(LADIES) Birth Control?

bribucks

I hope this is ok to post here, even though it isn't directly diet-related. Hoping my fellow ladies can help me out.

My question is, do you have a birth control pill you love (or hate) and what is it? I know that there is no "cure all" and that everyone is different, but at this point, I'm ready to take any and all suggestions.

When I first started birth control in 2016, I took Loestrin (well, the generic, Microgestin) and absolutely loved it. A little moodiness the first month, but after that, I was fine. Well, manufacturers switched around or something, so I got switched to another generic (supposedly the same active ingredients as Loestrin) called Blisovi. With Blisovi, I experienced increased anxiety and weight gain.

Got a new gyncologist, explained these problems, and she suggested Taytulla since Loestrin is no longer made. First two months on Taytulla, great, no side effects. But the past 3-4 months on this pill, I have felt exhausted, unmotivated, and most of all - EXTREMELY nauseous. Looked up reviews online and discovered that not only are the reviews mostly negative, but Taytulla itself is only a year old. Clearly being a guinea pig was not meant for me. So, I'm once again searching for a new pill.

(Please note that although your personal experience may have been great, I am not at this time interested in getting an IUD or menstrual cup.)

Also, I do have a dr's appointment set to make sure nothing else could be causing these symptoms, such as a vitamin deficiency.

MossiO

Hmm, I'm on Loestrin so pretty sure it's still being made.

PaulaWallaDingDong

I took Mircette (and two generics for it, Kariva and Azurette) for 8 years before my gyno took me off estrogen. I had no real side effects except losing my periods altogether, which I was told wasn't typical, but not a concern, either.

I did gain a ton of weight while taking it, but once I controlled for calories, I had no trouble getting it back off.

Sp1tfire

I take sprintec and it's been really good. I used to get debilitating cramps and missed class in high school 3 days every month. Now I can skip my period every other month if I want to with my doctor's approval!

spzjlb

I used a combined birth control pill for most of 30 years and was fine. Most recent was Yaz, but I never had perturbing side effects. In fact, any of us peri menopausal women use oral contraceptives to lessen unpleasant symptoms...

bribucks

MossiO wrote: »

Hmm, I'm on Loestrin so pretty sure it's still being made.

Hmm sorry maybe I have incorrect information. I know that Microgestin (the generic) was discontinued. I believe Loestrin 24 was discontinued a few years ago and replaced by a chewable called Minastrin. But maybe Loestrin 1/20 is still available - in which case, I think I'll ask my gyno about it!

KristyDonovan

I have a copper IUD and it is THE BEST

Francl27

Probably should be in the chat section.

I got Viorelle. Just threw it in the trash after month 5, so tired of having horrible cramps all the time and bleeding for 2 weeks. Giving up on BC at this point. I've been bleeding for 3 weeks now and I'm not interested in trying something else for a while (irony is that the reason I finally got on the pill is because I'm anemic and the doctor wanted my periods to be lighter! Scared of checking my iron levels at this point).

(menstrual cups have nothing to do with BC)

tinkerbellang83

I was on Loestrin for 15 years before they kicked me off it on account of my BMI 2 years ago (sigh). I had issues with POP Cerazette, which *kitten* -ed up my hormone levels big time. Now have an Non-Hormone IUD and totally understand you not wanting to get one at the moment, the only reason I agreed to get one was because I moved from the UK where birth control is free, to Ireland where it is not. The first 6 months of settling into it were not fun, but now I have no major issues with it.

The weight gain from birth control is usually a combination of water retention and increased appetite, if you're calorie counting you can get around the appetite thing by eating more filling foods and sticking to your allowance.

Heather4448

Nuvaring- LOVE!

H_Ock12

I was on Loestrin 24 for a few years, but continued getting ovarian cysts. I switched to Depo and it was amazing...no periods/moodiness/increased appetite...basically it was amazing. Just to try something new, I got the Nexplanon implant and HATED it...it increased my anxiety and depression, my terrible periods came back, and the ovarian cysts came back with a vengeance. Had it removed early and went back to Depo shot...which I still can't say enough good things about.

bribucks

Thanks for the suggestions. Honestly my biggest concern is the severe nausea I have now - I just can't do it anymore. I actually have a pretty severe phobia of vomiting, so daily nausea is pretty physically and mentally dehibilitating for me. I really need a pill that won't make me feel so sick ...

gamerbabe14

Was on Lo Loestrine FE for a year and half, had a stroke, now have a copper IUD, no strokes yet!

deannalfisher

I've tried pretty much every BC out there - 5 different pill combos, depo, nuvaring and even the patch (do they still make that?) - all of them gave me migranes and nausea of varying levels, except for depo that the military would no longer prescribe. So I've been on an IUD for 8yrs now (had my second one inserted in 2014) - I know you aren't looking at that option - but just my experience

toxikon

I've been on Alesse for a few years and Yaz before that and Ortho Tri-Cyclen before that. I've been on them for about 12 years now.

I've never had notable side effects with any of them, honestly. I think I've been lucky. Short, light periods, no acne, no weight gain, no mood swings, nothing.

I am hoping to get an IUD soon. I've been on hormones for so long that I want to see what it's like with a lower, focused dose (Mirena) or no hormones at all (Paragard). I haven't decided which yet. All I know is I'm sick of taking pills, IUDs seem so much easier!

DananaNanas

I'm also on sprintec (mono linyah is generic name). I've been on it since 2009. I started it for obvious reasons but also moodiness. I remember vomiting the first day I took it but have not had any side effects since then. I've gained weight and lost weight on it, I don't think it has had an effect there.

ErinMichelle31

I was on the microgestin for years. When they stopped making it, my dr. gave me Junel, which is supposed to be more or less the same. I did the IUD thing for a year, and without going into too much detail, let me just say it ended badly. I will never do that again. But I find I react to Junel in exactly the same way as the microgestin. I think they are very very similar if not exactly the same.

emcclure013

I, too, was on Microgestin for a few years. My doctor switched me to Yaz for a short time - I had terrible cramps and just felt awful when I switched.

I talked to my primary care doctor and she literally told me that an IUD is "God's gift to women." I got a Mirena implant four years ago and I'm in love. No side effects and I never have to worry about birth control. I know an IUD might not be for everyone, but it has been the perfect solution for me.

Everyone's body reacts differently to different medications, so you might just have to talk with your doctor and find what one works for you. Good luck!

rebeccachobat

I have an IUD and I love it! I don't have to remember to take a pill everyday, it's wonderful

idabest777

I've been on Seasonale for 8 years now and I love it. One of my favourite things about it is that it's a 90 day cycle, I can't imagine going back to getting my period every month. The only side effect I experienced was a very common one where for the first pack (3 months) there was some spotting but since then it has been smooth sailing.

Hichiko

My worst experience was Yaz. I don't normally have cramps, and when I do, they're not much worse than a little discomfort. While I was on Yaz, I had cramps with every period, and they were bad enough to bring me to my knees.
Now, I'm on Blisovi. My periods are fairly light, and I'm back to the very rare, light cramping that I was used to.

leannahope222

I like the patches however most doctors wont give them some will they have risk just like all birth control and I dont use birth control while I am dieting or exercise we just use other protection I feel that the two types of birth control has not made me losses or gain but have kept me where I could not losse it so it stabilize it for me anyhow

cjv73

I have been on Seasonique for several years now, and I love it. It is a 90 day cycle, but within the first few cycles I pretty much stopped getting my period altogether. When I went off of the pill for two months (long story, nothing to do with the pill) my period came right back as normal, so it doesn't appear to mess with my system too much.

I was curious about the difference between Seasonique and Seasonale which was mentioned above, and this is what I found:

Seasonique vs. Seasonale. ... With Seasonale, women take inactive pills during their four yearly periods. With Seasonique, they get a low dose of estrogen during their period, which may provide benefits including less breakthrough bleeding, Barr Pharmaceuticals spokeswoman Carol Cox tells WebMD.

liaoverbrook

does it have to be a pill? I have the implant and that does me so much good!!

SezxyStef

I used mirena and depo for over about 20 years...not saying they are perfect but I liked them..

Only stopped as i had a tubal and an ablation done this spring...I hate ovulating btw...it sucks.

court_alacarte

idabest777 wrote: »

I've been on Seasonale for 8 years now and I love it. One of my favourite things about it is that it's a 90 day cycle, I can't imagine going back to getting my period every month. The only side effect I experienced was a very common one where for the first pack (3 months) there was some spotting but since then it has been smooth sailing.

I am right there with you! I've been on generic Seasonale for over 10 years and there's nothing better. I've become so used to only four periods a year that I had a co-worker ask me for a tampon, and then of course a month later she comes back around and asks for another one, and I'm like "AGAIN?!" but... have to realize I'm not the norm LOL.

I've taken Quasense through college, and then after I graduated and went to another doctor, she kept putting me on this other one (the generic name escapes me) and I would literally cry at everything. Then a couple of years ago was put on another generic which I don't think it even had a name, but I had a lot of breakthrough spotting. Now I've been on Introvale since June and some spotting but not a whole lot. Maybe the extra spotting is due to me getting older? Who knows. My mood is fine and everything seems to be in order so far.

However no matter what pill I'm on, I always have a heavy period that lasts a solid 7 days. Always, always, always.

nicholerohrer

toxikon wrote: »

I've been on Alesse for a few years and Yaz before that and Ortho Tri-Cyclen before that. I've been on them for about 12 years now.

I've never had notable side effects with any of them, honestly. I think I've been lucky. Short, light periods, no acne, no weight gain, no mood swings, nothing.

I am hoping to get an IUD soon. I've been on hormones for so long that I want to see what it's like with a lower, focused dose (Mirena) or no hormones at all (Paragard). I haven't decided which yet. All I know is I'm sick of taking pills, IUDs seem so much easier!

I know this doesn't help OP, but ever since I got my Paragard, my life has been so much better. I can't rave about it enough. All the side effects from hormonal birth control are gone, depression/anxiety, low libido, etc. The paragard lasts slightly longer than the smaller hormonal ones which is also a plus for me. I would recommend an IUD, particularly the copper Paragard one, to anyone. Granted, I know everyone is different and some people do have bad experiences, so take my advice with a grain of salt I guess. lol

BeaUtiful_1413

I hate pills, you have to keep remembering. I have the implant. No weight gain on it and last 4years now

toxikon

nicholerohrer wrote: »

toxikon wrote: »

I've been on Alesse for a few years and Yaz before that and Ortho Tri-Cyclen before that. I've been on them for about 12 years now.

I've never had notable side effects with any of them, honestly. I think I've been lucky. Short, light periods, no acne, no weight gain, no mood swings, nothing.

I am hoping to get an IUD soon. I've been on hormones for so long that I want to see what it's like with a lower, focused dose (Mirena) or no hormones at all (Paragard). I haven't decided which yet. All I know is I'm sick of taking pills, IUDs seem so much easier!

I know this doesn't help OP, but ever since I got my Paragard, my life has been so much better. I can't rave about it enough. All the side effects from hormonal birth control are gone, depression/anxiety, low libido, etc. The paragard lasts slightly longer than the smaller hormonal ones which is also a plus for me. I would recommend an IUD, particularly the copper Paragard one, to anyone. Granted, I know everyone is different and some people do have bad experiences, so take my advice with a grain of salt I guess. lol

Thank you! I have heard really good things about it. I know some people start with some really heavy periods but I've heard they get back to normal after some time. I'm definitely leaning towards the copper IUD. I've been on hormones since I was a teenager so I'd like to experience life without them.

JaydedMiss

Not at all worth posting or helpful in anyway but...

Im allergic to birthcontrol lol

Lgcoulter33

I'm on lutera. Very low dose with very few side effects. I can't take higher doses, last one i was on before this, mononessa, i bled for 23 days straight.