Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

So, I’ve been seeing Dr. Miller at Mayo Clinic for years, or at least that was the deal before this replacement doc showed up and completely flipped the script.

The second I sat down, I gave him the basics and mentioned I'm a regular patient there, and he immediately starts grilling me about how many days into my cycle I start taking the pill during the break. I told him eight, because that’s what I was told, that’s what the instructions say, and that’s how I’ve done it for ages without anyone ever correcting me—unless you're trying to delay your period, which isn't even on my radar.

Then I bring up the fibroid that’s grown a bit over the last year... and he asks how long my period lasts. He looked absolutely floored when I said six to seven days, even though that’s just the total duration; it’s not like I’m bleeding heavily the entire time. My stomach doesn't hurt and my flow isn't crazy, but the guy kept cutting me off so I couldn't even explain myself. He had this bizarre sense of humor and used these weird expressions that left me totally WTF, but whatever.🤔 Let's just say I walked out of that exam room feeling absolutely drained, thinking it's high time I find a new doctor or go back to private practice. I honestly don't have the patience for unprofessional jokes, snarky comments, interruptions, or some guy aggressively pushing the pregnancy conversation on me.

He's replacing my old doctor, who is incredibly professional, calm, actually listens, and doesn't interrupt with nonsense. But I have a sinking feeling he won't be coming back anytime soon, and this was already my second appointment with this substitute, which was honestly just soul-crushing.

The fibroid grew a tiny bit—about 4mm since the last scan—plus two new little ones popped up. So I ask him if I should stop the pill so we can figure out our next move, and he just keeps hitting me with, "What about pregnancy? Right now?"

Then he asks about my cholesterol and other levels. I tell him I don't know, and he acts like I'm being dense! I had my bloodwork done back in September, called the nurse, and she told me everything looked fine and I could stay on the pill based on the results. How am I supposed to just magically know his data? It’s like he’s using a computer for nothing because he didn't bother looking at my previous records once. Honestly, I don't even know what to make of the whole visit, other than the fact that the thought of going back there is giving me straight-up anxiety.

During my last checkup, the other doctor covering the shift was super chill—he just checked the fibroid, didn't panic, and basically said we just need to keep an eye on it. He mentioned I could influence things regarding pregnancy if I wanted, but I don't have anything to "think about"—life isn't set up for kids right now. When I told this new guy that, he snapped at me, saying I *must* consider it, questioning my relationship dynamics, and claiming if the fibroids grow more, it'll be too late and then we'll all be panicking.

Like, let's be real here. I'm not sure, and my partner isn't sure either if we even want kids; the only thing we know for certain is that it's a hard "no" for right now. I would have much preferred if he offered actual solutions or actually sat down to talk through the details—you know, like why they're growing (stress, diet, whatever), what our other options are, or if there are treatments available locally or elsewhere. Instead, he just shuts me down and brings up pregnancy five different times... 🤔 😠

Hi everyone

I decided to join this thread because I’m weighing my birth control options. I recently started a relationship, and now I’m stuck on what to choose. Honestly, after reading about all the side effects of the pill, I’m feeling pretty conflicted about them. Aside from condoms, there doesn't seem to be much of an alternative for young women who definitely don't want kids for a few more years.

Up until now, my boyfriend and I have just been practicing withdrawal. I know it isn't the smartest move, but condoms just kill the spontaneity for me—I don't know how else to put it. He finds them a bit distracting too, but I’m sure I can talk him into using them. I just want both of us to enjoy ourselves without that constant mental load, and without him having to stay tense just to make sure he doesn't finish inside me. That part is really a dealbreaker for me.

So, right now, our only real option seems to be the pill, but from what I can see, most women experience some kind of negative side effect. Even when they switch from one brand to another, or try a second or third type, the issues persist.

And I’m not even talking about minor things like skin breakouts or a little extra cellulite; if you watch your diet, those are usually manageable unless it's an extreme case.

I mean the stuff that completely messes with your hormones. My biggest concern is libido. From everything I’ve read and heard from girls in my circle, most people see a massive drop in sex drive once they start the pill. How do you all handle that?

My take is that the pill probably doesn't affect the libido as much for women who naturally have a very high drive. Even if it dips a little, it should still be plenty. 😁

That’s just how it looks to me. It feels like there aren't many great options if you're in a long-term relationship and want to stay totally relaxed and unburdened.

They’re definitely cranking up the side effects these days; honestly, I’ve thought about ditching them entirely, but like you said, there just isn't a solid alternative out there right now.

In my case, my libido is actually spiking when it shouldn't be, but since my OB-GYN didn't bother offering anything else—like pregnancy or surgery—and kept pushing the whole "just have a baby" angle, I'm just not even entertaining that idea for the time being.

I’ve heard Mirena is a great option, though apparently, they’re a bit hesitant to implant it if you haven't gone through childbirth yet.

I don't think your libido being high before the pill is really a thing; for me, it fluctuates, but I've definitely noticed a massive dip since I started them, which is honestly just one more reason why I’m looking to unhook from the pill.

I’m not totally convinced you can just pop these forever without some kind of fallout, regardless of what anyone tells you... my doctor claims you can stay on them as long as your bloodwork looks clean, but then you hear people say they mess with your future fertility if you take them too long, and everyone’s got a different story!

Look, you don't need to spiral into a panic over birth control; there are tons of brands on the market, and you’ll definitely find one that clicks with your body, provided you keep up with your checkups and take them consistently—they're amazing protection, but yeah, we can't ignore the fact that we're messing with hormones.

I wish I had some profound wisdom for you on this, but it’s such a toss-up; everyone reacts differently—some people bloat up, some don't, others lose hair, it's all over the map.

Diane always worked wonders for me, aside from the killer libido drop; I didn't deal with any other issues, whereas those low-dose pills actually made me feel pretty nauseous.

Hey everyone,

Honestly, I wasn't quite sure where else to post this, so I figured I’d drop it here and see what you all think.☕

I’ve been on birth control for about 7 or 8 years now, cycling through a few different brands. I have zero plans to start a family right now, but I just feel like I’ve had enough. My first pack was fine for years, really, until the side effects started kicking in and ruining everything. I switched to two other types after that, but neither of them felt "right"—they just weren't it. Now my gynecologist is basically at a loss; she told me that if this third option doesn't work out, there aren't many choices left to try.🙄 I’m still dealing with side effects, and frankly, I just don't feel like myself anymore. I’m seriously considering just getting off them entirely. To be honest, I can't even remember what life was like before I started taking them.☕

For those of you who have gone through this—what was it like "coming off" after being on them for so long? How did it go for you? How much time did it actually take for your body to get back to its natural state, and did you run into any major issues during the transition? I originally started taking them because of my family history; I didn't have any issues personally, but my doctor advised me to start early as a preventative measure since it runs in the family. It’s more about prevention than cure, but now I’m a little worried about my hormones getting completely out of whack. I’m curious if anyone struggled with their body adjusting to managing its own hormones again. For context, I started when I was 16.

Thanks in advance for the help.🙏

briskmaker8 said:Hey everyone,

Honestly, I wasn't quite sure where else to post this, so I figured I’d drop it here and see what you all think.☕

I’ve been on birth control for about 7 or 8 years now, cycling through a few different brands. I have zero plans to start a family right now, but I just feel like I’ve had enough. My first pack was fine for years, really, until the side effects started kicking in and ruining everything. I switched to two other types after that, but neither of them felt "right"—they just weren't it. Now my gynecologist is basically at a loss; she told me that if this third option doesn't work out, there aren't many choices left to try.🙄 I’m still dealing with side effects, and frankly, I just don't feel like myself anymore. I’m seriously considering just getting off them entirely. To be honest, I can't even remember what life was like before I started taking them.☕

For those of you who have gone through this—what was it like "coming off" after being on them for so long? How did it go for you? How much time did it actually take for your body to get back to its natural state, and did you run into any major issues during the transition? I originally started taking them because of my family history; I didn't have any issues personally, but my doctor advised me to start early as a preventative measure since it runs in the family. It’s more about prevention than cure, but now I’m a little worried about my hormones getting completely out of whack. I’m curious if anyone struggled with their body adjusting to managing its own hormones again. For context, I started when I was 16.

Thanks in advance for the help.🙏

I stopped taking them after four years because I was fed up. My cycle actually seemed normal during the very first month. However, I had one day where the symptoms hit me as hard as they did while I was on the pill. The old pains, the fatigue, the migraines—everything came back. It was so unbearable that I ended up calling my doctor to get back on them. Generally, people say it takes a few months for everything to stabilize.
I've been on them for a total of eight years now (not counting that one month), and it looks like I may never stop.
It feels "silly" to be taking them while single since it's easily the most reliable method of protection, but it seems I don't have much of a choice. I'm also a little anxious about what will happen when I eventually decide to stop for good.

So, I finally kicked the pill habit at the end of January after being on it for about eight years straight without a single break. Honestly, part of it was just pure panic over my health—you know, worrying about how old I am and how long I've been loading up on them without a breather. But the real wake-up call was when I suddenly got hit with this dizzy spell out of nowhere. I haven't felt that way in ages, so I went to see my doctor, and after running some tests, they told me my blood pressure had spiked. This was huge because everyone knows me as someone with low blood pressure, so I wasn't messing around; I popped my last pill two days later and tossed the remaining three Diane-35s from my pack right into the trash!

I just couldn't justify the risk anymore, especially since I had a mountain of job interviews lined up and was stressing out big time from all the studying.

Here’s what I’ve actually noticed since I quit: my first period showed up two days earlier than expected, and it was lighter and shorter. But more importantly, I feel so much more chill lately. It’s like that constant edge is gone; things don't get under my skin nearly as much as they used to, which is a total win because, let's be real, I used to be such a nightmare to deal with right before my period arrived.

Oh, and my second period was late, but I'm pretty sure that was just due to the earthquake and the chaos of moving to a new place, plus things were already getting a bit hectic a few days before the quake hit. I'm really curious to see how the next one plays out.

I was definitely freaking out a little about quitting the pills for good, but now I’m mostly just kicking myself for not doing it sooner.🙂

Well, let me jump straight into it...

Basically, I’ve been dealing with hormonal issues since I was sixteen. I started taking birth control pills back then, but I’d go through these cycles where I’d stop on my own, then start again, and so on. I’m twenty-two now, and for about a year, I haven't been taking them at all. To be honest, I’m hesitant because I’m worried they might end up doing more harm than good in the long run. Maybe I'm wrong, but generally, I'm just not a fan of those pills; I really only take them if it feels absolutely necessary. So, getting back to my hormones and my cycle... whenever I stop the pill, my period basically disappears. When I finally do get it, I notice it only lasts about two days, and it isn't even actual bleeding—just this tiny amount of brownish discharge. To make matters worse, I feel like these hormonal shifts are starting to take a real toll on me, both mentally and physically. I'm wondering what you all think. For starters, I've gained quite a bit of weight. It’s not that I’m overeating, but I’m not exactly on a strict diet either, yet the scale just keeps climbing. Before I stopped the medication, I was hitting the gym regularly, but even that didn't seem to make a difference. The whole situation is incredibly stressful, and I'm feeling a bit lost. On top of that, my libido has completely vanished. It’s not that I don't want to be with my boyfriend—he’s actually being wonderful about it and says he’ll wait as long as it takes for things to settle down in my head—but I know it’s hard on him, and it’s hard on me too. It's not like there's any attraction left in me at all right now, which is really frustrating. I’m writing all this because I’m looking for some advice. Should I try going back on the pills to see if that stabilizes everything? Or is there something else I should be looking into? I just don't know what's happening with my body anymore. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

What exactly do you mean when you say they will cause more harm than good? You mentioned taking them for a long time, but you didn't mention experiencing any side effects. I am not denying that side effects exist, but it seems to me that you are simply against them altogether—assuming that "they will eventually hurt me" just because all pills are inherently bad.
Most women fear precisely those things: weight gain, a lower libido, mood swings, or hormonal imbalances—issues you are already dealing with. Your condition could actually improve, and even if you notice things getting worse, you have the option to stop taking them.
I assume you’ve had blood work done and know your hormone levels aren't where they should be. You also know that, for now, these pills are the primary treatment, and only while you are on them. I don't know what your experience was like before; whether you had side effects then or if you felt better, only you can say. You are aware of all the facts, and as the patient, the decision to accept this therapy rests entirely with you.

shadowharbor said:What exactly do you mean when you say they will cause more harm than good? You mentioned taking them for a long time, but you didn't mention experiencing any side effects. I am not denying that side effects exist, but it seems to me that you are simply against them altogether—assuming that "they will eventually hurt me" just because all pills are inherently bad.
Most women fear precisely those things: weight gain, a lower libido, mood swings, or hormonal imbalances—issues you are already dealing with. Your condition could actually improve, and even if you notice things getting worse, you have the option to stop taking them.
I assume you’ve had blood work done and know your hormone levels aren't where they should be. You also know that, for now, these pills are the primary treatment, and only while you are on them. I don't know what your experience was like before; whether you had side effects then or if you felt better, only you can say. You are aware of all the facts, and as the patient, the decision to accept this therapy rests entirely with you.

I didn't experience any side effects from them. It was more that I was persistently hoping everything would just return to normal on its own through natural means, but I can see that my condition is actually worsening.
So, can a decreased libido also be caused by hormonal imbalances?

I have a few friends who take birth control pills to manage things like menstruation, acne, or hormonal imbalances... It seems to me they all decided at some point to try going off them, yet in the end, every single one of them returned to the pill. One even mentioned trying certain herbal teas, but nothing ever worked.

Hormones certainly impact libido; even the pills themselves can have a negative effect. However, it is generally understood that testosterone plays a more significant role here than estrogen.

shadowharbor said:I have a few friends who take birth control pills to manage things like menstruation, acne, or hormonal imbalances... It seems to me they all decided at some point to try going off them, yet in the end, every single one of them returned to the pill. One even mentioned trying certain herbal teas, but nothing ever worked.

Hormones certainly impact libido; even the pills themselves can have a negative effect. However, it is generally understood that testosterone plays a more significant role here than estrogen.

It looks like I’ll probably have to head back to oral contraceptives... I don't really see any other way to handle this.

What kind of searches did you run?
What’s the hormone situation looking like, maybe check with an endocrinologist?

Hi there! 👋
I’ve been using Axira tablets for about three years now—and honestly, I'm really happy with them. They keep my hormones perfectly balanced, and my cycle is as reliable as a Swiss watch, if you know what I mean. However, due to a bit of a slip-up on my part (I totally forgot to go back for my bloodwork and hormone tests this year), I had to skip an entire month of pills. Apparently, I can't get a refill until I finish those tests and see my gynecologist, who's a little busy for another few weeks. In the meantime, I’ve started getting breakouts on my chest and neck—something that *never* happens to me—so I'm guessing it's just because I'm off the tablets? It’s a bit frustrating, I guess—there are quite a few of them—but usually, while I'm on the medication, my skin stays super clear and calm.

I'm honestly flying blind here, so I figured I’d just throw this out into the void of this forum!

So, at the end of January, I finally called it quits on the pill after being on it basically non-stop for almost eight years.
My first period showed up about four weeks later, and everything seemed pretty regular after that... though, thanks to some earthquake stress and all the chaos surrounding it, my cycle was already acting wonky—it was supposed to arrive right on schedule, but ended up being two weeks late.

Since then, things have been landing almost exactly when I expected them to. I was looking at my next period for this coming weekend, but instead, it decides to show up today. Like, what even is happening?!

I had this super light spotting for a night or two—just a tiny bit and then nothing by morning—so a few days after my last period, I figured it was just some leftover stuff. But then I started reading online that spotting can happen around ovulation (which would have been about ten days ago, roughly ten days after my last flow)... and then last night before bed, I see a little more, and by morning there's a bit more again. Now it actually feels like my actual period is starting; I've got that familiar crampy feeling in my abdomen/ovaries—maybe a tiny bit weaker than usual, but definitely there. It’s totally throwing me for a loop because I wasn't due until next weekend. I should mention I've been feeling some occasional twinges in my right ovary, but nothing scary; I mentioned it to my doctor before and he said everything looked fine. He also did an ultrasound and said everything was normal, noting that since the pill kept everything "quiet," it's totally standard to feel your ovaries waking up again.

I have absolutely no clue how long it takes for the body to find its groove again after ditching the pill, or what this specific mess could be. I never really dealt with anything like this before the pill, and even while I was on them, it was rare—just a couple of times I had some breakthrough bleeding and then it was over.

My check-up during the second month showed a clean Pap smear, but my endometrial lining was thin because I'd stopped the hormones. My doctor said he couldn't predict when my period would return because of that, though it didn't look like it would happen anytime soon—yet it arrived just two weeks later. As for those fibroids, they're exactly where they should be, so no reason to worry about their size or position according to him.

🤔 😲 Is this just a normal thing, or is it possible that the summer heat is messing with me, or maybe my hormones just haven't leveled out yet?! 🤔

Just to add a bit of context: even before I started the pill, my period was always a late bloomer. It never actually hit on the exact day I planned for; it was always day 30 or later, so this sudden shift is making me even more confused.🤔

I've been taking Femoston 2/10 for a little while now—just a few days, actually—and yesterday, for the first time, the pharmacist at the counter looked me dead in the eye and goes, "Are you taking magnesium? You have to." It totally threw me for a loop because, honestly, nobody has ever mentioned that to me before.
Anyone else dealt with this? 🤔

Birth control. I haven’t been on the pill in a while. My understanding is you start on the first day of your period. If my cycle started today around 2 PM, is it too late to wait until tomorrow morning around 10 AM—since that won't be more than 24 hours—or should I just take it today? Thanks. 😁

Hi there,
Is anyone here taking birth control specifically to manage high androgen levels? My androstenedione and DHEAS are through the roof—plus my total testosterone is slightly elevated too. It’s making my cycles incredibly light and infrequent...

Hey ladies!
About three years ago, I started taking some birth control pills strictly because of certain health and gynecological issues (honestly, I can't even remember the exact names anymore). They actually helped with everything that was going wrong physically, but they completely messed with my mood... I just felt depressed most of the time. I’d find myself crying over absolutely nothing on a regular basis. After begging my OB-GYN and spending months convincing her that I needed a change, she switched me over to what I'm on now, Diane 35. But honestly? Things have gone from bad to worse. These pills have absolutely destroyed me mentally... My doctor says I shouldn't switch again so soon, even though I've been on them for over six months now. I've fallen into such a deep depression that it's almost hard to believe...

And it isn't just the depression; it feels like nothing brings me joy anymore. I end up crying at least three or four times a month—not even counting PMS, haha—because my mental state has turned me into this paranoid person. Every time I talk to anyone, I take things way too personally, misinterpreting everything, and then I just break down crying, thinking everyone hates me and feeling like I've just had enough of everything. Between that and some ongoing family issues, resisting this mental downward spiral is becoming impossible...

I can't just stop taking the pills because my cycle was in a really bad state, and given my family medical history, I had to get things under control immediately. I still remember who I used to be... someone cheerful and full of life. Even with all the drama at home, I was always smiling and looking for solutions. Now, all the hobbies I used to love just feel like a chore, like they're just wasting time that I could spend feeding these "dark thoughts" that have taken over my brain... I don't even know where to start to find the will to change. Today was just one of those days, which is probably why I felt compelled to write this post. I was talking to my boyfriend on the phone this afternoon, and when he mentioned he was grabbing coffee with a friend after work and we’d talk later, I spent the entire afternoon spiraling, convinced he was planning to leave me the second he said it. If I had called him yesterday when I was actually feeling okay, I wouldn't have thought twice about it; I would have known it's perfectly normal to not spend an hour on the phone with your partner when you're out with friends. These mood swings happen overnight... they turn me into a completely different person. I try to hide it from everyone as much as possible because I'm terrified of pushing people away with how I'm acting...

Has anyone else experienced this kind of sudden personality shift due to hormonal contraceptives? Has anyone found an alternative that worked, or does anyone have advice on how to find my "old self" again?
Thanks in advance to everyone... any message at all is welcome, and I'm sure it'll help brighten up these dark days just a little bit... 🙂

Psychological side effects can sometimes crop up when you first start on birth control—your body often needs a little window of time to adjust to the new hormones.
However, six months is a long time to be feeling this way—honestly, I think it might be time to step away from them altogether.
Especially since this isn't even your first time trying pills, right?
I don't know the specifics of why you need them, but reading through your experience, it just doesn't seem worth the mental toll it's taking on you.
It sounds like your gynecologist has been pretty incompetent here—they really should have sat down with you to discuss next steps, ordered some tests, and helped find a better alternative.
Maybe you could try something milder, like calming herbal teas, just to take the edge off—though I suppose I can't say for sure if they'll actually help or what's safe for you to take without medical advice.

Hello.

I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, which has forced me into a cycle of hormone therapy. For six months, I was on continuous birth control, then they switched me over to Visanne, which relies on a progesterone component. Honestly, the contraceptive phase brought every side effect imaginable—the chest pressure was particularly unbearable. Interestingly, even though I suffer from migraines, those vanished completely, though my neurologist strictly forbade me from using typical treatments for them. Since switching to Visanne, however, I feel as though I’ve hit menopause prematurely. What worries me most isn't just the physical shift, but this crushing fatigue. I can't tell if I'm sliding into depression or if this exhaustion is just a byproduct of everything else, perhaps stress. To make matters worse, I have to stay on these medications until menopause because the endometriosis is attacking my bowels—essentially causing perforations. Having barely survived two bouts of sepsis, I honestly don't know how much more of these side effects I can handle. Surgery isn't an option for me right now, either. I feel somewhat desperate, and quite irritable. Does anyone have any advice? My doctors seem to be at a loss...