Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Jack Booth68 said:So, this is my fourth pack of Diane 35. I finished some yesterday, and I know I have five pills left before my scheduled break. However, I couldn't manage to take my pills today, and since my doctor was working the morning shift and isn't available to ask, I'm feeling a bit stuck. I currently have two full packs on hand. Should I just go ahead and start the new ones now, or would that diminish the effectiveness of the treatment?

Just use the backup pack. That’s what my doctor told me once. You'll just have to toss the leftovers during the next break since you'll be short a few.

So, I’m still dealing with this whole cholesterol mess, and my OB-GYN won't let me back on the pill because of it. Here’s the current breakdown: my latest labs show a total cholesterol of 6.0, my HDL and LDL are right on the edge, and my triglycerides are sitting at 4.02. Everything else looks fine, though. I was wondering if taking lipid-lowering meds could actually help get these numbers down enough so my doctor will finally clear me for the pill again. Honestly, besides birth control, those hormones were doing wonders for my skin, my cycle, and everything else. Thanks!

I swear, my hair practically stands on end whenever she gives me that condescending tone, acting like there are "other options" for contraception. I just want to tell her off—and maybe toss her stash of condoms too, since they honestly do nothing for me. I’m not sure about an IUD either; I’m hesitant to go through a procedure like that since I haven't even given birth, and while I hope to one day, I have zero interest in kids right now. It feels like a total Sisyphus task.getting screwed over 😠

darktinker4 said:So, I’m still dealing with this whole cholesterol mess, and my OB-GYN won't let me back on the pill because of it. Here’s the current breakdown: my latest labs show a total cholesterol of 6.0, my HDL and LDL are right on the edge, and my triglycerides are sitting at 4.02. Everything else looks fine, though. I was wondering if taking lipid-lowering meds could actually help get these numbers down enough so my doctor will finally clear me for the pill again. Honestly, besides birth control, those hormones were doing wonders for my skin, my cycle, and everything else. Thanks!

I swear, my hair practically stands on end whenever she gives me that condescending tone, acting like there are "other options" for contraception. I just want to tell her off—and maybe toss her stash of condoms too, since they honestly do nothing for me. I’m not sure about an IUD either; I’m hesitant to go through a procedure like that since I haven't even given birth, and while I hope to one day, I have zero interest in kids right now. It feels like a total Sisyphus task.getting screwed over 😠

It’s going to be tough to get her to clear you for the pill until you get those triglycerides under control first. But look—there is definitely an option for an IUD regardless of whether you've had kids. That shouldn't matter at all—you just need to find a willing doctor who won't start lecturing you about it. Unfortunately, tubal ligation isn't really an option here in the States until you hit 35—and even then, they tend to check if you've already had at least two kids... it's a total circus.

Lawrence Wells said:It’s going to be tough to get her to clear you for the pill until you get those triglycerides under control first. But look—there is definitely an option for an IUD regardless of whether you've had kids. That shouldn't matter at all—you just need to find a willing doctor who won't start lecturing you about it. Unfortunately, tubal ligation isn't really an option here in the States until you hit 35—and even then, they tend to check if you've already had at least two kids... it's a total circus.

I called Dr. Podobnik and a clinic in San Diego yesterday. Apparently, after 35, you can do it privately and they don't care about your pregnancy history. It doesn't matter.
$4000You get the procedure, stay with them for two days. Same deal in Canada. Basically, if you've got the cash, you're good to go.
If you're trying to go through insurance, they might approve it, but it's a nightmare. You have to face a board, and from what I heard from one woman, it’s a total mess up there...🤦
They'll only clear it if you have severe mental issues or some major physical disability.

Justin Rogers5 said:I called Dr. Podobnik and a clinic in San Diego yesterday. Apparently, after 35, you can do it privately and they don't care about your pregnancy history. It doesn't matter.
$4000You get the procedure, stay with them for two days. Same deal in Canada. Basically, if you've got the cash, you're good to go.
If you're trying to go through insurance, they might approve it, but it's a nightmare. You have to face a board, and from what I heard from one woman, it’s a total mess up there...🤦
They'll only clear it if you have severe mental issues or some major physical disability.

I didn't really clarify earlier—I was talking about procedures covered by Medicaid. I'm not counting private clinics in that, because obviously, their whole goal is making money (even if the service is top-tier). But let's be real, these procedures aren't cheap.
And wait, a priest? I'm not sure I buy that part.

Lawrence Wells said:I didn't really clarify earlier—I was talking about procedures covered by Medicaid. I'm not counting private clinics in that, because obviously, their whole goal is making money (even if the service is top-tier). But let's be real, these procedures aren't cheap.
And wait, a priest? I'm not sure I buy that part.

I think she was just messing around. At least, I hope so. Though honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't...😉

So, after being on hormonal birth control for years on and off—mostly just taking breaks every six months or so—I finally had to call it quits two months ago.
I was on Lyndinette from February through September this year, and honestly, I realized I just couldn't deal with it anymore.
The reason: my mood went absolutely south, with these insane bouts of rage, crying spells, and constant depression... plus I put on five pounds or more because I was perpetually starving. The hunger I felt when I wasn't on the pill was actually manageable, but while I was on it, the hunger was unbearable, way more frequent, I was eating massive portions and nothing ever felt like enough.
The worst part was definitely those episodes of anger and crying; I’d be sitting there knowing there was no actual reason to feel that way, and then it would hit me that I’d been going through the exact same misery before when I was on Logest.
My question is, has anyone else gone through something similar, and are there any alternatives out there? I've heard about things like patches or even subcutaneous implants, so to speak. I really want to look into other options because I'm way too paranoid to rely solely on condoms for protection. I'm not currently in a relationship, but if I were, I’d definitely use both methods together.
Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions, or advice?

Hey ladies, if you’ve had good luck with Yaz before, I’m selling some $18. Got five boxes left in total. I'm based in Chicago. Shoot me a DM if you're interested. Lp

I started taking birth control when I was about 16—I think it was Yasmin or something like that—mostly just to deal with acne and all those other annoying issues...
The side effects were honestly just brutal; I felt like I could have eaten an entire tree because I was constantly starving, and I think I ended up gaining like 15 pounds in less than a month...

Never again for me. I totally respect people who take them for medical reasons, but for everyone else, I’d much rather just track my ovulation cycles and use some other form of protection instead..

I know at least ten girls who were on them and ended up quitting, even the ones who seemed super enthusiastic about starting at first.. I also know two who say they feel fine, though one of them won't even admit that some of her issues are actually from the pills since she's been on them for years...
All in all, I don't know a single person who had a completely positive or happy experience...
Even if I still struggle with breakouts now, I’d honestly rather just deal with the acne than go back to messing with hormones....

George Davis3 said:I started taking birth control when I was about 16—I think it was Yasmin or something like that—mostly just to deal with acne and all those other annoying issues...
The side effects were honestly just brutal; I felt like I could have eaten an entire tree because I was constantly starving, and I think I ended up gaining like 15 pounds in less than a month...

Never again for me. I totally respect people who take them for medical reasons, but for everyone else, I’d much rather just track my ovulation cycles and use some other form of protection instead..

I know at least ten girls who were on them and ended up quitting, even the ones who seemed super enthusiastic about starting at first.. I also know two who say they feel fine, though one of them won't even admit that some of her issues are actually from the pills since she's been on them for years...
All in all, I don't know a single person who had a completely positive or happy experience...
Even if I still struggle with breakouts now, I’d honestly rather just deal with the acne than go back to messing with hormones....

Well, since nobody seems to be sharing any success stories here, I’ll step in.
I’m 40 years old and I’ve been on birth control for 15 years straight. I have never had a single issue or side effect.
Oral contraceptives are just like any other medication; not everyone reacts to them the same way, and what works for one person won't work for another. It is simply wrong to draw sweeping generalizations based on half-truths or incorrect information.
I am not saying there are zero risks, but if you are taking "real" pills under the supervision of an OB-GYN, I don't see any reason for unnecessary fear. The worst part is that women attribute things to these pills that aren't even related to them. As I said, the most important thing is having your doctor prescribe the specific therapy that fits you. That requires a little effort, and frankly, many doctors lack the desire to actually put in that work. But we shouldn't blame the pills as if they are the greatest evil on earth.

Hey everyone! So, I’m currently on Yaz (got a 6-month prescription), but I’m actually heading abroad in about a month! Does anyone happen to know if I can pick up my Yaz in Italy using a European Health Insurance Card? Since I don't have a private prescription and can't just grab all six packs at once—I have to pick them up one box at a time every month—I'm feeling a little stuck. Thanks so much in advance!

Honestly, I’m starting to question my own sanity here.

I’m taking Adex. Now, the pack comes with 21 tablets—no placebo involved.
The blister pack actually has the days of the week printed on it.
Every single one of those 21 pills has the exact same formula, doesn't it?
If my period starts on a Sunday, can I just kick things off using the pill labeled "Sunday," even if it isn't technically the first one in the sequence?
Those days are just there for my own tracking purposes, right?

Yeah, look—that’s just to make things easier for you, even if it isn't exactly the first pill in the sequence.

James Taylor69 said:I’m stuck without a gynecologist because my doctor’s contract with Blue Cross just ended. I'm currently on Yaz. They promised a new provider would be stepping in to take her place, but nothing has happened yet and I haven't found anyone else.
I thought I could just walk in and get a private prescription, but when I stopped by an office yesterday, they looked at me like I had landed from Mars. Am I dealing with a bunch of jerks, or is it actually impossible to get a private prescription like that?

Do you still need more packs?

Hey ladies, I could really use some insight here. My girlfriend has been on Lindynette 20 for just over two years now, and honestly, it’s been working perfectly for her. But she called her gynecologist today, and apparently, they’re being pulled from the market, so he’s going to have to switch her over to something else. Does anyone actually know what’s going on with this... why would they be withdrawing them? Was there some kind of safety issue or a spike in nasty side effects that we should be worried about?
She doesn't have an account on here herself, so I'm stepping in to ask for her. It’s a bit of a headache because switching medications means we’ll have to keep a close eye on any new side effects, especially since we finally felt like things were stable and she was doing so well on the Lindynette...
Thanks so much for any info you can share 🙂

wiredfalcon83 said:Hey ladies, I could really use some insight here. My girlfriend has been on Lindynette 20 for just over two years now, and honestly, it’s been working perfectly for her. But she called her gynecologist today, and apparently, they’re being pulled from the market, so he’s going to have to switch her over to something else. Does anyone actually know what’s going on with this... why would they be withdrawing them? Was there some kind of safety issue or a spike in nasty side effects that we should be worried about?
She doesn't have an account on here herself, so I'm stepping in to ask for her. It’s a bit of a headache because switching medications means we’ll have to keep a close eye on any new side effects, especially since we finally felt like things were stable and she was doing so well on the Lindynette...
Thanks so much for any info you can share 🙂

I'm wondering the same thing—I've hit up a few pharmacies and it's the same story everywhere, they're just gone... my doctor switched me to Logest as a sub, but I'm honestly a little hesitant to start taking them. 🕺

Hey ladies, sorry if this sounds stupid, but I’m thinking about starting the pill. My gynecologist gave me two referrals—one for bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and stuff like that. I already know which lab to hit up for those.
The other referral is for hormones (testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH...) and I honestly have no clue where the best place to get that done would be??

(One more thing, can you tell from these results if there's a predisposition for blood clots, or should I look into that on my own?)

Hey ladies, sorry if this sounds stupid, but I’ve been thinking about starting the pill. My OBGYN gave me two sets of referrals—one covers bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and so on. I already know which lab to use for those.
The second referral is for hormones (testosterone, prolactin, FSH, LH...) and I honestly have no clue where the best place would be to get that done??

(One more thing, can you tell from these results if there's a predisposition for thrombosis, or should I look into that on my own?)

wiredfalcon83 said:Hey ladies, I could really use some insight here. My girlfriend has been on Lindynette 20 for just over two years now, and honestly, it’s been working perfectly for her. But she called her gynecologist today, and apparently, they’re being pulled from the market, so he’s going to have to switch her over to something else. Does anyone actually know what’s going on with this... why would they be withdrawing them? Was there some kind of safety issue or a spike in nasty side effects that we should be worried about?
She doesn't have an account on here herself, so I'm stepping in to ask for her. It’s a bit of a headache because switching medications means we’ll have to keep a close eye on any new side effects, especially since we finally felt like things were stable and she was doing so well on the Lindynette...
Thanks so much for any info you can share 🙂

I haven't heard the specific reason why they're pulling them, but I definitely heard from a few girls that they were a nightmare to deal with. Honestly, they didn't sit right with me at all... I ditched them almost immediately. Between the breakthrough bleeding and everything else, it was just a mess. There are way better options out there!😉

I’ve got a Zoely box just sitting here unopened if anyone wants it for half price... hit me up in the DMs.