Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

I honestly have no clue which sub this belongs in, so I'm just dropping it here—my search engine isn't giving me anything useful.

So, my OB-GYN gave me a referral to get my reproductive hormones and thyroid levels checked out. He told me I need to go get bloodwork done between day 3 and day 5 of my cycle. But—and here's the kicker—he didn't actually tell me *where* to go, and I'm totally lost. 🤷

Can I just head over to the local community hospital to get my thyroid tested too? And does anyone know if I’ll be hit with extra out-of-pocket costs for that?

Is there some kind of saint out there who can point me in the right direction?

Jamie Barnes60 said:I honestly have no clue which sub this belongs in, so I'm just dropping it here—my search engine isn't giving me anything useful.

So, my OB-GYN gave me a referral to get my reproductive hormones and thyroid levels checked out. He told me I need to go get bloodwork done between day 3 and day 5 of my cycle. But—and here's the kicker—he didn't actually tell me *where* to go, and I'm totally lost. 🤷

Can I just head over to the local community hospital to get my thyroid tested too? And does anyone know if I’ll be hit with extra out-of-pocket costs for that?

Is there some kind of saint out there who can point me in the right direction?

I did something similar at Johns Hopkins. You have to make an appointment. I actually called them and explained that my cycle timing was unpredictable, so I couldn't book ahead of time, and they managed to squeeze me in the next day. Just give them a call to confirm they handle all those specific tests.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/...diagnostics
The contact info is at the bottom of their page.

Now, for my actual question.
I started on Diane, and everything felt fine.
Then I switched to Yasmin because they were milder. That’s when things went south—libido dropped, depression set in. Never again with Yasmin.
I've been on Triquilar for about four or five months now. Lately, I've been having chest pains and shortness of breath. It's terrifying. On top of that, the depression is heavy and I've gained weight. It might not even be the pills, but I'm worried. I tried calling my doctor, but she hasn't picked up. I'm seeing her this Friday, but I can't just stop taking them mid-stream without advice; that could be worse.
Anyway, has anyone else dealt with something like this? I know I need to talk to my physician, but I wanted to see if anyone here had gone through something similar. 🙂

Jose Diaz3 said:I did something similar at Johns Hopkins. You have to make an appointment. I actually called them and explained that my cycle timing was unpredictable, so I couldn't book ahead of time, and they managed to squeeze me in the next day. Just give them a call to confirm they handle all those specific tests.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/...diagnostics
The contact info is at the bottom of their page.

Now, for my actual question.
I started on Diane, and everything felt fine.
Then I switched to Yasmin because they were milder. That’s when things went south—libido dropped, depression set in. Never again with Yasmin.
I've been on Triquilar for about four or five months now. Lately, I've been having chest pains and shortness of breath. It's terrifying. On top of that, the depression is heavy and I've gained weight. It might not even be the pills, but I'm worried. I tried calling my doctor, but she hasn't picked up. I'm seeing her this Friday, but I can't just stop taking them mid-stream without advice; that could be worse.
Anyway, has anyone else dealt with something like this? I know I need to talk to my physician, but I wanted to see if anyone here had gone through something similar. 🙂

Thanks so much, I'll try giving them a call tomorrow.

Maybe someone already answered my question somewhere else, but there’s just a bit too much text to quote properly here 🙂 I’ve been thinking about starting birth control pills specifically as a treatment for acne, so I was wondering if anyone here has actually tried that? Did you find it effective, how long did you stay on them, and does the acne tend to come back once you stop taking the pills? Thanks!

I find myself questioning whether it is truly wise to consume alcohol solely for that purpose.🤷

It’s effective, certainly. As much as I know about how much they actually improve, you’ll eventually have to stop asking them—and that’s when things get even worse.

I have a bit of a situation... I'm currently on a break from my birth control, I've finished my period, and I’m supposed to start a new pack this Sunday. The problem is, I haven't picked it up yet. Nothing is open today, and because of some family stuff, I won't be able to get to the pharmacy tomorrow or the day after. My only chance is Monday, which means I'll be a day late starting the first pill. How should I handle the dose? Should I take both the Sunday and Monday doses together? Am I going to lose my protection? Please help...

Do you know if there are any 24-hour pharmacies open in town today?
Tell them that you have to start taking it today, and that you didn't pick it up sooner because you completely forgot it was Labor Day.
I honestly don't know what else to tell you, or even how wise it might be to delay starting the pill. I'm really not sure myself, and I don't know anyone who has dealt with this specific situation before.🤷

Quick question......
I'm about to start taking Logest for the first time, starting on day one of my period....
My cramps are absolutely brutal, so I usually just lean on Ketoral to get through them....
Is it okay to take Ketoral while I'm on Logest, or should I avoid it?

Both pills and menstrual cramps tend to be less painful when using them.😉

On another note, I have a question for the group. Is anyone here taking Yaz? I just got back from my gynecologist, and after dealing with all sorts of side effects from Triquilar, Trinovum, and Yasmin, we decided to try either Yaz or Logest. If those don't work out, we'll consider taking a longer break.

Since I experienced incredibly painful periods while on Yasmin, and Yaz is quite similar, Dr. Harris mentioned there’s a chance those symptoms could return. However, he still recommends Yaz over Logest. I understand how both brands function, but I would really appreciate hearing about someone else's actual experience with Yaz.

Also, how does one go about ordering it at a pharmacy in downtown Chicago?🙂

Hey! Are you still there? 🙂

I have a question for you all...
Is it actually true that you need to start taking birth control pills six months before having sex? If that isn't the case, when is the right time to begin using them before becoming sexually active?
Thanks...

I don't quite follow... half a year before having sex?! By that logic, you would need to know exactly when you plan on having your first sexual encounter and start taking them six months in advance😂

Kenneth Sullivan10 said:I have a question for you all...
Is it actually true that you need to start taking birth control pills six months before having sex? If that isn't the case, when is the right time to begin using them before becoming sexually active?
Thanks...

haha 😁 NO!!!!
You can start taking them whenever you choose, though obviously you should visit a gynecologist first for a check-up and a consultation (for instance, if you want to start at the beginning of your next cycle, you'd just go in for your exam this month).
Different types of pills work in different ways. For example, these "next-generation" ones (like Yasmin or Loestrin) are effective from the very first day of use, whereas others (like Diane-35) might require you to take them for a full month before you're protected. You also have to keep in mind that protection is never 100% guaranteed; as it says everywhere, it’s more like 99%.😛
Anyway, there is absolutely no need to start them six months in advance... that would be quite nonsensical.

I'm switching from Diane 35 over to Triquilar—can anyone share their experiences so I know what to expect with this transition? thanks

I just have one quick question... I was at my OB-GYN earlier and she prescribed me Yasmin pills...
She went over all the side effects and basically warned me that taking birth control while smoking is a bad combo...
But I totally blanked on asking her if that means I can't even have one or two cigarettes during the day... I mean, I feel like there’s a massive difference between smoking ten cigarettes and just having two in a 24-hour period, right? Do you guys think doing that would actually cause issues or lead to any real problems?
I'm honestly lost here and could really use some advice—or just an answer, really.
It’s super important to me, so...🙏 thanks in advance!🙂

quietmason45 said:I just have one quick question... I was at my OB-GYN earlier and she prescribed me Yasmin pills...
She went over all the side effects and basically warned me that taking birth control while smoking is a bad combo...
But I totally blanked on asking her if that means I can't even have one or two cigarettes during the day... I mean, I feel like there’s a massive difference between smoking ten cigarettes and just having two in a 24-hour period, right? Do you guys think doing that would actually cause issues or lead to any real problems?
I'm honestly lost here and could really use some advice—or just an answer, really.
It’s super important to me, so...🙏 thanks in advance!🙂

You're looking for advice?😉

Just quit smoking altogether, because it's garbage for your health no matter how you look at it.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be sitting here calculating whether one or two cigarettes a day is "safe." Honestly, if you have the willpower to limit yourself to just one or two, then you already have the strength to kick the habit entirely.

I recently switched from Yasmina to Cilest, and since then, I’ve been dealing with this heavy, yellowish discharge every single day; I’m going through about four pairs of underwear daily just to manage it, which is honestly becoming quite irritating. Has anyone else dealt with this? It reminds me of when I had a yeast infection, though I am certain this isn't that—it’s just constant, mindless leaking. I really don't feel like heading to my doctor because I'd end up waiting a month for an appointment, especially since I just saw him unannounced a little while ago.🙄

In case anyone else needs this—just so you don't waste your damn time wandering around aimlessly.

If you're heading in to get your hormones or thyroid levels checked, there's no need to book an appointment at St. Jude’s. They just do blood draws from 7 to 9 AM on weekdays.

Nathan Gomez8 said:Both pills and menstrual cramps tend to be less painful when using them.😉

On another note, I have a question for the group. Is anyone here taking Yaz? I just got back from my gynecologist, and after dealing with all sorts of side effects from Triquilar, Trinovum, and Yasmin, we decided to try either Yaz or Logest. If those don't work out, we'll consider taking a longer break.

Since I experienced incredibly painful periods while on Yasmin, and Yaz is quite similar, Dr. Harris mentioned there’s a chance those symptoms could return. However, he still recommends Yaz over Logest. I understand how both brands function, but I would really appreciate hearing about someone else's actual experience with Yaz.

Also, how does one go about ordering it at a pharmacy in downtown Chicago?🙂

They recommended it to me at Harnier, but I haven't actually started taking it yet.

Hey Ali, I just popped into the Walgreens right next door to the old warehouse. Picked them up without even ordering ahead, but man, they aren't cheap. $147😲I almost passed out when that guy told me the number. Seriously, though—the packaging is only good for three uses.

I used to drink Diane for years, and those things were pricey. Even back then, paying about $7 for Yasmin felt like a splurge (now it's closer to $8), and now I’m looking at a dose every three months. $147 I’m a disaster. It feels like I only ever work for pharma or related industries—think stuff like beer, face creams, probiotics, contact lens solutions, you name it.

So, who hasn't started asking about this thing yet? I'm waiting to hear some actual commentary.