r/Birthcontroltalk

Hi everyone, I (24F) started lo loestrin a little over a month ago. I’m on the second pack now.
In the past I’ve tried progestin only mini pills due to health factors but the random breakthrough bleeding was driving me insane so I started Vienva.
Vienva was good bleeding wise but made my mental health plummet. I then switched to lo loestrin and it’s been great overall mentally but the breakthrough bleeding is back. I bleed like clockwork in 14 day cycles.
I see mixed reviews on if this side effect improves as the body adjusts (around the 3rd pack) so I wanted to see if this has been similar for anyone else. I’ve also considered an IUD but I want to see if this pill will work as time goes on.
Anyways, thoughts?

I leave for a week vacation this Saturday and my period is supposed to start on Monday. I read online about the period delay pill and decided to ask my doctor about it, which he then prescribed. I'm supposed to start taking it in Friday and was just curious about the success rate.

I 18F have been on a hormonal birth control since I was 13 and first got a menstruation cycle. While it’s usually unadvised for children and teenagers that young to be put on the pill, I was put on it because my cycles were extremely long and painful: (we’re talking 90 days in between and 14 day long menstruation periods). I got off hormonal birth control about 3 or 4 months ago because it was suppressing my immune system and making me very sick. Since I’ve been off of it, I have noticed some changes and I’m curious if there are other things I should be aware of that other women have noticed when they’ve gotten off birth control? I am starting to break out really badly, which is unusual for me since while I was on birth control I had clear skin with little to no skin care routine; and my body is starting to shift how I carry weight (such as reallocating to the hips and bust- which is super bizarre for me because my bust and hip size hasn’t changed at all since I was 13). I’ve read about some women having mental health changes, or feeling different about their partners and I’ve noticed things like that happening to me as well! I feel more attracted and safe with my partner than I did before, and I feel much happier than I did previously.

I guess my biggest thing that I’m asking is if there’s anything to expect or look out for, as my body regulates the new changes. It’s almost as if getting off hormonal birth control has made my body start to go through the puberty I didn’t fully have in middle school, and that’s quite scary and jarring for me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

EDIT: yes I’ve talked to my doctor, and he pretty much just starred at me blank and said “well I mean, you’re not supposed to have very many changes on and off the pill” which was why I was hoping for advice on people’s lives experience

If i start this birthcontrol today (period is possibly near, super crampy) will it delay the start OR AT LEAST modify/lessen my period flow this week? I've had terrible inconsistent HEAVY periods since I had my son 9m ago and im scared now that im cramping (not currently on BC) and we leave for vacation wed. Lol has anyone had IMMEDIATE effects in terms of expected period not starting or flow lighter than usual? Thanks ❤️

I’m thinking about getting and IUD and using protection . I don’t wanna get pregnant at all. Like I’m serious afraid of it. Will this be like 100% ?
Please help I’m 20 btw

Hi everyone! I’d really appreciate hearing your birth control recommendations or, even better, your personal experiences.
For some background, I’m a very holistic person and I try to avoid anything unnecessary or overly synthetic when possible. I’m also extremely sensitive to hormonal changes, so unfortunately, I’ve had pretty intense side effects with almost every option I’ve tried.
I’ve tried the pill, including a very low-dose pill, and still had severe side effects. I also tried the shot, which completely threw my hormones off and came with some of the worst side effects I’ve experienced. I’m currently on the patch, but now I’m dealing with much heavier and longer periods.
I have two children, I’m very fertile, and I’ve decided that I don’t want any more children. At this point, I’m looking for something that is safe, effective, and hopefully helps with the heavy periods and PMS symptoms rather than making them worse.
I’m not looking to replace medical advice. I’ve just had several experiences where the options recommended by my doctors haven’t worked well for me, so I’d really love to hear from women who have been in a similar situation.
What worked for you? What didn’t? And if you’re very sensitive to hormones, what birth control did your body tolerate best? I’d especially love to hear about personal experiences with IUDs, implants, non-hormonal options, or anything that helped with heavy periods. ❤️

I took a plan b 19 days ago. I was supposed to start my period today. I received a negative pregnancy test today. Am I in the clear?
I took plan b because the protection failed. I always use protection, so I took the pill to be on the safe side.

I'm F (19) and have had the Nexplanon implant for two years now. In those two years, I've had sex twice. I'm extremely scared of getting pregnant because I NEVER want children and abortion is illegal in my state. When me and my partner did have sex I would spiral for weeks googling and searching Reddit to reassure myself that I was 100% most likely not pregnant. The fear is ruining my sex life bc I want to be active! Before anyone asks yes I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

Hi, I am at a bit of a loss and I’m considering having my coil removed.

Before I was pregnant I was in uk size 8/10 I weighed around 9st 10lbs/10st 3lbs (136lbs - 61.7kg).

After I gave birth I was in sizes Uk 12 and weighed 13st 1lbs (I took this weight 8 days after giving birth) but I was happy with my size just after giving birth. This weight was in March of 2024.

I then had the coil fitted aprox 6 weeks after. I really got on with it, my periods stopped (I used to have heavy painful periods that lasted 2 weeks). But then I started noticing the weight. I was walking everyday with my daughter in the pram and I live in a valley so I was walking up and down hills everyday and eating well.

I am now a UK size 14/16 and weigh 14st 1lbs. I am working out, doing strength training and using the treadmill 4-5x a week. I eat healthy and I don’t snack, I literally eat a sandwich for lunch (ham & cheese) and I have my dinner in the evenings and that’s it.

I am still breastfeeding a 2.5 year old (we are slowly stopping). She only feeds to go to sleep in the nights and a little in the morning when she’s half asleep so I don’t think it’s the breastfeeding that has caused the weight gain.

The lowest weight I have got to is 13st 11lbs and then I just fluctuate back up.

I never took into consideration that it could’ve been the coil that has caused the weight gain until a few days ago, I have googled it and it says it’s not a side effect but reading everyone’s stories on Reddit has made me think twice.

I would just like to hear everyone else’s experiences with weight, did you lose it after having it removed? What efforts did you have to go through to lose the weight or did you just keep everything the same and noticed a difference?

Thankyou in advance ❤️

I’m on day 2 of this birth control and my blood sugars have been crazy high, specifically at night. I decided to go on birth control since I’ve had terrible period pain, ( like going to the hospital type of pain). Anyway, I’ve been over 250 for the whole night until the morning. I really need some advice if anyone has experienced this. I have hope for this birth control helping my menstrual pain, but if it’s going to continue to make my sugars look like this, it’s obviously not going to work out. Help please

I have been on sprintec for about a year and a half and had no problems whatsoever. I decided to start skipping my placebo pills to not have a period. Also went very smooth…. Until i accidentally missed 2 days and haven’t stopped bleeding since (going on week 3). Wednesday(8/5) I stopped taking them and then started back on Sunday(8/9) bc a gyno (on tt) said stopping for 3-4 days then starting back will help. It is now Tuesday (8/11)and I’m still bleeding with a moderate - semi heavy flow. I see my gf on Monday and I do nottt want to be bleeding. Please help 🙏

Hello!

I know that norethisterone is NOT a contraceptive.

I have regular periods, 25/26 days cycle, and I ovulate on the 12th day and I know when I ovulate because of ovary pain.

Now, my wedding day falls on the first day of my next period. I'm thinking to take Primoult (norethisterone) on the 22nd day of my cycle to delay the period until after the honeymoon.

Since Ive already ovulated 10 days before that, and I won't stop the med until I'm back from my honeymoon trip (so will get mt period 3-5 days after Im back). Does this mean that there's no chance of pregnancy while I'm on my honeymoon? Do I still need to use contraceptive?

Thank you!

Hey! I am 33, have PCOS and been taking hormonal BC since I was 17, so basically half of my life. I took Yaz until late 20s and I tolerated them perfectly - they helped with my symptoms and I didn’t feel any mental health struggles, no effect on libido. In my late 20s I started to have some acne, turned out my estrogen levels dropped, so my gyn switched to Belara. It was like 5-6 years ago, and since then I switched from Belara to Drovalis two times, mainly because of trygliceride levels. But now when I look back, I feel like my anxiety has just been escalating since I switched from Yaz and my libido decreased. I also gain 15 kilograms in 3-4 years, only change was starting to work full time (I am moderately active and eat mainly balanced diet, not perfect but also not bad). I really can’t tell because life was going on parallely and I did have some major stresses, also I guess my age impacts hormones, as well as ongoing stress both at work and privately, but I am curious is it possible that at least part of it is because of the pill? I last switched from Belara back to Drovalis in March, and I remember a week after switching I had the worst weekend ever, I literally cried and barely could get out of the bed. In the meantime I started some psych meds and doing regular psychotherapy, but I feel like the progress is so slow. Also, I have like daily pattern of anxiety that has been ongoing for years, which makes me think it is partly hormonal.

Did anyone had similar experiences? Do you think it is worth it to get off the pill or maybe try to go back to Yaz before considering further psych medication?

I am grateful for any experience! Thanks in advance!

i’m not sure if here’s the right place to post but here’s the situation

23f not on any birth control, usually always use condoms / plus calendar method and don’t have sex too often as this is more of a casual relationship.

i’m not on any birth control because im on so many medications as is and am scared of messing up the balance the meds have created and worried of potential hormonal side effects. i really would not like to go on hormonal methods if possible. again i know i should figure out a better plan but i would appreciate any insight on the current situation.

we had sex this morning and (i know not smart) he didn’t have a condom. we had sex for a really short amount of time and we stopped quite a bit before he came. obviously what i’m worried about is the pre-cum. i do NOT want to get pregnant.

my period app said ovulation is TODAY! so i don’t even know if morning after pill would work especially if ovulation already started. and to add the one time i did take plan b i was depressed for months and suicidal, it really messed with me emotionally.

so i was also reading into copper iud. however i read it can cause heavier and crampier periods. i already have HORRIBLE cramps that cause me to miss a day or two of work and i have extremely low ferritin (iron) so a heavy period is really really not ideal.

basically all my options are horrible - specifically for me. i’m very anxious to do either emergency contraception option. yes i know i should’ve been more careful but here we are.

my question is, if you were me would you what would you choose? is the risk so low that you wouldn’t subject yourself to these possibly dangerous options? he pulled out well before finishing and the sex itself was quite short. or would you choose one of these options with potentially really bad outcomes to really minimize the chance of pregnancy?

i’m really stressed either way and am kinda freaking out, i CANNOT get pregnant right now but i also feel that none of these options are safe for me either. i would appreciate any opinions or advice and i know i should talk to a clinician but right now im just asking for some thoughts on this, am i overreacting and the chance is so minimal? or should take action because there even is a “chance”

TL;DR: Had short unprotected sex today on predicted ovulation day, but he pulled out well before ejaculation and did not finish inside. I had a severe mental health reaction to Plan B before, have very painful cramps and low ferritin, so I’m hesitant about both hormonal EC and the copper IUD. Trying to decide whether my pregnancy risk is low enough to skip EC or whether the copper IUD/ella is worth

Hello! I'm considering removing my Nexplanon and settling for a more temporary b/c so I can control as and when I am on it easier alongside my sexual activity (the only reason I am on birth control is so I avoid pregnancy and I am sexually inactive).

I was a lot thinner before birth control, after 1 year on it I started to gain healthy weight. I love my body as it is now, I am strong, healthy and most of all I love my breasts. From A cups to C cups it was the biggest difference I noticed and I really do not want them to shrink.

I'm unsure if the weight gain was due to the implant or not as it did occur gradually after a year I had it inserted. It's not something I'm worried about I am just curious

If i remove my implant will the reduction in hormones 'shrink' my breast size?

Let me know if I'm being stupid :)

Hi guys I’m in a rut of keeping forward with my bc or getting off.
I’ve been on Yaz since end of March for about 4 months now.
It’s cleared up my cystic back acne and face acne completely.
It stopped my horrible periods. Which I had bad periods to where I couldn’t walk or go to work.

Only thing is it’s making me severely anxious and depressed. Like it’s at an all time high right now. I cannot stop crying and feeling like my life is over.
I don’t know to keep going for it or to quit it before the holidays (hard time for me) as someone who lives all alone.
Please help with any advice or recommendations! I am open to even switching but my gyno has no appointments due to being on a leave.

So I have PCOS, and I was bleeding for 3 months straight and I started jencycla like 9 days ago and I am still bleeding pretty medium flow. About 3 hours ago I was on northindrone but not the jencycla brand and it’s not helping my bleeding this time. I’m miserable and honestly at this point fed up. What do I do?

I haven’t picked up my prescription yet but I’m curious… I have a trip planned at the same time my next period is expected to start. I asked my doctor about norethindrone and explained I would like to delay my period at the end of this month, but we also discussed taking it regularly as I am prone to bad cramps and heavy bleeding. From what I’m reading, 0.35mg is the daily dosage and 5mg is used to delay. If I am prescribed the 0.35mg for daily use, will upping my dosage a few days before delay my period?

Only answer I’ve found is here - not sure I fully trust the source, but they say taking 4x 0.35mg a day before the start of my next period can delay it. I just want a nice trip without having to worry about cramps or bleeding through hotel sheets 😭 Any advice is appreciated!! TIA

has anyone here got pregnant while taking tri-sprintec like you’re supposed to? and have any of yall lost your period for good while on this pill?

My Kyleena Iud expired 10 days ago, I just engaged in… should I take a plan b?!? Im scared now