Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Jonathan Perez88 said:.. hmm.. doesn't happen for me.. I usually get a 3 or 4 day break..

Yeah, same here.. last pill on Wednesday.. Monday again.. then back at it on Thursday..

It’s just like being stuck in a loop with some glitchy software. I wrap things up on Sunday, but then everything lands on Thursday. It’s basically a four-day cycle. There was only one time where it actually felt like a five-day stretch.

deep kick said:Does anyone know if one can actually find some relief during PMS? I’m mostly looking for help with the psychological side of things, since I don't really deal with much physical discomfort during that time.
When my period is about to hit, I just crash. It’s like someone pulls the plug on my entire system; I get this crushing depression and sadness that makes me feel completely useless. There are days where I honestly can't function at all—I just stay stuck in bed because I don't have the mental energy or the physical strength to even get up and wash my face.

Honestly, I feel like I’ve gone completely off the rails since I started these pills. I’m losing my mind over every little thing. 😳 I guess I'm just like that. 😳Lately, it’s been a total coma. I know I tend to get pretty high-strung during my PMS, though. 😈 But honestly, there are days when things just hit rock bottom. onda I can’t seem to get out of bed today. On the bright side, those excruciating pains have finally backed off. 🙂

pelle d'agnello said:Has anyone else dealt with that weird gap where you don't get your period at all during those 6 or 7 days between packs?😲

It happened to me once.🙂

Nothing major, though. I skipped it, kept taking my pills as usual, and then everything went back to normal the next cycle.

I wasn't pregnant or anything—just stressed out.

Megan Reed said:Heh, honestly? I feel like I’ve gone completely mental since I started these pills. I’m overanalyzing every tiny little thing. 😳 I mean, I was always a bit 😳, but lately, it’s just been total overkill.

Same here. I never even dealt with PMS before, but now? It hits me like a freight train. You could basically point a finger at me and I’d burst into tears. Though, it doesn't have to be this way—I know girls who haven't felt a single symptom since they started their birth control. I guess it just depends on how your body reacts to different brands...

On the plus side, though, those brutal cramps are finally gone. 🙂

👍 Oh, absolutely!

Do you guys take breaks? How often?

I really need to start on a new pack, but I'm thinking about taking a break...

Nah, I haven't yet. It's been about a year and a half. My doctor basically told me there's no point unless I'm looking for a 😁 or if I suddenly realize I've put on some weight or something.

Daniel Lopez said:Do you guys ever take breaks? How often?

I’m about to start a new pack, but I’m seriously considering taking a break...

I’ve only taken two breaks in the last seven years. Every single time, my gynecologist told me it wasn't a good idea—that I could technically stay on them for up to ten years without stopping. She argued that pausing actually does more harm than good because of the hormonal shock to the system. Apparently, while people used to take breaks back in the day, modern pills are formulated differently now to account for that.
Look, I can't say for sure, but my honest advice is to just talk to your doctor. They’re the ones who know your specific medical history, so they can give you a definitive yes or no on whether a break is right for you.

John Thomas2 said:I haven't started yet. It's only been about a year and a half. My doctor told me I don't even need to, unless I specifically want a transplant. 😁 Or maybe I’ll just realize I’ve put on some weight or something.

My doctor told me I had to stay on them for two years, and I did take a little two-month break back then. Now, about a year has passed since that hiatus. Honestly, I feel like stopping entirely because I don't see any real need to keep taking them. But then again, I'm just not sure.

Megan Reed said:Same here. I finish up with IVF on Sunday, then get results on Thursday. So, four days. There was only one time it took five.

Me too. And it drove me crazy. For a second there, I actually thought I was pregnant... Honestly, the waiting was worse than someone just telling me, "Look, Charles Ramirez, you aren't getting lucky for another year." 😁

And after all that, everything just slides right back into its usual, predictable routine. 🙂

Has anyone else dealt with those mid-cycle spotting issues when you're on birth control?
They always say it’s just something that happens at the very beginning—but here I am, ten days into it, and I’ve been on them for nearly eight months now.

Right now I’m taking Loestrin, but I had the exact same thing happen with Triquilar and Cilest...😠

I mean, I find it hard to believe that absolutely none of them actually work for my body.👎

Not me, never once...

Same here.

Someone please help me out here...

I’m considering following a specialist’s advice regarding Trisequens...

But before I pull the trigger, I did some digging to make sure I knew what I was getting into...

And look closely at this warning:

"If you are still in your fertile years or aren't certain whether you've passed menopause, be aware that Trisequens will definitely not prevent pregnancy."

😕

Now, it seems to me like I read somewhere that some women on these forums actually use this as birth control... I’m completely lost...

As far as I know, those are hormone pills, not contraceptives (damn, did I really have to clarify that?).
What I'm thinking of: those hormone replacement therapies women take during perimenopause or menopause. If that's what I'm picturing, they come in a round, three-colored plastic container.

Well, I guess I’m officially joining the pill club.
Mine is Neu-Eunomin—the kind they rave about for supposed benefits to skin, hair, and mood.
If you ask me, I’d toss the whole thing straight into the trash right now. Some days I feel fine, then out of nowhere, a wave of deep depression hits me in the middle of the afternoon. It’s just a constant cycle. It feels like I’m dealing with monthly PMS for thirty days straight. Here’s my personal breakdown of the side effects:

- Weight gain... at least three pounds.
- Depression and sudden mood swings.
- Most of the time, I feel this constant pressure in my bladder.
- I feel bloated, like a water balloon.
- My breasts just keep growing... and growing... and growing.
- Skin gets way more sensitive.
- A total loss of libido.

And all of this happened within the first month. I’m hoping things level out later, but honestly... who knows if I'll stick around long enough to see that happen.

Can I get a quick reality check from everyone here who uses birth control pills to prevent pregnancy and all that? I need to clear something up.

You all seem to constantly mention things like "my skin cleared up" or "ugh, my face is breaking out again" in your posts. What’s the actual deal there? How exactly are these pills affecting your skin, and what kind of flare-ups are we actually talking about?

I’ve personally never been on them, and honestly, I have zero intention to start—at least not anytime soon. Since I have no clue how they impact skin texture or acne, I’d love some insight into what you're all experiencing.

thx

.. when people talk about skin treatments, they usually just mean clearing up facial blemishes or whatever—specifically targeting those annoying breakouts and acne issues.

.. for me, though, it actually cleared up my back—since I never really had any issues with my face to begin with. 🙂

Jonathan Perez88 said:When people talk about skin treatments, they usually just mean scrubbing away imperfections. It’s always the same old story: clear up the blemishes, get rid of the redness, or—heaven forbid—actually deal with those breakouts and acne. Isn't that what everyone is looking for? Just a clean slate?

For example, my back cleared up completely, mostly because I never dealt with facial issues to begin with. 🙂

Some of these pills are just bizarre. One minute you're looking at an unexpected chest expansion, the next you're losing your dignity—or gaining it in all the wrong places. It’s honestly gruesome.

Thanks for that. Really.🙂