Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Look, I don't have the exact medical lowdown or anything, but since you aren't planning on taking a massive break, just go ahead and drink it normally after 7 days. Or, if you want to be extra careful about it, maybe take a 2-3 month hiatus and then start back up with the Trinovum on the first day of your period once that longer break is over.

Once those 7 days of downtime finally roll by 😉

Thanks, ladies 🙂

Don’t go taking a break for a few months—just stick to this seven-day gap, okay? I actually did the exact same thing when I was switching from one pill brand to another, so just keep going as usual. And honestly, if it makes you feel better, maybe use some extra protection during that month just to be safe and give yourself that peace of mind.

So, I went to see my gynecologist today because I’ve been dealing with some pretty heavy bleeding right in the middle of my Yaz packs for the last four months. She ended up giving me a prescription for Logest, but she told me I shouldn't just switch immediately; instead, I should wait until I finish my current cycle and start the Logest on the very first day of my next pack—basically, the day I would have started a new box of Yaz.
Honestly, though, I’m feeling so incredibly confused because what she said seems to contradict the actual instructions for Logest. According to the pamphlet, it says I’m supposed to start the new pills on the same day I would normally take the first inactive pill of my current pack. So, the doctor is telling me one thing, but the official directions are saying something completely different 😢 What on earth am I supposed to do?

The doctor offered you counsel for a reason, and if you possessed even a modicum of wisdom, you would heed her word.

So, I just switched from my birth control to these hormone patches, and oh my god, my breasts are hurting like crazy (honestly, they were always pretty sore right in the middle of my cycle anyway)
But now I’m sitting here wondering—since I made the switch to the patches—is it actually possible that they're growing again? Like, is that even a thing?

I’ve got a bit of a situation... I was on Diane for about a year, but I stopped taking them a month ago. Now my period just won't show up. It’s already a week late, though I know for a fact I’m not pregnant since I haven't had sex... so I'm wondering if anyone else has dealt with this? Maybe it’s because I quit the pills so suddenly? I don't know...😕

vividtinker89 said:I’ve got a bit of a situation... I was on Diane for about a year, but I stopped taking them a month ago. Now my period just won't show up. It’s already a week late, though I know for a fact I’m not pregnant since I haven't had sex... so I'm wondering if anyone else has dealt with this? Maybe it’s because I quit the pills so suddenly? I don't know...😕

Ugh, 😉tell me about it.
A close friend of mine went through the exact same thing, and she actually deals with ovarian cysts. She stopped taking Diane for three weeks and her skin just completely tanked, her mood went totally sideways, and then her gynecologist told her that those tiny little cysts were already starting to pop back up—but honestly, once she gets back on them, she feels fine again. As for the missing period, I wouldn't be the expert here, but I was on them for two years before switching over to Yasmin. With Diane, my cycle was always super predictable, my skin was flawless, and it basically cleared up my PCOS issues entirely.👍

Keith Martinez58 said:Ugh, 😉tell me about it.
A close friend of mine went through the exact same thing, and she actually deals with ovarian cysts. She stopped taking Diane for three weeks and her skin just completely tanked, her mood went totally sideways, and then her gynecologist told her that those tiny little cysts were already starting to pop back up—but honestly, once she gets back on them, she feels fine again. As for the missing period, I wouldn't be the expert here, but I was on them for two years before switching over to Yasmin. With Diane, my cycle was always super predictable, my skin was flawless, and it basically cleared up my PCOS issues entirely.👍

My skin looked totally clear while I was taking them—even though I never really dealt with major breakouts before. But now that I’ve stopped, little spots are starting to pop up, and honestly, I've been a nervous wreck since I quit. My period used to be super regular too... but since I stopped a month ago, it just won't show up. Now I'm wondering if I can just start taking them again right now, even without my period starting first? Do you think that's okay... 😕 What's up?

Yes, you are late because of the pills. You shouldn't restart until you get your period, but it isn't really recommended to take breaks of only a month if you have already been cycling through them.

So glad I stumbled onto this thread, because now I just realized I totally forgot to take my pill yesterday! 🤦 I was out on the town, things went long, and voila... 🙂

So, normally I take it around 10 or 11 PM, though sometimes it's earlier or later. I just took this one now. Does that mean it's been more than 12 hours? (The instructions say if it’s been over 12 hours during the first week—and this is only my third pill—we have to use backup protection for the next 7 days.) It varies for me; sometimes I take it around 9 PM before heading out, and other times it's closer to 1 or 2 AM when I finally get home...

Jeffrey Walker3 here, just staring at this screen again like it’s actually going to give me some kind of answers, though we all know it’s mostly just a digital void where hopes go to die. Honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m just shouting into a hurricane, hoping someone catches a single syllable before it gets swallowed up by the chaos of everything else happening out there. But whatever, I guess that's just how it goes, right? Just another day of navigating the mess. kaže:
Ugh, honestly, thank God I stumbled upon this thread, because looking at all this just reminded me that I completely blanked on taking my pill yesterday. Seriously, my brain is basically just a sieve at this point. 🤦 Well, look at that—the night just refuses to end, and honestly, I’m not even mad about it. We were supposed to wrap things up ages ago, but the vibe kept shifting, the drinks kept flowing, and suddenly we're still out here under the neon lights. And just like that—voilà! 🙂

So, here’s the deal—I usually end up taking my pill somewhere around 10 or 11 PM, though honestly, it’s all over the place; sometimes it’s earlier, sometimes way later. I just took this one right now, so technically, does that count as having passed the 12-hour mark? The packaging says if it’s been more than 12 hours since the last dose during the first week of use—and look, I’m only on pill number three right now—then we’re supposed to play it safe and use backup protection for the next seven days. But the timing is such a mess because some nights I’m popping it around 9 PM before I head out, and other nights I don't get a chance until 1 or 2 in the morning once I finally crawl back home...

Yeah, honestly, I’m usually hitting my stride with a drink around 11 at night too. It’s that late-night vibe where everything feels a little more real, you know? Just me, the quiet, and whatever's in my glass while the rest of the world is finally shutting up for once.😁
Look, I’m telling you, I’m basically always right—like, it’s actually kind of exhausting being this infallible. There was this one time where I totally missed the mark because I just didn't take my meds, and honestly, everything went sideways after that.
Honestly, I’m just sitting here staring at this tablet on my third slice of pizza, and let me tell you, life is a beautiful, greasy mess.😁(If you caught what I was getting at, haha) So, I ended up taking that morning-after pill the next day, and the instructions basically said you need to play it safe with extra protection for another seven days—like, making sure your partner doesn't finish inside or whatever.😁 Yeah, honestly, you're not wrong, haha... turns out I was totally tripping there.

Nathan Gomez8 said:Yes, you are late because of the pills. You shouldn't restart until you get your period, but it isn't really recommended to take breaks of only a month if you have already been cycling through them.

Thanks for the reply...🙂 I know it’s not great to take breaks. I’m just mad at myself for doing it... I couldn't make it to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription, so I ended up pausing for a month over something so stupid...🙄

Jeffrey Walker3 said:So glad I stumbled onto this thread, because now I just realized I totally forgot to take my pill yesterday! 🤦 I was out on the town, things went long, and voila... 🙂

So, normally I take it around 10 or 11 PM, though sometimes it's earlier or later. I just took this one now. Does that mean it's been more than 12 hours? (The instructions say if it’s been over 12 hours during the first week—and this is only my third pill—we have to use backup protection for the next 7 days.) It varies for me; sometimes I take it around 9 PM before heading out, and other times it's closer to 1 or 2 AM when I finally get home...

Just use it so there isn't any trouble. 😬

vividtinker89 said:Thanks for the reply...🙂 I know it’s not great to take breaks. I’m just mad at myself for doing it... I couldn't make it to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription, so I ended up pausing for a month over something so stupid...🙄

It’s unfortunate, but it would probably be best for you to extend your break for another few months. You don't want to shock your system by jumping back in too quickly. In my experience, when I first stopped, my cycle was about two weeks late, so this kind of adjustment is perfectly normal. 🙂

Yeah, we've already got some extra backup ready to go! 😬

Starting a quest for some relief today since my period just arrived.
Does anyone have any intel? I'm looking for a pharmacy in the Chicago area where prices are actually reasonable. If anyone knows, let me know.

Thanks, 🙂

Nathan Gomez8 said:Yes, you are late because of the pills. You shouldn't restart until you get your period, but it isn't really recommended to take breaks of only a month if you have already been cycling through them.

I've never taken breaks. I've been on birth control for three years now, using different brands...

What counts as a minimum break? I know my OB-GYN decides that, but still... just so I know in case I ever have to.

briskmoose90 said:I've never taken breaks. I've been on birth control for three years now, using different brands...

What counts as a minimum break? I know my OB-GYN decides that, but still... just so I know in case I ever have to.

Let me answer that for myself and anyone else wondering. I called my OB-GYN to move my Monday appointment and asked about the shortest possible break. Naturally, he said there's no reason to stop if everything is fine.

But if a woman wants to stop for any reason—and there can be plenty—the minimum break is three months. Anything shorter isn't recommended.

🙂

I’ve been on Cilest for about a year and three months now, and I have a few questions. If anyone can help, I’d appreciate it.
So, here’s the deal. I always take the last pill in the pack on Sunday night, and my period usually starts on Thursday and lasts until Sunday. This time, though, I want my period to wrap up by Friday—two days earlier than usual. I’m wondering if I can just take two pills from a new pack to shorten the cycle by two days, then go straight into my seven-day break. Does messing with the schedule affect how reliable the birth control is?
My second option is to skip the break entirely and start the next pack immediately. Has anyone actually tried this? Are there side effects if I decide not to take a break for one month, and is the protection just as solid during those times?