Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Hello ladies. I have run into a bit of a logistical snag. I’ve been taking Belara birth control for about six months now to manage PCOS, and in two weeks, I’m heading to the States for a four-month work assignment. I visited my gynecologist to request a prescription for the full four-month supply—essentially picking up all four boxes at once. She was perfectly fine with it, advising me to just explain the situation to the pharmacist. However, when I approached the pharmacy, they shut me down. They insisted I can only pick up one box per month. Even after explaining that this is a medical necessity because I won't be around to collect them monthly, they wouldn't budge. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to navigate this? 😵

goldenwalker1 said:Hello ladies. I have run into a bit of a logistical snag. I’ve been taking Belara birth control for about six months now to manage PCOS, and in two weeks, I’m heading to the States for a four-month work assignment. I visited my gynecologist to request a prescription for the full four-month supply—essentially picking up all four boxes at once. She was perfectly fine with it, advising me to just explain the situation to the pharmacist. However, when I approached the pharmacy, they shut me down. They insisted I can only pick up one box per month. Even after explaining that this is a medical necessity because I won't be around to collect them monthly, they wouldn't budge. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to navigate this? 😵

Maybe try a different pharmacy. If that doesn't work, you might have better luck looking into options across the border—sometimes they're more flexible with multi-month supplies.
😬

So, back on January 15th, I started on Tingulare for birth control. Around pill number 12, I hit this breakthrough bleeding situation that dragged on for seven straight days. My gynecologist told me to just call it quits, so I stopped taking them at pill 17.
I was supposed to get my period on February 6th, but nothing yet. Just wondering if this is totally normal—like, do these pills actually push your cycle back once you're six months in? Has anyone else dealt with this kind of mess?

goldenwalker1 said:Hello ladies. I have run into a bit of a logistical snag. I’ve been taking Belara birth control for about six months now to manage PCOS, and in two weeks, I’m heading to the States for a four-month work assignment. I visited my gynecologist to request a prescription for the full four-month supply—essentially picking up all four boxes at once. She was perfectly fine with it, advising me to just explain the situation to the pharmacist. However, when I approached the pharmacy, they shut me down. They insisted I can only pick up one box per month. Even after explaining that this is a medical necessity because I won't be around to collect them monthly, they wouldn't budge. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to navigate this? 😵

I actually find myself in similar spots quite often, and what I usually end up doing is just calling my doctor back to ask for a prescription for two packs, then picking those up. Then, I’ll call again a few days later for another two, until I eventually have everything I need. My doctor mentioned he can't legally write for more than two packs at a single time, so I guess that’s really the only way to navigate it.

On a different note, I'm curious about something else. How long have you guys ever gone without taking your pills? I’ve actually been off them for five months now, and honestly, I just don't feel like taking a break right now because my life is always so busy and I'm constantly on the move. I suppose it probably won't cause any harm, right?

Edit: There was one time where my travel plans got messed up, and my mom ended up picking them up for me using my supplemental insurance card and then just mailed them to me.

rapidhawk24 said:I actually find myself in similar spots quite often, and what I usually end up doing is just calling my doctor back to ask for a prescription for two packs, then picking those up. Then, I’ll call again a few days later for another two, until I eventually have everything I need. My doctor mentioned he can't legally write for more than two packs at a single time, so I guess that’s really the only way to navigate it.

On a different note, I'm curious about something else. How long have you guys ever gone without taking your pills? I’ve actually been off them for five months now, and honestly, I just don't feel like taking a break right now because my life is always so busy and I'm constantly on the move. I suppose it probably won't cause any harm, right?

Edit: There was one time where my travel plans got messed up, and my mom ended up picking them up for me using my supplemental insurance card and then just mailed them to me.

Why would anyone bother with a break in the first place? I know plenty of women who stay on them for ten years straight without a single pause. My doctors here in the States told me breaks aren't necessary—they were treating me for PCOS. But then again, it really depends on why you're taking them. I was on them for seven years, tried to force a break halfway through, and let me tell you, it was an absolute disaster. Now I've been off them for six months, and naturally, most of those old symptoms have come crawling back. I felt perfectly fine while I was actually on the medication.

rapidhawk24 said:I actually find myself in similar spots quite often, and what I usually end up doing is just calling my doctor back to ask for a prescription for two packs, then picking those up. Then, I’ll call again a few days later for another two, until I eventually have everything I need. My doctor mentioned he can't legally write for more than two packs at a single time, so I guess that’s really the only way to navigate it.

On a different note, I'm curious about something else. How long have you guys ever gone without taking your pills? I’ve actually been off them for five months now, and honestly, I just don't feel like taking a break right now because my life is always so busy and I'm constantly on the move. I suppose it probably won't cause any harm, right?

Edit: There was one time where my travel plans got messed up, and my mom ended up picking them up for me using my supplemental insurance card and then just mailed them to me.

That’s not true for me—I’ve never had a prescription for anything less than six months. 🤷 Right now, mine is actually set for a full year.

I’ve been taking them for two years straight without a single break, and I don't plan on stopping until I'm actually ready to try for a baby. 😬 Of course, that assumes there aren't any complications and they continue to work well for me. Personally, I feel like those breaks might do more harm than good—it just seems to shock your system.

That’s exactly right. Even my doctor confirmed that these breaks actually cause more damage than they prevent. Just when you finally get your rhythm down and start feeling organized, they hit you with another shock to the system...

wanderingwolf31 said:That’s exactly right. Even my doctor confirmed that these breaks actually cause more damage than they prevent. Just when you finally get your rhythm down and start feeling organized, they hit you with another shock to the system...

I think I might have phrased that a bit poorly, ladies 😵
What I meant was how some people take them for three weeks and then take a week off, and repeat that cycle indefinitely. But personally, I’ve been taking mine every single day without stopping for months now.

And regarding what she mentioned earlier: My doctor told me that they aren't allowed to write more than a certain amount on the prescription.
Is that annual prescription something that repeats every month, or is it different? I guess I wonder if you could just walk into a CVS or Walgreens and pick up all twelve boxes at once?

I take Cerazette without those breaks too... there are 28 pills in every pack. And no, you can't just carry all the boxes at once... I tried doing exactly that when I was heading over to Ireland, but it didn't work out. My mom ends up mailing them to me every month via USPS.

I don't really know how to respond to that—just a random string of letters, I guess? If there was supposed to be a point or a question behind it, feel free to drop it in. I'm all ears. kaže:
I phrased that wrong, ladies—my bad. 😵
I thought the protocol was to take them for three weeks and then have a one-week break—you know, that whole cycle thing—but I've actually just been taking them every single day, without stopping, for months now.

Regarding that girl from before—my gynecologist told me the exact same thing—that she shouldn't be overprescribing anymore.
Is this year's prescription the same thing being repeated every month, or...? Also—would it be possible for me to just swing by the pharmacy and pick up 12 boxes of pills all at once?

It looks like you only sent a fragment—"A, to"—so I'm not quite sure what you're aiming for here. If you have a specific post or some text you want me to rework, just drop it in! I'm ready to get to work whenever you are. 🙂 I only did that once—never again. It wasn't even a real period; it was just constant spotting for the entire cycle. Honestly, it drove me absolutely insane. 🙂 When I’m drinking on an empty stomach—no problems at all.

I don't know—I have my doubts that they actually follow different sets of rules. 🤷 Maybe they’re going through Medicare or some other government system—is that why?

It’s not like they make you buy them all at once—I usually get my supply for the whole year in one go, and honestly, I think I could probably just grab twelve boxes at a time if I wanted to. The most I’ve ever picked up in a single trip was three, and that wasn't an issue at all. They just make a little note on the back of the prescription—noting exactly how much I took on which date—so everything stays straight.

There’s a certain category of birth control pills designed to be taken continuously without any breaks... Qlaira falls into that camp. My specific prescription is a bit different because it consists solely of progesterone, so I take one every single day. I’ve been dealing with an overwhelming amount of spotting lately—something I’ve already vented about here before. We have cycled through quite a few different brands and types, yet the situation remains far from ideal...

Brenda Hughes2 said:

I don't really know how to respond to that—just a random string of letters, I guess? If there was supposed to be a point or a question behind it, feel free to drop it in. I'm all ears. kaže:
I phrased that wrong, ladies—my bad. 😵
I thought the protocol was to take them for three weeks and then have a one-week break—you know, that whole cycle thing—but I've actually just been taking them every single day, without stopping, for months now.

Regarding that girl from before—my gynecologist told me the exact same thing—that she shouldn't be overprescribing anymore.
Is this year's prescription the same thing being repeated every month, or...? Also—would it be possible for me to just swing by the pharmacy and pick up 12 boxes of pills all at once?

It looks like you only sent a fragment—"A, to"—so I'm not quite sure what you're aiming for here. If you have a specific post or some text you want me to rework, just drop it in! I'm ready to get to work whenever you are. 🙂 I only did that once—never again. It wasn't even a real period; it was just constant spotting for the entire cycle. Honestly, it drove me absolutely insane. 🙂 When I’m drinking on an empty stomach—no problems at all.

I don't know—I have my doubts that they actually follow different sets of rules. 🤷 Maybe they’re going through Medicare or some other government system—is that why?

It’s not like they make you buy them all at once—I usually get my supply for the whole year in one go, and honestly, I think I could probably just grab twelve boxes at a time if I wanted to. The most I’ve ever picked up in a single trip was three, and that wasn't an issue at all. They just make a little note on the back of the prescription—noting exactly how much I took on which date—so everything stays straight.

Yeah, mine are covered by my insurance. I actually talked to my OB-GYN about all the different ways we could handle it, and they said it’s either a standing prescription where I get one box every month, or I can just call them whenever I need to pick up two boxes. I guess I'm not quite sure how you manage to get such a large amount when it seems like all of us are in the exact same situation...

I take Lyndinette, which usually requires a week-long break, but I don't actually take that break.

rapidhawk24: wait—did I just miss something? i feel like i'm reading a whole conversation in my head that actually happened in real life. — anyway, hope everyone is having a decent Tuesday. kaže:
Yeah, I went through the process via the local health system—basically the same way most people handle things here. I actually sat down with my gynecologist to go over all the options, and it boiled down to two paths: either having a recurring prescription where I get one box every month, or just calling them up whenever I need to grab two boxes at once. Honestly, I’m still scratching my head wondering how you manage to get such large quantities when the rest of us are stuck in this exact same situation...

I’ve been taking Lyndinette—which usually comes with a week-long break—but I don't actually follow that schedule.

I'm getting a private prescription—meaning my gynecologist visits are covered by my insurance through the state, but the actual pills aren't. 😁Well, maybe that's actually the point—and honestly, I think I’d be a wreck if I had to make that trip every single month. I really ought to head over there sometime this week just to grab a new recipe from her before my summer vacation starts... though at this rate, I feel like I'm prepping for an expedition to the Himalayas or something. 🙂

Personally, my doctor gives me a prescription every six months. Usually, I just get a new one twice a year, but I can't handle taking everything at once, so I pick up one box every month. Maybe it’s an issue with how private prescriptions are handled? You should check in with fastrunner24 to find out. 🙂 Honestly, if you ask me, you shouldn't be taking Lindy every single month without a scheduled break... that's just not how these things are designed to work. You ought to have a conversation with Ginny B. 🙂

wanderingwolf31 said:Personally, my doctor gives me a prescription every six months. Usually, I just get a new one twice a year, but I can't handle taking everything at once, so I pick up one box every month. Maybe it’s an issue with how private prescriptions are handled? You should check in with fastrunner24 to find out. 🙂 Honestly, if you ask me, you shouldn't be taking Lindy every single month without a scheduled break... that's just not how these things are designed to work. You ought to have a conversation with Ginny B. 🙂

Just wanted to check in—I went to get my new prescription yesterday, and of course, I'm stuck with that same old fate of having to pick them up one box at a time. 🤣

My pills have been added to some sort of state insurance list now, so the government partially covers them—which is fine—but because of that, I don't get a private script anymore. It's all electronic now, and I'm limited to picking up just one box per month.

Well, hey, as long as they're noticeably cheaper, I'm not complaining. 👏

I was actually thinking about asking—if I head out on a long trip outside the States, does that mean I can't just pick up two bottles of my meds at once? Not sure what to do here...

stormyharbor2 said:I was actually thinking about asking—if I head out on a long trip outside the States, does that mean I can't just pick up two bottles of my meds at once? Not sure what to do here...

Maybe the solution would be to see a private gynecologist—someone who could just write out a prescription for you? 🤔
Though, you’d probably end up paying full price for that, I suppose.

Hey ladies... has anyone else here actually tried Estal? From what I’ve gathered, it seems to be the exact same story as Belara, where you basically don't see any real results from them at all... I started taking these because I lost my period and was dealing with PCOS... but the acne hasn't even cleared up, if anything, I've developed even more inflammation, my hair is still thinning out constantly... and now I've even started getting this weird brown discharge or spotting around day 13 of my cycle... it feels like such a waste because I don't see a single bit of improvement, just this extra discharge popping up out of nowhere... I think I’m just going to stop taking them and start looking for something else entirely

stormyharbor2 said:I was actually thinking about asking—if I head out on a long trip outside the States, does that mean I can't just pick up two bottles of my meds at once? Not sure what to do here...

There’s a standard protocol for this. Your doctor should know the drill. Instead of using an electronic prescription, they issue a paper one with a specific note stating the full course needs to be dispensed at once. Usually, you can get up to two boxes per paper script. If the doctor is unsure, they can simply call Blue Cross Blue Shield; the representatives will walk them through the procedure.

Ladies, I need some assistance here. I'm looking to have my girlfriend start on birth control again. She was on it a long time ago, but as for current options, I’m completely in the dark. Does anyone know if there are any free programs available through insurance or clinics? And what is the actual cost for specific brands these days?