Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Jesse Evans85 said:Bubeta, if you don't mind my asking, how old are you? Are these the very first pills you've ever tried?

Yeah, they totally are my first ones...

Yeah, they’re newer—I think they hit the US market around 2013. 🤔

I’m not totally sure if they’re specifically for cycle regulation... I guess they work like most others. My OB-GYN told me I didn't really need anything to regulate my period and just prescribed these instead. 🤷

But honestly, they’re great—side effects are pretty much minimal... I get a little more emotional and my boobs got a bit bigger, so I kind of call it even. 🎉 😬
All in all 👍.

neonstag63 said:Yeah, they’re newer—I think they hit the US market around 2013. 🤔

I’m not totally sure if they’re specifically for cycle regulation... I guess they work like most others. My OB-GYN told me I didn't really need anything to regulate my period and just prescribed these instead. 🤷

But honestly, they’re great—side effects are pretty much minimal... I get a little more emotional and my boobs got a bit bigger, so I kind of call it even. 🎉 😬
All in all 👍.

Oh yeah, they definitely do, just like any other birth control out there... 🙂 I'm already on my third pack, and honestly, those two periods showed up not just right on schedule, but at the exact same hour too... 😁 And who even knows if they would have shown up at all otherwise...

So, about an hour and forty-five minutes after taking my pill, things got a little soft down there... I wouldn't exactly call it full-blown diarrhea, just kind of mushy, you know... Should I have taken an extra pill? The instructions say to take another one if you deal with severe diarrhea, but now I'm sitting here wondering what actually counts as "severe" in their book...

And what happens if I didn't take it? Like, how much extra protection am I getting and for how long...

crimsonangler2 said:So, about an hour and forty-five minutes after taking my pill, things got a little soft down there... I wouldn't exactly call it full-blown diarrhea, just kind of mushy, you know... Should I have taken an extra pill? The instructions say to take another one if you deal with severe diarrhea, but now I'm sitting here wondering what actually counts as "severe" in their book...

And what happens if I didn't take it? Like, how much extra protection am I getting and for how long...

Well... honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. 🤷
I mean, it’s not like you were running to the bathroom 17,000 times—the consistency doesn't really matter that much.

Regarding the extra protection, the manual says 7 days, though I don't think you really have anything to stress over... 😉

Hello hollowharbor12,

I believe the answer depends on which specific pill you are taking from the blister pack. Generally speaking, anything occurring after the eighth pill is considered higher risk, and medical professionals often suggest using additional protection for the following seven to ten days. It is also my understanding that any significant events happening within two to three hours of taking the pill should not interfere with its absorption.

I had a very similar experience myself when I was on Triquilar, with an interval of about two and a half hours. In my case, they assured me I was protected and advised me to increase my intake of fiber and potassium through my diet, noting that hormonal contraceptives can sometimes impact digestion.

In my opinion, it doesn't necessarily have to be severe diarrhea; even if your stool is noticeably softer than usual, it is worth noting. If I were in your position, I would reach out to your gynecologist to ask for clarification. It is always better to be certain. 🤷

Ethan Cruz4 said:Hello hollowharbor12,

I believe the answer depends on which specific pill you are taking from the blister pack. Generally speaking, anything occurring after the eighth pill is considered higher risk, and medical professionals often suggest using additional protection for the following seven to ten days. It is also my understanding that any significant events happening within two to three hours of taking the pill should not interfere with its absorption.

I had a very similar experience myself when I was on Triquilar, with an interval of about two and a half hours. In my case, they assured me I was protected and advised me to increase my intake of fiber and potassium through my diet, noting that hormonal contraceptives can sometimes impact digestion.

In my opinion, it doesn't necessarily have to be severe diarrhea; even if your stool is noticeably softer than usual, it is worth noting. If I were in your position, I would reach out to your gynecologist to ask for clarification. It is always better to be certain. 🤷

With the Adexa brand, I don't think there's a difference day-to-day because all the pills in the pack are identical. It’s possible that Triquilar from Adexa works a little differently, though.

The instructions say: If you've vomited or had severe diarrhea within 4 hours
after taking Adexa, you might not have absorbed the hormone dose properly. If you start
feeling better within 12 hours of taking it, just follow the steps in section 3.4 regarding missed pills and take another one. But if you’re still vomiting or dealing with diarrhea 12 hours later, then you follow the "forgotten pill" protocol in section 3.3.

The main thing is that they specify severe diarrhea. You should still get the necessary hormone dose regardless of whether your stool is firm or just a bit soft. As long as it isn't excessive—you know, actually heavy—I don't think there's any reason to panic... 🙂

Girls, I need some help here... I usually take my birth control around 9 PM (give or take half an hour). But the other day, I totally blanked on my evening dose—as soon as I realized, I popped it, but that wasn't until about 8:20 the next morning. Since I don't actually take it at 9:00 PM sharp, is there any chance I missed that 12-hour window? Am I still protected? I’ve gone back to my regular schedule, taking it around 9 PM again.

So, if you usually take it around 8:30 AM at the earliest—theoretically speaking—by 8:20 AM you haven't actually hit that 12-hour mark yet. It’s such a slim margin, though—only about ten minutes difference. I'm honestly not quite sure what to tell you there. 🤷
If you tend to wait until after the nine-hour mark more often than not, then everything should be perfectly fine.

Has anyone else here dealt with this mess:
Okay, so I’ve gone through three packs of Bela, right? The first pack was totally fine—had that usual bleeding during the break, which is standard. But then the second and third packs were just... off. I started getting these weird brownish breakthrough bleeds during the second phase of my cycle. To be super specific—because details matter, obviously—around day 10 I’d get this dark discharge, then by days 16 and 17 it would get even darker, and by days 19 or 20, it looked exactly like the heavy stuff I usually see right before my period starts.
Then comes day 21, when I finally stop taking the pills, and everything just kind of tapers off. I don't even get a full flow for the next few days. Honestly, I think I just set a record because I haven't seen anything since Sunday when my break started, and it's already Wednesday! Though, if you ask me, I’m starting to feel those cramps like my period is actually about to hit.
Now I’m sitting here wondering if I should just go back to Dr. Miller or whatever. I’m heading to the coast at the end of the month and the last thing I want is for him to switch my prescription again, forcing me to deal with this constant, month-long bleeding nightmare.🙄
And another thing—I have no idea why my doctor kept insisting that Diane is the only prescription option out there when brands like Longest or Lynidette clearly exist. I swear, I had this gut feeling he was basically a walking advertisement for Bela. He pushed it on me as a substitute for Diane after I refused to take the latter, but it's painfully obvious that Bela is way too weak for what I need.🤷

quietbison86 said:Has anyone else here dealt with this mess:
Okay, so I’ve gone through three packs of Bela, right? The first pack was totally fine—had that usual bleeding during the break, which is standard. But then the second and third packs were just... off. I started getting these weird brownish breakthrough bleeds during the second phase of my cycle. To be super specific—because details matter, obviously—around day 10 I’d get this dark discharge, then by days 16 and 17 it would get even darker, and by days 19 or 20, it looked exactly like the heavy stuff I usually see right before my period starts.
Then comes day 21, when I finally stop taking the pills, and everything just kind of tapers off. I don't even get a full flow for the next few days. Honestly, I think I just set a record because I haven't seen anything since Sunday when my break started, and it's already Wednesday! Though, if you ask me, I’m starting to feel those cramps like my period is actually about to hit.
Now I’m sitting here wondering if I should just go back to Dr. Miller or whatever. I’m heading to the coast at the end of the month and the last thing I want is for him to switch my prescription again, forcing me to deal with this constant, month-long bleeding nightmare.🙄
And another thing—I have no idea why my doctor kept insisting that Diane is the only prescription option out there when brands like Longest or Lynidette clearly exist. I swear, I had this gut feeling he was basically a walking advertisement for Bela. He pushed it on me as a substitute for Diane after I refused to take the latter, but it's painfully obvious that Bela is way too weak for what I need.🤷

I didn't get anything at all after my first pack of Bela. During the second pack, I did bleed, and it lasted two weeks—even though I took every pill right on schedule—before stopping. Now I've finished the third pack and I'm just waiting. My doctor told me it's perfectly normal, especially when you're starting something new, and that there's no reason to panic. Still, I'd prefer if my period would just 🙂
I'm not changing my meds because they're actually great. I haven't had any side effects. None at all (well, except for firmer breasts—every woman has her little perks). 😍

I have a quick question for the group. I went to see Dr. Miller, and he thinks I might have some inflammation, so he prescribed Medazol 400. The plan is for me to take five tablets in one day—and my partner is taking them too. Just a heads-up, I’m currently on birth control. Does Medazol interfere with how well the contraception works? If it does, how long should I ideally wait before starting the course, considering my last time was this past Tuesday? Thanks!

velvetharbor17 said:I have a quick question for the group. I went to see Dr. Miller, and he thinks I might have some inflammation, so he prescribed Medazol 400. The plan is for me to take five tablets in one day—and my partner is taking them too. Just a heads-up, I’m currently on birth control. Does Medazol interfere with how well the contraception works? If it does, how long should I ideally wait before starting the course, considering my last time was this past Tuesday? Thanks!

Shouldn't your doctor be the one telling you that? 🤔
Honestly, your best bet is just calling the doc or checking with a pharmacist... it really ought to be mentioned in the instructions too.

Medazol doesn't interfere with birth control—I've personally taken it before.
As for the prescribing information, if there isn't a specific warning mentioned, then it generally means there's no interaction.
With medications that actually do impact oral contraceptives, the warnings are always explicitly stated in the instructions.

Hey there, just popping in to say hi and wishing everyone the absolute best day ever... hope you're all feeling amazing... [User Name] says:
Hey hollowharbor12...

I guess it really just comes down to which pill is left in the blister pack... apparently everything gets way riskier after that eighth tablet, so they suggest using backup protection for the next 7 to 10 days... and I also heard that anything happening within 2 or 3 hours of taking the pill shouldn't mess with how it absorbs...

Something similar happened to me with my Triquilar just about two and a half hours later... they told me I was fine for now, but that I should probably start loading up on more fiber and potassium through my diet since those pills can totally mess with your digestion...

I mean, you don't necessarily need to have full-blown diarrhea for it to be worth checking out, just having much softer stools than usual can be a sign... If I were in your shoes, I'd definitely give my OB-GYN a call and just ask... better safe than sorry, right... 🤷

Hey there, just popping in to say hi and sending some good vibes your way today... hope everything is going awesome for you... kaže:
I honestly don't think there's any difference between the days with those Adexa pills since all the tablets in the blister pack look exactly the same... It's possible that the Triquilar from Adexa might actually be different though...

The instructions say if you’ve been throwing up or dealing with some serious diarrhea within a four-hour window...
Maybe after listening to Adexe, you guys didn't quite get the hormone boost you needed... if you actually start to feel it...
You’ll start feeling way better within about 12 hours of taking your Adexa, just make sure you follow those steps in section 3.4... If you happen to misplace your pill, go ahead and grab another one instead. But if you’re still dealing with vomiting or diarrhea 12 hours after your dose, definitely check out the instructions for missed doses in section 3.3...

That’s just the whole point of it all... tough times... slyhound5: It’s just about getting that dose of hormones in regardless of whether things are moving along smoothly or not... as long as it isn't too much or too heavy, there really shouldn't be any reason to stress out about it... 🙂

Just wanted to give you guys a quick heads-up... I didn't end up taking that extra pill, and my gynecologist actually told me later on that it wasn't even necessary since my period showed up right on schedule anyway... so everything is looking totally fine... 🙂

Got a serious case of diarrhea about ten hours after taking my Bela... The instructions mention what to do if it happens within four hours of the dose, so I guess maybe I'm safe. I'm planning on taking my regular dose tonight, but I suppose I should ask what you all think.

Gary Rivera2 said:Got a serious case of diarrhea about ten hours after taking my Bela... The instructions mention what to do if it happens within four hours of the dose, so I guess maybe I'm safe. I'm planning on taking my regular dose tonight, but I suppose I should ask what you all think.

Honestly, I'd say you're totally fine since enough time has passed, so just keep going with your normal routine like usual...

Cure, I have a problem.
I’d call it a nasty problem—though maybe it’s just all in my head.
So, last night was supposed to be the day I started a new pack of birth control after my seven-day break. The issue? I couldn't get my hands on the new pack, and now I'm stuck. My gynecologist is away on vacation, so there's no way to reach her. Since I'm already late starting the new cycle, it would be ideal if I could track down a pack today and take the first pill, but honestly, the odds are slim to none.
I have no clue what to do. I don't want to stop taking them, but it feels like I might have to. If I don't get a new pack until Monday—what then? Do I just wait for my next period before starting again? Or how does this work?
I am completely lost. I've been on these for a year and I've never missed a pill, let alone had to pause the whole thing. I genuinely have no idea what the move is here. Absolutely nothing.

I’m not sure which specific brand of birth control you’re on, but from my experience, when I found myself in a similar spot, I just went into the pharmacy, explained the situation, and the pharmacist handed me the pills right then and there. They just told me I had to bring in the actual prescription within five days. Since I was already scheduled to be on them for a while anyway, it wasn't much of an issue. I don't know if the rules are the same for every medication or every drugstore, but it might be worth a shot.

Hello,
I'm currently taking Lindynette 20 and I'm looking to shift my period forward. I was wondering if it would be better to skip the seven-day break and start a new pack immediately after finishing this one, or if I should stop taking my current pack three or four pills early to trigger the bleeding a few days sooner?
Thanks