Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Thanks for the reply! 🙂

Hey everyone—would love to hear if anyone else has dealt with weight gain from birth control.

I’ve been on Lyndinette 30 for about a year and a half now, after basically cycling through every pill under the sun... First it was Yasmin, which gave me horrific breakthrough bleeding, then some patch that made things even worse. After dealing with ovarian cysts, my doctor put me on Diane—that worked okay for a couple of years, but then I just ballooned and gained so much weight I actually felt depressed about it. Later, my OBGYN switched me to Logest, which was fine for a few months until I started spotting whenever I had three pills left in the pack, so I just stopped taking them altogether. Lyndinette 30 has been great so far, but...

For the last few months, I've been getting this light spotting about a week before I finish the pack. It's super minimal—not really worrying—but I’m convinced these pills are the reason for the bloating and the extra weight. I’m vegetarian, I don't smoke, I hit the gym occasionally, and I try to eat clean and balanced, but the scale just sits at 62 kg (about 136 lbs) and won't budge—not even a single pound since I stepped on it. I'm 163 cm (around 5'4"), and honestly, 62 kg feels way too heavy—even if everyone keeps telling me I look totally fine. I just don't feel like myself, and I know I won't feel better until I hit at least 55 kg (121 lbs).😢
Any advice? I know Lyndinette 30 is considered relatively "low dose"—what's a weaker option my doctor might prescribe? Or would it help if I took a 2-3 month break and then went back on them? Alternatively, should I skip the break and just go absolutely beast mode at the gym—like several hours every day plus morning runs—to see if that forces the weight off?

Thanks.

So, look—I’ve actually become quite opposed to birth control pills lately, mostly because I feel they can be pretty detrimental to sexual health. It’s got me wondering, though—and I want to pose this question specifically to all the women here—what is your actual reason for taking them?
Is it because your boyfriend pushed the idea, or maybe your gynecologist suggested it? Was it something your parents nudged you toward, or was it truly a decision you made entirely on your own?
That’s really what I’m curious about—if any of you ladies who use them would mind sharing your perspective. I’ve been reading quite a bit online suggesting that around 80% of women are on them, which is a massive number.
In my opinion, we really need to clear the air on this one.

Jerry Clark said:Hey everyone—would love to hear if anyone else has dealt with weight gain from birth control.

I’ve been on Lyndinette 30 for about a year and a half now, after basically cycling through every pill under the sun... First it was Yasmin, which gave me horrific breakthrough bleeding, then some patch that made things even worse. After dealing with ovarian cysts, my doctor put me on Diane—that worked okay for a couple of years, but then I just ballooned and gained so much weight I actually felt depressed about it. Later, my OBGYN switched me to Logest, which was fine for a few months until I started spotting whenever I had three pills left in the pack, so I just stopped taking them altogether. Lyndinette 30 has been great so far, but...

For the last few months, I've been getting this light spotting about a week before I finish the pack. It's super minimal—not really worrying—but I’m convinced these pills are the reason for the bloating and the extra weight. I’m vegetarian, I don't smoke, I hit the gym occasionally, and I try to eat clean and balanced, but the scale just sits at 62 kg (about 136 lbs) and won't budge—not even a single pound since I stepped on it. I'm 163 cm (around 5'4"), and honestly, 62 kg feels way too heavy—even if everyone keeps telling me I look totally fine. I just don't feel like myself, and I know I won't feel better until I hit at least 55 kg (121 lbs).😢
Any advice? I know Lyndinette 30 is considered relatively "low dose"—what's a weaker option my doctor might prescribe? Or would it help if I took a 2-3 month break and then went back on them? Alternatively, should I skip the break and just go absolutely beast mode at the gym—like several hours every day plus morning runs—to see if that forces the weight off?

Thanks.

Stop using the pills—you don't actually need them. There are plenty of other ways to protect yourself from pregnancy besides oral contraceptives. Have you actually read all the stuff online about these pills?

goldentinker79, look—I started on the Pill for medical reasons, specifically to manage ovarian cysts. Honestly, I can't go without them because the cysts just go wild—they grow and rupture the second I stop. I have zero intention of dying from pain, so thanks for the concern, though. And as for other birth control? There isn't any. What am I supposed to use—condoms? They kill the mood entirely; I’d rather just stay celibate. Pulling out? That’s about as effective a contraceptive method as Russian roulette is a Saturday night activity. Don't be that resident busybody coming in here to preach at people, please.

Jerry Clark said:goldentinker79, look—I started on the Pill for medical reasons, specifically to manage ovarian cysts. Honestly, I can't go without them because the cysts just go wild—they grow and rupture the second I stop. I have zero intention of dying from pain, so thanks for the concern, though. And as for other birth control? There isn't any. What am I supposed to use—condoms? They kill the mood entirely; I’d rather just stay celibate. Pulling out? That’s about as effective a contraceptive method as Russian roulette is a Saturday night activity. Don't be that resident busybody coming in here to preach at people, please.

Look, my goal is to help, not to lecture anyone. In my view, someone using birth control either doesn't love themselves enough or simply doesn't grasp the dangers involved—I've heard people say these pills are basically Russian roulette, and not just for anything else. Do you realize how many women have suffered because of them? Now, you could use condoms, but honestly, that doesn't take away the woman's pleasure, it's the man's! Hahaha. Based on what you said, it sounds like some guy talked you into this, so why don't you tell your boyfriend to be the one using them? Let's see how he reacts. You shouldn't have to resort to pulling out; you should find a smart man who actually values his partner, rather than someone who couldn't care less about what happens to you. I can guarantee you, I've been with countless women without pills or condoms and none of them got pregnant—but you know, men find it incredibly inconvenient to interrupt their own pleasure by having to pull out, which ruins the moment. It's truly sad that guys pressure their girlfriends into taking this kind of stuff... I know so many girls who have had issues because of it. If I were you, I'd wise up. I'd tell you more, but I can't due to the forum rules; if you want, I can tell you somewhere else.

You need to understand one thing: throughout history, women have always been vulnerable to the whims of men. Do you honestly think things are perfectly respectful and rights are fully secured now? What's happening right now regarding the consequences of birth control pills—it's all going to come to light soon.
And when it does, there will be a massive fallout and all sorts of things coming to the surface; you'll see for yourself. I just hope I don't get banned for saying this, since I've been kicked off several times already, but I genuinely just want to help.

It’s pathetic how the mods just sit there while these absolute trolls run wild 🙂
A s tobom, Leo—maybe we can chat once you actually learn how to read. Honestly—I started the pills because of PCOS—so unless you want to flash that medical degree proving you have the right to tell me I don't need them or that my ovaries need some other miracle drug—then yeah, never gonna happen.

Hey everyone.
I've never used birth control before, but given my skin issues, I'm thinking about starting.
Can I actually get a prescription from a dermatologist, or is a gynecologist my only option here?
What does the process look like?

Thanks so much for the help.🙂

wanderingseal14 said:Hey everyone.
I've never used birth control before, but given my skin issues, I'm thinking about starting.
Can I actually get a prescription from a dermatologist, or is a gynecologist my only option here?
What does the process look like?

Thanks so much for the help.🙂

You really need to see a gynecologist. You go in, tell them you're interested in the pill, and they should send you for some blood work and take a full family medical history—things like that. It's crucial, really... you shouldn't just start taking them on a whim without doing the proper preliminary testing first.
Once those results are in, if everything looks good, they'll recommend a specific option and write you a prescription...

Hey ladies! 🙂 I’ve been scrolling through this thread for a little bit... so, here’s my situation: I was in a relationship for four years where we didn't use any contraception, but now that I've been seeing someone new for a few months, I'm seriously considering starting. I actually went to see my doctor, and they walked me through the whole process, but I have this slightly silly question. How big are these pills actually? (I know there are tons of different brands out there!) :P Honestly, I’ve always had a bit of a struggle when it comes to swallowing pills, so I just wanted to check before I dive in. 😁 Thanks so much!

you ever think about how tiny a 100 mg aspirin actually is? like... seriously... they're so small. just little little specks... you don't even have to try to swallow them, they just go right down

rowdybadger65 said:Hey ladies! 🙂 I’ve been scrolling through this thread for a little bit... so, here’s my situation: I was in a relationship for four years where we didn't use any contraception, but now that I've been seeing someone new for a few months, I'm seriously considering starting. I actually went to see my doctor, and they walked me through the whole process, but I have this slightly silly question. How big are these pills actually? (I know there are tons of different brands out there!) :P Honestly, I’ve always had a bit of a struggle when it comes to swallowing pills, so I just wanted to check before I dive in. 😁 Thanks so much!

Maybe try searching for some images of various brands online, just to get a general idea of the scale... though, honestly, most of them are quite small—it really shouldn't be an issue for you...

I haven't been online for a few days, but I just really wanted to pop in and say a huge thank you to everyone for all those helpful answers! 🙂

wanderingseal14 said:Hey everyone.
I've never used birth control before, but given my skin issues, I'm thinking about starting.
Can I actually get a prescription from a dermatologist, or is a gynecologist my only option here?
What does the process look like?

Thanks so much for the help.🙂

So you're gonna hit up a dermatologist first? Smart move—only they can actually figure out why your skin is acting up. Honestly, they might not even suggest the pill as a fix, you never know. Don't just go grabbing stuff off the shelf—see the derm first, then if they do suggest hormones, you'll definitely need to get some full blood work done first.

Jerry Clark said:So you're gonna hit up a dermatologist first? Smart move—only they can actually figure out why your skin is acting up. Honestly, they might not even suggest the pill as a fix, you never know. Don't just go grabbing stuff off the shelf—see the derm first, then if they do suggest hormones, you'll definitely need to get some full blood work done first.

I saw a dermatologist ages ago, and it always felt like a cycle of harsh acids, Diacneal, peroxides, and clindamycin. It just stripped my skin bare, leaving it worse than when I started.
I was thinking about booking a consultation with a gynecologist to get some blood work done, then deciding if birth control is even worth it. To be honest, it feels a bit silly to commit to hormonal contraceptives just for acne—especially since it's a long-term thing, not something you just quit after three months.
Does anyone know if spotting is common when you first start? How long does it take for the skin to actually clear up? And what happens once you stop taking them? Does it cause permanent issues or irregular bleeding?

I’m taking this medication to keep my endometriosis under control—currently on my fourth pack, down to the very last pill—and over the past week, I’ve been dealing with some mild spotting. It’s the kind of discharge I used to get right before my period back when I wasn't on these pills. Is this actually normal? Because I definitely didn't have this happening during the previous packs.😢

I don't have an issue with Accutane, but I can tell you how stopping birth control affected me.😉

I took the pill during two different stints—both times for protection (even though I deal with skin issues, a dermatologist told me that if my blood work shows my hormones are fine, the pill won't actually help my skin).

1. First stint: I was on Diane for four months (my OBGYN prescribed them without running any preliminary tests 🙂). My periods were regular before, and while I was on them, bleeding arrived almost to the minute. Then I switched to Yaz for two months (I ran my own tests this time, and my hormone levels were perfect along with everything else), but then came the spotting and constant bleeding ☕ after the last pill. After finishing two packs, I stopped entirely—and my periods became regular again, give or take a day or two.🙂

2. Second stint: Two years later, I started taking Belara. It was only for four months, and it was much like the experience with Yaz. I ended up contracting HPV, so I quit. Since stopping, my cycle has been all over the place; the first period was late, the second was early... I think this was my fifth cycle since quitting, and it arrived early again.

In the meantime, I had to use emergency contraception twice. Afterward, my period came regularly—I bled for a few days after taking the pill and then again a month later.

The only thing I really noticed was increased hair growth.🙄 I always had dark eyebrows and a bit of upper lip hair, so there’s a chance it was all there before I ever touched the pill, I just didn't notice it until then. As for my skin issues, nothing changed; it stayed the same (or maybe got negligibly worse, though it's hard to say because my skin fluctuates between eight bad days and one great one. That's been the pattern before the pill, during use, and after stopping).

It’s not about pills, but I could really use some help here if anyone has experience to weigh in on this:
Do hormonal birth control pills and a hormonal IUD (like Mirena) actually work the same way?
Specifically, is it actually possible to gain weight from an IUD? Like, could those hormones it releases just make me hungrier and cause me to eat more?
I know for a fact that happened to me when I was on the pill, which is exactly why I stopped taking them about 15 years ago.