Can we talk birth control ladies ?

24

Replies

  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.
    Just? You say it like it means nothing.
  • Untilproud11
    Untilproud11 Posts: 297 Member
    I forgot to mention:

    Anyone on a combination of metformin and birth control pills?
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    No. Forcing a vasectomy. I have no issue with condoms what so ever.
    Nobody said anything about anyone forcing anyone to do anything. You made that up. Other than your disapproval of the thing nobody said, do you have anything to add?
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    Birth control is a two way thing, you have BOTH got responsibilities, and personally if a guy had a vasectomy and wanted to have unprotected sex with me, it be a no way Jose till he had his pecker checked out and tested at the doctors. I take my sexual health very seriously, and before going serious with my current partner, we discussed birth control, and before deciding I was going on the pill, we Both got tested.

    I 100% agree it is both peoples responsibility.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    No. Forcing a vasectomy. I have no issue with condoms what so ever.

    Vasectomy wasn't the only option she gave, so, no, she wasn't making a vasectomy ultimatum.
    If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control.
  • ald783
    ald783 Posts: 688 Member
    I've been on the pill for the last 15 years, 2 different pills and then the generic of the second one, and I've never found it affected my weight. I prefer being on the pill.. I just feel like it regulates my body better in a number of different ways.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    As far as birth control pills, unfortunately I can not longer take it. I had a severe reaction to it earlier this year after trying to go back on it. I had taken it before without issue, but came off it. Earlier this year, I tried (seeing as I'd rather not have a physical barrier since in a committed relationship with two wonderful people) but wound up in the hospital. I don recall any weight gain, in fact, I lost weight on it because I was so sick all of the time.

    Currently using nuvaring, and love it!!! Has not had an impact on weight loss and I seem to have no side effects from it so far.
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    I do not want this thread high jacked, I believe most of us in this thread are "safe in our own ways" personally I would like to hear more opinions about your personal experiences with birth control, as I see mentioned weight gain, cravings, no issues at all and reduced sex drive, and that only on page 1 :smile:
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    I've had the implanon in my arm for 4 years. I've heard that it CAN make you gain weight... but I think it just depends on the woman. It does give me INSANE mood swings and makes me want to eat everything in sight, but I control that urge.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    Try searching. this is literally asked multiple times a week with the exact same answers. Some swear it magically makes you gain weight (which is false), people who have no problems, and those who find that it increases your hunger and acknowledge that's why they gained weight. Then a bunch of filler about other symptoms which can and do flake to people. If you aren't getting these answers from your prescribing physician get a new doctor. Educating you about medication they prescribe is kinda their job. Same with a pharmacist.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I tried the Nuvaring ages ago and Oh, my gosh (!) did my breasts swell. It was like when you're nursing and the baby hasn't fed and they're so sore, but all day long. They say it gets better after a week or two, but there was no way I could've been able to stand it for that long.

    I don't know if the pills contributed to my weight gain. I was so hypothyroid that it would be hard to separate the two, so there's no telling.
  • MorganMoreaux
    MorganMoreaux Posts: 691 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    I tried the Nuvaring ages ago and Oh, my gosh (!) did my breasts swell. It was like when you're nursing and the baby hasn't fed and they're so sore, but all day long. They say it gets better after a week or two, but there was no way I could've been able to stand it for that long.

    I don't know if the pills contributed to my weight gain. I was so hypothyroid that it would be hard to separate the two, so there's no telling.

    OMG - yes. I tried it when it first came out and my breast swelled to the next cup size, and we're that way the whole time I was on it. Needless to say I only stayed on it for two months - so uncomfortable. It also induced some really weird food cravings. I didn't gain weight because I was a poor starving college student back then and couldn't afford to indulge in superfluous eating. If I could, I probably would have gained weight.
  • LastingChanges
    LastingChanges Posts: 390 Member
    edited November 2015
    I've had the implanon in my arm for 4 years. I've heard that it CAN make you gain weight... but I think it just depends on the woman. It does give me INSANE mood swings and makes me want to eat everything in sight, but I control that urge.

    Mood swings, forgot about this one. While I was on pills, I would have like random crying spells. Anything that would upset me would make me cry so much. Without them I am not like this at all lol.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    I've been on a few different versions of the pill since I was 17. Overall I am very pro-Pill, although I do think often it's a case of trial and error until you find the best fit. I suffer with anaemia so the ability to reduce the number of periods I have is fantastic. It also had the wonderful effect of clearing up my oily, spotty skin as a teenager. However, I do get intermittent breast tenderness and I'm beginning to suspect it's responsible for my sex drive being on the low side (my interest perks RIGHT up during the pill break and then dips again once I start the new pack). No version of the Pill I've ever tried has had a noticeable effect on my weight/appetite, although one did cause me to feel bloated (the scale didn't reflect this).
  • KrisiAnnH
    KrisiAnnH Posts: 352 Member
    lizwooshy wrote: »
    I've been taking the pill for about 5 years and I've definitely gained weight since then, but who doesn't gain weight after high school? Lol. So it's hard to say if that's the cause.

    I will say that I think my bc effects my moods and definitely makes me bloated. I get irritable very quickly and feel fatigued very often. I hardly remember the person I was before bc so idk if the pill is the cause or not.

    With that being said, the pill has not hindered my ability to lose weight (24 pounds and counting)

    Agree with this! I've been on the pill for about 4 years now (the combined pill; Marvelon, rebranded recently as Geddarol - if you're in the UK/interested in the name). I did gain weight after starting it, but then that is very very likely due to being in college/over eating. I've also lost weight on it, so I definitely believe that it has absolutely no impact on weight loss whatsoever.

    I personally prefer being on the pill to au naturale, as it means I can regulate TOM (ie. if I want to back to back the pills and skip a break week, no biggie), which means I dont have to have a week of cravings every month. To be clear, it doesnt matter whether I'm on the pill or off, I've always had cravings during my TOM. Something to do with stomach cramps makes me not want to eat for 3 days then eat everything in sight. But it's manageable.

    TLDR; it will have no affect apart from maybe cravings; if you want to lose weight you will, its about willpower and calorie deficit :)
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Try searching. this is literally asked multiple times a week with the exact same answers............. If you aren't getting these answers from your prescribing physician get a new doctor. Educating you about medication they prescribe is kinda their job. Same with a pharmacist.

    Pharmacists are not doctors, and doctors are not Gods, they are humans like the rest of us, not infallible, nor the tree of knowledge (unfortunately). Therefore I like threads like these where we all share our experiences, as different people react differently not just to birth control but to most things. Where I live, changing your GP btw is not that easy, you have a small catchment area, and if you live outside of it, you cannot change to a GP in that area.
  • Untilproud11
    Untilproud11 Posts: 297 Member
    Bump for anyone with experience on metformin + birth control
  • soapsandropes
    soapsandropes Posts: 269 Member
    Been on the pill for 17 years, the only reason I have gained weight is because I ate too much food.
  • ghouli
    ghouli Posts: 207 Member
    I've been taking Mononessa for a while now and I'm really happy with it. I've pretty much only had positive side effects from it, like my skin clearing up when I started taking it and I seem to have a lot less breakouts around my period, and my cramps are less severe. Period comes right on time every time.

    Never gained weight from it, and I also never experienced any weird or different cravings.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    edited November 2015
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Try searching. this is literally asked multiple times a week with the exact same answers............. If you aren't getting these answers from your prescribing physician get a new doctor. Educating you about medication they prescribe is kinda their job. Same with a pharmacist.

    Pharmacists are not doctors, and doctors are not Gods, they are humans like the rest of us, not infallible, nor the tree of knowledge (unfortunately). Therefore I like threads like these where we all share our experiences, as different people react differently not just to birth control but to most things. Where I live, changing your GP btw is not that easy, you have a small catchment area, and if you live outside of it, you cannot change to a GP in that area.

    It is absolutely a pharmacists job to educate about medications. Most know more than MDs; that's what they go to school for.

    Even if you can't change your doctor you should still make they sure they are educating you.

    Edit: and no offense but I would certainly trust a doctor or pharmacist over random internet people and their opinions. As a nurse I see people do all kinds of wacky stuff because of misinformation they read on the Internet, some which has resulted in disastrous consequences. Doctors and pharmacists may not be God and a good thing too, they go to school to learn about this, it's not just based on their opinions, but on clinical studies most people here I venture haven't read through them (though I highly encourage people to read them and educate yourself about anything you takes so you can make informed decisions).

  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Try searching. this is literally asked multiple times a week with the exact same answers............. If you aren't getting these answers from your prescribing physician get a new doctor. Educating you about medication they prescribe is kinda their job. Same with a pharmacist.

    Pharmacists are not doctors, and doctors are not Gods, they are humans like the rest of us, not infallible, nor the tree of knowledge (unfortunately). Therefore I like threads like these where we all share our experiences, as different people react differently not just to birth control but to most things. Where I live, changing your GP btw is not that easy, you have a small catchment area, and if you live outside of it, you cannot change to a GP in that area.

    It is absolutely a pharmacists job to educate about medications. Most know more than MDs; that's what they go to school for.

    Even if you can't change your doctor you should still make they sure they are educating you.

    Edit: and no offense but I would certainly trust a doctor or pharmacist over random internet people and their opinions. As a nurse I see people do all kinds of wacky stuff because of misinformation they read on the Internet, some which has resulted in disastrous consequences. Doctors and pharmacists may not be God and a good thing too, they go to school to learn about this, it's not just based on their opinions, but on clinical studies most people here I venture haven't read through them (though I highly encourage people to read them and educate yourself about anything you takes so you can make informed decisions).

    I always advocate that all patients research any medication they are asked to take independently.

    I have had pharmacists swear up and down a medication is safe for me, for me to read the inactive ingredients, and immediately realize I am allergic to them. Yes-pharmacists can be a good source of information, but they should not be the only place a person gets medication information. Also- there is a difference between pharmacist and pharmacy technician, which some places do not make clear who is who when you ask to speak to someone.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Lathandria wrote: »
    I had the Mirena IUD for 5 Years. I just had it taken out in June of this year. I gained about 30lbs while on it, but I didn't exactly eat the best either so whether or not it was all from the BC I couldn't really say. On a side note about Birth Control, I got sterilized when I had my Mirena taken out. I had the Essure put in and it is HELL. I have to see an obgyn this month about having a hysterectomy to have it removed. (Only way because its inserted in your Fallopian tubes permanently. ) And when my OB implanted it when he took my Mirena out, he said my Mirena IUD was lodged into me and he had to yank on it to get it out. He said if I was in his office trying to remove it he wouldn't have been able to and that I would have had to have surgery anyway. (I was already having surgery to have the Essure put in) But still..it freaked me the hell out. I don't recommend to ANYONE I know to get ANYTHING implanted into their body anymore. Have your man get a vasectomy or use condoms, seriously, its not worth it to me anymore.

    @Lathandria There was a news story on the other night about ESSURE. There are many women suing the company who makes it due to a myriad of complications. It sounds like a dreadful, painful and not a full proof method of birth control :disappointed:

    Good luck to you, and from what i've read you're doing absolutely the right thing having it removed xx
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Oh, and I've been on the pill for my whole adult life, so don't know if i have any side effects or not, but i only started gaining weight in the last few years, so i guess weight gain did not affect me.
    My husband had a vasectomy 2mths ago, so one more pill packet than i'm off of it forever!!! :lol: It'll be interesting to see if i notice any changes...
  • proudseal
    proudseal Posts: 83 Member
    I never had any issue with weight gain while on the pill, but I'm sure every drug and every woman will be a little different.
    As a side note/caution, birth control pills can completely kill your ability to feel aroused. Doesn't happen to everyone on it, but I finally discovered after going off the pill that sex in fact, was NOT actually boring. :)

    ^Yep!

    I switched off the pill several months ago for this and other reasons. I began using FAM (fertility awareness method) and I LOVE IT. If anyone is curious about this, I highly recommend checking it out. It's not for everyone, but if you are sick of the side effects of hormones, it's worth looking into. I am happy to chat about it, send me a PM if interested.

    Sorry to go a bit off topic from the OP but I noticed several comments along these lines, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    hekla90 wrote: »
    Try searching. this is literally asked multiple times a week with the exact same answers............. If you aren't getting these answers from your prescribing physician get a new doctor. Educating you about medication they prescribe is kinda their job. Same with a pharmacist.

    Pharmacists are not doctors, and doctors are not Gods, they are humans like the rest of us, not infallible, nor the tree of knowledge (unfortunately). Therefore I like threads like these where we all share our experiences, as different people react differently not just to birth control but to most things. Where I live, changing your GP btw is not that easy, you have a small catchment area, and if you live outside of it, you cannot change to a GP in that area.

    It is absolutely a pharmacists job to educate about medications. Most know more than MDs; that's what they go to school for.

    Even if you can't change your doctor you should still make they sure they are educating you.

    Edit: and no offense but I would certainly trust a doctor or pharmacist over random internet people and their opinions. As a nurse I see people do all kinds of wacky stuff because of misinformation they read on the Internet, some which has resulted in disastrous consequences. Doctors and pharmacists may not be God and a good thing too, they go to school to learn about this, it's not just based on their opinions, but on clinical studies most people here I venture haven't read through them (though I highly encourage people to read them and educate yourself about anything you takes so you can make informed decisions).

    I know you mean no offence, but it took 20 YEARS before I got diagnosed as gluten insensitive after visiting numerous GP's in two different countries I might add (according to my mother, my issues goes back 35 years as to when she realised something was not right) my GP then messed up all my testing and subsequent testing by giving me the wrong advice after I had listened to and spoken to people in threads like these. They are not perfect, they are general practicioners. I am sure they want to know everything but let's be honest they cannot, they are expected to know it all, but how can they possible get all the knowledge we all demand from them? There are so many conditions, and symptoms that they simply cannot see and recognise all. That is a simple fact. Not a derogatory comment about GP's who do their best, and in the majority of the cases do a fantastic job btw.

    After reading threads like these my GP finally sent me for testing for Celiac Disease after telling me to stay off the gluten, which causes false readings, so even though my readings off the gluten was elevated I am not diagnosed as me being off the gluten would have naturally reduced the levels. I cannot do months of eating gluten again and being ill to redo the testing, and no I am not blaming my GP. Yes, she should know and recognise the symptoms, and should have given me different advice, but she is only human, can only take in that much knowledge into her mind and recall it.

    Hence threads like these are still invaluable for a lot of sufferers around the world, it raises issues which we in turn can discuss with our GP's if we feel we are suffering from it.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Not sure why the woman should have to always pay, either in terms of money or in cost to health. This seems pretty fair to me...though I can't imagine not using a backup method if both partners are fertile.

    There are tons of different pills and other options available today--if you find that one doesn't work for you, simply try another. Reading the medication circulars before starting a new script can also give you an idea of whether or not it is likely to cause weight gain.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    No. Forcing a vasectomy. I have no issue with condoms what so ever.

    Ah, that makes more sense!

    A lot of these things really depend on the context of the relationship.
  • Kimegatron
    Kimegatron Posts: 772 Member
    I lost my drive when I was pregnant. I felt horrible. It was the most farthest thing from my mind. Then after my kid, I was put on minastrin24 fe, and still no drive what so ever, and still feeling horrible. Did anyone experience that with that medication or during/after pregnancy? I'd never been like this, and it puts so much stress on my marriage :( My doctor said it's not often this happens during pregnancy, but it does happen. I told my husband to wear a Robert Downey Jr. mask, but he refuses.
  • ogmomma2012
    ogmomma2012 Posts: 1,520 Member
    Hormonal B/C doesn't effect me like that. Sorry, I can't help. Just pay attention to your urges and try to find a pattern.
  • besee_2000
    besee_2000 Posts: 365 Member
    edited November 2015
    Kimegatron wrote: »
    I lost my drive
    I've tried Maca Root. It worked for like a few weeks.