Ladies, I need your opinions on birth control!

1246

Replies

  • Mustgetbuff
    Mustgetbuff Posts: 267 Member
    I've been on Yasmin for 7 years and it does all it's supposed to. I was all over the place with my cycle (bleeding for a month and then stopping for 2 months) it was terrible. I didn't gain weight or get any of the side affects ppl complain about with yasmin so it just goes to show that everyone if different.


    The weight gain comes after you quit. Yasmin has some diuretic qualities and a lot of women actually lose weight while on it (I did until my eating caught up with me). After I quit I bloated up like an overstuffed sausage. 10 lbs in a couple months! It’s been slowly coming off and I can tell because my stomach doesn’t look as much like a water bed any more. Quitting Yasmin was a nightmare for me. It sounds like it’s something you really need, but for the average women just trying to not get pregnant I’m not sure I’d recommend it after being on it for almost 10 years. The combo of weight gain, horrible acne (it’s like I’m 15 all over again), and the hair loss… oh the hair loss… I just can’t stand behind it.

    I was on Yasmin for years until my new doctor told me to get off of it. It's recently been revealed that many young, healthy women have been developing fatal blood clots due to this medication. It worked really well for me but I'd rather not take the risk, so I'm on Alesse now which contains lower doses of estrogen and consequently leads to less weight gain,blood clots, etc.
  • kenzietate
    kenzietate Posts: 399 Member
    Birth control is HORRIBLE for your body. Your best bet is to track your cycles..

    If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

    False. Birth control can be a life saver for people with certain medical conditions. IUDs carry risks, too, and can't always properly treat some things that oral birth control does.

    However, you'll get other people saying this to you, OP: BC is highly, HIGHLY specific to each person. Many people react differently to different birth control pills, because hormones are very "touchy" to each human being.

    For instance, I was on Ortho-Tricyclen. Horrible. Now, I've been on Microgestin. No migraines, no ovarian cysts, no acne, regulated periods. Look it up, you'll find people who thought IT was horrible.

    Depo is certainly a controversial BC for some pretty chronic negativity (though there's definitely people who swear by it). If it didn't work for you, talk with your gyno. They might suggest a low-dose pill, a progesterone only pill, etc. Unfortunately, if some form of birth control outside of condoms/abstinence/"properly done" coitus interruptus is necessary, you're just going to have to play around with it until you're happy.

    BC is truly a case of "everybody's different™."

    I definitely agree about the different for every woman!! I was actually the opposite from you, Ortho-Tricyclen was by far the best one I was on. I had horrible reactions to anything androgen based. I have PCOS though, so I shouldn't be on an androgen based one anyway. Two of my friends love loestrin but I had really bad experiences with it.

    It might take some time to find one that works for you!
  • marykate723
    marykate723 Posts: 216 Member
    I have been on ortho-tricylcen (the generic version, which is called Trinessa), for almost 8 years. I've never had any problems with it. In fact, within 3 months of starting it, my acne disappeared, my menstrual cramps completely stopped, and my period no longer lasted 2 weeks at a time. I did switch to a lower-hormone pill for about 6 months (about two years ago), and had some horrible mood swings and bad PMS symptoms during that time. Switched back to Trinessa, and all was well. The low-hormone thing was an experiment because I was convinced that the birth control had caused weight gain (and the ice cream, beer, and Doritos had nothing to do with it, of course). Turns out I was better off on it!

    As you'll see from these previous posts, it's HIGHLY specific to you. I know at least one person on every type of BC method, and they all work for them. I do know several people who have switched around and tried different methods, but they've all found one that works- and that includes NFP. Talk to your OB/GYN. You may need to try one for a few months and then switch if it's not working out for you, but there's a method that will work for you.

    Good luck!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

    Not even an option for women with heavier periods. Did you know that?
  • mrsamanda86
    mrsamanda86 Posts: 869 Member
    I had the mirena in after my youngest was born and I LOVED it. Had a lot of random spotting at first but after less than six months, I had no period at all for 2 years. Had it taken out because I talked my hubby into wanting another kid and then I ended up talking myself out of that so now I'll be starting back up with orthtricyclen-lo mainly because I want to see if it will help my acne clear up(I don't have a lot, but I NEVER had acne as a kid and having it now is pissing me off lol). Good luck with whatever you choose to use :)

    Also, I had the patch, had REALLY bad unexplained stomach pains, stopped using it for the skin irritant issues, never had the stomach pains again :/
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    All birth control causes me to wake up all night long throwing up.
  • melindafritz1976
    melindafritz1976 Posts: 329 Member
    you know that will make you gain weight right
  • melindafritz1976
    melindafritz1976 Posts: 329 Member
    use condoms
  • live2dream
    live2dream Posts: 614 Member
    Please read this: http://www.vega-licious.com/dangers-of-birth-control-medications-part-6-how-to-reclaim-your-health-after-birth-control/

    Chemical forms of birth control have far more side effects than they would like us to believe (they are making trillions of dollars on it, after all). Be informed. Do your own research and make an informed decision.

    btw... depo provera has extreme long terms effects on your health and hormones.

    A couple awesome books: Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler, Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch <----this one is a real eye opener for women of ALL ages!! Balance them before we get old and we'll be better off!

    Good Luck! :flowerforyou:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Please read this: http://www.vega-licious.com/dangers-of-birth-control-medications-part-6-how-to-reclaim-your-health-after-birth-control/

    Chemical forms of birth control have far more side effects than they would like us to believe (they are making trillions of dollars on it, after all). Be informed. Do your own research and make an informed decision.

    btw... depo provera has extreme long terms effects on your health and hormones.

    A couple awesome books: Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler, Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia Welch <----this one is a real eye opener for women of ALL ages!! Balance them before we get old and we'll be better off!

    Good Luck! :flowerforyou:
    Birth control had an extremely positive effect on my quality of life. I would take it again in a heartbeat if I had to.

    But thank you for your concern.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler

    This is actually a good book. I follow this method because birth control causes me to throw up daily. The book is excellent for preventing pregnancy, getting pregnant, understanding your body and cycles and when there may be problems and when not to worry at all about the normal fluctuations. I studied this in college first, but the book is excellent.
  • YouMadBro8281
    YouMadBro8281 Posts: 269
    P&P method works. (Pull and Pray)
  • beepermad
    beepermad Posts: 198
    If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

    Not even an option for women with heavier periods. Did you know that?

    False.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    If you insist on having birth control I suggest getting an IUD. They say they don't give them to people w/o kids, but they really do. My friend has one.

    Not even an option for women with heavier periods. Did you know that?

    False.
    No, it's not false. Mirena has hormones, therefore she is not talking about Mirena.

    The copper IUD causes heavier periods and therefore is not an option for women who already have heavy flows. I know this because I looked into it for myself and actualy researched and discussed it with my doctor.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    you know that will make you gain weight right

    I'm losing quite fine on my BC... tyvm :)
    use condoms

    No thanks.
  • RunningForeverMama
    RunningForeverMama Posts: 261 Member
    <snip>
    Well, you'll be pleased to find out that most women stop having menstrual cramps once they give birth. :)
    Really? Is the universe against me? I think I've given birth enough times to earn this prize, and naturally at that. I get debilitating cramps sometimes. Usually if I start to take ibuprofen before I really need to it will keep the misery at bay.
    I avoid all hormonal birth control (including the Mirena IUD, which I tried).
    To me, the side effects outweigh the "convenience".

    I wish I had never used hormonal BC, to be honest.
    I have six kids, do you really want my opinion on birth control? :laugh:

    I don't want any hormones or anything permanently (okay semi-permanently) stuck in my uterus. I use a diaphragm.
  • bmqbonnie
    bmqbonnie Posts: 836 Member
    The mini pill is progesterone only, yes? (I could be wrong, but I assume that if it has fewer hormones that that's what it is)

    It works well for some people. Breakthrough bleeding is common. I am on the Nexplanon implant which is also progesterone only and I was spotting for so long. I ended up still taking a pill (w/a lot of estrogen) here and there to make it stop anyway, kind of defeating my hopes of spending less $$ on birth control. I've had it for a year and (crosses fingers) seem to be having a normal cycle, FINALLY. If I start spotting again I'll have it taken out.

    Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to try. I wish I'd tried progesterone pills before going for the implant to see how my body would react. I hadn't had an issue with other methods so I thought I'd be fine. The nice thing with the pill is that if it doesn't work out, you can stop taking it, be back to normal in a week or so, and then try something else.

    As for those saying birth control is inherently bad, it is synthetic hormones that your body already produces, just in different proportions. Some people don't do well on it. Some people don't do well OFF of it- personally PMS makes me suicidal when I'm not on it. Going on it the first time was like a choir of angels singing that I wasn't crazy.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    <snip>
    Well, you'll be pleased to find out that most women stop having menstrual cramps once they give birth. :)
    That simply isn't true.
  • YouMadBro8281
    YouMadBro8281 Posts: 269
    Go westboro get it!
  • ElikaCousland
    ElikaCousland Posts: 62 Member
    Every woman will react differently to different birth control. I personally did very well on Depo Provera - no weight gain, no moodiness, and I loved not having a period to deal with. Ortho Tricyclin Lo however made me a bloated, crampy, mood-swinging psychopath.

    I personally do not buy into the "birth control will kill you omgz!" hype. Hormonal birth control has been in use since the '60s, and women have somehow managed these past 50 years. There are enough unwanted children in the world - demonizing birth control and touting the ineffective rhythm/interruption methods is socially irresponsible.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Go westboro get it!
    The Westboro Baptists do not approve of birth control.
  • RunningForeverMama
    RunningForeverMama Posts: 261 Member
    <snip>
    Well, you'll be pleased to find out that most women stop having menstrual cramps once they give birth. :)
    That simply isn't true.

    I didn't think so either!
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    I've taken Loestrine (not sure on spelling I'm a horrible speller) for the last 10 years at least and never had a problem. I tried Nuva Ring when it first came out and did not do well. They say it won't come out on it's own but apparently the way my plumbing is shapped it would not stay in. Plus the horomone in it did not like me.
    I do struggle with whether to take birth control or not sometimes because I am so all about keeping chemicals out of my body, eating organic, etc. However I've been in a committed relationship for 15 years and we don't want a baby. I don't trust monitoring my cycles with that big of a decision. Thus...I continue to take the pill.
    If the mini pill is an overall lower dose of hormone like Loestrin it should have less side effects. Just remember that with a lower dose birth control pill you have to be extra careful not to skip a day. That being said take a pill every day...way easier than baby :drinker: Good luck!
  • YouMadBro8281
    YouMadBro8281 Posts: 269
    Go westboro get it!
    The Westboro Baptists do not approve of birth control.

    I know that is why we practice pull and pray.
  • ttknowles01
    ttknowles01 Posts: 255 Member
    I've been on Depo for 10 years and haven't had any issues with it. Everyone reacts to it differently. I have gained and lost weight on it. My best friend, on the other hand, gained a lot of weight and had bleeding issues. You just have to find what will work for you :-)
  • AleciaG724
    AleciaG724 Posts: 705 Member
    I didn't mind the nuvaring at all when I was using it... It's not any more difficult than ob tampons. My husband said he could feel it, but didn't mind. I didn't have any hormonal issues and my periods were much lighter. I'm happy to say I'm almost done with it all... down to two or three times/year... YAY!
  • SkinnyFatAlbert
    SkinnyFatAlbert Posts: 482 Member
    Use an alternate input :) 100% effective.
  • MelRC117
    MelRC117 Posts: 911 Member
    I thought the mini pill was only for moms who were breastfeeding? I don't think its as effective as regular birth control pills.
    I was on the pill, I've done depo shots (which sucked because I had my period all.the.time. but not a problem losing weight), and I now have the Mirena. No issues with it and no period! If you're leery about hormones theres the copper IUD (I think its paragard).
  • emaxtastic
    emaxtastic Posts: 41 Member
    The Pull Out has been shown to be over 99 percent effective

    Lies. Pull out is approximately as effective as condom use when used correctly. 27% of women will get pregnant in one year from using the pull-out method incorrectly. Most men don't have enough self-control to do it right.

    I assumed he was being sarcastic. Pretty sure we know it's lies lol
  • wufeisgirl
    wufeisgirl Posts: 2 Member
    Do you have a child?
    I have an IUD, the Mirena, only needs replaced every 5 years, never have to think about it. I love it. :)

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