Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Sorry for just jumping right into this thread, but I actually have a question—well, more like a bit of a dilemma 🙄I’m 17, and my boyfriend and I have been together for about a year now, so we’re planning on starting having sex. Naturally, we want to be responsible and use both birth control pills and condoms, but I know you need a prescription from a gynecologist for the pills, right? The thing is, I can’t really talk to my mom about this because we aren't exactly close, and there are a few other unimportant reasons why it would be awkward. So, can I just go to the doctor by myself, and will this show up on my medical records in a way that my mom could find out?

Can someone please start acting responsibly regarding this 🙂>
You need a prescription for pills—period. You also need blood work done first, and you really ought to get some solid info from a gynecologist since you're only 17. I started taking them for health reasons back in the day, and luckily I had an amazing doctor who actually answered my questions and gave me real advice.
You can go to the gynecologist by yourself. Just find out which provider is accepting new patients and sign up—get a file started. Since you have insurance, you're entitled to see a covered gynecologist at no cost to you. Book an appointment—ideally right after your period ends—and that's basically it. Now, since you're a minor, I'm not entirely sure how the paperwork flows, but doctors are legally bound by patient confidentiality. Your other option is a private clinic; just walk in, book, pay, and you're done.
Your mom doesn't need to go anywhere with you; you can handle all of this on your own. That’s what I did, and it wasn't an issue. The nurse recognized me and just asked where my mom was, so I told her she was at work. She asked if she needed anything else, and I said no.

One more thing.
I don't know when you're planning to start being active, but since you want to use both condoms and pills, keep in mind that you usually start the pills on the first day of your period—then you're protected from day one. If you start later, you absolutely MUST use condoms for an extra week or two, depending on the specific brand. Otherwise, they aren't necessary as long as you take them consistently.
🙂

thanks for the reply 🙂 honestly, the thought of going to the OB-GYN is just so awkward... I literally just turned 17, but still, ugh. I guess if I go with my boyfriend it might make things feel a little less weird...
also, I have another question. Back in middle school, I had the school doctor and gynecologist there, and now that I'm in high school, I have a new school doctor, but can I actually keep seeing the gynecologist from my old school? Since he’s at the same health center where my regular doctor is, it would be super convenient to hit both in one trip. And seriously, there's no way my mom could find out about those pills, right?

Better just go with a friend or something—it’s gonna be super awkward if your boyfriend tags along😁
Your best bet is to just call that guy from school and ask him straight up.
There's no way he'll find out unless he actually tracks them down😁

Gemini, I took my last pill on Friday, which means you start the first one of the next pack on Saturday.
So, seven days off, then the pill on day eight.

urbanpilot said:Gemini, I took my last pill on Friday, which means you start the first one of the next pack on Saturday.
So, seven days off, then the pill on day eight.

Thanks a million :*

analoggull84 said:Sorry for just jumping right into this thread, but I actually have a question—well, more like a bit of a dilemma 🙄I’m 17, and my boyfriend and I have been together for about a year now, so we’re planning on starting having sex. Naturally, we want to be responsible and use both birth control pills and condoms, but I know you need a prescription from a gynecologist for the pills, right? The thing is, I can’t really talk to my mom about this because we aren't exactly close, and there are a few other unimportant reasons why it would be awkward. So, can I just go to the doctor by myself, and will this show up on my medical records in a way that my mom could find out?

I'm the same age as you—I picked my own doctor, I'm on the pill, and I got my own prescription. My mom doesn't know a thing, so you really don't need her permission.
I don't bother with condoms while on the pill—that's literally why I started taking them, to skip the condom hassle. Pills are more reliable than condoms anyway; I think they're about 99.7% effective, so there's no reason to worry. Using both seems redundant.
My boyfriend finishes inside me and nothing happens—nothing at all, and likely nothing ever will.🙂

I’ve finally decided to kick the pill habit; I suppose I’m getting "old" now (33 years old)... 😁
Basically, does anyone know roughly how long it takes for my cycle to settle back into a predictable rhythm—you know, so I can actually start counting fertile days with any degree of confidence?

👋

I’ve never used this type of birth control before—
so I did some digging, and my OB-GYN is pushing Yaz or Novynette.
Why those specific 🤷
specifically? Is there some kind of kickback involved—marketing deals, commissions, or something else entirely?

How am I supposed to make a final call here? What kind of margins are we talking about for one versus the other?
Should I just take matters into my own hands and look into something else, like Qlaira?

Honestly, I have about a hundred different questions swirling around in my head right now.😵

brighteagle86 said:👋

I’ve never used this type of birth control before—
so I did some digging, and my OB-GYN is pushing Yaz or Novynette.
Why those specific 🤷
specifically? Is there some kind of kickback involved—marketing deals, commissions, or something else entirely?

How am I supposed to make a final call here? What kind of margins are we talking about for one versus the other?
Should I just take matters into my own hands and look into something else, like Qlaira?

Honestly, I have about a hundred different questions swirling around in my head right now.😵

Well, Yaz is made by Bayer, so the price is high$49 (until recently $39, though Bayer hiked prices on several products lately), while Novynette $30 comes from Basel. Both are low-dose pills. With Yaz, you get a 4-day break every month, whereas Novynette gives you 7 days—that's when you'll see your period.
Your doctor likely recommended those specific brands for a reason; it probably depends on your blood work, why you need them in the first place (contraception, PCOS, or whatever), and things like that. 🙂
I'm on Yaz myself and I'm pretty satisfied with it (plus, I guess I just trust Bayer more 😬), and I read somewhere that shorter breaks are generally better.
Qlaira is the newer option from Bayer. The price is currently $40, but I suspect it'll jump soon, just like it did for Yaz and Yasmin. They only have a 2-day break.
It’s all highly individual. Neither you nor your doctor can be 100% certain how a specific pill will hit your system. You might just have to try one, and if it doesn't work out, switching is easy enough. 😉

Maybe look through the older posts in this thread; there's plenty of advice and personal stories there. There are also separate threads for every single type of pill. 🙂
I suppose you should take everyone's experience with a grain of salt, though. Everything is different for everyone, and people react to these things in their own way.

Thanks for getting back to me! 🙂
The whole reason for this is strictly contraception.
My blood work came back fine—though my doctor suggested these pills the second I brought up the idea, even before seeing the results...
So, I guess I’ll just have to have another sit-down with her.

I suggested her before you got your blood work done, so ask her about Lindynette 20 or 30. They’re basically the same thing, just with slightly different hormone levels. You can get them with a prescription for $11, or just pay $21 without one.

Here’s some extra info on them
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-replacement-therapy/about/acm-20085311

Hey everyone! 😁

I'm 17, and I've been thinking about starting birth control for a while now. To be completely honest, my main motivation is wanting my breasts to grow so I can actually fill out a swimsuit this summer. Since I want to be fully informed before I make any moves, I have a few questions. If you have a moment, please help me out 🙂:
1. What has your experience been regarding breast growth from the pill? Also, is it okay to take them just for that reason? 🙄
2. Can I just go out and buy them on my own?
3. Is there any way to keep this from my parents? It would be really awkward, and I'd rather avoid the lecture or them making a huge deal out of it for no reason.
4. Are there a lot of side effects?

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:Hey everyone! 😁

I'm 17, and I've been thinking about starting birth control for a while now. To be completely honest, my main motivation is wanting my breasts to grow so I can actually fill out a swimsuit this summer. Since I want to be fully informed before I make any moves, I have a few questions. If you have a moment, please help me out 🙂:
1. What has your experience been regarding breast growth from the pill? Also, is it okay to take them just for that reason? 🙄
2. Can I just go out and buy them on my own?
3. Is there any way to keep this from my parents? It would be really awkward, and I'd rather avoid the lecture or them making a huge deal out of it for no reason.
4. Are there a lot of side effects?

🤣

Look, honestly, don't go messing with your body using chemicals just because you want a little extra volume. You’re only 17; your body is still developing, and things usually settle in by your early 20s. 😉
1. Mine didn't really grow—maybe they look a tiny bit fuller, but that's about it. 🤷
There wasn't much difference. I had some aches during the first couple of months, but after five months, I don't feel anything. My chest has always been small. 😬
2. No, you definitely need a prescription from a gynecologist.
3. You can keep it private, but you'll still need to find a doctor to examine you and order blood work.
4. It's different for everyone, I guess. Some people deal with nausea or heavy bleeding, others get depressed or gain weight, and for some, there's absolutely nothing at all. 😁

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:Hey everyone! 😁

I'm 17, and I've been thinking about starting birth control for a while now. To be completely honest, my main motivation is wanting my breasts to grow so I can actually fill out a swimsuit this summer. Since I want to be fully informed before I make any moves, I have a few questions. If you have a moment, please help me out 🙂:
1. What has your experience been regarding breast growth from the pill? Also, is it okay to take them just for that reason? 🙄
2. Can I just go out and buy them on my own?
3. Is there any way to keep this from my parents? It would be really awkward, and I'd rather avoid the lecture or them making a huge deal out of it for no reason.
4. Are there a lot of side effects?

If you're planning on taking them just hoping for bigger breasts, don't bother. Seriously, birth control isn't some magic trick to bump up your bra size—for crying out loud. I've been on them and honestly, I see zero difference... they're still small. Sure, it might work for some people, but don't get your hopes up for nothing ☕

*Paul Rivera* said:
🤣

Look, honestly, don't go flooding your body with chemicals just because you want your chest to grow a little. You’re only 17; you’re still developing, and things can change well into your twenties 😉
1. For me, they didn't really grow—maybe they got a tiny bit fuller, but barely 🤷
It wasn't a huge deal. I felt a bit better during the first month or two, but after five months, I don't feel anything different. I've always had a small chest 😬
2. No, you'll need a prescription from a gynecologist.
3. You can skip it, but you really should find a doctor who can examine you and order blood work.
4. It varies for everyone. Some people deal with nausea and heavy bleeding, some slip into depression, some gain weight, and for others, there's absolutely nothing at all 😁

I know perfectly well that adding extra hormones and chemicals is hard on my body, but at my age, having a small chest is genuinely an issue for me.
The real problem is that we have a family doctor, and she finds out about every single medical visit if I try to go on my own. I'm also terrified of talking to my mom about this; I know it would just stress her out, and she'd definitely tell me not to do it—just like any typical American mother.
One more thing: regardless of how much they grew for you, how long did it take? Did it happen quickly, or did it take quite a while before you noticed even a slight difference? 🙂

Look, once you stop drinking them, they just go right back to their old size anyway. Don't start the OHC thing just because your shopping cart looked a little bigger for a couple of months... it’s pointless.
That’s exactly why we tell young girls—especially those around 18, 19, maybe even up to 20—to be extra careful... just common sense, really.

silentwolf53 said:Look, once you stop drinking them, they just go right back to their old size anyway. Don't start the OHC thing just because your shopping cart looked a little bigger for a couple of months... it’s pointless.
That’s exactly why we tell young girls—especially those around 18, 19, maybe even up to 20—to be extra careful... just common sense, really.

You know, I actually had no idea. I thought once they grew, they stayed that way. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

Jerry Gonzalez2 said:I know perfectly well that adding extra hormones and chemicals is hard on my body, but at my age, having a small chest is genuinely an issue for me.
The real problem is that we have a family doctor, and she finds out about every single medical visit if I try to go on my own. I'm also terrified of talking to my mom about this; I know it would just stress her out, and she'd definitely tell me not to do it—just like any typical American mother.
One more thing: regardless of how much they grew for you, how long did it take? Did it happen quickly, or did it take quite a while before you noticed even a slight difference? 🙂

I get that you're feeling insecure about it, but maybe it's just something you have to accept. 😉 I'm not much older than you myself (I'm 20), and I felt just as awkward showing up in a swimsuit at prom because I'm on the skinnier side, but eventually, you kind of stop caring and learn to love yourself as you are. 🙂
And don't worry, guys aren't going to reject you just because you have small breasts. 😁 Anyone who would do that isn't worth your time anyway (it's a cliché, I know, but it's true, I guess 😁).

To be honest, I didn't even notice a change myself; it was actually my boyfriend who noticed they felt a bit fuller to the touch 🤣 after about a month. Actually, I feel like they were a tiny bit fuller during the first two months, but then they seemed to settle back to normal, even though I'm still taking them 🤷.

Look, it’s different for everyone... you can never really predict how it'll go—it all depends on the specific pill, how your own body reacts...
For instance, a friend of mine stayed on her period, but she also packed on 15 pounds during those two years she was taking them.
As for me, while I was off the pills for a three-month break, my cycle went back to normal—but now it's starting to get irregular again.
There are perks, sure—better cycle regulation, breast enlargement, lighter and less painful periods. But honestly, messing with hormones and throwing your natural balance out of whack always leaves a mark... you shouldn't just play around with it.
🙂

*Paul Rivera* said:
I think you're just feeling insecure about it, but honestly, it’s something you just have to accept. 😉 I'm not much older than you myself (I'm 20), and I felt just as awkward showing up in a swimsuit at my high school prom because I was on the smaller side, too. But eventually, it stops being such a big deal and you just learn to love yourself as you are. 🙂
And don't sweat it—guys aren't going to reject you just because you have small breasts. 😁 The ones who would judge you based on that aren't worth your time anyway (cliché, I know, but it's true 😁).

To be honest, I didn't even notice a difference in myself; it was actually my boyfriend who pointed out they felt a little fuller to the touch 🤣 after about a month. Actually, I feel like they were slightly fuller during the first two months, but then they went back to normal even though I'm still taking them 🤷.

Mine are pretty small too, so when they swell up a bit right before my period, I feel a lot better, though unfortunately, it doesn't last long. 😳
I have to admit, I'm almost scared to even take them, but then I see girls with huge chests spilling out of their shirts, and it's hard not to feel a bit down about it. 🙂

Maybe as I get older, I'll finally make peace with how they look. Fingers crossed! 🙂