Which Birth Control Pill Is Best?
Tuesday July 29, 2003
Women's Health Forums:
Hello all. I've been on the Depo for three years now. Due to a variety of reasons, I decided to get off of it. I started the patch two weeks ago but I don't like it because it doesn't want to stay adhered to my body. I get nauseated about 24 hrs after putting the patch on but it only lasts for a couple of hours. Any suggestions on a brand of birth control pill to take? Are they all pretty much equally accurate? Thank you for your responses. Which Birth Control Pill Is Best For You?
Comments
I’ve been on Ortho Tri Cyclen for about a year now, and I love it! i get virtually no acne, no cramps and my period is more regular and my flow is lighter. I haven’t had any problems with it and would recomend it to anyone. a couple years ago I was taking another type of pill and would often feel sick too, but since switing to Ortho Tri Cyclen I havn’t had any problems, but thats just my experiance.
I am going to start with Ortho today, I am very excited because although I have heard the negatives I have heard more positives than negatives. I will let you guys know the outcome. I was thinking of Mirena and was very close to using it but my insurance does not cover it so I decided to try ortho and see what happens. I have mild acne break outs so hopefully this will help, my skin problem is not severe so I am thinking Ortho will give me the little push I need to resolve it once and for all
Hello, I just wanted to post how much I like Yaz. I started it last month and its fantastic. I was staunchly against OCP’s for the past couple of years because of previous horrible experiences, but so far I am loving this pill. It has an ultra-low dose of estrogen and a new form of progesterone. I havent had any negative side effects, havent gained weight. The only thing is the my breasts are slightly larger (not complaining) and a tender sometimes.
Yasmin is fantistic.. the first 3 months i had slight side effects like breast tenderness, fatigue, and headache/nausea, but it went away after a while. Also I have clearer skin, virtually no mood swings or PMS, 3 day periods, and almost no cramping!!.. i absolutely love the stuff..the bad thing is that it’s expensive (my family planning clinic is taking it away so i have to find another pill that works with my mood swings…
hey. i was just wondering how you get started on the pill. like where you get it. if you can get it for free. what are some side effects.
I’ve been on Yaz for 5 days and I know you are supposed to wait a couple of months but so far my experience has been horrible. I have cried all the time for the past 3 days, my breasts are swollen, im nauseous, and i have had extreme mood swings. I snap at the drop of a hat. So far I would not reccomend it to anyone
to rachel,
try going to your local health unit. normally they have a “family planning” program, which I am on. I live in louisiana and there is an income limit, but you pretty much have to have some substatial income to be denied. Here, in La, you fill out a form, send it in, and get a card. once you get the card, you call your clinic and let them know that your card has arrived. they will make an appt. and you go get your pap smear. on the day of your appt, they GIVE you 12 mos worth of a birth control of your choice!! noone (at least in La) has an excuse now. It’s great!! and free!!
sorry, that should’ve been directed towards “fish”
Rachel,
I am in the same situation you are with Yaz. I am extremely emotional and I can’t control my crying and anger. Have you switched pills? If so what have you tried? Is it successful so far? I feel like I am losing my mind! Please help, thanks!
I have tried them all… and the best one for me is yasmine! virtually no side effects, very light periods, short time 2-3 days, and no cramps! this is the best ever! I have been on it for like 3 years and will not try anything else..
i have tried the depo and it gave me horrible mood swings and i gained alot of weight, and i completely lost my period i was on it for 2 yrs and then i switched to ortho and it had the same effects. i wanna try yaz but iam afraid of the mood swings and weight gain.
I’m going to start Otho Tri Cyclen Lo soon and I’m a little nervous. Is anyone here on it and if so, what sort of side effects did you have? Is there a huge difference between OTC and OTCLo? And if OTCLo did not work out for you, what birth control did?
Hello, I have never been on the pill before and I am just going to strat Reclipsen, so I’m just curious has any body tried this one
ive been on ortho tri cyclen lo for 2 years and its great except for my period week i get depressed, but as long as i pay attention and to it i can get through it okay. i wouldn’t suggest the patch to anyone it kept falling off despite all my best efforts to make sure it didn’t
I previously was on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo for around 4 years through highschool with no problems that I noticed at all. After coming back on it from a year break I noticed that the smell of my “down there” changed for the worse. I had my doctor change my pill and he put me on a test run with YAZ for 3 months. It helped the smell but Ive noticed an intense change in my mood and I will fight with my boyfriend about anything. I am about to switch again and my doctor prescribed Demulen 1/35, has anyone used this pill before? I cant find any reviews for it.
I’ve decided this week that I’m DONE with Yaz. I’ve been taking it for about a year now, and things seemed to be great at first. I didn’t have anymore breakouts, my periods were way shorter and lighter, and I felt great. Gradually, however, throughout the first few months, I started to notice changes in me. I woke up every morning and had to run to the bathroom to throw up, I was dizzy and nauseous all the time, and my vision was blurry a lot (like right now), which gave me bad headaches. The nausea subsided eventually, and gave way to month-long spotting and dull cramping, which sucked. Last month, I had brown clots and spotting for two weeks straight, and I had to wear tampons. I also have noticed that I am no longer the bubbly little ball of sunshine that I always was. I would lash out at my loving boyfriend frequently- over nothing! And it’s gotten to the point where we fight more than not, and I threaten to leave him all the time. I’m not this horrible mean person I’ve become, and no other factors in my life have changed besides taking this pill. If you want to be a raging psycho b*tch with clear skin and lighter periods, this one’s for you. I’d rather practice abstinence than take this wretched pill again.
I have been on Orth Tri Cycl Lo for the past couple of years, and although it was a decent pill (it only made me sick the first week into it). I wanted to try something new, and I have been really interested in Yaz. I guess my interest stems from the fact that it helps clear mild acne, Ortho Lo didn’t clear any acne for me whatsoever. Also ortho lo, made my periods lighter, but then they would either come early or they would last for over week. But with all these negative reviews of Yaz, it really makes me wonder. Yasmine is another option too. I just want to move off of Ortho Lo and maybe get something that helps my skin and body more.
I just started taking birth control pills and i was given lo/orval. has anyone used this pill before?
I was on lo oval for a while. Alot of people complain that it makes you gain weight. It really wasnt htat bad.
I have heard a lot of negatives about Yaz and some others, but I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge or experience with the following birth control pills Estrostep-Fe, Solia, Tri-Sprintec, or Aviane. Please let me know, thanks!
Hello-
I have been on YAZ for a over a year now and I LOVE it. The first month my breasts were tender, but other than that I have had zero problems. I haven’t had a zit in over a year, I am virtually cramp free and I am not a nutcase during my period. My periods start the same day almost to the hour and they only last 2 1/2 days. I have read so many horror stories about YAZ and was a bit concerned at first, but it has been the best thing to happen to me! It is also the first form of birth control I’ve ever been on and I noticed that many of the others that have been on it were on something else before they started the YAZ- I wonder if that has anything to do with it? Good luck!
I have recently been on Seasonique. With this pill, you are supposed to have your period only four times per year. However, two and a half months into the pills, you will notice break through bleeding. I take the pill at the same time every day (or within an hour of the same time) and this has happened to me twice. I will be discontinuing use of this pill and re-begin taking ortho-tri cyclen lo.
Good luck!
I have been taking Yaz for about a week and a half and I am still on my period!! When will it end??? SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME!!
I’ve been on Ortho tri cyclen for 2 weeks now and it’s been absolute hell. I didn’t realize the hormone would take over my emotions that quickly and intensely! I cried all the time, I felt random anger at my boyfriend for no reason whatsoever, I lost my sex drive completely… I’m going to stop taking it. I feel like a completely different person in a horrible way.
I just started BC for the first time. I did the day 1 start for YAZ. Its been about 2 weeks since the first day of my period and it still hasn’t stopped. It is however VERY light. I’ve read so many negative comments about yaz, hopefully someone has some good news. As far as weight gain, breast growth, and clearing up acne… what should i expect. Im currently miserable, constantly having to wear a pad or tampon, more moody and emotional than ever. I’ve faught with my BF more in the last 2 weeks than i have in 2 years!! is anyone in the same situation.. Oh i’ve also had some pretty bad headaches and feel dizzy for a few minutes on and off
Hey, I just started taking Alesse 28, I am on day five and I feel completely nausiated all day long…I tried taking it last year and it was the same, into my second week with it I was vomitting and had terrible diareha. it was so bad that i missed a week of work, i aslo had completely lost my sex drive and had mood swings, when I stopped taking the pill I had heavy bleeding and terrible cramps. My docter recommended that I try it again stating that all of these side effects were completely normal and will go away with time, wish me luck!
I am on ortho tricyclin, it’s horrible! My periods are now regular, but I gained 10 pounds in my first week, and five more in the next month. It’s been almost two months total and I’m depressed for the first time in my life, none of my clothes fit, have no energy, and just all around miserable.
I was on yaz for three months! At first, there were no problems except breast tenderness. After two weeks, I had fine bumps on my face and the onset of acne. Never ever had acne! In the 3rd month, I bled heavily for 3 weeks straight! I just switched to ortho tri cyclin lo and Im on my fourth week. It seems ok so far…cleared uo my skin and the tenderness went away. Hopefully no month long bleeding!
has anyone taken femcon fe? if so how are the moods? and especially anyone with ovarian cysts- what is your take on it? I am switching from loestrin fe which made me extremely anxious, bloated, and my cysts were bothering me i think. Does it make anyone tired?
I have been on all kinds of birth controls before from depro-provero to sesonique to Yaz…. I had alittle problem with them all so, we switched to sprintec…? Has any of you taken this before? It has made me hungary all the time!!!! I have gained 8 lbs. any advise ?
Everyone responds differently to each type of pill. I went on Loestrin initally because my friend went on it and she lost weight, her boobs got bigger, she had no cramps and short periods. I went on it and I gained 10 lbs in a couple of weeks, I was am emotional wreck. I will not say that these pills will do that to you, you just ahve to talk to your doctor and based on your age weight and activity level they can help choose one for you.
The only one I strongly advise against is Ortho Tricylin Lo. I was on it for a year and while i didn’t gain any weight or have skin problems these pills did not regulate my period, I would get my period about every two weeks and it would last about two weeks with cramping and all the other bad things that normally go along with your period. I also have spoken to several people who were also on Lo and experienced the same problem. My doctor recommened it because I was small and young, so be be aware if you are slender and in your late teens early twenties doctors love to prescribe this. I am currently on Crycelle and I like it.. It doesn’t have any wonder effects like preventing every pimple or bumping me up a cup size but it performes the way it should.. it regulates my period and prevents pregnancy. I recommend trying a few types until you are happy with the result.
I have been on Ortho-tri-cyclen lo for 2 years and I am considering going off of it. I have suffered an enormous loss of hair, my contacts are always dry and I have terrible anxiety.
The strangest thing about this pill is that it has made my naturally curly hair go completely straight. It didn’t happen over night but within a year it is now thin and straight.
I was on ortho lo for about a year and it was fine. I felt sad when i first started it but it was controllable. In the past month it has made me a complete psycho. I’ve had a panic attack and cry all the time over insignificant things. Be aware that this may be awesome at first but it can change.
Hey I was on Orthro Evra, and it was the worst two months of my life, I gained about 15 pounds, and my period was two weeks long! Also recently I was on orthro trycycelene lo for about 10 months and it also was a nightmare! It was great at first, it got rid of my acne, and I didn’t gain a lot of weight, but about 5 months in I was psycho! I had uncontrollable anxiety and mood swings constantly! It also KILLED my sex drive which was the reason I got on it in the first place! My sex drive still isn’t what it used to be, and I still haven’t lost the weight I gained fully! and I was wondering is there any other birth control with low estrogen that works better than orthro lo, I heard yaz is even worse!
I tried Yaz and had a horrible experience, I was always on my period and all of a sudden there was a constant bad smell down you know where. I got off it on the second month because I could not handle it anymore.
Hi, I have been off of the birth control pill for over a year but I am going to get back on it soon. I am looking for a pill that will help with acne, decrease my moodiness and that has little or no other side affects (weight gain, loss of sex drive, etc.) ANY SUGGESTIONS?!?! Please help! Thanks!
I’m 25 and had never been on birth control until recently… my dr. started me on Yaz. I noticed I would have HORRIBLE mood swings. I had no patience and at the drop of the hat I’d go from normal to crying histerically. Even people at my work were commenting that I wasn’t actting like myself. Also my period would always start a week early so I’d have it for 2 weeks….. UCK! I didn’t put on any weight… if anything I think I lost weight and my boobs got huge (that part was awesome). 4 months in the long periods became too much so my dr. switched me to Femcon FE. I’m half way through my 3rd month and I’ve had my period or have been spotting for at least 7 weeks out of 10! I also notice that I feel bloated all the time and have gained weight… my sex drive has also decreased. I’m giving it until the end of this month and then I’m switching to something else….
Coco: you need to look for a pill that has lower doses of oestrogen – However, these pills aren’t the best Birth control pills, they do however help regulate periods, often lightening heavy periods and helping clear achne. I was on Yasmin (Yaz)for over a year and apart from the first 3 months, the only differences i encountered were constant headaches, increased levels of anxiety and felt a little depressed. i stopped using it for these reasons – i hated feeling the way i was feeling whilst on it. Because i was looking for a pill to help me regulate my periods mainly, my Doctor switched me over to Microgynon which apparently has fewer side effects (but isn’t the best to use for Birth Control). So after 7 months of being off the pill, This is my first week back on the new pill, and i feel fine so far (thankfully). My advice to you is: See your doctor and ask for a pill that best suits your needs – Highlight the fact that you are wanting one with lower doses so that the side effects are kept at minimal.
I hope this helps.
Cheers!
I have been taking Yaz for almost a year now and thought that it was a lot better then what I was taking before. HOWEVER, I began having hoooorible problems with heartburn that wouldn’t go away and was incredibly painful. I didn’t think there was any connection, but after having to have emergency gallbladder surgery for tons of stones, I started research and found that YAZ was probably the culprit. I’m convinced it gave me gall stones and pancreatitis.
ok i just want to respond to all those people who had problems with yaz… i took it for a year and a half. i had lots of problems, but i was on anti-depressants and so i blamed all my side effects on those. i have been off anti-depressants for 7 months – plenty of time for them to be out of my system – and the side effects are still the same. no sex drive, vaginal dryness (completely dry – makes sex impossibe) headaches, huge boobs, can’t lose weight no matter how hard i try, and a very strange side effect (which isn’t so bad actually) i don’t like to drink alcohol. i used to drink like a fish, and i can’t stand to drink now. like, my body just cannot take alcohol at all. weird, huh? anyway, i’m starting desogen after this next period. anybody have any experience with it?
I started taking Yaz the first week of Oct. I have 4 days left on the pack. So far I have been bleeding for 10 days straight.. It’s screwing my life up.. Im going to the dr tomorrow and I want him to put me on another pill so that I can get regular again..Im sad all the time to and my head hurts. So whats best for me to take..
I have been taking Femcon fe for about 3 months. I didn’t see any comments on it. I mainly want it to regulate my periods and also because I have a small cyst. I also need help with keeping my face clear. The first two weeks made me so sick to my stomach. I’ve noticed weight gain and a big loss of sex drive. I need to switch mainly because of the cost. For some reson my insurance doesn’t cover much of it.
hey im almost 17 i have really bad acne and i have no boobs at all im still beautiful though do you think i should take YAZ to clear up my face and make my boobs grow
I am 24 years old and have been many birth control pills since I was 18. First I was put on Ortho-tri-cyclen lo and it worked well enought but I was stupid and kept forgetting to take it. Then I tried the ring and I felt extremely emotional. I can’t say if it was the pill but it might have been. Then I tried Seasonique and I’m really happy with it. I’ve been on it for two years and no problems. My periods a regular (every 3 months) and no break through bleeding. I feel normal again for the most part. Although, one complaint. My sex drive has diminished but I think this is due to the hormones themselves and how they affect my body. I always noticed that when I was off the pills I was more sexually driven (ironic isn’t it?) So I think seasonique is the best one out there right now.
oh ma gosh gurls i jus got on da yaz stuff gurl my period smell so bad!? i got all diz like stinky discharge cummin out ma holes, n den ma boy was like ew i aint doin notin to u nn my pimples be all nastayy ugh. DEN my tittays be all sore nn scratchy i thank i am wit child bu i dunno ma doctor tol me dat imma need to not eat no curbs o whateva day called gurl i dont even know but does any y’all KnOw HuRR when ya puriod stop cuz like izz baddd! oh ma god im like so sick of it i like threw up in da toilet n it wuzz way bad! den like i bin eatin cheese wit peanut butta n dem chilis oh my gosh gurl dazz so good ma sista got prego n she got beg newayzz hit me up u know!? i thank im pregnant again dizz gon be my 5th kid wit the 8th guy! IM SO EXCItEd!! YAY love n kissezz malissa
Malissa,
Quit wasting people’s time with your lame excuse for humor on a health forum…
I’m 22 and have been on Ortho Tricyclen (NOT LO) for almost 5 years. My mom was a nurse and decided that when I had no luck with other acne treatments to put me on it. Cleared up my moderate acne, and have had no other side effects whatsoever. The dose of hormones is enough to prevent spotting and breakthru, but not enough to make me feel sick. I have not gained or shed any weight, and have been really happy with this pill. I have a bf of 4 years and although we use rubbers too, (I’m paranoid) there have been a few “Oops’s” and the pill came thru for me every time. I recomend this pill for sure, but remember, everyone’s body is different!!
Hi.
My name is Crystal.
I have never tried any birth control but I would really like to.
Can anyone tell me what the best kinds are?
I started on Ortho-Tricyclen Lo, and ended up switching to Sprintec, because it got too expensive (no insurance). I felt hungry all the time on Sprintec, and so I just decided to go on Yaz. So far it’s been ok. My first period was about 2 weeks long, although it was really light most of the time (which I’m okay with now because I was convinced it was cancer.. ha) My skin has it moments of being clear, nothing too exciting. But I haven’t had mood swings like other girls have mentioned above so there’s hope!
WHATEVER YOU DO DON’T DO YAZ! Everyone I know that has been on it including myself has experienced VERY BAD mood swings and DEPRESSION! i stopped it almost 6 months ago and I still feel like im going crazy! ITS AFFECTING MY LIFE VERY BADLY. I am always depressed now & need to seek professional help.
I agree about the YAZ. Don’t take it!
I’ve been on it for 2 weeks and have been getting depressed and gained at least 5 pounds.
I just want to be the same girl I was 2 weeks ago but now all I do is cry and not care about things…..
I was on Ogestrel, which is Ovral, for a few years, and I was on a fairly high dose because I had been getting cysts. I did ok with it for a while, but I started getting headaches, so I saw a new doctor, and she put me on Ocella, which is the generic of Yasmin. I’ve been taking it since August, and I can guarantee that it is one of the worst birth control pills… ever. First of all, I start spotting every month about 10 days into my pack. Sometimes it’s light; other times it’s like a regular period. This lasts for about week, subsides for three or four days, and then I get my actual period. It’s miserable. On top of that, I’m vomiting and nauseous constantly, my headaches haven’t gone away (they’ve gotten worse,) AND 90% of the time, my heart feels like it’s going to come out of my chest. I don’t sleep as well as I used to, which I’m sure is at least semi-related to the fact that when I lay down, I think I could have a heart attack, and I’m moody, lethargic, and this pill is just overall running my life.
Honestly, I think it’s all in our heads. I have taken many different types of BCP’s and have never really had any serious problems with any. I think they are all VERY similar in structure, but every one reacts differently. I took Yaz for 6 months and had no problems except for some hair loss (which might also be because I was post partum). Now I switched to Ortho tri cyclen and I think things will be OK. By the way girls, if you gain more than 5 pounds with a Pill, the pill is not to blame. Check your eating habbits before you point fingers.
Michaela you might be right…! i just started OTC LO… and im on my last week of the pills… In the beginning i felt like i was really moody and i blamed it on the pill but i’ve been trying to be more positive and my mood swings havent been as bad… now last week (which was my 3rd week into the pills) i was getting really bad chest pains, shortness of breathe, extremely constipated, and can’t really sleep… I’m not sure if these are normal side effects or if i should change the pills… I was trying to make an appt but my Dr. is booked for 2 weeks… so im going to pick up my new prescription and keep taking them until i’m able to see my Dr because i need birth control…so this is a question for everyone… DO YOU THINK I SHOULD pick up my Prescription and keep taking OTC LO? or do you think its a BAD IDEA?
Hi
I am 21 and never been on birth control pill but. I did a little reseach and went to the doctor about 3 month ago and i was giving Ortho Tricyclen but I did not take it bcos i moved away from my boyfriend but now am thinking about it again and I really hate having my period so i was thinking about LYBREL which is FDA approved and is proven to eliminate periods. Have anybody use this pill before? Pls your advice will really help in making my decision and I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING THAT WILL INCREASE MY WEIGHT PLEASE!!!( AM WATCHING IT).
I was put on Yaz because it was supposed to help with everything but to my surprise I went crazy. I was having tons of horrible anxiety attacks and i felt very depressed. My doctor almost put me on anti depressants but I thought it might be the birth controll so i went off it and i feel a million times better. I am on loestrin24FE and things have been pretty good, i dont get my period at all which is normal for some people but weird especially if you are using it for Birth Controll. I have cramping and bloating but its nothing compared to the side effects i experienced on YAZ
DONT TAKE YAZ
Last year I wanted to go on The Pill, so my Doc perscribed “YAZ”… And I got to say, it’s the most terrible thing, im kinda mad she even told me to take it. Only good thing was no acne, but pretty much all the same problems as everyone else: DRYNESS, Moodiness, depression, and didn’t want anything to do with sex.
BUT THE WORST, was one week after I stopped taking YAZ.. I had sever cramping, so bad I past out. I have never had cramps in my life. Sex was painful/impossible, felt like I was dying. Went to the doc, and she said I had an ovarian cyst, I never had one before taking YAZ. I have read warnings from some other birth control pills that they can cause Cysts, put not YAZ. I dont know why yaz doesnt have this as a warning. Maybe I am the only person this has happened to?? Anyway YAZ was very bad for me. Goodluck to anyone else on it, or anyone who stops it.
One thing I have to add: the cysts went away, after a few months… sometimes sex is still painful, but not as bad. Hopefully in time I will be completely back to normal.
I am not on any other birth control pill.
The fear of what happened with YAZ is too great. And nothing else sounds very good.
I think a lot of the women on here need to realize that recommending a BCP to anyone is wrong, everyone reacts differently and at different times! I have been on BCP since I was 15(im now 21)to help control my severe Dysmennorrhoea, and keep it from advancing into Endometriosis.I have been on YAZ for over a year now, and it helped me get out of a nasty deppression. I had been on Loestrin for about 3 years, and suddenly I was this monster and I didn’t think to ask my doctor about it because of things that were going on in my life. But after talking to my doctor they said that they didn’t realize how long I had been on Loestrin and its healthy to change BC every 3-4 years. It turns out I was developing PMDD! On YAZ, i have noticed that for the last 6 months my sex drive, which was pretty intense before, has lessened, and I have noticed dryness and odor recently, and just in the last two weeks, i have had brown discharge to full blown bleeding and cramps even though my period starts next week, so to me that just means its probably time to change again. I have not noticed mood swings or weight gain(but I eat very healthy and admit i have never had weight problems), and my skin has always been clear and that hasn’t changed. In fact my mood has been greatly improved during my period and at anytime in comparison to my last BC….its so good in fact that I really dont want to change! For me having a good mood is a more powerful positive effect than the negative of those other symptoms. I have had the same bf for the last 3 years, and he is very understanding of what i have been going through. I suggest to those of you that say your bf is annoyed by your lack of sex drive or odor, find a new boyfriend, cuz the one you have is obviously immature and doesn’t understand that women’s hormones have powerful affects on their bodies and minds and you not having a baby maybe more important than the odor of your vagina! I have been on many different types of BCP and realize that none of them will be perfect, and they need to be switched out whenever the side effects outweigh the gain. Anyways, my two friends who are on YAZ say they love the affect it has had on their mood, and they haven’t reported any other symptoms to me. God Bless!
I used to take orthro Tri-cyclen lo and I was not pleased with this pill. It made me sick, naseous and extremely moody-like i was going to kill someone. I switched to Loestrin and I love this pill. I have no side effects and it pumps less hormones in my system. I would recommend this pill to anyone.
I’ve been on Yaz for 3 months now and I’m not quite sure if it’s for me. I went on it to help my mood swings and it has helped with that but I’ve also gained weight. I don’t eat a lot and I exercise for an hour everyday.I also feel extremely lethargic all the time. So I’m not sure what to do. I want to go off it but I’m afraid that I’ll be in the same situation on another pill.
I was on Yaz and it was terrible. It made my acne much much worse. I gained 10 pounds, and i was always cranky and crying all of the time. My breasts were always tender and i still had cramps.
i am taking yasmin and i guess its just like yaz just cheaper and i hate it to. i got a lot of mood swings and went from a high sex drive to nothing… and after about a year i got bells palsy which is face paralization and talked to quite a few of my friends and thye had the same pill and had the same problem. this problem is BAD!! its lastin for 3 or 4 weeks and i cant smile or close my eye
hey everyone,
So i’m 17 years old and was just on >LoestrinSprintecSprintec
hey girls, well my doc started me on yasmin and it gave me serious side effects and then i went on yaz and the same effects, i have been on atleast four different birth control and i was thinking of using ortho tri cyclen, i don’t have a problem with acne but my periods don’t come at all and well can someone help me?
I was on Yasmin for 3 years. My weight went from 110-118 and my breasts went from
32C-32D. Those were all fine, but I was urinating up to 20+ times a day because it has a directic in it. Finally had to get off of it.
Then I switched to Avianne (Generic Alesse) and that gave me terrible acne and lost 10 lbs. In addition, I was very moody.
Then I went on Microgestin (Generic Lo Estrin) and that had the same effect as the Avianne.
Now I am trying Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, so we will see.
YAZ has a different effect on everyone.. obviously. but there’s a certain percentage who get ‘the crazies’. taking YAZ, personally, was a horrific decision. mood swings, weight gain, depression, you name it. i think you should definitely try YAZ, but if you start to feel a hint of craziness, GO OFF OF IT IMMEDIATELY…because i promise it won’t get better.
Hey Everyone,
I cant believe all the stories everyone has said. I am on Desogen and it is perfect. Nothing has happened negatively…no mood swings or weight gain or vomiting or anything. I think if you are having issues with any birth control pill, you need to go on desogen.
I am going to start Alesse today. Has anyone had experience with it?
I tried Yaz for 2 months and couldn’t handle the side effects – metallic taste in my mouth constantly, anxious feeling and just feeling “weird” and kind of crazy.
I never had much luck with BC especially ALESSE, I broke out like crazy, I gained about 11 pounds, headaches..you name it. Now I have been taking YAZ for like 4 months it was okay at first but now its taking a turn for the worst. I already have panic/anxiety disorder but now its 10 times worse..on top of diarreah and nausea. I am a huge b**** to my husband. And I literaly have NO sex drive which use to be great. The only thing it does for me is clear my skin completely. I also had an awful experience with Estrostep to where I had to go to the hospital for a kidney infection. I’m essientally taking birthcontrol to ease my pain around my period, I think I might have endometrosis..but anyways,
I am thinking about changing, my friend recommended Loestrin 24..any suggestions? PLEASE
Ami
I am on LoEstrin 24 and i love it besides the fact that i have no sex drive. I actually have had only one period in two years, which for me is nice! i dont really have an acne problem so i am not sure if it helps in that department. My periods were pretty painful before so i guess that is why i enjoy not having them! But i never had any side effects when i started it.
I am on my third month of Loestrin24 and it is the first birth control pill that i have tried. Not many reviews have been posted about it… so heres my two sense. I have had my periods twice a month for around three days each period, I cried myself to sleep a week straight during the first month, and i get dry during sex and then its pointless. I also went from 118 to 127, not all to blame on the pill but i have found it harder to loose weight when i do watch my eating and exercise. Im a bit disappointed and i havent been near as bubbly or happy about life. I plan on switching to Ortho-tri lo next month. Hopefully its as good as most of you say, or at least my moods wont be like a lightswitch.
I took LoEstrin24 for 2 days and I will never take it again! The second day I took it I woke up with the worst cramps I stumbled to the bathroom because I was so light headed. When I got there I was on the toliet for I don’t know how long. In all this time I started feeling like I was going to throw up, my ears started to ring so loud I couldent hear myself talk. I broke into a hot cold sweat and thought I was going to pass out. I have never experenced that in my entire life
I’ve been on ortho-tri lo for the past five years. It’s been perfectly fine. I have less acne. originally my period was shortened (3-4 days), but for some reason it’s long again (7-9 days). As a contraceptive it works great. I still get occasional mood swings, but who doesn’t? My weight didn’t increase much at all either. However, I want shorter periods and my new insurance doesn’t cover it, so I’m going to switch to either Yaz or yasmin. I hope it works out.
You all bitches are crazy instead of asking each hormone crazy bitch about advice i would say to call your Doctor and stop wasting each others time!! do something better with it!! dumb bitches!!
Gia:
I actually tried to get advise from my Dr…but she didn’t help me at all. She just pretty much wanted me to get into DepoProvera right away, which was the most hirrible experience in my life.
So, I suggest that you allow us to discuss…our experiences..as About.com is supposed to allow us to.
Hi All! I’ve been on I realize that everyone reacts differently to these hormones so it’s really hard to say which has more positives or negatives. I’ve been on Ortho Tri Cylen Lo for almost 4 years now (with unprotected sex) and it’s been fine. The week before my period is when any “PMS” hits and it usually only consists of a quiet day (I want to keep to myself) and a day where I want to be loved and held and all that. Occasionally, I’ll feel a bit nauseous for about 15 minutes during certain weeks. When this happened I started taking it right before bed and I felt fine because I was relaxed and lying down. I’ve had zero weight gain, my periods come exactly as expected and usually last 4 days. I had cramping only on the first month I took it and after that none. (Just bloated the day before my period which is no big deal you just won’t see me in a bathing suit!) I definitely recommend this to try. Ask your doctor for a sample.
hey everyone,
My doctor just perscribed Tri-cyclen Lo.
But i did take the time to ask about side effects and discuss what was best for me with her. She also told me that there is no correlation with weight gain and taking the pill. I havent started taking my pills yet, but im really hoping that maybe the weight gain issue and the pill are just coincidental? I have some friends who claim to have gained weight and others who have lost it. for those who claim they eat little i just have to add – this doesnt matter the quantity of food you eat, but what kind of food you eat and what time of the day you eat at.
But thank you all for your comments! theyve been really informative.
I have only tried a couple of birth control pills. the first I tried was ortho tri cyclen-lo and I turned into an absolute monster. I only stayed on that for 2 week because I was completely emotional and depressed. now I have been on loestrin 24 fe for about 2 years, and have had practically no side effects except for I think it may be causing my hair to thin which freaks me out, and also I get more cramps around my period. but besides that I’m pretty good and the couple side effects are worth not worrying about getting preggo.
Hi girls,
I was on Loestrin 24 FE, for a month, and was sick to death. I was so nauseated, I stopped taking it after a week. I went on Yaz. For the first few months, things were ok. My boobs got big, which was pretty nice. As time progressed I became so moody and emotional I could not take it any more. I have talked to alot of my friends who have said, unless you are using yaz for heavy periods and really bad premenstrual symptons, this is not a good pill. I have noticed moodiness, bigger boobs, non-stop crying. I am done with pills for a few months. I want to try another one, but I am just afraid of becoming a mess again…
Hey, does anyone have a comment about Mircette?
Hey all,
I came on this website to get an idea of which pills seem to be decent but I’m going crazy trying to find a good one! I’m extremely sensitive to BC pills I’ve tried out 5 different kinds and I have to say they all effect my mood horribly. I could care less about weight gain, acne, cramps… I just want one that doesnt make me miserable.
1st one I tried was Yaz, didn’t mind it at first and then I started getting incredibly self concsious, upset for no reason, paranoid, plus I gained about 5 pounds which wasn’t too bad because I’ve heard worse. I noticed it was supposed to prevent PMDD when actually I think it brought it on. I would be very depressed at times… it was a horrible feeling.
I complained to my Dr. so she put me on Aleese, I didn’t notice anything too bad but I stopped taking it after a month because I no longer needed to be on BC.
Recently I went back on BC and told my Dr. of how badly it effected my mood before so she put me on Loestrin 24 FE which without realizing it immediately had turned me into a crazy person. My mood changed horribly and quickly all the time, I suffered from horrible anxiety all the time and I had such low self confidence that I’ve never had before. I was no fun at all I had virtually no personality at times. Thats not even the half of it! My acne got unbelievbly bad, I would avoid going out because it was so embarrasing. I spotted for weeks straight which went away the second month thank goodness. I also gained at least 10 pounds. So I complained to my Dr. to put me back on Aleese since I hadn’t noticed any side effects the month I was on it. My pharmacy didn’t have it in stock so they gave me Lutera… ITS HORRIBLE! I had to stop taking it I am extremely depressed, my skin cleared up but I pick fights with everyone around me and I’m ALWAYS TIRED! DO NOT TAKE!
My Rank for the pills I’ve tried…
1) Aleese
2) Yaz
3) Loestrin 24 Fe
4) Lutera
I disliked them all and they seemed to get worse and worse for me…
I hope this helps but also keep in mind they are different for everyone I seem to side with the people who have bad experiences from BC pills, though, unfortunately.
Good Luck on finding one that works!
Has anyone taken Watson? I’ve tried researching it on the web and couldn’t find anything on it. I wanted to know if anyone has had any problems with it because i’m starting it as soon as my period starts and this is the first birth control pill i’ve been on
Hey girls .. just wondering if somebody knows anything about Diane35 or Cyestra 35 .. i was put on it but all i hear is that i is not a birth control . I really dont know what to do anymore who to believe.. i just don’t want to get pregnant and don’t know how to switch from one pill to another. Can you guys help ?
Hi ladies.
I was on Alesse until they stopped making it. It worked wonders for my moods and acne associated with PCOS. When I started taking the generic of ALesse, I was in hell. Mood swings, crying over commercials, yeast infections, significant hairloss and acne. My doctor then put me on Yaz in combination with Spironolactone to help with PCOS. I have now been on it for over a year. My acne cleared and mood improved 2 months after being on Yaz. Yaz is not for everyone. If you have a history of hormonal imbalance associated with PCOS, this is a great pill in combination with Spironolactone or Glucophage. I see an Infertility/Endocrinologists that has truly helped me. I still have no sex drive, but have never really had a sex drive. I think that is associated with a deeper issue. It truly takes 2 – 3 months to feel and see the benefits of any pill. Your body has to adjust to the level of hormones you are taking. A week or 3 weeks is not long enough.
has anyone tried Balziva? If so, any feedback.
I’ve been taking Yasmin for more than 3 years now i believe, and everything is great. The only thing different, is that my breasts got slightly larger
When i only started it, i remember, i felt weird about smells, like they would make me feel sick, but it all went away pretty fast. Dont have any complaints now. So far, so good. Really recommend!
I started off with Alesse but was too young and inexperienced to be able to spot any side effects. I remembered spotting a LOT so my doc changed my prescription to the patch. I exercise a lot so the patch had trouble staying on my skin for a week at a time.
I switched to The Nuva Ring which caused me to have a whitish discharge that (according to my doc) was fluoride. It had a baking soda taste to it. The discharge made it slip out to the entrance of my vagina throughout the day and I had to reposition it every few hours. After the Nuva I switched to Lutera. Biggest mistake of my life.
Lutera made me go through some of the hardest times of my life. It caused depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings and destroyed the long term relationship I was in. I would wake up a few time each week at odd hours .. 3am, 5am panicking and feeling like my life was crumbling and I had nothing to live for. I was negative towards everything and suffered from hopelessness. I know everyone reacts differently to medication, but I know two other girls in my life who experienced the same thing as me.
I was the thinnest I have ever been on Lutera, had perfect skin, no bloating, but my life was misery.
Think twice before you choose Lutera. If you are going to try it, be sure to catch these symptoms before it takes up too much of your life.
After Lutera I switched to Yaz. Though my mood improved, I wasn’t back to my old self. My skin remained clear. I put on 5 lbs which no matter how much I exercised (my diet has been the same for years so my eating habits aren’t different) I couldn’t lose. Everything seemed fine except for the CONSTANT bloated feeling. I was ok first thing in the morning… but as soon as I took the daily Yaz, my stomach would bloat and I experienced a horrid pressure in my stomach for the rest of the day. My stomach ballooned from… water weight? I’m not sure and the doc didn’t know. My doctor at the time precribed the Water Pill to me. I later on found out (after talking to numerous health professionals) that the water pill was VERY bad for me to be taking because it messed with my potassium levels and that someone my age (25) should not be taking it.
*NOTE: do not trust doctors 100%. After all they are human beings too and do not know everything, even though sometimes they act like they do*
So finally after getting sick of having a balloon stomach i stopped birth control COMPLETELY. It has been about a month and a half. I am now looking for a new pill. I’m thinking maybe Yasmine (which is a lower dose form of YAZ). Hopefully it will make the Yaz side effects subside. Maybe Alesse again.
I basically want a BC pill without:
-bloatedness
-depression and moodiness
-weight gain
I am open to suggestions.
Thanks for reading and I hope my post helped.
Remember- careful with Lutera!
I have been on Yaz for almost a year now, and I have decided that this will be my LAST month on it. The first few months I cried constantly over little things and was extremely depressed. I figured that my body would adjust, and for a while it seemed that it had. Then, my periods lasted for almost TWO WEEKS for two months in a row. The depression also returned. Besides the lack of weight gain and suppression of acne, this pill has been awful and I would not recommend it to anyone.
I have been on Yasmin for 4 years now. I always loved it. i know exactly what time of what day i am going to get my period. didnt have much weight gain, got rid of acne, and my period is very light. the main issue im facing now is i hardly have a sex drive and its hard being comfortably intamate with my boyfriend because im constantly so dry. im thinking of switching birth controls but after reading all these reviews maybe im better of sticking to what i know works and sacrificing the sex drive and wetness!? i dont know what to do!
Hi I’m 28 years old and I’m looking for a birth control that won’t make me gain excessive weight. I started out on the depro vera shot, but I had such a horrible experience I never went back to get a second shot. I want to try a pill, but I don’t know what is right for me. I do suffer from mild anxiety and heart palpitations. Can anyone help me decide? I was thinking about Yaz, but after what I’ve read I don’t know if it’d be a good idea.
Dude DO NOT try yaz. my friend is on it right now and she is acting crazy…always bitchy and just blahh
And the shot sucks..iv been on it for about a year now and just had my last shot yesterday cuz i want to loose the weight i gained and try something diffferent or else just quit birth control all together
I have been on Yaz for about 10 months and had to get off of it because i was always having break through bleeding there would only be one week out of the month were i was not bleeding everything else was fine but the break through bleeding was annoying
Hi! I’m 16 and I want to try birth control and I’m hearing bad and good things about every pill. Is anybody on to give me some advice??
hey ok so i am completely clueless about birth control. i have never taken it before just because i am not sexually active yet. and i already have two day periods and im not sure how it is gonna affect my already short period. my mom has the birth control called encare, but i know nothing about it. has anyone ever tried it? or does anyone have a birth control pill tht they really like without many side effects? i do not want yaz or ortho tri cyclen. butany other suggestions would be great. me and my boyfriend really do not wanna wait any longer and we are both ready. i just CANT get pregnant. we are both virgins so STDs are nothing to worry about. and we are not gonna have sex until we take as many precautions as possible. any help?
-thanks
I’ve been on BCPs for about 10 years. I started out on Ortho TriCyclen and after about a year experienced long periods and breakthrough bleeding. So doc switched me to a monophasic pill (since tricyclen has different hormone levels each week it messed with my cycle). Went on Ortho Cyclen. Loved it… for about 4 years. Expeienced more breakthrough bleeding and almost constant periods. Tried Depo. Loved it… for the first 3 months. Second shot brought a one-month period followed by heavy and unpredictable breakthrough. Really liked my mood, though. Then started Lo Ogestrel. Went CRAZY, but never attributed it to the pill. Switch to Lo Ovral (same stuff-name brand) felt better, different- less nuts. Just switched back to Lo Ogestrel and I’m mean again! I can’t believe it would make such a difference, but it is stark. i’m trying so hard to be upbeat and happy, but i’m just pissed! Never saw the correlation between these hormones and my mood swings before this. Thank you all for posting and making me feel normal… just on crazy pills.
Hello,
I’ve been married for almost two years. Luckily I have not gotten pregnant considering I’ve been negligent in protecting myself. I don’t plan to have any children anytime soon! I’ve been on the patch but it was horrible! I took it off the very next day! I was emotional and nauseous and threw up candy corn (was my favorite candy but not anymore)! Can someone suggest a birth control for me! I’m scared to take it! I don’t wanna turn into a fat biatch! Thanx!
Hey Everyone!!
I’m 16 and I have been thinking about being put on Birth Control, but I have absolutely NO idea which one would be best for me. From reading this I’ve read good and bad things about almost every type of Birth Control you could possibly get. I would also like to mention that when I take medicine [[prescription or non]] it usually has an opposite effect of what it should. So, does anyone have any ideas on what I should choose??
I’m supposed to be starting on Microgynon next month… i’ve heard many awful things and many good things about it. I’m a very stabil person, never have suffered from acne, i work out 4 times a week… do you think the possibilities for gaining weight or having emotional problems are high? I’m so nervous about going on hormones that i’m almost thinking it’s better to use this temperature thing and just use a condom on the days i could possibily get pregnant. Thoughts? Help!
I went off of YAZ a few months ago after having been on it for a few years. It has definite pros – helps with acne a LOT and also contains a very mild diuretic, which keeps bloating to a minimum. I did notice my sex drive was lower than it had been in the past, but the main reason I went off of yaz was because I started getting extremely emotional and irritable. I finished my last pack 4 months ago and still haven’t gotten my period (no, i’m not pregnant because I’m not having sex) and my acne has become out of control bad (worse than it was before I started any bc pill) even though I’m now on an antibiotic and using differin gel.
I would recommend yaz if you have moderate acne and bloat easily, but not if you are already prone to depressive moods because I think Yaz just worsens them.
I have been on Aviane for a week. I am stopping tomorrow. I have been incredibly nauseous, gained 5 pounds, hungry all the time, moody and irritable, anxious, increased heart rate, breast tenderness, insomnia and lethargy all wrapped in one. I took Alesse two years ago with no problems, and even though Aviane is the generic version, it is a very different animal. Be careful with Aviane and look up other discussion groups that consider it alone – pretty scary how similar the symptoms are…
I honestly dont know why so many girls have complained about yaz, even though everyone will react differently to different pills. before i got on the pill my period was the wost, i had cramps that hurt so bad i would pass out, get dizzy,it was irregular and most often i would be practically bed ridden for a week. i have been on yaz for over two year and it was done wonders for me. i have had no side effects my period it regulated and only lasts about 3 days. i have virtually no cramps no mood swings no weight gain. i would recommend this pill to any friend although it is different for everyone. i did do alot of research when i looked for a pill and saw terrible reviews about ortho tricyclin lo and many many women have gotten pregnant while on it so i would definitely say not to take that one
I’ve been trying to research BC pills online, and it’s hard to know what pill is going to be best for me. I’m 26, have been on the pill since I was 18. I’ve been on ortho tri-cyclen, ortho tricyclen lo, and I just switched from Yasmine to Microgestin which I guess is the generic pill for Loestrin. I decided to switch because I feel really sluggish every morning, I was getting a lot of headaches, and my sex drive was in the toilet. I’ve only been on Micogestin for 4 days, and I still feel yucky. I’ve read that a lot of women gain weight on this pill? Has anyone had any experience with Microgestin? Also, does anyone feel foggy every morning, like you have no energy and a dull headache? It seems to last at least the first 1/2 of the day. I’ve talked to my doctor and had tons of tests, but they keep coming up empty. I thought maybe switching my pills would help, but so far no luck..any suggestions?
I have tried many pills since I was 15, I’m 22 now. I started off with Ortho Tricyclen Lo and I was on that from 15-20 yrs old and it was ok, it’s like BC training wheels and the first BC doctors will put young girls on. It made me not have a sex drive at all and I still had kinda bad cramps but for the most part it wasn’t that bad.
Then I tried the generic version of Lo Estrin 24 and it made me break out Sooo bad! I also bled the entire time I was on it so i had to wear tampons for basically the entire month.
Then I tried the Nuvaring and I really didn’t have any bad side affects on it but I also didn’t like having something inside me for 3 weeks straight.
I’m on Cyclessa right now, have been for 2 months and it’s pretty bad, I get sick every night and have thrown up a couple times. My boobs have grown and hurt 3 weeks out of the month. I get cramps throughout the month, I’m dry down there during sex and kinda moody. Basically I feel like I’m pregnant while on the pill cuz I also get the weirdest food cravings and I’m always hungry. No I’m not pregnant cuz I only just started having sex 2 days ago and haven’t had sex for a year before that. I’m switching pills but I don’t know which pill to switch to.
I am new to the birth control pill but today i was prescribed Linesse by my doctor. I was reading the package and the main side effects are weigth gain and acne!! This concerns me alot. Has anyone had any experience with this pill?????
NEVER take YAZ. I’m taking it, and I have completely changed. I’m sad all the time, and I’m super irritable. I feel like I have bipolar disorder, and I can no longer control my mood. I have also thrown up several times, and I’ve gained weight. I can’t stand what it’s done to me, and I’m starting a new pill ASAP. Dont do it!
I’m almost done with my first month of YAZ and I HATE it. I’ve never had acne in my life and my face has been broken ever since I started taking it. My breasts were painfully tender and I have been so tired. Also, my friend was on it and she experienced depression and was put on anti-depressents because they didn’t make the connection. However, once she got off YAZ she got off the antidepressents too. I’m getting off of it ASAP just because of how horrible my face has been… I can’t handle it anymore.
I am getting on birth control next week and I do not know what kind to take. What kind is best for someone who has never taken it before?
Hi girls,
I’m supposed to start Yaz next week and after reading all the bad reviews I’m kind of anxious now. Hopefully I won’t turn into a crazy person while taking it, since I already PMS pretty bad.(Btw i thought that yaz was supposed to help with your mood? instead of making it worse?) Anyway, since everyone responds to each pill differently, I hope it works well for me.
I’ve taken the Watson brand pills before and they were great except they didn’t really help with my acne. I wanted to switch to something that might help my acne so I’m supposed to start taking Yasmin when my next period comes, but i’ve been reading some really bad reviews. My doctor told me it’s one of the best birth controls out there, but I red about people developing severe acne, facial hair, hair loss…. I’m kind of freaked out about taking it. I’m hoping the reviews were fake or something. lol Has anyone had any problems with Yasmin?
HELP!! Ok so I really want to get on a birth control to clear up my face. I just started getting acne in college and I can’t stand it. What pill is BEST for acne?? Also, I am taking Welbutrin (an anti-depressant) and I want to know if it will conflict with birth control. Thanks!
Ive been on yaz for 6 months now….hate hate hate it. I had perfect skin now i always have something on my face. My period last for 2 weeks n never starts on the day it spossed to. I feel depressed horrible mood swings ive gained about 15 pounds. I dont want to even kiss my fiance let alone have sex. And i had to be put on imittex due to massive migraines every other day. Dont take this crap!!!!!!!
I hate Yaz! I’ve been on it for a year and i’ve had major problems with it! I gained weight, I lost my sex drive, I had a smelly discharge after every period, I had alot of anger for no reason, I also still got bad breakouts on my face and neck too, and I constantly was depressed! I do not recommend this stupid pill to anyone. I’ve been off of it for 2 months now and i still feel the effects of it. Yaz sucks!
hello im 18 years old and i have just been put on LEVORA…im going on my second week taking it and the only complaint i have so far is boob tenderness and bloating not a lot but enough to tell. yaz sounds like a crazy pill so i wont ever try that, does anyone have any other suggestions….a pill that doesnt cause bloating maybe???
Hello…
Im 19 and an active runner. Im new to birth control and super freaked out about trying it! My doctor prescribed Sprintect to me as I expressed to her that I reallllly didnt want to gain weight. Has anyone had an experience with Sprintect?
I have never been on bc before and is about to start taking yaz, my reason for this choice is because I heard it made your boobs gets bigger since I hardly have any and it clears up acne since I’ve been battling acne for many years now and would really like to have beautiful clear skin (I’ve tried almost every acne treatment). After reading all these negative reviews about yaz I’m skeptical of using it. I’m now thinking maybe I should try yasmin instead. Anyone has any suggestion. Greatly appreciated!
I’m 23, and have been on BC for a little more than a year and a half now, I first started out on tri cyclen lo and then went onto tri cyclen. I’m coming to the end of my prescription and am looking to try something new. I PMS pretty bad still to this day, my cramps have eased up majorly as they used to be bad to the point I would cry. But I have also gained the problem of always being hungry. Also my mood swings vary from month to month sometimes their mild and sometimes their bad. Any suggestions?
I’m 21 years old and have taken BC pills 3 seperate times. I was thinking about starting again, bull all of these comments are very discouraging. the first 2 times (the first on yasmin 28 and that was horrible. the second on ortho) were to regulate and the third was to prevent pregnancy (also ortho). All three times I had to stop because of depression, weight gain, loss of energy and sex drive and horrible mood swings. I was thinking about starting again, but after reading all these comments I remembered why I vowed never to.
BEWARE of the effects of BC pills and take only when needed. I think I will just make my bf suffer and wear condoms, he’ll be grateful to have my sex drive and sanity in exchange.
Ladies,
PLEASE remember to take a B-complex vitamin supplement with your birth control. If you have a lack in your sex drive there are vitamins that will help this as well or try foods that increase your libido.
I have been on lo/overal, Ortho Tri Cyclin Lo and I will be beginning Yaz.
B6 is depleted by birth control which causes mood swings.
I was on Lo/Overal 3 years ago for two years and it was okay minus the nausea which was awful.
I’ve been on Ortho Tri Cyclin Lo for 1 month but have been bleeding (break through bleeding) for the ENTIRE month.
My doctor has now prescribed Yaz which she hopes will help with the mood swings I have before/during my period and my mild acne. I’m hoping it will stop this break through bleeding.
B VITAMIN COMPLEX SUPPLEMENT DOES HELP WITH THE MOOD SWINGS NO MATTER THE PILL YOU ARE ON!
Find the pill that is right for you DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT OTHERS SAY JUST BE CAUTIOUS BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS DIFFERENT.
i have been taking sprintec for a couple months and my periods have been beginning early or been long now im a couple days late.. has anyone skipped a period on it?
In response to jess about Diane-35. I take it for both acne control AND birth control. It’s not prescribed as a birth control, but the thing is, it contains the same ingredients and hormones that prevent pregnancy. So it CAN be used as a form of birth control, which is something that my physician told me as well. So as far as I know it’s safe to say it can protect you!
Hope that helps!!
I’ve had horrible PMS issues, bloating, irritability, acne, and fatigue, so my doctor put me on YAZ even though I’m 43, and my husband has had a vasectomy. Since I’ve been on YAZ, I am severly bloated, have had bad diarrhea and stomach pains, am very tired, still have irribility, and I bled for two weeks the first month. I am on second month, and don’t know whether to stick with it or not. I still get big pimples at wierd times.
Hi girls! I’ve currently been on Loestrin Fe for about 3 weeks. usual side effects but no horror stories even though i still don’t like it. i’m wondering if anyone has tried the patches, shots or rings. i’m wondering if those are better contraception options. please give me some imput!!
i’ve been on the depo shot for three grueling months now. me and my friend got it at the same time and both reacted differently. the first month was ok i had some nausea but no period, although my friend spotted for about three days.
the second month was hell, constant mood swings, spotting about every other day, and weight gain. its my third month and i have been bleeding everyday, gained a ton of weight alto i did not change my diet or activities, and no matter how hard i try i cannot seem to put it off.
everything is going well for my friend, she no longer gets her period, and hasn’t noticed ant moods, but
Hi-
I have been on birth control since the age of 15. I am 27 years old now. I have been on Ortho 28 and loved it. Never had any problems. When I got engaged at the age of 24 – I switched to Seasonique birth control. I spotted for a year – every day. I felt weak, my sex drive was completely gone – which is not like me (I’m one of those who want it all the time – lol!), and I also got pregnant on the pill. Never missed a pill and always took it on time. I had been taking birth control pills for 10 years – so I did everything right – still got pregnant on Seasonique. Found out when I was almost 3 months pregnant! I have a beautiful little girl now and I am on YAZ. So far, I like YAZ! Birth control will not effect everyone the same way – so if you are taking birth control that you are not happy with, you should consult your dr. and try another birth control until you find the one that is right for you.
Ok, so I came to this forum in hopes of finding a new BCP. I’ve been on Ortho TriCyclen Lo for 3 yrs and didn’t have any problems with it until recently. Since January, I have gained 18 lbs (with no change in diet or exercise), have turned into an irritable monster, and have virtually NO sex drive! I only see my bf of 2 years once a week because he’s a Marine and lives on base almost 2 hours away, so you’d think I’d be craving weekend sex but NOPE! I used to really look forward to it, but now I am never in the mood and the few times that we do have sex, it is dry and painful. This concerns me because I am 19, not 90! At my age, I should be having uncontrollable sexual cravings, not symptoms of menopause! After reading many contradicting reviews about different pills, my bf and I have decided to say goodbye to them altogether. We both hate condoms but we are willing to give them a go if it means I’ll be back to my thin, pleasant,and lustful self again. So ladies, thank you for the enlightenment and good luck!
I was on YAZ for about a year and a half and just got off of it two weeks ago…my experience the first couple months were amazing..but gradually over the past 8 months my husband and my family noticed a change in my personality..my moodswings..and my attitude…i just figured i was born a bitch;;but then my husband pointed out that i wasnt always a bitch.haha. so i did some research on YAZ and i realized that it was my birth control making me a horrible monster..i hated to get off the pill because believe me if you’re NOT trying to get pregnant YAZ is the pill for you…lol..but mine and my husbands relationship is much more important..so i finally went to the doctor yesterday and he put me on ortho cyclen..or whatever..i dont get to start taking it until sunday..and im a bit nervous.
i would stop takin birth control altogether but my husband dont like to wear condoms and im not ready to have our first kid until after im finished with college;
however the doc said if this pill aint for me then he will put me on something else…
costliness is not a problem for me because my husband is in the military and my prescriptions are free…
Hello,
!
i have read all the comments about the different kinds of BCP’s. My doctor has given me a trial pack of OTClo. I have read alot of comments, both good and bad, about this pill.i have never taken BCP’s before and am waiting to start.Hearing all the bad comment kind of makes me scared to start. I’m 17 and im very active, i play hockey and baseball. so i want to find something that will suit my body type or if anyone else that is also active, what they use.im also kinda short i am 5′1 and am on the petite side. My periods are normally pretty light (which is lucky) and usally last anywhere between 5-7 days. I’m also never really moody during that time of the month(another bonus).So if ANYONE has any input or comments it would be GREATLY appreciated!! thanks so much for takin the time to read this and reply.
This could prove to be controversial.
I’m currently taking Dianette and have ben doing so since September 2008. So far, I have had no problems with it. I originally started on it to help with my spots and I have seen a considerable improvement. Another plus side is the fact that my period has been regulated now and I can pretty much say which day it starts on and when it ends!
For contraception, I was unsure at first, purely because I was still a virgin, but I have since realised that it does work on its own. You can never be too safe, especially if you are unsure.
My experience with the birth control pill has been positive but, then again, everybody reacts differently to them.
I have a few words of advice to anyone starting on ANY pills… do read the side effects but don’t read into them too deeply, as you may become worried. Also, certainly ask other people’s opinions but don’t just go off of them because, like I said, everybody reacts differently.
Hope this helps.
I took the depo shot a few years ago and it tore my body up, i gained 40lb it took my periond away for 2yrs, and i only took the shot for 6 month, i recently was recovering from the hell i had to deal with, i have been off birth control for about 3yrs, but the periods now last more than a week and they come when they feel like it, and the cramps are well lets just say i want to crawl in a hole and die, plus the flow is nuts i ahve used a small pad and now i feel i need depends!! i was thinking of the mirena iud, but im wondering if it will affect me the same way as the depo shot the doctor told me it was made the same way as the depo shot but that the way it works is in the uteris, has any one been on the depo shot and then taken the mirena iud? if so did it give you hell the way i got it, i mean the idea of not having periods sound good but its not good for you!! and for now ill settle for a normal period!
I tried Yaz for 9 months. I had horrible periods and acne so I figured I would give it a try. I felt like I had the flu the whole time I was on it. I gained 10 lbs even though I ate very little and exercised. My breasts were large and so tender…it hurt to wear under wire bras or to even move around. My face broke out worse than ever. I got cystic acne on my neck and face, which I had never had before. I kept waiting for it to go away but after 9 months of yeast infections, acne, no sex drive, flu-like symptoms, migraines and weight gain I gave up. I know everyone is different but this pill is not good at all. Since I have been off I feel so much better. It has been about 6 months off and my weight has finally gone back to normal and I have so much more energy. I was not taking any medications or any other pill before Yaz. My doctor gave me loestrin fe to start next week because my periods are heavy and painful again and never really stop…I am keeping my fingers crossed!
Hey all! I just started OTClo. I have been on it for exactly one month, and have had absolutely zero mood swings (knock on wood). However, I was hoping for it to change my acne and oddly enough has only made it worse, particularly on my jaw line, blah. Also, my periods before the pill were seriously gods gift. I had no bloating fatigue, they were light and 3-4 days. Now, they are longer with bloating and cramps, plus my cooter gets sore which is weird. I will finish my last two months and see how it goes. Hope this helps.
YAZ IS horrible. I took it and had non stop migraine headaches. Finally I was taken off of it. do not take
I have been on lo-ogestrel for 3 years. I have never experienced mood swings or weight gain. I have experienced occasional dryness ahem…down there during sexual intercourse but I was told by my doctor that this is normal plus this can be fixed/solved with using lubricants so if you are looking for a pill that doesn’t make you gain weight or go crazy I would save this side affect is one of the least bothersome.
I have a suggestion for all the married women and maybe even some of you who are engaged or dating. If your husbands don’t like condoms (and who could blame them CONDOMS SUCK and hurt…I would rather not even have sex if there is gonna have to be a condom involved) Here is a grand idea … VASECTOMY!!!!! Think about it no more birth control or condoms EVER. I don’t understand why more people don’t go that route. Or just get your tubes tied. CONDOM SUCK. Think about it never having to use condoms again….how wonderful that would be. Condoms are the root of evil. They don’t even work that good…they break and rip alot.
well im currently on depo and i hate it. i gained weight ,im extemley moody, it doesnt help with my depression, ive lost my drive for sex. everything! ive tried alot of diffrent birth controls. so i think im going to go bac on either the nuva rng or yaz!
So I’ve been going through all of these comments, and I am absolutely HORRIFIED!!! I’ve been on Ortho TriCyclen Lo for a year now, and for the past couple of months I’ve been experiencing extreme migraines to the point where I’ve passed out twice. So my doctor thought it would be best to take the natural approach and see over the summer if the migraines dissipate without the birth control. I plan to go back on it in August, and I was thinking about either regular Ortho Tri Cyclen, Femcon Fe, or Loestrin 24 Fe, but I’ve been hearing such horrible stories!
With th TriCyclen Lo, I had breakthrough bleeding before my period the first couple of months, and a couple of months (not in a row) my period came 3 days early, which suggests that my body was becoming adjusted to the contraceptive (since during that time was the highest dosage of hormones-I shouldn’t have gotten my period then). I also had extreme bouts of depression, anxiety, and mood swings-to the point where I would just sit in my room all day long-and my friend who used to be on it said she had a similar reaction(aka-if you’re on birth control and are feeling depressed, DO NOT think you’re going crazy, simply talk to your doctor (my mother tried to make me go to therapy-this is unnecessary!)
Anyway, I’m asking for all the girls out there who have taken Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, and did not have any serious issues with it (such as weight gain mood changes or acne, because those are the three main factors I am looking at right now)-if you’re not on it anymore, which birth control has worked the best for you????
hello everyone,
I’ve been on alesse in the begining… and it was great for 3 months or so until it got recalled and then they switched me to tri-lo nd i’ve been on it for almost two years… in tje begining i was fine… now i’ve noticed that i’ve gained so much weight and no matter what my diet is or exercise i cant get ANYthing off…and i fight with my bf all the time as well as i cry for like everything.. i’ve been really depressed from time to time. the periods come on time for about 3 days which is good but bad side effects. I wanna switch to yazmine or YAZ but im afraid to because i dont wanna gain anymore wieght.
I was on Yaz for a year and a half, and in the beginning, i didn’t realize the negative side effects, but with time, I grew to really dislike the pill. I gained about 8-10 lbs, my boobs became MUCH bigger, I felt less energized, and, worst of all, I was extremely emotional and crying a lot. The change in my emotions really contributed to my decision to change my birth control, since I’m not naturally a big crier and drama queen.
This past month, I’ve tried NuvaRing, and initially, I really hated it. For the first 1-2 wks, I felt very very bloated, and I also experienced a slight discharge and odor change. However, after being on it for the month, those side effects have decreased, aside from still being slightly bloated. But, while there’s the option of wearing the ring during intercourse, I prefer not to, and the frequent taking-it-out and putting-it-back is a nuisance. I messed up twice, and accidentally kept it out for longer than the allowed 3 hrs, so I had to use an alternate method of birth control for a week.
I believe I’m going to try LoEstrin next, but if it doesn’t work well for me, I wouldn’t mind returning to NuvaRing. I think, for the long term, it may be best for my moods, which is a priority for me.
In college, I used Alesse and I do not recall having any side effects or problems with it. (That was 4 years ago!) I went off it for a few years and when I decided to get back on the pill, my Doctor recommened Loestrin 24 FE. I have been using it for the past 2 years. At first with Loestrin, I had really bad blood clots and cramping. After about three months when my body got used to it, I loved it. I had short periods and hardly any cramping. HOWEVER, in the past few months, I have noticed increased soreness in my breasts, mood swings, sluggishness in the morning, and my sex drive has decreased dramatically. Needless to say, my boyfriend is not super happy about it! I am thinking of switching back to Alesse or maybe trying Mircette, although, I haven’t heard anyone mention anything good or bad about that brand.
But, I agree that everyone’s body is different and you should just find the one that works best for you!
Yaz and Yasmin NOO!! I have been on the pill for about 7 years off and on. Yasmin was great for the first year, then led to a severe depression (i’m not even a woman who cries more than once every couple of months or so). I switched to Mirena for about 5 years and had great results and heard about Yaz. The first month was great. After that, I thought that I would hurt myself or yell one too many times at my husband. Get off of YAZ now!!!
I was taking yaz and it made me so emotional all i did was fight with my boyfriend. i didn’t have any side effects at first but as a few months went by i started feeling achy and sick. i started to complain to my boyfriend almost everyday about it. between this and my emotions i don’t know how my boyfriend stayed with me. then everyone started telling me my skin had a yellow tint to it so i stopped taking the pill. ever since i stopped ive been back to normal with no more yellow tinted skin or emotions. i will never take jaz again, i wish i would have looked up the reviews before starting it.
I have been using Femiane for the past 6 months and i think it is very good. It has also grown my hair
Wow, I think a great thing to mention would be that if you’re reading this, remember that EVERYONE’S body reacts differently to medication. Two people can take the same BCP, and one person receive great results, and the other, terrible. Ask your doctor, and try the pill they offer to you. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t tell everyone you know not to use it just because it didn’t work for you, because their body is not the same as yours.
I’ve been on Tri-Cyclen Lo for 6 months now, and have had no problem, I’m perfectly regulated, not pregnant, and no PMSing. I’m even normally happier than before. The only thing is that it didn’t lighten my periods any from what they were before the BCP, and are still around a week long. My doctor gave me YAZ today and I’m starting it Sunday, so we’ll see how that goes. Despite all these negative reviews on it, I’ll try it for a while and we’ll see how it works for me and my body.
Yes, I agree that everyone’s body works differently. I was on Orthotricyclen Lo for 6-7 years and it worked perfectly for me. I then decided to get pregnant and went back on it 3 months ago, and all of a sudden I am getting breakouts and having severe mood swings. I guess this really just goes to show that your body chemistry can change and that “medications” do work differently on everybody. May switch to Lo Ovral… don’t know.
I’m on yaz and there a forum call yazforum.com and it made me realize what yaz was doing to me.it is horrible.
I tried Ortho tri cylen lo and it was the worst experience ever! it caused me to get tachycardia with makes your heart beat faster than the normal pace. I’m going to start taking yaz in a few days but im scared it will cause depression like everybody says.
I have been on YAZ for 7 months. The first 2 to 3 months i was a little nauseated, but that was about it. I DID NOT gain any weight. My acne cleared up, and my doctor told me the placebos acted like water pills, which i believe from my experience. Because the the cost is $30 per month to get it, i have to switch
so i’m going to be starting Seasonale (generic). I’ve read alot of mixed reviews (mainly negative) but i will give it a try….
I was on Yasmin from the time I was 15 until I was about 18 then I switched to Yaz, the only side effect I had was that it made me very moody and emotional, around August last year I got pregnant while on the pill, my son is now almost 2 months old and my doctor put me on Loestrin 24Fe. I just ended my first period so I will be starting it Sunday. Does having a low dose of hormones decrease the pregnancy prevention in the pill?
OMGOSH ive been on YAZ for like 2 months now and i HATE IT!!!! im super depressed all the time im always tired. im super bitchy which never rlly used to happen. i have no interest in my normal daily activities… my friends have seen a TOTAL change in me. im irritable impatient frustrated, and snap at everyone.ive become careless and im starting to breakout NEVER had i ever had more than like 2 or 3 pimples at a time even with proactive, and other skin care products im breaking out. i dont recomend this to anyone, im starting seasonique in about a week and apparently it works pretty well… havent heard many horror stories about it
My doctor put me on yaz after my miscarriage and i was super excited cause on tv they raved about it but after i got on it i became super depressed all the time me and my boyfriend fought all the time i cried and tried to kill myself when i looked up the symptoms one of the main side effects of it is manic depression that paired with post pardom and the fact of just losing a baby almost ended me. i thought i was losing my mind. i do not recomend it for anyone!
Hi Everyone,
I have been on birth control for about 3 years now and have gone through 3 different pills. I started on Yaz, went to Yasmen, then Femcon. I am not back to Yaz and I cannot wait to try it again. The first time I tried it, I stopped taking it because I started to spot. However, every pill I have been on since has made me moody, depressed and gain weight.
I really wanted to tell everyone what my Dr told me. He said that all of these pills effect you differently than they effect everyone else. If your friend/ sister had mood swings and cramping on one, doesn’t mean you will. My advice for everyone is to try out the pills for 3 months at a time, you cannot really know how it effects your body until after 3 months. Of course if you are vomiting all the time or getting severe headaches, see your Dr. All you can do is try out the pills and see which one works for you. Good luck with everything!
I’ve been on the birth control pill called Yaz for over 9 months. Recently I was off the pill bc my bf moved away for college. The month I got off of it, we had no problems and the move wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Things are great between us. Except now I’m worried since i’ve gotten back on the same pill I’ve become severly depressed yet again. I’ve realized that it could very well be the pill and not me that’s causing the depression. I’ve been Ortho as well but it had the same effects. Any suggestions anyone?
I’d appreciate it.
i just started yazmin iam having my period since i started it and iam going throw HELL any advice
I have started Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo 3 weeks ago and so far have not stopped bleeding. I also have already gained weight, beel boated all the time and feel swollen all over….. I am doing everything not to gain weight: eating right, exercising and even doing linfatic drenage massage for water retention with no results. I am looking for a pill that DOES NOT CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks!
Has anybody used Gynera? Cause I’m just about to start it and it would be so helpful if you could reply.
Thank you!
I have been on the generic versions of Ortho-777 since 6 months after my son was born–its been 3 years. I was previously on Nordette. My husband notices a difference and insists it is because of the pill. My periods are like clockwork, from when they start to when they completely stop. There are months where I will spend a week with no energy. That seems to affect my mood more than anything. There are other months where my energy level seems more stable so I bounce back from a bad mood more easily. I do get headaches usually one day a month that seem to be related to hormones rather than other circumstances, but I take ibuprofen and it is gone in an hour or 2. I have been on the pill for over 12 years, so it is hard to say what is me and what is the pill…who knows, maybe my moods/energy levels are worse without the pill! But I am not willing to give up the predictability of my period and it being shorter and lighter to find out…
So I’ve tried three type of pills now within 2 years. So far I have not found one that I TRUELYY love. I was on Femcon Fe Oral for a year and the only horrible side effect was the increased mood swings. It made me horrible to be around and angry all the time. The positives were clear skin, no weight gain, very light periods(3 days) and larger breasts. However, the positives did not outweigh the bad. Next, I tried Yasmin within a week I stopped. I had constant heart palpitations, anxiety, and nausea.Currently I am trying Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo. Although I do not have mood swings, my appetite has increased tremendously. I feel bloated and constantly find myself hungry. I have also gained weight. I have heard this is the case for many people. Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I am more than willing to listen, I have no idea what more there is to try. Thank you…
Hi, my name is Molly. My mom is going to get me onto birth control because of my periods. My periods come three times a month for four to six months at a time. Then sometimes I don’t get my period at all. I’m a “virgin” to birth control and I don’t know which one is right for me! If there is any advice anyone could give me, that would be amazing. I want to try the new pill Seasonique, the one that only allows 4 periods a year. Wowza! But I don’t know since I am a youngster. I’ve had my period since I was in fourth grade so four about 6 to 7 years. I just don’t know what’s right for me!
Out of sheer curiosity, I pulled up this discussion forum today and I’m sad to say I’m not surprised at the difficulties all of you have had. My husband and I were married just over a year ago. We were both virgins, but we didn’t want children right away, so I did the easy thing and went to the OB to get on the pill three months before the wedding. She recommended Yaz. The first day, I threw up. I almost didn’t take it the second day because I hate nausea in the mornings, but I took it. No nausea, no throwing up. I’ve been on it, as I said, for about a year and three months now. In that year, I’ve gained 12 pounds, grown TWO bra sizes–which, when you start at a 34D, is not a good thing–and I’ve had issues with headaches and discharges. I was willing to deal with these side effects until I saw a commercial that people are conducting lawsuits because women have had kidney failure and stroke from Yaz and Yasmin! I actually called my doctor today and am waiting for a call back for a recommendation. I’m worried that none of these hormone-filled pills are worth it. My husband and I might have to deal with condoms for a year or so until we’re ready to start a family…
I’m writing on behalf of my girlfriend. We are taking a trip this fall and she wants to change her menstrual cycle so that she does not have it occur during our vacation. She was prescribed Yaz by her doctor, but is very leery about taking it – seeing all of the potential negative side effects. Can anyone suggest an alternative that achieves our goal? Not getting pregnant (I have had a vasectomy), acne or boob size are not issues here. All she wants to accomplish is having her cycle change to a week or so earlier. I read a little about Microgynon on this site and it sounds like a possibility. Thanks!
I’m 17 and I just started taking Ortho Tri Cyclen about a week ago. Everything has been fine so far but the one thing I’ve noticed is that one minute I’ll feel happy and excited and I’ll get this surge of hyperness and the next I wont care about anything or anyone.
I have no idea what is going on, but Im pretty sure its making me feel depressed. Nothing excites me anymore, not even seeing my boyfriend. I love him so much and seeing him excites me, but now not so much and nothing has changed within our relationship for the past week. So i’m pretty sure its the birth control.
I guess I’m just going to keep taking it and see what happens but if I still am feeling like this, I think I’m going to have to switch pills or just stop all together. Because I hate feeling this way. I feel like I have no emotions.
So does anybody have any suggestions? Or has anybody else experienced this while on Ortho? If so what do you suggest I do? I would really like to keep taking an oral contraceptive, not a patch or any ring or anything. Help!