r/birthcontrol

I’ve been on Cerelle for just over a year and I’ve noticed that my vagina has become quite dry within that time. I’ve also had 4 instances of ‘UTI’s since last September, where I’ve had feelings of burning, irritation and frequency even though every single urine test has been negative for bacterial growth. And usually those symptoms then ease up for a few months without antibiotics.

I’m just seeing if anyone else has experienced something similar on Cerelle or another progesterone only pill.

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I’m trying to decide between norethindrone 0.35 mg and Opill (norgestrel 0.075 mg) and would love to hear your experiences with either one!
I’ve tried Slynd in the past, but didn’t like it because I experienced hot flashes on the inactive pill days. I’d also prefer to avoid combination pills because of the potential risks and because they tend to make me nauseous.

If you’ve tried either norethindrone or Opill, how did you like it? If you’ve tried both, which one did you prefer and why? I’m especially interested in experiences with side effects, mood, hair shedding, and bleeding patterns.

Im struggling to find something that works for me that doesn’t have side effects that stress me out. I also got natural cycles but from reviews some of the green/red days can be inaccurate.

Thanks! 😊

I’m on day 8 of my second combined OCP pack (my fourth month on the pill). I took my pills regularly and started the next pack immediately, without a break, for the first time to avoid a drop in hormone levels.
I had sex on day 20 of my previous pack, and we also used a condom. My partner ejaculated inside it and continued thrusting 2–3 times before withdrawing. He didn’t lose his erection during this time. The condom didn’t slip, but the semen seemed to spread along the inside rather than collect in the tip. I noticed whitish/creamy fluid around the outside of the condom’s base, on his skin, but I’m unsure whether it was semen or vaginal fluid.
I took Plan B (levonorgestrel) about 2 minutes after sex. I also take lamotrigine. I’ve read that lamotrigine may slightly reduce levonorgestrel levels, but I’m unsure whether this meaningfully affects contraceptive efficacy.
It’s been 8 days since sex. I experienced cramps and dark brown spotting, which now seems to have stopped, but the cramps persist and are stronger than the mild cramps I usually get on the pill.
Could this be breakthrough bleeding caused by continuous pill use and Plan B, or could it be implantation bleeding? Is pregnancy possible in my situation? I’m very anxious Any advice and reassurance would mean a lot.

(I also took metronidazole for only one day and stopped taking it 7 days before sex. I’m worried whether it could have affected my birth control’s effectiveness.)

I’ve had bad pmdd/pms symptoms where a week before my period I’m very depressed, irritable angry etc so thought I’d try Slynd because the thought of comb pill and blood clots scared me. I’m around a month in, my skin is better but my moods are really bad and had hope this would work for me 😟 I’m currently being diagnosed with pcos and just need something to work for my moods as it’s ruining my relationship! My boyfriend is the most lovely, kind person and I just treat him like rubbish. One small thing and that’s it I’m getting so angry and horrible towards him, but I’m not sure if I need to give it more of a chance and hopefully it will settle? Did this happen to other people and then settle? I’m just stuck on what to do, feel like a lost cause

Hello! I’m taking the contraceptive pill, but I have quite a lot of anxiety and I tend to overthink whether I’ve taken my pill correctly every time.

In reality, I do take it properly every day at the same time, but because I get anxious about possibly not having taken it, I sometimes take another pill just to be sure. This happens fairly regularly, I’d say around 4 times a week.

I wanted to know whether, despite these extra doses, the contraceptive effectiveness is still maintained, or whether taking too many pills could reduce its effectiveness and therefore create a risk of pregnancy?

I should also mention that I take my pill continuously, going from one pack straight to the next without taking any breaks. I’ve also never missed a pill or taken one late; the only issue is the extra pills I’ve mentioned.

(I should mention that I’m going to change my method of contraception soon, because I know that taking extra pills like this isn’t healthy, but I was still wondering about the potential impact on contraceptive effectiveness.)

Thank you!

I recently went to get my IUD, the Mirena, replaced. I got my first one while I was in high school and had it removed/replaced once before for reasons that don’t matter to this story. I mention this because I have experience with this process. I was expecting the sense of pressure and cramping like what happened last time, but this recent visit was absolutely terrible, and I plan to report my doctor for it.

I have experienced sexual trauma in the past, so I was more nervous about this whole process. I asked the nurse if there were any pain medications or a numbing agent I could take for the procedure. I had already taken some over-the-counter pain relievers beforehand, but I was hoping for something stronger. She told the doctor about it and the doctor agreed to it.

She prepared me by inserting that tool, I don’t know what it is called, but it’s the device they use to open you up basically. As I’m already half naked, with the tool inserted in me, in a very vulnerable position, she could tell I was nervous. She then said that she didn’t think I needed the shot of the numbing agent, I think it was lidocaine, because she was fast and that my fears were just emotional.

She said to me “Let us test your pain tolerance and see if you need it.”

I am angry at myself for not saying something against that or advocating for myself, but I felt so stressed already.

Then it felt like she yanked the damn IUD out. I immediately started tearing up and put my hands over my eyes to give myself some form of comfort. Then she said “Okay let us give you the shot since you are sensitive.”

I was so upset that she didn’t give it to me earlier. Like, why bother testing for my pain tolerance when I specifically requested the damn numbing agent? The shot itself didn’t hurt, but I was already crying by that point. She did the rest of the interaction quickly, and thankfully I didn’t really feel it, but it was already too late. I was overwhelmed and just crying.

After they got me cleaned up, I was just crying in the doctor’s office. I think the doctor realized she messed up because she told me I could stay in the office for as long as I wanted. I could also tell the nurse was not happy with the doctor’s actions.

They left, and after some time, the nurse and doctor came back separately to check up on me. I was in the office for maybe 10 minutes, just trying to collect myself.

I got home, and the doctor even called me to make sure I was okay. Physically, I knew I was fine because it was the normal feeling of having an IUD inserted, like the after effects. But emotionally I was completely spent.

I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain my life story just to get some form of pain medication and she should have just given me the damn shot when I asked for it. I don’t think reporting her will change anything. I think I just want to do it because it might make me feel better. I don’t have that much faith in the medical system, but part of me does hope that moving forward this doctor will just provide the shot when a patient asks for it.

She was so aggressive that I didn’t even experience the normal pressure and cramping feeling that I remember from when I got this done before. It felt completely different.

I am hesitant to say that I was traumatized by the experience, but I cried for like 10 minutes afterward, so I don’t know. Was I retraumatized? I honestly don’t know.

This just happened this week, so I’m still collecting my thoughts about it. I’ll definitely be talking to my therapist about it too.

I had an IUD fitted yesterday and it hurt, and I knew it would likely hurt, but that clamp is just something else. I've had 2 kids and that was nowhere near as traumatic as that was, and now I just feel wrong. Like I don't even want to wash down there because that means touching myself, let alone the idea of ever having sex again. I can't stop crying when I think about this. I feel like such a baby. I don't even see how I'll let anyone take it out now, because that would mean going back in.

So my girlfriend recently started the Opill and has taken it consistently for three days. We tried without a condom for the first time but I accidentally came in her. We took a plan B the next morning. Whats the chances she is pregnant? Like precent wise?

hello, I recently got my IUD about a month ago & I feel so depleted, i have little motivation & am struggling to concentrate at times. I’m also coming off of the depo shot so I know my body has to be so confused right now. No pain, no weird smells, no pain..I just feel off. Anyone else? did it go away?