Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

hm I need to switch from Diana to Triquilar, what's the monthly cost?

Olivia Lopez10 said:They recommended it to me at Harnier, but I haven't actually started taking it yet.

Hey Ali, I just popped into the Walgreens right next door to the old warehouse. Picked them up without even ordering ahead, but man, they aren't cheap. $147😲I almost passed out when that guy told me the number. Seriously, though—the packaging is only good for three uses.

I used to drink Diane for years, and those things were pricey. Even back then, paying about $7 for Yasmin felt like a splurge (now it's closer to $8), and now I’m looking at a dose every three months. $147 I’m a disaster. It feels like I only ever work for pharma or related industries—think stuff like beer, face creams, probiotics, contact lens solutions, you name it.

So, who hasn't started asking about this thing yet? I'm waiting to hear some actual commentary.

😲 If you order from that pharmacy over in Manhattan, it comes out to about $117 for a three-cycle supply. And for just one—$63 🙄
.
Regardless, I decided to go with Logest 😁
.

Harold Howard7 said:hm I need to switch from Diana to Triquilar, what's the monthly cost?

It was $15 a few years back, but it should be somewhere around $50...

I started my last period on Wednesday (June 17th) and took my very first Yasmina pill yesterday. After having taken just three pills, I had sex with my boyfriend and he finished inside me. Is there any chance the pills haven't kicked in yet, and should I take an emergency contraceptive? Thanks🙂

Rachel Young4 said:I started my last period on Wednesday (June 17th) and took my very first Yasmina pill yesterday. After having taken just three pills, I had sex with my boyfriend and he finished inside me. Is there any chance the pills haven't kicked in yet, and should I take an emergency contraceptive? Thanks🙂

Nope, you’re good! You’re protected from day one...

I've been waiting for an answer like this🙂thanks so much🙂

brightbear said:Nope, you’re good! You’re protected from day one...

I don't want Hermina to think I'm trying to argue, but the discrepancy in this advice is absolutely fascinating. Having lived in both the UK and Ireland, doctors there told me that for certain pills, you aren't protected during the first seven days—or even for the entire first pack. Yet here in America, they claim you're covered starting with the very first pill.

So, what is a woman supposed to make of that?

I’m moving to America soon, and honestly, I’m at a loss. The difference in medical advice and the types of pills available is like night and day. Now, you be the genius and figure out who actually has it right.

I’ve taken them on numerous occasions, always under the impression that I was protected from day one, but predictably, I haven't conceived once.

Laura Mendoza said:I’ve taken them on numerous occasions, always under the impression that I was protected from day one, but predictably, I haven't conceived once.

It’s not that I don’t trust what you women say, but when I read certain things that would be an absolute "no way" back home, they seem perfectly acceptable here in the States.

I’m moving to Seattle in a week, and I’ve spent so much time reading through threads about gynecologists in the Pacific Northwest that the more I read, the more confused I get. I’m still waiting for someone to actually reply to my question in the 'Gynecologists' thread.
People might think I’m being dense, but there is a massive difference in how gynecological care, medications, and general advice are handled here compared to where I grew up. Having lived abroad for 16 years, I’ve basically had to relearn how people think and give advice.🤷

Aaron Garcia3... just sitting here thinking about how everything feels like it's spinning a little too fast lately. You know that feeling? Like you're on a tilt-a-whirl that won't slow down no matter how much you brace yourself... anyway, just checking in. kaže:
Hey, Hermina, don't go thinking I'm trying to push back on you—honestly, I’m just completely fascinated by how different the advice is here compared to what I've heard elsewhere. It’s wild... I lived in the UK for a while and now I’m over in Ireland, and in both places, my gynecologists were super clear: for most types of birth control pills, you aren't really protected during those first seven days, and for some specific brands, you might not be covered for the entire first pack. But then you look at the guidance in America and they tell you that you're protected starting from the very first pill... it's such a strange discrepancy...

And what exactly is a woman supposed to think about all this? Honestly...

I'm moving to the States soon, and honestly, I’m completely lost. The gap between what people say you should do for advice versus what they actually prescribe on tablets is basically like comparing heaven and earth... so, good luck being "smart" enough to figure out who’s actually right here...

But look, even if we’re talking about a standard cycle, ovulation wouldn't even be on the table during those first seven days after your period ends anyway... regardless of how you slice it...
Plus, there's that whole thing where the bleeding usually drags on a bit longer when you first start... for me, it was about ten days...
If you’ve missed the pill for seven days out of a twenty-one-day cycle, then let’s be real—it isn't providing any protection at all. At that point, calling it contraception is just wishful thinking... it's basically useless.
If there were even the slightest chance that the pill wouldn't kick in from the get-go, you can bet manufacturers wouldn't be playing games like that... they’d have put a warning right there on the insert. Instead, they list every single possible side effect—even the ones that are practically impossible—but when it comes to protection, the fine print is crystal clear about how reliable it is. It's all just part of the business, really... Since day one...

Aaron Garcia36 said:It’s not that I don’t trust what you women say, but when I read certain things that would be an absolute "no way" back home, they seem perfectly acceptable here in the States.

I’m moving to Seattle in a week, and I’ve spent so much time reading through threads about gynecologists in the Pacific Northwest that the more I read, the more confused I get. I’m still waiting for someone to actually reply to my question in the 'Gynecologists' thread.
People might think I’m being dense, but there is a massive difference in how gynecological care, medications, and general advice are handled here compared to where I grew up. Having lived abroad for 16 years, I’ve basically had to relearn how people think and give advice.🤷

I think you really ought to stop stressing yourself out so much. As my handle suggests, I’m originally from San Diego, and I have an absolutely fantastic gynecologist there—I've never had even the slightest issue with her. Plus, when it comes to my overall health, I’m hitting a perfect five out of five. So... maybe just try dialing back the paranoia a bit to start with? 😉

Nathan Gomez8 said:😲 If you order from that pharmacy over in Manhattan, it comes out to about $117 for a three-cycle supply. And for just one—$63 🙄
.
Regardless, I decided to go with Logest 😁
.

It was $15 a few years back, but it should be somewhere around $50...

Thanks, I just picked up 58 today 😳

Nathan Gomez8 said:😲 If you order from that pharmacy over in Manhattan, it comes out to about $117 for a three-cycle supply. And for just one—$63 🙄
.
Regardless, I decided to go with Logest 😁
.

It was $15 a few years back, but it should be somewhere around $50...

Wait, I don't get it. How can there be such a massive price gap?

Honestly, I don't see how they can even sell drugs that aren't approved here in the States.
It’s a total rip-off, no matter how you look at it. Plus, gynecologists hand these out like candy; none of them will actually prescribe Diane on a standard prescription.

I'm curious about how long it takes for breast sensitivity and growth to kick in after starting birth control pills. Is it actually possible to notice changes after just about 10 days? Thanks!

Olivia Lopez10 said:Wait, I don't get it. How can there be such a massive price gap?

Honestly, I don't see how they can even sell drugs that aren't approved here in the States.
It’s a total rip-off, no matter how you look at it. Plus, gynecologists hand these out like candy; none of them will actually prescribe Diane on a standard prescription.

I honestly have no idea; that is just what the woman at the pharmacy told me. I was completely stunned, so I just turned around and walked away.🤣

I posted this question on another thread, but there’s no harm in asking here as well. I have the instructions in front of me, yet I find myself quite confused.

So, when I was taking Yaz, this was my exact routine: I would start a new pack on Tuesday. I’d take my very last pill on Monday, and then begin the next cycle on Tuesday of the following week. Essentially, a seven-day break, starting the next pack on day eight. Does the same logic apply to Loestrin, since that is what I am using now? All these conflicting details are making things difficult for me.😢

Here I go again. 😬😂

This is a direct quote from the official CILEST® website.

Once you’ve gone through your first pack of CILEST®, take 7 days off—that's when your period happens. Once those 7 days are up, start your next pack, regardless of whether you're still bleeding or not. You're supposed to start the new pack on the exact same day of the week every single time.

So, like I already told you—you don't take anything for 7 full days, then on the eighth day, you start the next pack. Period. 🙂

Alright people, so today I went ahead and took a pill that I wasn't actually supposed to touch until tomorrow...
I am completely losing my grip on what day it even is—honestly, I’m a total wreck because these college finals have my brain feeling like absolute mush...
So, what’s the move here? Should I just take the actual pill I was meant to have today as well, or...??
And more importantly—is my birth control for this month officially out the window now??

Grace Jones3 said:Here I go again. 😬😂

This is a direct quote from the official CILEST® website.

Once you’ve gone through your first pack of CILEST®, take 7 days off—that's when your period happens. Once those 7 days are up, start your next pack, regardless of whether you're still bleeding or not. You're supposed to start the new pack on the exact same day of the week every single time.

So, like I already told you—you don't take anything for 7 full days, then on the eighth day, you start the next pack. Period. 🙂

Well, it seems everything remains exactly as it was. 🙂 You're welcome.

Patrick Wood said:Alright people, so today I went ahead and took a pill that I wasn't actually supposed to touch until tomorrow...
I am completely losing my grip on what day it even is—honestly, I’m a total wreck because these college finals have my brain feeling like absolute mush...
So, what’s the move here? Should I just take the actual pill I was meant to have today as well, or...??
And more importantly—is my birth control for this month officially out the window now??

Hold up, so you just mixed up the days? If that's all it is, then just take the one you were supposed to have today tomorrow. Did you grab the one labeled Thursday or the Wednesday one? Honestly, doesn't matter. 🙄 The main thing is just making sure you finish the whole pack.

Unless you're on those three-phase packs where they switch every week—then I have no clue how that works. 🤷

Grace Jones3 said:Hold up, so you just mixed up the days? If that's all it is, then just take the one you were supposed to have today tomorrow. Did you grab the one labeled Thursday or the Wednesday one? Honestly, doesn't matter. 🙄 The main thing is just making sure you finish the whole pack.

Unless you're on those three-phase packs where they switch every week—then I have no clue how that works. 🤷

No... I took the Friday pill!
So, should I take today's pill AND the Thursday one (which was the one I was actually supposed to take)?