Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Yasmin $33, you’ve been carrying that recipe around with you for a whole year now, haven't you?

Brenda Fisher86 said:Definitely. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you tomorrow, and I'm feeling pretty optimistic that everything will work out okay.👍 Please, please let us know how it goes! 😉

Thanks🙂
And yeah, I'm really hoping for the best too. My headache finally quit on me (probably just because of the time, honestly) after I managed to grab a little nap.😍

Keith Martinez58 said:Ugh, honestly, I'm just gonna head back to my OB-GYN and lay it all out for her... I've never had a single issue with my heart before, so I'm totally convinced this whole mess is just because of that stupid Yasmin pill!!! My left arm was aching and my head has been pounding all day long 😢so I'm definitely demanding my old Diane back😍😍since it worked perfectly for me and everyone else too... I'm not even considering anything new, because I am absolutely not playing "pill tester" with my health😂 Thanks for the reply😉

If I were in your shoes, I would stop taking the pills until I had done some thorough research to understand exactly why this is happening. However, you should consult with a gynecologist first; they will be able to explain the situation and provide guidance on what to do next.

Brenda Fisher86 said:I’m honestly having a hard time wrapping my head around your symptoms.... are you absolutely certain that Yasmin is actually the culprit here? And did you happen to run any tests before you started taking that specific medication? I was on Yasmin myself until just recently, and everything seemed perfectly fine on my end, though I made sure to stay on top of all my routine 🤷
Anyway, regardless of the cause, it’s definitely a smart move to go see a gynecologist

edit: and please, don't just stop taking them out of the blue, because you really don't want to throw your body for a loop; you should probably wait for your doctor to walk you through the best way to taper off...(I learned that lesson the hard way once myself)

When faced with symptoms like these, there isn't much to be done other than stopping immediately and heading to a doctor. You shouldn't take heart issues lightly. It is the same principle as recognizing the warning signs of an embolism or similar conditions involving leg pain. In certain cases, taking that step can quite literally save your life. 😉

By the way, Yaz, the exchange rate for Trinovum is sitting at around 14 and change. $39 At my local pharmacy, Logest goes for about $80. However, you'll find that prices vary quite a bit depending on which pharmacy you visit.

How on earth is there such a massive discrepancy in the price of these pills? You look at Trinovum and it’s sitting around $5.00, then you see Yasmin for 100, or even Yaz going for 118! Now, don't get me wrong—I'm currently on Yaz and the cost isn't exactly breaking my bank, but I’m just asking because it feels incredibly bizarre 😁

So... let me see if I’ve actually grasped the logic here. You’re suggesting that because I, Diane, don't use these specifically for birth control—but rather to manage my PCOS diagnosis—they essentially cost me nothing out of pocket? That if I didn't have this particular medical condition hanging over my head, I'd be staring down a massive bill instead? Well, isn't that just absolutely fascinating...

Nathan Gomez8 said:If I were in your shoes, I would stop taking the pills until I had done some thorough research to understand exactly why this is happening. However, you should consult with a gynecologist first; they will be able to explain the situation and provide guidance on what to do next.

When faced with symptoms like these, there isn't much to be done other than stopping immediately and heading to a doctor. You shouldn't take heart issues lightly. It is the same principle as recognizing the warning signs of an embolism or similar conditions involving leg pain. In certain cases, taking that step can quite literally save your life. 😉

By the way, Yaz, the exchange rate for Trinovum is sitting at around 14 and change. $39 At my local pharmacy, Logest goes for about $80. However, you'll find that prices vary quite a bit depending on which pharmacy you visit.

And everyone claims prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, but I’ve always paid the exact same thing. If there really is a difference, it’s probably only a few cents, right?

Elizabeth Patel67 said:So... let me see if I’ve actually grasped the logic here. You’re suggesting that because I, Diane, don't use these specifically for birth control—but rather to manage my PCOS diagnosis—they essentially cost me nothing out of pocket? That if I didn't have this particular medical condition hanging over my head, I'd be staring down a massive bill instead? Well, isn't that just absolutely fascinating...

Yeah... Sure. 😬
They won't recommend Diane-35 for contraception, right? They aren't allowed to. It’s strictly for treating PCOS in women. The fact that these pills happen to work as birth control is just a side effect. A whole different story. 😬

That’s right, isn't it? I’m definitely not some seasoned expert when it comes to pills, but I hope I’ve actually listened and picked up a few things along the way.

One more question: what’s the deal with Trinovum? Who actually gets prescribed it, and seriously, why on earth is there such a massive price gap between different pills? 😕
Look, I'm not paying more than $20 for birth control. It's either cheaper or I'm not doing it. Honestly, it's not worth dropping $33 just for sex four times a month.

Trinovum is formulated differently than Triquilar or other combo pills.

It contains norethisterone, a type of progesterone particularly effective at treating amenorrhea—basically when periods stop entirely—as well as heavy or continuous bleeding. It’s also prescribed for standard contraceptive reasons like PCOS, endometriosis, and severe hormonal imbalances.

That specific progesterone has very mild antiandrogenic effects (unlike Logest), which means acne, oily hair, and weight gain are extremely common side effects.

It also carries a high dose of ethinyl estradiol at 0.35 mg throughout all three phases. Unlike Triquilar, the progesterone levels actually fluctuate during the cycle: 0.5 mg at the start, 0.75 mg in the middle, and a full milligram during the third phase.

That’s how my friend's gynecologist explained it when she started them. Essentially, it’s one of the strongest combined oral contraceptives out there.

These fall into the second generation of oral contraceptives. They're older than the third generation—the "expensive" ones like Yasmin, Yaz, or Triquilar—and they tend to have much harsher side effects.

The price tag is lower largely because it isn't part of the newest generation. Newer pills use more tolerable progestogens, which are usually the main culprit behind the side effects.

I don't get why you're making such a big deal out of it if you've already been prescribed Triquilar, which isn't expensive anyway. At the end of the day, health should come first. 🤷

Aha, so Trinovum is basically "obsolete," and because the side effects are so frequent and intense, they’ve just slashed the price... It actually makes perfect sense 😁.

To address the question regarding Diane35—those aren't actually birth control pills; they are prescribed strictly as a medication for things like PCOS or similar hormonal issues. If I recall correctly, you aren't even supposed to take them for more than six months at a time (all contraceptive pills have to pass specific clinical tests to prove they’re safe for long-term use, and from what I know, Diane35 didn't clear those hurdles). Any contraceptive effect is merely an incidental byproduct of the hormone cocktail inside them, so... well, you get it. I personally deal with PCOS, and my gynecologist actually asked if I wanted to try Diane35, but since I also need reliable protection, she put me on Yaz, which is working perfectly for me right now. 😉

I don't really care about Trinovum, just tell me this:
1. I want to know general pricing for all these pills;
2. Why is Trinovum so cheap and why isn't it used more often?
3. If Triquilar doesn't work out for me, what’s the damage with the others (Cilest, Yaz, Yasmin—though they’ll probably suggest those, and I’m passing => long distance + being frugal = no way I'm dropping a ton of cash for maybe 2-3 rounds of sex per pack);
4. Any info is helpful.

Ugh, I really hope things improve with the Triquilar. I'm only on my 5th pill, and yesterday and today I spent most of the day feeling 😢🙂😢 for no reason at all.
How long does it take to adjust? Three months, apparently? What if I still feel 😢🙂😢 after that (that’s how it was for six months with Logest)?

Brenda Fisher86 said:Definitely. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you tomorrow, and I'm feeling pretty optimistic that everything will work out okay.👍 Please, please let us know how it goes! 😉

So, just checking back in like you asked😉 I finally got hold of Diane again😁 😁She said she’ll give them to me even though my PCOS is cleared up, but I still need to get Vitamin C and AT III checked. (Honestly, I have zero clue what that last one even is), apparently it's some lab test that costs about $100. She mentioned doing it just to make sure there's no thrombosis or anything sketchy going on. I haven't decided if I'm hitting the lab this week or next, and man, I'm really hoping the results aren't a disaster... plus, this damn headache just won't quit.😢

I was sitting on my porch yesterday, just watching the shadows stretch across the lawn, when I started thinking about how much everything changes without us even noticing, and it really made me wonder about what people actually value when they sit down to type out their thoughts online. You know, it’s funny how we spend so much time building these digital personas, almost like we're curating a museum of ourselves, while the actual, messy reality of our lives—the burnt toast, the late rent, the way the light hits the street in autumn—just stays in the background. I found myself scrolling through some old messages from years ago, and it felt like reading a letter from a stranger, which is a bit haunting if you think about it too long, but I suppose that's just the nature of growing up, isn't it? We drift, we evolve, and eventually, we become someone else entirely, and I wonder if anyone else feels that quiet, steady pull of time, or if everyone else is just as caught up in the noise as I sometimes feel I am. kaže:
Hey, just checking in to see how you're doing, like you asked.😉 I finally got Diane back.😁😁 She told me she’d give them to me even though I don't deal with PCOS anymore, but said I still need to get my Vitamin C and AT III levels checked. I honestly have no clue what that last one even is, but apparently, you just head down to the lab to get it done, and it usually costs about... $100She told me to get that test done just so we could rule out thrombosis or something along those lines. I’m honestly not sure when I’ll actually get around to it—maybe later this week or sometime next week—but I’m really hoping the results come back okay. My head just won't stop throbbing, either; it’s been such a constant, nagging thing lately.😢

Oh, man, I’m really sorry about that headache you're dealing with right now, but honestly, I’m feeling pretty certain that everything is going to turn out just fine in the end. It reminds me of this time back in Seattle when I had a massive migraine during a long drive through the Cascades; I was so worried about making it to my destination on time, but once I finally settled in, the tension just melted away and things smoothed out perfectly. So, please don't let it get you down too much—just take it easy, and I'm sure you'll be feeling back to your usual self before you know it. 👍
Hang in there, everyone! Just stay the course for a little while longer. 😉

I have a question that some of you might find a bit funny, but I’m being serious:
Is it actually possible for birth control pills to affect how easy it is to reach orgasm??
I’ve been taking Triqular and I am honestly thrilled with them, but—and this might just be a total coincidence on my part—I’ve noticed that reaching a climax has become significantly more difficult.

Does anyone here know more about the science behind this??

shadowfox49 said:Hey, can I make a suggestion? 😬
Ladies on birth control, would you mind sharing the current prices of the pills you’re taking or have used? If possible, maybe the mod could compile them into a single post titled something like "Contraceptive Pill Prices"?
I think it would help everyone out. This info is surprisingly hard to find online, and what little you do find is usually outdated. It feels kind of silly having to walk into a CVS just to ask for a price list. 😍
So far, here's what I know:
Logest - $26
Triquilar - $20

I heard Trinovum is $5.00—can anyone currently on it confirm that?
Also, we probably need prices for Yasmin, Yaz, Cilest, and whatever else is available here in the States (if there are others I'm forgetting)?
I heard Diane 35 is covered by insurance for minors, but adults have to pay out of pocket $50; apparently, you get a pack of three "tabs" of pills. Is that right? They're a bit of a special case since they're mainly for treating hormonal issues.

I've been on Trinovum for four years now. Getting it through my insurance, so yeah, it's free.
When I get a six-month prescription from my doctor, I just head straight to CVS. They hand me two boxes right then and there. For the remaining four, they give me a slip with the exact dates for when I can swing by for the next two.👍

Roger Phillips54 said:I have a question that some of you might find a bit funny, but I’m being serious:
Is it actually possible for birth control pills to affect how easy it is to reach orgasm??
I’ve been taking Triqular and I am honestly thrilled with them, but—and this might just be a total coincidence on my part—I’ve noticed that reaching a climax has become significantly more difficult.

Does anyone here know more about the science behind this??

I didn't have those issues when I was on Logest.
Hopefully, nothing like that pops up with Triquilar.
Also, it seems like I haven't become "extra soft" yet, like I did with Logest. Every now and then I feel like crying for no real reason; sometimes everything just feels totally pointless. I guess I'll just have to see how things play out. 🎉

I’m currently taking Logest. Because of an ear infection, I was prescribed Klavocin, and now I’m spiraling—can you actually take birth control pills and Klavocin at the same time?
The instructions for Klavocin basically say to give your doctor a heads-up if you're on oral contraceptives, but honestly, I totally failed to mention it during my appointment. Help??

Michael Palmer4 said:I’m currently taking Logest. Because of an ear infection, I was prescribed Klavocin, and now I’m spiraling—can you actually take birth control pills and Klavocin at the same time?
The instructions for Klavocin basically say to give your doctor a heads-up if you're on oral contraceptives, but honestly, I totally failed to mention it during my appointment. Help??

Augmentin isn't one of those antibiotics that messes with your birth control effectiveness, so don't sweat that part. Still—it’s probably smart to give your OB-GYN or primary care doctor a quick call just to be safe if you're worried about anything else.

I'm actually curious—has anyone else seen their skin get way worse right after starting birth control?
When I was on Yasmin, my skin was a total disaster—then I stopped, and things got even uglier, so I had to switch. Now, I'm finishing up my first month on Yaz, and my skin has flared up big time—I've got these red, inflamed bumps along my jawline and it's just awful.😢

Michael Palmer4 said:I’m currently taking Logest. Because of an ear infection, I was prescribed Klavocin, and now I’m spiraling—can you actually take birth control pills and Klavocin at the same time?
The instructions for Klavocin basically say to give your doctor a heads-up if you're on oral contraceptives, but honestly, I totally failed to mention it during my appointment. Help??

Of course you can take them together, though—well, I suppose—the main thing is that the effectiveness of the pill might be reduced. I'd probably suggest using some extra protection just for this cycle while you're finishing up the Klavocin.

Adam Edwards said:Augmentin isn't one of those antibiotics that messes with your birth control effectiveness, so don't sweat that part. Still—it’s probably smart to give your OB-GYN or primary care doctor a quick call just to be safe if you're worried about anything else.

I'm actually curious—has anyone else seen their skin get way worse right after starting birth control?
When I was on Yasmin, my skin was a total disaster—then I stopped, and things got even uglier, so I had to switch. Now, I'm finishing up my first month on Yaz, and my skin has flared up big time—I've got these red, inflamed bumps along my jawline and it's just awful.😢

Same happened to me, but things are finally starting to level out. Guess the body just needs time to adjust.👍

Sean Lopez3 said:Same happened to me, but things are finally starting to level out. Guess the body just needs time to adjust.👍

How long did it take you? 🙂 And what was your mood like before you started the pills?