Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

I’m just another person who spent six whole years on Diane-35. Apparently, it was for PCOS, which was diagnosed solely through a basic ultrasound—never any blood work, let alone actually knowing my hormone levels. And those "experts" we call doctors, who get paid specifically to know this stuff, are out there striking too. While I was on them, my skin was almost flawless, but this past year has been brutal with constant headaches, and I haven't even seen my period in months. Don't even get me started on my mood; sometimes at 25, I feel like I’m stuck right in the middle of puberty again. Even though I feel physically much better now than when I was on that "therapy," I look way worse (freckles, obviously). I’m currently prepping to see a really good specialist who will actually give me a thorough exam and finally fix this once and for all. Honestly, besides a gynecologist, I’m going to need a top-tier dermatologist too—the costs are already piling up.
So, my experience with these pills has been incredibly negative. Even so, deep down, I have a feeling they might prescribe them to me again. If it’s the only way to get my cycle back and if it's absolutely necessary, I guess I'll have to. It’s really just a matter of weighing whether the benefits outweigh the damage. Personally, I’m against taking any kind of external hormones, but I realize some people truly need them.

Hey, I was wondering if it's actually okay to "freely" have sex after being on Cilest for six days, especially since my period wrapped up yesterday. The instructions don't say anything about needing extra protection for another month or whatever. A friend of mine totally spooked me with some random advice, so now I'm just sitting here questioning everything!😕

I didn't check the specific brand, but pretty sure all birth control pills kick in from day one. Honestly, sounds like your friend might have given you some totally bogus advice—like she dropped a fly in your ear or something... If there isn't a warning label saying otherwise, they should 😉

Supposedly, PCOS can be linked to weight issues 🙄 my friend managed to get rid of it after losing about 18 pounds, though she was basically living on pills before that.

I'm on Celestia.

The instructions state you need extra protection during the first two weeksunless you started taking it in sync with the first day of your cycle—basically, the first day of your period.

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:Unless you started them right on day one of your period—like, the actual first day.

Got it, Chloe Nguyen3: so if you didn't start them on day one of your cycle, you gotta use backup protection. Kenneth Hernandez67—are these the "take them every single day" kind or that whole "three weeks on, one week off" thing???

21 pills—seven days off—then a new pack on day eight.

There are plenty of instances where women don't start their pills on the very first day of their period—perhaps because their cycle is irregular, or due to spotting right after using Plan B, or even following childbirth.

In those specific scenarios, it is highly recommended to use backup protection for the first month, or at least during those initial two weeks.

You might be able to think about it... but my biggest issue with police misconduct happened back when I weighed only 103 pounds.🙄

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:You can think what you want... honestly, my biggest issues with PCOS happened back when I was only about 100 pounds.🙄

Same here. A bit weird, though—usually people associate PCOS with being overweight.

I was born backward, so everything's flipped for me 😉 😁

Maybe you were too?

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:I was born backwards, so everything’s just flipped for me.😉 😁

Maybe you were too?

😁 Not backwards—just ten days late. My mom had a massive set of double doors fall right on her stomach during her seventh month. Pretty sure they would've cracked my skull open.😁 😁 😁

My head doesn't have much to do with testicles...it looks like those bitches are just gonna screw you over anyway.😁

I’ve been dealing with this since day one. My period wrapped up on Tuesday, February 25th, and ever since then, I’ve had this nasty, gross discharge. I’ve seriously never dealt with anything like this before, so I'm low-key freaking out. Could it be because of Celesta? Usually, I just get some discharge the day after my cycle ends—which is totally normal—but this? Fuck, I am definitely not winning today.😢

During the first few months, "breakthrough" bleeding in the form of brownish spotting is a common occurrence.

Don't worry; continue taking your pills as scheduled. However, if this persists for more than three months, you should consult your gynecologist.

Yo, Kenneth Hernandez67 - thanks man, you seriously calmed my nerves!🙂

It’s no trouble at all...
For the first three months, I was basically breathing down my gynecologist's neck every single day, calling with every new symptom that popped up. 😉

Waiting it out is worth the investment. 🙂

My apologies for the interruption—I just wanted to be absolutely certain about this once more.
How exactly does one take Diane 35?
I'm well aware of the potential side effects associated with Diane 35, but since Slada decided to commit to a 4-5 month course, we're assuming her body will handle it without much fuss...

To summarize my understanding: the first pill is taken on the first day of the period, correct?
Contraceptive effectiveness should theoretically reach 99%. Is it safe to finish inside during sex without worry? Well, people aren't exactly making love on the first day of their cycle, anyway...
Each subsequent pill is taken at the same time every day for 21 days straight.
I assume it’s best to use extra protection for the first two weeks.
It seems slightly illogical to me—ovulation occurs after two weeks (except the pills prevent ovulation entirely!), so is finishing inside truly safe even if it falls during what would normally be "fertile days"?
Are you sure?
Then there is a 7-day break, after which the pills are no longer needed. Is it safe to finish inside then? How can it be "safe" when the medication isn't being taken anymore?
So, precisely on the 28th day (since the pills regulate the exact menstrual cycle!), the next period should arrive. OK—but if a period happens because an egg was rejected, how is it possible for an egg to be rejected when no ovulation occurred due to the medication?

And so on.

If any woman confirms all of this, she must bear full responsibility for any potential pregnancy within our relationship!

Kenneth Hernandez67, you're a regular user of these pills—do most guys just finish inside without issue, or do you instinctively tell them not to, using the pills as a secondary safety net?

Sean Grant85 said:If any girl actually agrees to all that, she’s gotta take the fall if we end up with a baby—just saying!

😁 😁 😁

Exactly what you said. You don't really need extra protection during those first two weeks. I was on them for like two years straight and didn't get pregnant once—didn't use anything else either. Birth control makes everything "perfect" (you can finish wherever), but hey, we both know the side effects can be a nightmare...

Not taking responsibility for any mini-mes you might drop. 😁 😁 😁

P.S. Expect things to get a little sweeter during the first month on them—migraines, morning sickness, the whole nine yards (basically feels like being pregnant)—but it passes. And yeah, maybe put on a few pounds...

Andrew Anderson6

Thanks for the effort—though I’m worried you might end up taking all the blame here, haha.

OK, are you absolutely certain everything can just be wrapped up within 16 days?!
And we're talking about finishing during a break after 21 days of use? Is it really safe to go at it then without any worries?
If that's the case, why bother talking about 99% sterility?
I’ve heard that regardless of those high percentages, some women still end up pregnant—so what happens then?

It’s common knowledge that doctors prescribe these pills to women struggling with fertility, implying that once the medication takes effect, fertility returns in full force. So how are we supposed to interpret this 7-day break after 21 days of pills—and starting a new pack—as just a continuation of the cycle?

Aren't you afraid that during that break, fertility might come roaring back?

PS. Have you actually thought about what you'd do if you ended up pregnant?
PSS. Are you 30?

Sean Grant85 said:Okay, but are we actually sure you can just go all out every single day?

Based on my experience—look at that 1% response rate elsewhere.

Sean Grant85 said:And that’s even during the break after 21 days? You're saying it's safe to finish then too?

Yeah, they basically work full-time.

Sean Grant85 said:Then why do they talk about 99% effectiveness?
I heard that despite the high percentage, some women still end up pregnant—so what happens then?

Exactly. 100% effective contraception is abstinence. It's just that there are cases where people get pregnant while on the pill—again, in my opinion, that's usually down to missing doses or just being unlucky.

Sean Grant85 said:It’s well known doctors prescribe these to women with fertility issues, so once the pills stop working, fertility supposedly bounces back big time. So how do we interpret this 7-day break after 21 days of pills and starting a period as just a continuation of the next 21-day cycle?

Aren't you worried that your fertility might spike during that break?

No, look—there’s a chance that after you completely stop taking them (not during those 7 days, but after you're totally off), the first few cycles might be extra fertile. Apparently, there's even an increased chance of twins or triplets, but that's for when you quit entirely—the 7-day break doesn't really have anything to do with that.

Sean Grant85 said:PS. Have you thought about what you'd do if you actually got pregnant?
Also, are you 30?

Personally, I think even if ovulation and fertilization happened, the pregnancy wouldn't stick because of the pills. I'm 31. Hmmm, I’d definitely have a kid, but I'd be a bit stressed about whether the pills could affect the baby—would probably end up hovering over a doctor.😉.

P.S. I took Diane specifically for PCOS, using it as birth control on the side.

P.P.S. Go ahead and take Slavia to the doctor and double-check everything I said, even though I'm pretty sure I'm right.

I DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OFFSPRING AND HEREBY CALL FOR AN AMENDMENT REGARDING THAT 1%. 😁 😉