Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Thanks Taylor King7, that's basically what I was thinking too. I guess I might be quitting soon 🙂

Regarding this topic, does any of you lovely ladies know how long it takes for your system to "reset" after you stop taking birth control? I’m currently on Triquilar. I want to start trying for a baby this coming summer, so I'm curious. I just want a healthy, beautiful little one...

I'm on Triquilar too... and honestly, I've got every single side effect in the book. I went through my entire puberty without a single breakout, but since starting these pills, my skin has absolutely revolted. My appetite is through the roof—I've put on about six pounds in two months—my anxiety is hitting new heights, and the evening nausea is brutal... and then my doctor tells me I can't smoke while I'm on them. Good luck with that. You can imagine how hard it is to quit cigarettes while dealing with all this misery.

As for "clearing out" your system... I was told six months is the gold standard, though some say three months is enough since Triquilar uses such low hormone doses.

BTW... a friend of mine actually experienced significant vision issues right when she was on Triquilar! Who knows... every woman is different...

Alright ladies, I gotta admit, I’m actually pretty happy with these pills so far! 😁

They’re the perfect 🙂 and I think they’ve actually helped curb my appetite [I even called my doctor to ask if that was normal—he said yeah, totally possible since hormones mess with everyone differently 😁]. My cycle is finally back to its usual size [much to Dr. Smith's disappointment and my absolute delight 😁], my period is acting normal, and the pain isn't half as brutal as it usually is... honestly 😎

For now. 😉

Just had another thought regarding Diane—has anyone else noticed their period pains actually easing up lately? That’s something I could certainly use right about now, I guess.😢

First, I was on microgestin 1 mg, then switched to Trinovum at half a gram, and now I’m on Triquilar at 3.5 g. I’m really happy with it—the dosage isn't overwhelming, there's no pain, and most importantly, I know almost exactly when my period is coming within an hour!
You really should try different brands if one doesn't sit right with you. It all comes down to the specific dosage and how different hormone types react with your body... what works perfectly for one person might not work for another.
And don't forget, birth control can actually lower the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, as well as PCOS!😉

So, I started taking Diane today, and there are a couple of things I was hoping to pick your brains about:

- Roughly when should I expect any potential side effects to kick in? Like, does it happen after just a few days, or is it more of a month-long thing... maybe even longer?
- Also, does it usually mess with the timing or intensity of the first period? I mean—assuming you start the pill on day one of your cycle, I’m talking about that very first period itself.

I started experiencing spotting about 10 to 15 days after starting them, right around when I would normally be ovulating.

And that very first period dragged on forever—just constant spotting until my second cycle arrived. My OB-GYN explained it’s just the body adjusting to the hormone levels in the pills.

The only weird side effect I’ve noticed with Diana is that despite eating everything in sight—especially all the desserts—during the Christmas holidays, I somehow lost two pounds.😕

William Scott40 said:The only weird thing I noticed about the diet is that even though I was eating everything in sight during the holidays—especially all those desserts—I actually lost two pounds.😕

I had the same experience, though I don't usually react much to these things anyway, so it felt pretty standard for me.😁 😉

Basically, I lost weight during those first few months even though my eating habits hadn't changed at all.

William Scott40 said:The only upside to this Diana thing is that even though I’ve been eating everything in sight—especially sweets—all through Christmas, I actually dropped two pounds.😕

Yeah, same here. But honestly, I can't eat like I used to. I just don't feel hungry at all.😲 Though... pretty cool.😁 😁 😁

Glad to see so many of you sharing your experiences with birth control pills, though I haven't come across anyone going through exactly what happened to me. I did see some similarities in what > mentioned, though my experience was much more intense. Basically, I wanted to use hormonal contraceptives even though my partner was completely against it. At the time, I was convinced it was the only reliable way to go, so I was dead set on making it work. My OBGYN—who seemed totally fine after my bloodwork came back normal (just slightly low iron, nothing major)—prescribed Trinovum. I was all set and ready to go. He told me that if I experienced some spotting at first, it was just my body adjusting. Yeah, right. It wasn't spotting; it was a full-blown hemorrhage. I’m talking heavy, bright red bleeding like a scene from a western movie. And it didn't last two or three days; it lasted ten. By day fifteen, I was panicking. I threw those pills in the trash and rushed back to the doctor. He ended up giving me something else—I think it was Ergotrine—which helps stop bleeding by causing uterine contractions. After two days on that, the bleeding finally stopped. Then he tried giving me a different pill with lower hormone levels, thinking it would be easier on my system. Same result. Total disaster. I was in shock, tossed them again, and honestly, I still can't believe my body just rejects them like this. I eventually saw a second doctor and showed him a detailed log of my bleeding versus when I took the hormones. His verdict? My body simply doesn't tolerate them, and no matter what kind of pill he prescribes, the same thing is going to happen.
the pills in the trash.
end of story.

🙂

Jeffrey Edwards5, don't sweat it, you'll find something for yourself soon enough😉

Hope you get a better deal!

Midlife crisis, and I’m actually terrified to even ask what that means!
Everything under the sun comes to mind when you hear the term.
But don't worry, my guy's got my back—we've been solid for six years now.
And none of that nonsense.
Love ya.👍

Hey ladies,

Last night I was watching a report from the CDC on TV about Diane 35...

I know quite a few girls here use them, so I just felt like I had to share this...

Those pills absolutely SHOULD NOT be used for birth control. Their actual intended use is for acne. If you take them long-term as a contraceptive, they can cause blood clots—four times more likely than other birth control pills—which can actually be fatal...

About two and a half years ago, a colleague of mine passed away at only 25 years old after suffering multiple heart attacks in her final forty-eight hours. Even the doctors were baffled by how someone so young could endure twelve heart attacks in such a short window, so they performed an autopsy... and it wasn't until that TV program last night that they finally mentioned my friend Catherine Angelidis died because of Diane 35 and the blood clots those pills created, which ultimately led to her heart failing...

Here is some more info for you all...
Diane 35

electricdriver78; THANKS !!! S H I T !!!!! 😲

It’s honestly pretty wild how much they've been downplaying this, especially since doctors here prescribe Diane-35 as a contraceptive and you can't even get your hands on them without a formal prescription from a physician.

It seems like these side effects were only really caught after the fact. Which, I guess, is just too late for some people, unfortunately.

I really hope this thread doesn't turn into a total anti-pill crusade. I mean, I still lean towards thinking that, cumulatively speaking, they probably saved more health outcomes by preventing unplanned pregnancies (and the resulting abortions) than they actually caused harm through side effects. Not to mention all the peace of mind and enjoyment people got from having safe sex without that constant fear of getting pregnant.

But now that we actually know about these harmful consequences, I suppose they really should be banned for use as birth control.

Raymond Newman76,
I didn't mean anything by it, truly...

I actually take birth control myself... Tricyclene 28... and I make sure to get my blood work done once a year just to keep an eye on those clots...

It's really just about this specific pill, DIANE 35, which isn't actually used as contraception...

It's strictly for treating severe acne issues, and you're supposed to stop taking it after four months at most...

Look, I was using them for nearly two years, back when I was on birth control about seven years ago. 😢 Is my period actually going to get back to normal, or am I looking at a permanent risk of blood clots? And even if clots do form, do they just clear out after a while? Honestly, I'm freaking out right now.

mellowbadger8,

I don't know anything for certain...

maybe try looking around the website I posted for a bit...

you could even send them an email if you want...

honestly, it just makes me so frustrated when people keep telling you to go see a doctor... it clearly says right there in the product description that these pills aren't meant for birth control—which is the exact info pharma companies give doctors—but they just don't seem to care at all...😠

electricdriver78 said:The product descriptions for these pills are written so clearly that they explicitly state they aren't meant for contraception—you know, those official blurbs pharmaceutical companies hand out to doctors. But honestly? They couldn't care less. 😠

I’ve never actually used these pills myself, so I have to ask: does the packaging really state that they aren't for contraception?
If that’s the case, then anyone who tries to pass off this thing as a contraceptive is a complete idiot. 😠 😢