Experience With Birth Control

[Sharksheep]

For the people who are getting the pill version of BC, it's super important that you take the pills every single day and not miss them. It is medicine and you should be taking them as prescribed. Depending what it is, you might need to take it for weeks for it to be effective. And sometimes the version you got might give you terrible side effects and it's something you need to bring up with your doctor.

There are other options like IUDs or implants instead of pills if they are an option for you.

 

[Corrie]

Am on the pill to avoid pregnancy. I tried tri cyclen originally but after a couple months of being on it, it starting giving me nausea and then I started waking up throwing up water. I immediately stopped taking it and went to the doctor who then gave me another birth control which was lo loestrin. I'm still taking it to this day and have been on it for at least three years now. My periods are on time, light with barely any cramps. Plus, no nausea or vomiting! Due to covid shortages, I was put on another low estrogen pill as a replacement until they get stock of my other one back in and it's perfectly fine.

tldr, normal doses of estrogen gave me nausea and vomiting. I switched to a low estrogen pill and it's been a breeze.

 

[-Lumi-]

Am on the pill to avoid pregnancy. I tried tri cyclen originally but after a couple months of being on it, it starting giving me nausea and then I started waking up throwing up water. I immediately stopped taking it and went to the doctor who then gave me another birth control which was lo loestrin. I'm still taking it to this day and have been on it for at least three years now. My periods are on time, light with barely any cramps. Plus, no nausea or vomiting! Due to covid shortages, I was put on another low estrogen pill as a replacement until they get stock of my other one back in and it's perfectly fine.

tldr, normal doses of estrogen gave me nausea and vomiting. I switched to a low estrogen pill and it's been a breeze.

Oh! This is really good to know. I was on Tri Cyclen a few years ago but it made me sick as well. When I told my doctor she just like ... shrugged and said I could stop taking it but offered no alternative made it seem like Tri Cyclen was the “easiest” birth control so if I couldn’t handle that I couldn’t handle any of the pill variants. I have a new doctor now though so when I see her next I’ll bring up this brand!

 

[Sharksheep]

Oh! This is really good to know. I was on Tri Cyclen a few years ago but it made me sick as well. When I told my doctor she just like ... shrugged and said I could stop taking it but offered no alternative made it seem like Tri Cyclen was the “easiest” birth control so if I couldn’t handle that I couldn’t handle any of the pill variants. I have a new doctor now though so when I see her next I’ll bring up this brand!

The reason why there's so many different birth controls is because it doesn't work for everyone and it's a very complex system. In my opinion the "easiest" one would be an IUD because you only have to do yearly visits to check on it which is what people should be doing just for a check up/ preventative care for other health reasons. And you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday. But also IUDs doesn't work for everyone but there are hormonal ones. From what I read the copper ones tend to make periods worst for people who have heavy or painful periods.

 

[-Lumi-]

The reason why there's so many different birth controls is because it doesn't work for everyone and it's a very complex system. In my opinion the "easiest" one would be an IUD because you only have to do yearly visits to check on it which is what people should be doing just for a check up/ preventative care for other health reasons. And you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday. But also IUDs doesn't work for everyone but there are hormonal ones. From what I read the copper ones tend to make periods worst for people who have heavy or painful periods.

I think my doctor meant “easiest” in terms of dosages! Like she just figured that the one she put me on would be easiest for my body to handle since I wasn’t (and I’m still personally not) open to IUDs. But she wasn’t a super great doctor so I’ll definitely try bringing it up with my new doctor and see what happens!

 

[MikkiC306]

I've had all kinds of BC pills. I can't remember any of them except tri cyclen and only because it was mentioned. I've had simple just your plain old bc, ones that helped with acne (and they did help with that), the pill I can't remember the name of that you have to use while breast feeding if you choose to use BC, the depo shot (never again. 15 lbs in a month and terrible cramping which is unusual for me) and then my all time hands down favorite and probably one of the most discussed in terms of side effects when it comes to IUDs the Mirena! I love this thing! Not to be confused with those odd spring like devices that were vibrating out of women's tubes into other areas of their body. I have had mine for well 6 years. This is my second. I have had no period since 2015. My first was put in by a doctor I no longer see who immediately cut the strings like super short. That was fun. Two ultrasounds and my doctor even tried to remove it while I was having the ultrasound performed. Ended up just this December having to go in and have surgery to have it removed (nothing big, didn't have to go under a knife or anything, just a Telescope like device that the name of escapes me). I debated about putting another in. I don't do the whole being put under thing very well as I'm a big chicken about that but I'm really bad at remembering things (especially names if you haven't noticed) and I have never had much luck remembering to take my pills. I knew if I didn't I would be having kid number 6 and I am pretty well and set on not having anymore children. 5 is plenty . Essentially I have always tried a different pill after each child I had. The depo shot was my first BC because it was easy and I didn't have to remember it but I was done with that by shot 2 and opted for a pill. I didn't have any reactions to any of the ones I tried. That said I'm so regular every kid I have was born around the same day (9,10,11,12(2 on the 12th day different months)) just different months and years. I've never been one to cramp and I've never been heavy except after child 4 which was legit like a river for awhile. I've gotten it pretty easy in that department. No weird mood swings, pms or anything like that (at least that I am aware or willing to admit at the time of the occurrence ).

My advice after more years, more doctors, tons of experiences than I care to admit. Do not be afraid to ask questions. If your doctor dismisses you or you don't feel like you are being answered, find a new one. Your health and understanding of it is super important and feeling comfortable with your doctor is a huge deal. Also, if you feel uncomfortable or do not particularly like any part of your treatment plan, speak up. You know your body better than anyone. I've had to argue about a lot of things I knew I wanted. Especially labor but that's a whole other discussion.

 

[InstantNoodles]

I'm on the Nexplanon implant which works for me. Just a tiny piece of plastic in my arm that gets changed once every 3 years. I have no periods on it so no complaints here

 

[LaBelleFleur]

I had horrible periods throughout my teens culminating in me lying on the floor at work wishing for death, at which point I went on the birth control pill (Alysena). I still had the usual symptoms, but it helped lessen the severity of them.

A couple of years later, I decided to get the hormonal IUD (Mirena). Life changing. After a couple of months, my periods stopped completely. I can’t remember the last time I had excruciating cramps. I don’t have to plan my life around my period anymore. I don’t have to check myself when I’m cranky to see if it’s PMS-related. I never have to worry about forgetting to take a pill. Since it’s one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control, I no longer worry about getting pregnant before I’m ready. I’ve had it for four years now, and will absolutely get another one when this one’s done. I tell all my uterus-having friends to see if it’s a good fit for them. Life. Changing. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

 

[MikkiC306]

I had horrible periods throughout my teens culminating in me lying on the floor at work wishing for death, at which point I went on the birth control pill (Alysena). I still had the usual symptoms, but it helped lessen the severity of them.

A couple of years later, I decided to get the hormonal IUD (Mirena). Life changing. After a couple of months, my periods stopped completely. I can’t remember the last time I had excruciating cramps. I don’t have to plan my life around my period anymore. I don’t have to check myself when I’m cranky to see if it’s PMS-related. I never have to worry about forgetting to take a pill. Since it’s one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control, I no longer worry about getting pregnant before I’m ready. I’ve had it for four years now, and will absolutely get another one when this one’s done. I tell all my uterus-having friends to see if it’s a good fit for them. Life. Changing. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

Yes! Yours is the only other good review of this product I have heard! I am so happy I made the decision to get this. Even after I had to have it removed through surgery. It wasn't the products fault the strings were cut super short. My new doctor had never seen anything like it. I never asked for them to be cut or complained about them. She had just cut them right then and there when she originally inserted it. Aside from that mishap I couldn't be happier for all the reasons you've said minus the pain stuff. That had to be so difficult!

 

[mermaidshelf]

I went on birth control for acne in college but it gave me bad mood swings and it made my veins in my legs feel funny (I don't think they were blood clots though). It wasn't really helping with my acne and I couldn't afford a visit to the doctor's so I just gave up. I wish I had switched to a different brand instead but I was dealing with a lot and I couldn't really handle testing out a pill that worked for me.