Birth Control - General Discussion

So, if I’m staying away from hormonal birth control and I don't want to rely on condoms, what am I actually left with? (And just to be clear, an IUD is off the table since I haven't had a child)
Am I really stuck with hormones for the rest of my life?
I’d honestly appreciate any advice you guys can throw my way...
Thanks

Good grief... you can find this stuff all over the internet in two seconds.

Contraceptive methods

Michelle Collins60 said:So, if I'm not using hormonal birth control or condoms, what other options are actually out there? (An IUD isn't an option for me since I haven't had kids.) Is being stuck with hormones my only reality here? I would truly appreciate any advice you can share...
Am I really destined to rely on hormones forever?
Any guidance would be such a huge help...
Thanks

Do me a huge favor and check out the main megathread; we don't just have this one discussion, there are a million related threads already floating around.

Thanks

Hey guys, I could really use some advice here.
So, my period just started today, which is also the day I’m supposed to kick off my first pack of birth control—I'm starting on Yazoo.
The thing is, my cramps are absolutely killing me right now. Is it okay if I pop some Neo first to deal with the pain, and then take the pill around noon or 1? I'm a little worried about whether they'll clash or mess me up, especially since I have a sensitive stomach and sometimes throw up after taking Neo, which always feels pretty rough.

Thanks! 😢

It won't cause you any harm. If you happen to throw up within two to three hours of taking your Yazoo, you should go ahead and take another one; otherwise, the medication won't have been fully absorbed by your system, leaving your protection incomplete.

analogdrifter51 said:I would really appreciate some advice if anyone has a moment.
My period started today, which is also the day I am supposed to begin my first pack of birth control, specifically Yazoo.
Since I am in quite a bit of pain, I was wondering if it would be alright to take some Neo right now and then wait until around noon or 1:00 PM to take the pill; I am just worried about whether they might interact poorly, especially since I sometimes deal with nausea and find that Neo doesn't always sit well with my stomach.

Thank you. 😢

Why would you keep taking Neo if it makes you feel sick?? 😕

Hey, I have a quick question... since I absolutely hate swallowing pills, would switching to a contraceptive patch be a better move, or are oral contraceptives actually superior? Also, one more thing... do I need a prescription for the patch just like I do for all the pills? Is there any way to get them without one?

Carol Scott98 said:Why on earth are you still taking Neo if it’s clearly making you feel like crap?? 😕

Honestly, nothing works for my cramps. Like, nothing. Ever since I had sex for the first time, my period has been absolute torture. I've tried everything—Advil, those random herbal supplements from the drugstore—but honestly? If I don't end up throwing up after taking them, they barely touch the pain. It sounds gross, I know, but that weird little nausea is basically the only thing that actually makes me feel better. So yeah, that's just my "magic formula" at this point. Anyway, I'm about to try out the Yazoo pills my doctor prescribed. Since they come with protection, hopefully they'll help dull the cramps too. We'll see what happens—win some, lose some, right? haha 🙂

Karen Morales47 said:Hey ladies, I have a quick question... since I absolutely despise swallowing pills, would switching to a contraceptive patch be a better move, or are oral contraceptives still the gold standard? Also, just to clarify, do I need a prescription for the patch just like I do for the pills? Can you get either of them over the counter?

The patch is essentially a hormonal contraceptive just like the pill; it simply delivers the hormones into your system through a different method of absorption. Regardless of which route you take, you'll still need to consult with a gynecologist, as they are the ones responsible for issuing the necessary prescription.

I have a question regarding birth control pills.
So, the routine is taking them for 21 days, followed by a week off to allow for my period. I read somewhere that sperm can actually survive for up to nine days, which got me thinking—what happens if I have sex (without a condom, just relying on the pill) during those nine days right before I stop the cycle? Since ovulation typically occurs once I stop the medication, would there be a risk of pregnancy?
Thanks in advance for any insight 🙂

p.s. I just realized this is a women's forum, so I’ll ask the admins to please move this thread over there. I don't check this specific section very often, so I wasn't aware of the female-only subforum rules.🙂

You can't get pregnant during that pill break. The hormones are still working to protect you through that time. The instructions don't say anything about needing extra protection during those seven days.

Karen Morales47 said:Hey girls, I have a question... since I absolutely hate swallowing pills, would switching to a contraceptive patch be better, or are pills still the way to go? Also, do I need a prescription for the patch just like the pills? Can you get either one over the counter?

I hated pills too. I could never get into the routine and ended up forgetting them all the time. So I tried the patch, but I gave up on that even faster because having something stuck to my skin for three weeks out of every month drove me crazy. Plus, my skin is pretty sensitive, so it always left red marks. Just so you know, the patch works the exact same way as pills—you wear it for three weeks and then take one week off (just like the 21-day pill cycle). Honestly, which one is "better" just comes down to what you prefer; both methods work fine.
You can't get patches without a prescription.

Kate Price27 said:I have a question about birth control pills.
So you take them for 21 days, then have a week off for your period. I read somewhere that sperm can survive for up to 9 days, so what happens if I have sex (no condom, just the pill) during those 9 days before my break? Since after stopping the pills, ovulation occurs, could I get pregnant?
Thanks for any answers 🙂

p.s. I just noticed the women's subforum, so mods please move this there. I don't check this section often, so I didn't realize there was a specific area for us.🙂

It seems you don't quite grasp how contraceptive pills actually work. When you're on them, there is no ovulation at all.

If you take your pills consistently, you are protected from pregnancy for the full 28 days of your cycle.

I’ve been on Diane for years, and man, it really took its toll... I ended up gaining about 20 pounds and dealing with some pretty stubborn cellulite. I finally decided to take a break from them, and honestly, it was crazy—without even trying a diet or hitting the gym, I dropped 10 pounds in just two months and most of that cellulite practically vanished. But now, because my cycle is acting up, I have to get back on the pill, and I'm feeling a bit anxious. Did any of you deal with this too? How did you handle it? I know, I know—diet and exercise are the obvious answers. And trust me, I'm starting that journey because there isn't much choice, but I'm wondering if you found that dieting felt slower while on them? Also, how did you manage the cellulite once you started birth control again? I could really use some advice here... as soon as I start taking them, I feel so bloated and water-retentive that I start to panic a little! 😲

Honestly, I feel like once the cellulite sets in, there’s just no winning... though you can definitely manage your weight, or at least you should try to; maybe just keep a closer eye on what you're eating and when, plus get some movement in. Are any other pill options even on the table for you? That's about the best advice I can give, really... 😢

Did you run into any side effects during that break you took? 🙂

I’ve got two questions and I really need an answer from people who actually know what they're talking about—not just random guesses.
I started using the NuvaRing contraceptive ring:
1. The instructions say you shouldn't take Plavix along with estrogen. Does that mean I can't use this ring since it contains ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel?
2. The manual says to remove the ring after three weeks. Does that mean exactly 21 days—which makes sense, similar to how pills work—or does it mean exactly three full weeks (since not all months have the same number of days)?
Thanks a lot.

My dear, you really must realize that every single week consists of the exact same number of days. If you look at any three-week stretch, you are looking at twenty-one days, period. No matter how one chooses to slice it, the math remains stubbornly unchanged.

stormymaker24 said:Honey, every week has the exact same amount of days. Three weeks is always 21 days—no matter how you slice it.

You’re missing my point entirely. I started using the ring on December 30th—so the third week ends on January 20th, which actually makes it 22 days instead of 21.🙄

briskstag13, where on earth did you read that Procter & Gamble shouldn't be taken alongside estrogen? Is this really news to anyone else? 😲😲