversation with them and get your hormone levels tested.

Look, those pills aren't going to give you massive breasts—maybe half the size you expect at first, but even that disappears eventually...

I’ve got a situation. I stopped taking the pill three months ago, and for the last two, my nipples have been incredibly painful. Not the breasts themselves—just the nipples. It doesn't matter if I'm wearing a bra or not, the pain is intense. I'm planning to talk to my gynecologist about it tomorrow, but has anyone else dealt with this? Did it just go away on its own, or...?