Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

I have a question,
does anyone happen to know when you're actually supposed to stop taking birth control pills? Like, is there some rule where you have to finish the entire pack first?

gentlefox2 said:I have a question,
does anyone happen to know when you're actually supposed to stop taking birth control pills? Like, is there some rule where you have to finish the entire pack first?

Yeah—honestly, it’s much easier on your system if you just finish the whole thing.😉

One question...
I’ve been on Logest since May 5th. My boyfriend is heading off to college soon, while I’m staying put. I was thinking about quitting the pill once he leaves in September, mostly because it doesn't make financial sense to pay for $27 birth control just to have sex once or twice during that time.
He should be back around June.
Is it risky—or just plain stupid—to start taking them again just for the summer, like maybe 3 or 4 packs, and then stop once he heads out?
I was also considering buying those few packs ahead of time since my prescription is good for a year. (Though, honestly, I’m not sure if a pharmacist will actually check the date and realize it’s expired; I highly doubt it.) I really don't feel like going back to the gynecologist and sitting in a waiting room for three hours just to get one piece of paper.
So far, I haven't had any side effects. Maybe feeling a bit more down sometimes, but I can't tell if that's from the pills or not. I did feel a little dizzy once, but I'm pretty sure it was just exhaustion from barely sleeping and waking up too fast.

Look, I’m just going to say it—because someone clearly has to—this whole situation is driving me absolutely up the wall! It’s like when you’re trying to follow a simple recipe for chocolate chip cookies, right? Everything seems fine, you’ve got your flour, your sugar, your butter... then suddenly, out of nowhere, someone decides to swap the baking soda for salt. Just total chaos for no reason at all! That’s exactly how this feels. It’s messy, it’s unnecessary, and frankly, it’s exhausting. I feel like I’m shouting into a void here—just constant, repetitive nonsense that could be avoided if people actually used a shred of common sense. Honestly, it’s enough to make you want to just throw your hands up and walk away from the keyboard entirely. Does anyone else feel this level of pure, unadulterated frustration, or am I just sitting here losing my mind alone? Because seriously, it's getting ridiculous! kaže:
Look, I’m going to be straight with you—I’m not a doctor, so don't go taking my word for it like it's gospel written in stone, but honestly? This whole idea sounds like a recipe for a massive headache, both physically and mentally. It’s that classic "temporary fix" trap, right? Like trying to patch a leaky roof with duct tape just because it's raining today, only to realize later that the structural damage is still there and now you've got sticky residue everywhere. You're talking about cycling through three or four boxes of pills just to get through the summer months—basically treating your hormones like a seasonal subscription service—and then just hitting the "stop" button once he's out of the picture? It feels... I don't know, a little reckless? And let's be real, a bit chaotic. Your body isn't a thermostat you can just crank up in July and shut off in September without some serious side effects. Hormones are finicky things—they're more like a delicate ecosystem than a simple light switch. You start messing with the levels like that, and you might find yourself dealing with mood swings that make a roller coaster look stable, or skin issues, or just feeling completely "off." And the emotional logic behind it—doing this specifically because of *him*—that’s the part that really sticks in my craw. It’s like setting a timer on a bomb and hoping it doesn't go off until you've moved to a different state. It’s risky, it's probably going to be a wild ride for your system, and frankly, it sounds exhausting. Just... please, talk to an actual medical professional before you decide to play chemist with your own biology. It's not worth the fallout.

Exactly! You’re basically just sending your system into total shock—like, you can't just flip a switch and expect everything to run smoothly without a massive reaction. It's like trying to jump straight into an ice bath when you're sweating in a sauna; your body is just going to freak out.

hmmm....
Well, there's still almost a year left. But I’m definitely stopping up with them this fall, after these next few months. Just, I wouldn't want to be using condoms all next summer 😢 (since we're talking every day or every other day) 😢
And who knows if we'll even still be together by then? (For now, let's just assume we will).

No offense, but what does it even matter if he’s out of the picture—does that really mean you have to quit taking the pill? 🤷 I mean, for me, they help with way more than just birth control: my skin is clearer, I deal with fewer breakouts, my period cramps are basically non-existent, and everything only lasts like three days... Personally, I think you should stick with them, but hey, that’s just my two cents...

Because honestly, everything feels pretty much the same to me. My digestion is doing its usual thing—sometimes things move, sometimes they don't. My menstrual cycle is almost exactly like before, too. I still have to take Ketonal because the pain is real, even if it’s a different kind of ache this time, and maybe it lasts a day less (around 4-5 days total). I haven't gained or lost any weight from them either; basically, there just hasn't been any noticeable change...

Hey everyone,

Quick question. I went to my OB-GYN and she prescribed Diane birth control, telling me to start on day five of my period. Even the woman at the pharmacy said the same thing. The only issue is the box says to start on the first day of my period.

This is what I found online: "If you start contraceptive pills on the first day of your period, you're protected from pregnancy starting immediately. If you wait until the fifth day of your cycle, it’s better to assume you won't be protected until you start your second pack."

I don't get it.

Paul Hernandez18 said:Hey everyone,

Quick question. I went to my OB-GYN and she prescribed Diane birth control, telling me to start on day five of my period. Even the woman at the pharmacy said the same thing. The only issue is the box says to start on the first day of my period.

This is what I found online: "If you start contraceptive pills on the first day of your period, you're protected from pregnancy starting immediately. If you wait until the fifth day of your cycle, it’s better to assume you won't be protected until you start your second pack."

I don't get it.

Look, once you get your period, just take the first pill on day one. Later on, after you finish the 21 days of pills and hit your break, the bleeding usually starts within a few days (during that 7-day gap). You just need to take the next pill on the eighth day regardless of whether you're still bleeding or not. That usually ends up being around the fourth or fifth day of your cycle, and you just follow that pattern every month. Cheers.

PS—Both the doctor and the instructions on the box are actually fine; there isn't some massive conflict here. It really just comes down to timing. If you start on day one, you’re protected right away. If you wait until day five, you're essentially playing it safe by waiting until the next pack for full protection.

PPS—I also answered your other question regarding 😉

The issue is I actually listened to my gynecologist and now I’m on day five! Today is technically day one. So, I guess, just to be safe, should I wait until the fifth day? Or maybe just start the second day now? Probably better to just listen to the doctor, I guess.

But honestly, am I just poisoning myself for nothing right now?

Paul Hernandez18 said:Hey everyone,

Quick question. I went to my OB-GYN and she prescribed Diane birth control, telling me to start on day five of my period. Even the woman at the pharmacy said the same thing. The only issue is the box says to start on the first day of my period.

This is what I found online: "If you start contraceptive pills on the first day of your period, you're protected from pregnancy starting immediately. If you wait until the fifth day of your cycle, it’s better to assume you won't be protected until you start your second pack."

I don't get it.

So basically, you can start on either the first or the fifth day—it doesn't matter. The difference is just what you wrote yourself: if you start on day one, you're protected right away, but if you wait until day five, you won't be fully covered this month; you'll have to wait until you start the next pack.

Honestly, they're a disaster. After just a few days, my libido completely tanked, I'm dealing with dryness, and I'm totally disappointed—especially considering the price tag.

So, there you go, in case anyone is on the fence.

Oh, and most importantly, my skin hasn't improved at all. So far, it’s just been nothing but side effects.

What kind of drastic skin transformations are you expecting after just a few days? 😕

Hi, I was on Yasmin for two years but had to stop because my moods were all over the place...
I haven't taken anything for a year now, but I'm thinking about starting again. Not Yasmin though—I want something else, preferably something that might help with a little breast growth... any suggestions?
It's currently day four of my period, so should I just start practically drinking it now? I really want to get going within the next few days...

I have a question that might sound a bit silly...

Basically, I still have that prescription from my OB-GYN for birth control pills (Cileste). I was taking them for a while, but I haven't touched them for about two months now.
So, here's the thing: I just realized that during the only three days this summer when I’ll actually have some alone time with my partner, I’m supposed to be on my period. That’s happening in about 15 days—right in the middle of my cycle. Can I start taking the pills now? I really want to push my period back, even just a little, to get that effect from the medication...
What do you all think?
I know playing around with hormones isn't exactly something you should... mess with, but these three days of privacy and solitude are everything to me this summer, so...

Ethan Perez5 is at it again. Just pure, unadulterated mischief. kaže:
Hey everyone, just wanted to share that I’ve been nursing Yasmin for two years now, but I finally had to make the tough call to stop because her mood swings became way too intense to manage.
It’s been a full year since I last touched anything, and I’m thinking about getting back into it. However, I definitely don't want to go back to Yasmin—I'm looking for something different. Ideally, I'd love something that might actually help with a little extra boost in the bust area. Any suggestions?
Is it already the fourth quarter of the fiscal year? Does that mean I need to start digging into the actual data right now? Because honestly, I’m looking to hit the ground running this week.

How many times do we have to repeat that these pills are an individual matter? They don't react the same way in everyone. Just because someone else saw breast growth from something like Estrogen, for example, doesn't mean you will. Period. Only your gynecologist can tell you which ones are right for your body—that’s the end of the story. No need for all this heavy philosophy. For all you know, your breasts might not grow at all from any of them. And hey, if you really need a boost, I can always help you out. 🙂

Jason Brown68 said:I have a question that might sound a bit silly...

Basically, I still have that prescription from my OB-GYN for birth control pills (Cileste). I was taking them for a while, but I haven't touched them for about two months now.
So, here's the thing: I just realized that during the only three days this summer when I’ll actually have some alone time with my partner, I’m supposed to be on my period. That’s happening in about 15 days—right in the middle of my cycle. Can I start taking the pills now? I really want to push my period back, even just a little, to get that effect from the medication...
What do you all think?
I know playing around with hormones isn't exactly something you should... mess with, but these three days of privacy and solitude are everything to me this summer, so...

You can't exactly postpone a cycle once it's mid-swing; your only real move is to get a quick consultation from a specialist like Dr. Dabroston.

Jason Brown68 said:I have a question that might sound a bit silly...

Basically, I still have that prescription from my OB-GYN for birth control pills (Cileste). I was taking them for a while, but I haven't touched them for about two months now.
So, here's the thing: I just realized that during the only three days this summer when I’ll actually have some alone time with my partner, I’m supposed to be on my period. That’s happening in about 15 days—right in the middle of my cycle. Can I start taking the pills now? I really want to push my period back, even just a little, to get that effect from the medication...
What do you all think?
I know playing around with hormones isn't exactly something you should... mess with, but these three days of privacy and solitude are everything to me this summer, so...

Look, 😁Andrew Anderson6😛 is right. You won't achieve that effect; you'll likely just end up completely throwing your hormones out of balance. And if you're looking to be intimate, you're going to be intimate whether you have your period or not.

I was wondering if anyone who actually knows—not that I’m reading everything here since it constantly distracts me—could tell me exactly which blood tests I need to get done for birth control pills?

If you tell your primary care physician that you need blood work done because you're on birth control, they’ll know exactly what to order. In principle, though, the big ones you want to watch are your liver enzymes, iron levels, and cholesterol—and it wouldn't hurt to check your coagulation profile too.

Jason Brown68 said:I have a question that might sound a bit silly...

Basically, I still have that prescription from my OB-GYN for birth control pills (Cileste). I was taking them for a while, but I haven't touched them for about two months now.
So, here's the thing: I just realized that during the only three days this summer when I’ll actually have some alone time with my partner, I’m supposed to be on my period. That’s happening in about 15 days—right in the middle of my cycle. Can I start taking the pills now? I really want to push my period back, even just a little, to get that effect from the medication...
What do you all think?
I know playing around with hormones isn't exactly something you should... mess with, but these three days of privacy and solitude are everything to me this summer, so...

I'm in the exact same boat regarding my partner and the timing. I stopped taking the pill too, and I'm planning on picking up some Cilest and starting it a few days before my period is due... just to push it back.