Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

First off, a warm hello to everyone here.
I’m honestly at a bit of a loss for words, almost like I’ve just dropped in from another planet or something. I’ve been trying to read up on some of the issues you all have been posting about, but I can never quite seem to catch up... It feels like I might be the exact opposite case, I guess. I’ve experimented with a few different brands—I think it was maybe Loestrin, maybe Alesse, or maybe Yaz, and a couple of others whose names escape me right now, and now I’m just sitting here waiting to start the Yasmin pack. I don't really know if I should even bother starting, because my main issue is that I seem to get my period at least five days before I even finish the pill. I take them strictly according to what my gynecologist prescribed, too. I actually saw her about two weeks ago, and after an exam and an ultrasound, she told me everything seemed perfectly fine with me and my hormone levels, so she suggested I try a different brand instead. I'm just not sure, though; I wonder if she should probably send me for some blood work or something?
I truly haven't a clue what the underlying issue could be. Has anyone else dealt with anything similar?

nimblefalcon19 said:I have a question for the women here who have cycled on and off birth control several times. About a year ago, I was on Logest for a few months—the only side effect that actually bothered me was a drop in libido. Now, I’m looking to start pills again. I’ve already seen my gynecologist and picked up a prescription, but I’m stuck on this one worry: will that dip in drive return? If it does, the whole endeavor feels somewhat pointless. I realize that if I’m constantly obsessing over it, my mood might play a part, but I’m curious about your actual experiences... specifically, did you run into those same unwanted side effects when restarting the pill for a second or third time? Thanks.

I’ve tried a few different ones myself... first Triqular, which gave me nausea for the first five days, then Celest, which actually made me vomit after the very first pill, and then Loestrin—which absolutely killed my libido... I decided to take a break since I hadn't been on them in five years, and I actually started Trinovum just yesterday... Basically, if this one doesn't work out, I’ll probably go back to Triqular or Celest, because Loestrin scares me the most regarding my sex drive (even though I can't stand nausea either)... Everything else with the Loestrin was perfect, but that one issue became such a big deal for me... I'm young, and it was frustrating to feel almost every touch from my partner as an annoyance... It improved while I was off them, but I don't think I can face the Loestrin again... anyway, I hope that helps at all...🙂

wanderingtinker21 said:First off, a warm hello to everyone here.
I’m honestly at a bit of a loss for words, almost like I’ve just dropped in from another planet or something. I’ve been trying to read up on some of the issues you all have been posting about, but I can never quite seem to catch up... It feels like I might be the exact opposite case, I guess. I’ve experimented with a few different brands—I think it was maybe Loestrin, maybe Alesse, or maybe Yaz, and a couple of others whose names escape me right now, and now I’m just sitting here waiting to start the Yasmin pack. I don't really know if I should even bother starting, because my main issue is that I seem to get my period at least five days before I even finish the pill. I take them strictly according to what my gynecologist prescribed, too. I actually saw her about two weeks ago, and after an exam and an ultrasound, she told me everything seemed perfectly fine with me and my hormone levels, so she suggested I try a different brand instead. I'm just not sure, though; I wonder if she should probably send me for some blood work or something?
I truly haven't a clue what the underlying issue could be. Has anyone else dealt with anything similar?

Wait, so you haven't even had blood work done yet regarding the pills?

Laura Mendoza said:Wait, so you haven't even had blood work done yet regarding the pills?

No, never really. My OB-GYN just kept swapping out my birth control, like I was some kind of experiment testing one after another and... I mean, last time I asked if maybe there was an issue with my hormones or something, she just did an ultrasound and told me she was pretty sure everything was fine.
This time she prescribed Yasmin. Everyone seems to run from that one, so here I am, about to dive right in, I guess?
I feel like I’ve cycled through so many already, and honestly, I doubt this one will be some miracle cure.
It felt a little awkward to push her for actual blood tests, especially after she gave me that "everything is totally fine" assurance...
I’ve had blood drawn plenty of times before—standard stuff, obviously, like when I had my baby. Everything always came back normal. But specifically regarding the pill? No, I’ve never gone that route.
Maybe the best move would be to find a new doctor, huh? It’s a shame, though, because I thought I was actually pretty happy with her. She has a private practice, and the guy at the local community clinic... well, I just don't feel like going to him. I figured since she's private, she'd be better, but maybe I was wrong?😵
I'm not really telling you what to do, but if I were in your shoes, it probably would be for the best—just a thought.🙂

Get that blood work done. Seriously.

I honestly cannot wrap my head around the fact that your OB-GYN hasn't even suggested a basic blood panel yet—especially since you're on birth control. Like, are you kidding me? That is just absolute madness.div>

wanderingtinker21 said:No, never really. My OB-GYN just kept swapping out my birth control, like I was some kind of experiment testing one after another and... I mean, last time I asked if maybe there was an issue with my hormones or something, she just did an ultrasound and told me she was pretty sure everything was fine.
This time she prescribed Yasmin. Everyone seems to run from that one, so here I am, about to dive right in, I guess?
I feel like I’ve cycled through so many already, and honestly, I doubt this one will be some miracle cure.
It felt a little awkward to push her for actual blood tests, especially after she gave me that "everything is totally fine" assurance...
I’ve had blood drawn plenty of times before—standard stuff, obviously, like when I had my baby. Everything always came back normal. But specifically regarding the pill? No, I’ve never gone that route.
Maybe the best move would be to find a new doctor, huh? It’s a shame, though, because I thought I was actually pretty happy with her. She has a private practice, and the guy at the local community clinic... well, I just don't feel like going to him. I figured since she's private, she'd be better, but maybe I was wrong?😵
I'm not really telling you what to do, but if I were in your shoes, it probably would be for the best—just a thought.🙂

If you've had an IUD, it's much better than pills.

Hey guys, is there actually an age limit for starting birth control pills? Like, can taking them really mess with your health if you're super young??

Jamie Barnes60 said:Get that blood work done. Seriously.

I honestly cannot wrap my head around the fact that your OB-GYN hasn't even suggested a basic blood panel yet—especially since you're on birth control. Like, are you kidding me? That is just absolute madness.div>

From what I can gather, doctors who actually bother to order blood tests are few and far between... it’s just ridiculous...
I’ve cycled through five different gynecologists so far, and not a single one of them has proactively told me to get my blood checked. In every single case, I’ve had to be the one to bring it up myself... 🙄

I think my period is starting, even though I still have five pills left in this pack... I'm on Logest (third pack)... before this, I was taking Yasmin for about 8 or 9 months before switching over to Logest. Everything seemed fine until now...
Actually, I'm not even sure if it's a period, but I noticed some brownish discharge today...😕
Should I be worried?

Jesse Cruz3 said:I think my period is starting, even though I still have five pills left in this pack... I'm on Logest (third pack)... before this, I was taking Yasmin for about 8 or 9 months before switching over to Logest. Everything seemed fine until now...
Actually, I'm not even sure if it's a period, but I noticed some brownish discharge today...😕
Should I be worried?

That is exactly what happened to me! I’m on my first pack of Logest, and tomorrow is my last pill. I was also on Yasmin for 8 months. Today, I noticed that same brownish discharge. I never had anything like that while on Yasmin—my period was always perfectly regular after three days, no weird spotting. It doesn't feel like an infection or anything, but the discharge is definitely there. I'm going to wait and see if it continues tomorrow and if my normal period actually shows up during the break; if not, then I'll make an appointment with my OB-GYN. For now, I'm not panicking too much, but I'm definitely a bit confused... 😕
If you figure out what's going on, let me know...

Hi. I have a question and a major dilemma.

I’m over 30, have one child, and the last time I took birth control pills was probably over 10 years ago. I just started back up again; it's my first month.
My doctor told me I was protected starting that very first month. Well, I finished all 21 pills and now I'm on my 7-day break, and it's day 5 and I still haven't gotten my period.
Since it's been such a long time since I last used them, I'm a bit lost. Does anyone know if, during the first cycle, the period can show up later than expected?
Actually, yesterday I felt like it was coming—mild pains in my lower back, ovaries... but nothing happened. Now I'm starting to worry.

We had sex on days 8 and 19 of my cycle. I assume that second date was the riskier one if the pills weren't working yet.

Thanks for any answers.

For me, my period has always shown up right on the sixth day of the break, 🙂
so I honestly think it should be arriving any moment now.

Of course, if it doesn't arrive by the time you're supposed to start your medication, don't just go ahead and take it—give your doctor a call first!

Jesse Cruz3 said:I think my period is starting, even though I still have five pills left in this pack... I'm on Logest (third pack)... before this, I was taking Yasmin for about 8 or 9 months before switching over to Logest. Everything seemed fine until now...
Actually, I'm not even sure if it's a period, but I noticed some brownish discharge today...😕
Should I be worried?

Look, I'm no doctor or anything, but I feel like I read somewhere that birth control can be "too weak" sometimes. Since it takes the first 3 or 4 months for your body to adjust to a new brand, maybe that’s why. If I were you, I'd just go talk to a gynecologist once you get it (before starting the next pack).👍

Hey, Jesse Cruz3! So, a friend of mine was over at the pediatrician's office today, and I asked her to check on that issue both you and I have been dealing with. The doctor mentioned it could just be the body reacting to a change in medication, though there’s also a chance our dosage is simply too low. We really ought to wait and see if this keeps happening over the next two or three months before we look into switching prescriptions altogether.

edit: Actually, looking at the thread, Elizabeth Palmer2 says the exact same thing. 😉

I have a rather silly question to pose... 😬
Is there actually any glimmer of hope for getting rid of this cellulite? It seems to have arrived as an uninvited gift along with my Yasmin prescription (I used to have almost none, if we’re being honest)😳 😁
For starters, I’ve switched over to Logest, but the cellulite isn't budging even an inch...

Robin Diaz4 said:I have a rather silly question to pose... 😬
Is there actually any glimmer of hope for getting rid of this cellulite? It seems to have arrived as an uninvited gift along with my Yasmin prescription (I used to have almost none, if we’re being honest)😳 😁
For starters, I’ve switched over to Logest, but the cellulite isn't budging even an inch...

Exercise is really the only way to tackle cellulite. It’s definitely not an easy fix, but it is possible; if I managed to see results in just a few months of a strict routine, anyone can do it. Staying hydrated helps tremendously too—aim for at least 2 liters of water a day.

So, here’s the deal with my Diane usage... I started back on October 25th, and my last pill was on November 14th. My break officially kicked in on November 15th. Based on that, I was totally expecting my period to show up yesterday, but nothing yet. I mean, I’ve got until Friday before I really need to start worrying, right? But if it doesn't happen, what else could be going on? We can definitely rule out pregnancy, so... could it just be some kind of inflammation or something?

Frank Hughes56 said:So, here’s the deal with my Diane usage... I started back on October 25th, and my last pill was on November 14th. My break officially kicked in on November 15th. Based on that, I was totally expecting my period to show up yesterday, but nothing yet. I mean, I’ve got until Friday before I really need to start worrying, right? But if it doesn't happen, what else could be going on? We can definitely rule out pregnancy, so... could it just be some kind of inflammation or something?

Hey there! Look, you don't need to spiral into a panic just yet... seriously. I was on birth control for years—using things like Celest—and half the time, I wouldn't even get my period the very next day after the break. It’s totally normal. You should expect that bleeding to start sometime within this seven-day window. If it doesn't happen by then, though, go back and see your doctor. Honestly, sometimes they just don't prescribe the right brand for your specific body; it happens way more often than people realize. Could be an infection or something minor, but you can certainly rule out pregnancy. Hang in there! Good luck!!!

The thing is, I’ve taken these pills before and they always worked for me without any issues. I'm going to hold out until Friday, though. If nothing happens by then, I'll just reach out to my doctor. Today is already day five of my break, so we'll see, right?

Frank Hughes56 said:The thing is, I’ve taken these pills before and they always worked for me without any issues. I'm going to hold out until Friday, though. If nothing happens by then, I'll just reach out to my doctor. Today is already day five of my break, so we'll see, right?

Look, just give it another day or two. Honestly, it might be best to head into the clinic before you even think about starting a new pack... that really is your only real move here... especially since we've ruled out pregnancy... (personally, I don't buy that it's possible unless you happen to fall into that tiny 1% margin of error), but tell me, how long have you been on these? How have you generally handled the side effects, and when was the last time you actually had some blood work done?