Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

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

It was just... okay. Not a total disaster, but definitely not perfect. By the middle of the first pack, things seemed to be getting better, but then my period hit and messed everything up again. Now I'm back to the improvement phase.😁

It’s really important that this goes better 🙂 Mine flared up about 3 or 4 days ago—and honestly, it's just been getting worse since then—and now I'm almost at the point of a blister. I’m really hoping I won't have to quit taking Yaz too, like what happened with Diane and Celestone. The side effects list mentions things like acne and skin inflammation, which is fine, but I can't tell if that's just a temporary thing or if it stays—ugh :S Still, I'm crossing my fingers that it settles down for me like it did for you, even if it takes another 2 or 3 months...

I read somewhere that when you're on certain pills, you shouldn't spend too much time out in the sun because it might trigger some kind of allergic reaction—is that actually true?

It really varies from person to person—honestly. In this book I got from Yaz, it mentions possible side effects like acne, skin bumps, eczema, rashes, and those annoying sun spots and all that skin stuff. I'm just not sure if those things stick around or if they're just temporary😕

mellowsurfer34 said:I read somewhere that when you're on certain pills, you shouldn't spend too much time out in the sun because it might trigger some kind of allergic reaction—is that actually true?

Yeah, it totally is. So, you should probably grab some sunscreen with a really high SPF just to be safe...🙂

I find myself facing a dilemma that requires a resolution within the next fifteen minutes, 😁 primarily because I am due to begin a new pack of birth control pills.
To provide some context, I have been on oral contraceptives for exactly two years. My first year was spent on Yasmin, followed by a second year on Cileste after finding that Yasmin didn't quite suit my system. A few months ago, following a breakup, I consulted my gynecologist about taking a break from hormonal regulation, since my primary reason for use has always been managing irregular cycles rather than contraception alone. He suggested a three-month hiatus. However, I chose to continue my regimen to avoid the hormonal fluctuations, emotional eating, and breakouts that tend to coincide with my exam periods. Now that finals are winding down, I am sitting here with one pack left and wondering if there is any practical purpose in taking this break. The pills work exceptionally well for me, and I intend to stay on them; furthermore, it seems highly probable that a new partner will enter the picture in the coming weeks or months. Would it make sense to take this break simply because I’ve hit the two-year mark, and then just rely on condoms once things get serious with someone new? 🤣

I hope you can see the logic behind my hesitation. Essentially, I am wary of potential side effects from stopping, and I know I will become incredibly paranoid if I engage in sexual activity without the security of the pill—especially considering I fully intend to resume the medication after a three-month gap anyway...

I honestly think she really needs to take a break from the pills. I didn't take my break, and well, look where that got me!
Anyone who is on hormone replacement therapy should really make it a point to get a full hormonal panel done once a year. When you're dealing with that kind of chemistry, you can't afford to be careless; it's just too important to leave to chance.
Hey there, wishing you all the best and good luck!😉

I’ve decided to go ahead with the pill after all, but I’ve run into another issue. About four hours after taking it, I ended up vomiting. The pamphlet for my birth control—Cilest—says if you vomit within twelve hours, you need to take another dose. What has your experience been with this? I haven't taken a second one yet. 🙄 It’s not that we’re having sex anyway, so pregnancy isn't really a concern for me. 😬

Nathan Fox5 said:I honestly think she really needs to take a break from the pills. I didn't take my break, and well, look where that got me!
Anyone who is on hormone replacement therapy should really make it a point to get a full hormonal panel done once a year. When you're dealing with that kind of chemistry, you can't afford to be careless; it's just too important to leave to chance.
Hey there, wishing you all the best and good luck!😉

You don't actually monitor your hormones through the pill itself.🤷
Nor is there any medical necessity to take breaks from them.🤷

I was on Yasmin and ended up gaining 9kg, living in a constant state of depression with absolutely zero libido. Now my gynecologist has prescribed Logest... reading through these posts, I’m genuinely torn about whether to start them or not. I realize everyone reacts differently, but I really don't want to face another battle with the scale; after Yasmin, it took me at least a year just to get back to baseline.

Hey everyone, I need some advice. 😍
Summer is here, my partner is finally back from his long trip, and we should be enjoying this time together—seeing each other every single day, being happy... but...
...but I started on Triquilar, and my sunshine isn't exactly beaming lately. Some days I feel full of joy, but more often than not, I’m right on the edge of tears. I feel like a complete idiot, and there are moments where I just don't care about anything—I don't even feel the same way about my man as I used to...

Should I push through for a few more months to let my body adjust, knowing it means giving him ten times more nagging, complaining, and making him play therapist? Or should I just stop after this one box and secure my happiness for the price of a little hormonal chaos? I'm terrified of repeating what happened with Logest; for six months straight, I didn't even realize my entire life had shrunk down to nothing but whining, crying, and complaining. I really don't want that for this summer. 😢

I ended up being prescribed Diane because of some absolutely horrific acne and elevated DHEA levels, and I’m currently working my way through the third cycle.
Honestly, I haven't experienced any side effects whatsoever—not even a single thing, zero.
During the third week of my very first cycle, I noticed a massive improvement in my skin, and as of right now, I'm left with just one tiny little pimple under my jawline and one on my back.
My face is completely clear. Before this, I looked like a walking medical textbook illustration, and frankly, at thirty-eight years old, I shouldn't have been dealing with such gruesome breakouts; even teenagers don't usually suffer through acne that intense.
Diane contains cyproterone acetate, which acts as an anti-androgen; it’s specifically designed to address issues in women whose acne is triggered by hyperandrogenism—essentially, an excess of male hormones or their precursors.
My gynecologist actually advised me to take a four-week course for these initial three cycles instead of the standard three weeks, just to speed up the results. So, I do four weeks on the pill followed by a one-week break. It follows the same logic as the regular three-week regimen, just extended to four.
After that, I’ll just transition back to the normal schedule.
It feels like I’ve been completely reborn.
I did try Yasmin a couple of times over the last few years, but it just wasn't a good fit for me; it made me feel quite wretched and miserable, and my blood pressure even spiked.
Apparently, Diane has slightly more estradiol than Yasmin, but its progesterone component is stronger, which is why I haven't dealt with any nausea despite the higher estradiol dose—at least, that's how it was explained to me.
For me, they have worked wonders.

Dear friends, here I am, having been on Diane-35 for about a year and a half now, primarily because my skin was a complete battlefield of acne. While the breakouts have finally retreated and things have settled down, I’m left grappling with some rather unwelcome side effects. As for the heightened sensitivity—well, I won't even go there; that’s practically a rite of passage with these things 🙂 but what has truly caught my attention is this inexplicable weight gain. I’ve put on maybe five or six kilograms despite the fact that I haven't been overindulging, and I've actually been keeping up with a regular exercise routine. To make matters worse, the cellulite has decided to make an appearance too! And then there’s the facial hair; thankfully, being a natural blonde, the fine hairs aren't quite as glaring, but they are definitely there.

So, here we are... summer is upon us, and I’m feeling the urge to shed a few pounds. My complexion looks fantastic thanks to all the sunshine and time by the ocean, but I really want to address the cellulite, so I’ve officially signed up at a local gym.
But here is the question weighing on my mind: am I allowed to just skip my pills for a few months? Just enough to see how my body reacts—how my skin holds up, whether the weight stabilizes, or if the hair issues resolve themselves.
What do you all think? Will my doctor, Dr. Miller, come down hard on me for this? 🙂

The thing is, I’m supposed to start my next cycle tomorrow, and since I’m currently on my period, the timing is right there. But I’m honestly tempted to just take a three-month hiatus.
Is that actually safe to do? Besides, I can't even get my hands on the prescription until tomorrow, and I'm currently out of town, away from my usual pharmacy in Chicago.
What would you all suggest I do?

So, I actually went to see the doctor to bother them with this list of questions... if I go specifically to the clinic, I’m bringing a whole list with me 🙂.
But I moved from the States to Austria, so my English isn't great, and honestly, what am I even going to ask the doctor when even my husband can't quite follow what I'm saying...
. Anyway, here comes the question:
I’ve been taking Celest for a long time and never had any side effects, but I started back up on them about a year ago.
Basically, after months of absolute torture at the gym, I realized something was off. First off, genetically, I'm not the type to put on weight easily. Second, dieting hasn't helped at all, and for heaven's sake, with how much I work out, I should be looking lean, but instead, I just want to scream...
In just one year, I’ve gained 5 kg. It wouldn't even be such a big deal if it hadn't gone straight to my chest and stomach—today I was shopping for a D-cup bra, whereas a year ago I was barely a C. I just feel "bloated" overall, though I don't have any issues with my mental health or my periods. I don't even have cellulite (though since I lift heavy at the gym, if I do have it, you wouldn't notice because my legs are so toned)...
Question: what does water retention actually look like?
Second, is the weight gain caused by these types of pills the same as the kind of weight gain seen in people who overeat and don't move much?
And naturally, can girls gain weight gradually, or does it have to happen suddenly? (I've been reading endless forum threads about this...)
And how do I mitigate this... maybe taking vitamin or mineral supplements...
Thanks, and greetings from Austria
.
Oh, and one more thing: I'm allergic to condoms (specifically the lubricant), and since I haven't given birth, I can't use an IUD, so I'm stuck with the pill for another year because getting pregnant is strictly off the table...

Timothy James9 said:So, I actually went to see the doctor to bother them with this list of questions... if I go specifically to the clinic, I’m bringing a whole list with me 🙂.
But I moved from the States to Austria, so my English isn't great, and honestly, what am I even going to ask the doctor when even my husband can't quite follow what I'm saying...
. Anyway, here comes the question:
I’ve been taking Celest for a long time and never had any side effects, but I started back up on them about a year ago.
Basically, after months of absolute torture at the gym, I realized something was off. First off, genetically, I'm not the type to put on weight easily. Second, dieting hasn't helped at all, and for heaven's sake, with how much I work out, I should be looking lean, but instead, I just want to scream...
In just one year, I’ve gained 5 kg. It wouldn't even be such a big deal if it hadn't gone straight to my chest and stomach—today I was shopping for a D-cup bra, whereas a year ago I was barely a C. I just feel "bloated" overall, though I don't have any issues with my mental health or my periods. I don't even have cellulite (though since I lift heavy at the gym, if I do have it, you wouldn't notice because my legs are so toned)...
Question: what does water retention actually look like?
Second, is the weight gain caused by these types of pills the same as the kind of weight gain seen in people who overeat and don't move much?
And naturally, can girls gain weight gradually, or does it have to happen suddenly? (I've been reading endless forum threads about this...)
And how do I mitigate this... maybe taking vitamin or mineral supplements...
Thanks, and greetings from Austria
.
Oh, and one more thing: I'm allergic to condoms (specifically the lubricant), and since I haven't given birth, I can't use an IUD, so I'm stuck with the pill for another year because getting pregnant is strictly off the table...

I mean, what exactly are you allergic to regarding condoms 😕? There’s such a massive variety available these days—personally, I can't stand certain lubricants (though that usually ends up messing with my pH balance and triggering yeast infections), but there are plenty of specialized options out there designed specifically for people with sensitivities.

Samuel Morgan40 said:I mean, what exactly are you allergic to regarding condoms 😕? There’s such a massive variety available these days—personally, I can't stand certain lubricants (though that usually ends up messing with my pH balance and triggering yeast infections), but there are plenty of specialized options out there designed specifically for people with sensitivities.

Exactly... five of them cost more than$33... it wouldn't be an issue if they weren't such a pain to find locally.

darkwalker2 said:Dear friends, here I am, having been on Diane-35 for about a year and a half now, primarily because my skin was a complete battlefield of acne. While the breakouts have finally retreated and things have settled down, I’m left grappling with some rather unwelcome side effects. As for the heightened sensitivity—well, I won't even go there; that’s practically a rite of passage with these things 🙂 but what has truly caught my attention is this inexplicable weight gain. I’ve put on maybe five or six kilograms despite the fact that I haven't been overindulging, and I've actually been keeping up with a regular exercise routine. To make matters worse, the cellulite has decided to make an appearance too! And then there’s the facial hair; thankfully, being a natural blonde, the fine hairs aren't quite as glaring, but they are definitely there.

So, here we are... summer is upon us, and I’m feeling the urge to shed a few pounds. My complexion looks fantastic thanks to all the sunshine and time by the ocean, but I really want to address the cellulite, so I’ve officially signed up at a local gym.
But here is the question weighing on my mind: am I allowed to just skip my pills for a few months? Just enough to see how my body reacts—how my skin holds up, whether the weight stabilizes, or if the hair issues resolve themselves.
What do you all think? Will my doctor, Dr. Miller, come down hard on me for this? 🙂

The thing is, I’m supposed to start my next cycle tomorrow, and since I’m currently on my period, the timing is right there. But I’m honestly tempted to just take a three-month hiatus.
Is that actually safe to do? Besides, I can't even get my hands on the prescription until tomorrow, and I'm currently out of town, away from my usual pharmacy in Chicago.
What would you all suggest I do?

I certainly wouldn't advise stopping your medication on your own without consulting a physician first.
Beyond that, there is a very real possibility that your acne could return once you stop; your skin might look great right now because of the sun and the ocean, but in my opinion, that clarity is primarily due to the Diane, given that you were prescribed them specifically for acne issues.
By all means, follow exactly what your doctor laid out for you, and if you aren't satisfied with the results, seek out a second opinion from another specialist, but please, do not take matters into your own hands.

Timothy James9 said:So, I actually went to see the doctor to bother them with this list of questions... if I go specifically to the clinic, I’m bringing a whole list with me 🙂.
But I moved from the States to Austria, so my English isn't great, and honestly, what am I even going to ask the doctor when even my husband can't quite follow what I'm saying...
. Anyway, here comes the question:
I’ve been taking Celest for a long time and never had any side effects, but I started back up on them about a year ago.
Basically, after months of absolute torture at the gym, I realized something was off. First off, genetically, I'm not the type to put on weight easily. Second, dieting hasn't helped at all, and for heaven's sake, with how much I work out, I should be looking lean, but instead, I just want to scream...
In just one year, I’ve gained 5 kg. It wouldn't even be such a big deal if it hadn't gone straight to my chest and stomach—today I was shopping for a D-cup bra, whereas a year ago I was barely a C. I just feel "bloated" overall, though I don't have any issues with my mental health or my periods. I don't even have cellulite (though since I lift heavy at the gym, if I do have it, you wouldn't notice because my legs are so toned)...
Question: what does water retention actually look like?
Second, is the weight gain caused by these types of pills the same as the kind of weight gain seen in people who overeat and don't move much?
And naturally, can girls gain weight gradually, or does it have to happen suddenly? (I've been reading endless forum threads about this...)
And how do I mitigate this... maybe taking vitamin or mineral supplements...
Thanks, and greetings from Austria
.
Oh, and one more thing: I'm allergic to condoms (specifically the lubricant), and since I haven't given birth, I can't use an IUD, so I'm stuck with the pill for another year because getting pregnant is strictly off the table...

Now, please don't take everything I say as gospel, because I am certainly no doctor.
From what I understand, older generations of birth control pills used to affect carbohydrate metabolism in certain ways (specifically the progestin component, depending on its strength and type)—essentially affecting glucose tolerance.
And it affected lipid metabolism, too, or fat metabolism.
I believe modern formulations have reduced these specific side effects to a minimum, though.
Why don't you just bring all of this up during your next check-up and ask your doctor if they can switch you to a different brand? It seems to me that your symptoms stem from the progestin component, especially since you aren't experiencing nausea.
For instance, they say Yasmin contains drospirenone, a progestin that is supposedly very body-friendly and doesn't cause water retention.
Yasmin didn't work for me personally because I dealt with nausea—which was clearly a side effect of the estradiol component—since the progestin in Yasmin was evidently too weak for my system. On the other hand, Diane works fine for me; even though it has more estradiol, I don't feel sick, despite it having a strong progestin component (cyproterone acetate) used to treat hyperandrogenism.
If any of this sounds confusing, the bottom line is this: you need to present your physician with every single symptom you're feeling. They will be able to pinpoint exactly which part of the pill is causing the issue and then suggest a better alternative that fits your biology.

Nathan Gomez8 said:You don't actually monitor your hormones through the pill itself.🤷
Nor is there any medical necessity to take breaks from them.🤷

Hmm. I'm not so sure about that.😕 😕 😕I've been seeing doctors quite regularly lately and actually sought out five different specialists looking for a second (or even third) opinion—including both endocrinologists and gynecologists. Every single one of them advised taking a break from the pill! In fact, when I mentioned that I don't take breaks, they all told me I needed to find a new doctor immediately.🤷 🤷.

The reality is that monitoring hormone levels is an incredibly expensive process, which is likely why it isn't done as a routine part of standard care.

Taylor Smith3 said:I’ve decided to go ahead with the pill after all, but I’ve run into another issue. About four hours after taking it, I ended up vomiting. The pamphlet for my birth control—Cilest—says if you vomit within twelve hours, you need to take another dose. What has your experience been with this? I haven't taken a second one yet. 🙄 It’s not that we’re having sex anyway, so pregnancy isn't really a concern for me. 😬

That applies to all birth control pills, as far as I know. And yes, take the backup dose whenever that happens. It might shorten your cycle by a day, but that's it.😉