Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

When I was working, I’d take them in the morning before my shift—just integrated it into my daily routine. Now that I’m mostly home, I switch to evenings.
Regarding a "backup" pack, things have become difficult lately because pharmacies have tightened their grip on dispensing everything. Your only options are basically "I lost the box" or "the dog ate it." I recently tried to grab two packs at once to avoid making multiple trips; having a reserve at home gives me some peace of mind since I actually do drop pills sometimes—thankfully the cats find 😬—but anyway, I had to make up some story about going on a trip just to convince the pharmacist to let me have two. And I'm not exactly a teenager, so I wasn't about to act like I was "borrowing them for a friend" or something.

So, I almost hit up the 24-hour CVS tonight just to grab a new pack, and that’s four days before my last one runs out... I couldn't find my pills anywhere, and my brain totally blanked on where I put them this morning (I was doing a massive deep clean of my room)
They were actually (you know, the blister pack thingy) sitting right in the trash can 🤦 thank god it was just old papers and junk in there 🙈

I have zero clue how I accidentally tossed them... but seriously, having a backup stash at home would be such a lifesaver

I was actually thinking about this recently (back when they started tightening up prescription laws, before I could just grab whatever I needed without a script while walking past the CVS to save myself a trip home), so I went ahead and picked up two private prescriptions from my gynecologist. It’s good practice, anyway, just in case I lose one. 😬

Oh yeah, is that e-prescription thing going for tablets now too? Totally blanked on that one! 🤔

If you’re seeing a social worker or a public clinic specialist—who knows. 🤷 All I know is that a general practitioner can't write you a prescription for birth control.
If a private OBGYN recommends contraception, you don't get an e-prescription; instead, you get a paper script with a date, a stamp, and a signature. It’s valid for six months and covers up to six boxes (the pharmacy just stamps and dates the back each time). About ten days ago, I actually picked up a new one (specifically 2 😁) because my old one expired.

Has anyone else experienced side effects right after taking their first pill? I was just sitting here quietly when my left arm suddenly started aching. I could blame it on stress, but it’s never happened before, so I figured I’d ask since I’m new to this. 🙂

One pill down, and it’s still hard 😉
Wait a bit and see. If it doesn't pass or if things take a turn for the worse and you start feeling the panic, call 911 and ask them (since tomorrow is Sunday).

I honestly think it’s just stress rather than the medication itself. Still, I wanted to ask because if side effects can happen this early, I’m a little worried about what might show up later on. 😛
Thanks 😍

Thomas Collins60 said:What does "slightly elevated" actually mean? My lab results show the limit is 5, but mine came back at around 6.3—if I’m remembering correctly.
I don't think it was high when I was at Yasmin Hospital—I can't quite recall if it was my first time seeing an elevation (maybe around 5.2) while I was still at Yasmin or if I had already moved over to Logest? But I'm pretty sure I was already at Logest by then. Is it actually possible for one type of bacteria to bump it up while another one doesn't?

Look, 6.3 isn't exactly cause for panic just yet. Regarding the birth control, since different brands affect the body in various ways, it’s entirely possible they impact cholesterol levels differently. Also, have you perhaps changed up your diet since switching over to Logest?

All good—being up by 1.3 isn't really anything to sweat if it's over the limit 😬
I’m eating relatively well these days—definitely healthier than I was ten years ago—but back then I was only 15, so maybe some of this is just aging and stress catching up to me 🤷
I'm actually trying out some herbal supplements now to get those numbers down

Alright, I’m just gonna lay it all out there and share my experience with birth control. After tossing and turning over the idea for like two years, I finally pulled the trigger three months ago. Physically? Honestly, everything was a solid 10/10. My appetite didn't spike, my libido was through the roof, and I didn't deal with any sudden cellulite issues—just a little extra volume in the chest area, if you know what I mean... It would have been a total dream come true if I hadn't spiraled into this insane, irrational depression. I became so moody it wasn't even normal. I actually ended up dumping an amazing guy because I kept pinning all my frustrations on him, when really, I was acting like a straight-up maniac. I seriously never want to go through that again. Maybe it’s just the hormones, or maybe that specific brand just wasn't a good fit for my body, but I have zero desire to experiment and risk feeling like that ever again. So, yeah, it's back to condoms for me (at least until I find a new guy to use them with)... 👍

Wait, did I miss something? I feel like I’m staring at a blank page here—just a name floating in the void! Butterfly-, you there? I was just sitting here thinking about how some of these threads go completely silent right when things get interesting—you know, like when you're halfway through a great movie and someone suddenly pulls the plug—and then I see your handle pop up and I'm just waiting for the rest of the thought. Don't leave me hanging! What's on your mind? Is it something deep? Something totally random? I'm all ears—really, I am. kaže:
So, here’s my two cents—I figured I’d share my experience with birth control with you all! After basically agonizing over it for a good year or two, I finally pulled the trigger and started pills about three months ago. Physically speaking? Honestly, everything was a solid 10 out of 10. My appetite didn't spike at all, my libido was through the roof, and I didn't deal with any sudden cellulite issues—just a little bit of extra fullness in the chest area... which, hey, not a bad trade-off, right? But—and this is a massive "but"—everything would have been a total dream if I hadn't turned into this incredibly depressed, moody mess. It wasn't even normal. I actually ended up breaking up with this amazing guy because I was blaming him for everything... when really, I was acting like a complete maniac. I seriously never want to go through that again. Maybe it's just the hormones, or maybe that specific brand just wasn't a match for my body, but I have zero desire to experiment or put myself through that cycle one more time. So, yeah... I'm going back to condoms (well, until I find another great guy, anyway). 👍

Man, I feel you... I mean, I barely drink—like, super short bursts, nothing crazy—but man, those hormones are hitting me like a freight train right now. It’s like my whole system is just... out of whack.
For my own sanity, I’m sticking to the regimen—really trying not to let myself spiral into thinking I’m losing it before I can actually figure out if there's any logical basis for how I’m feeling... but man, these pills definitely shift the mood. It’s not like I’m depressed or anything, but I get these moments where things just feel... off. Like, weird. Something I’ve never really dealt with before. Take the other day, for instance—him and I had one of those typical little misunderstandings. You know how it goes, especially when you're just texting or messaging instead of being face-to-face... it’s so easy for things to get lost in translation. Usually, we hash it out in like thirty minutes and move on, totally forgotten, back to our normal selves. But this time? I felt like I just couldn't get past it. It was so frustrating because it was such a trivial, stupid thing, but I just couldn't shake the feeling. And then I started spiraling, wondering why everything was hitting me so hard all at once. For three whole days, I could barely even talk to him normally—I was just acting so strange and withdrawn. It was awful. Eventually, I snapped out of it and went back to my usual self, and everything is fine now, truly—but that odd sensation still pops up every now and then. Since I don't have a better way to handle it, I’ve just decided to ignore it. Honestly, if I actually knew what the hell was bothering me or why it was happening, I’d just fix it—but I can't. It feels so idiotic. It’s just this nagging thing lurking in my subconscious, occasionally jumping out and messing with my head for no reason. It makes zero sense. Anyway, I guess I’ll just see how things go later, once I’ve settled into the medication a bit more—I only just started taking them.

Zachary King said:Alright, I’m just gonna lay it all out there and share my experience with birth control. After tossing and turning over the idea for like two years, I finally pulled the trigger three months ago. Physically? Honestly, everything was a solid 10/10. My appetite didn't spike, my libido was through the roof, and I didn't deal with any sudden cellulite issues—just a little extra volume in the chest area, if you know what I mean... It would have been a total dream come true if I hadn't spiraled into this insane, irrational depression. I became so moody it wasn't even normal. I actually ended up dumping an amazing guy because I kept pinning all my frustrations on him, when really, I was acting like a straight-up maniac. I seriously never want to go through that again. Maybe it’s just the hormones, or maybe that specific brand just wasn't a good fit for my body, but I have zero desire to experiment and risk feeling like that ever again. So, yeah, it's back to condoms for me (at least until I find a new guy to use them with)... 👍

I was on the pill for almost two years. Longest stretch yet. Just stopped recently. Only side effect I dealt with was extreme mood swings... went through every single emotion in a single day. Depressed, then ecstatic... it was intense. On the plus side, it definitely helped with breast growth. 😁 My allergies have finally subsided since I quit drinking. At least my mood isn't unbearable now. 😍😍

Hey guys, I could use a little bit of advice here. So, I’ve been on Diane, right? And I was pretty much at the end of my treatment—like, I only had three pills left in the pack. Then, I started noticing this brownish spotting, and after a two-day break, my period actually showed up. Now I'm just sitting here wondering... was that an actual period, or just some random breakthrough bleeding? Because if it really was my period, I need to start my next pack of Diane today. Any thoughts?

I need another bit of advice, guys. Since my period showed up two days after my break, should I start today or wait until the eighth day of my break? Honestly, I have no clue what I'm doing.

If you were already on them last month and you're just starting back up after a break, you basically just kick things off on the first day of your period.

So, I started counting from the very first day of my period. Basically, if my last pill was on February 7th, then my first day of the break would have been February 8th. That means I should be kicking off the new pack on February 15th, right?

Yep, you're back at it on Feb 15th and that's that! 🙂

Cure, I have a few questions that I assume might be covered somewhere in this thread, though I haven't managed to stumble upon them yet.😁

For years now, I’ve been taking Yasmin, usually allowing for a brief break every so often. My plan was always to take these breaks about once a year, but this time, it’s been roughly eighteen months since my last dose, and my libido has absolutely plummeted.

Aside from the lack of desire, I also have this nagging sensation that I’ve gained weight over the last month or so, even though my food intake hasn't changed at all compared to how it used to be.🤔

I’m planning on getting back on the pill in about five months—assuming, of course, that my libido will have returned to some semblance of normalcy by then—and I’m trying to figure out the best way to handle this transition.

Are Yaz better when it comes to maintaining drive, or do women generally face these kinds of issues regardless of which specific brand of birth control they choose?

I honestly don't know if I'm the only one experiencing such a drastic shift, where after a year off, I feel absolutely zero sexual interest, and frankly, it is incredibly frustrating.

Question: On the American market, besides Yaz, are there any other 28-day birth control pills available?