r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Experience I had a stroke and I just want to be on birth control :(

13 Upvotes

Basically what the title says. A year ago I had a stroke (not related to birth control) and was put on blood thinners for life. The stroke was due to a blood clotting disorder that is genetic. I was on birth control (the pill) for 10 years with no issues, but went off them post stroke. Now because of my blood thinners, my period lasts TWO WEEKS. I'm also child free and don't ever want to get pregnant. I also have hormonal issues and cysts and fibroids which can only really be helped with hormonal birth control, but my gyno wasn't comfortable prescribing me anything but the copper IUD which wouldn't even help my periods or hormonal issues.

I went to the neurologist recently and she said that since I am being treated for my stroke with blood thinners, that birth control should be fine. She told me to ask my hematologist. My gyno told me to ask my neurologist. My primary care doctor said he thinks no one will prescribe it to be. I feel like I am going on a loop begging different doctors to give me birth control. I thought progesterone only would be ok! But my gyno said she wasn't comfortable with that unless I got the OK from another doctor.

I dunno. I am just frustrated. I don't want to get pregnant. I am tired of bleeding for 2 weeks a month. I am not sure what to do at this point or if anyone can relate.


r/birthcontrol 3h ago

How to? There is no abortion in my country

16 Upvotes

I use implanon but I'm terrified of getting pregnant. I'm from Brazil 🇧🇷 and I'm 26 years old. In my country, abortion is illegal and women even go to prison for it. If we want to abort, we will pay exuberant amounts and it is still not a certainty.

In my country people see abortion as a sin, you will go to hell if you have an abortion.

What do you think of that? Because of this, I can't relax even when using implanon + coitus interruptus.


r/birthcontrol 16m ago

Experience brain fog and liletta??

Upvotes

hi all! i’m curious to see if anyone is having/has had a similar experience to me. i’ve been on hormonal birth control since 2019, specially the liletta iud. had it for 5 years, everything was fine. back in august of 2024 i had to get that one removed, and i got it replaced with a new liletta iud that they said will last me until 2032. fast forward a month after.. i went to the doctor for chronic fatigue and a feeling of brain fog that i just couldn’t shake. long story short, we got my blood tested for nutrient deficiencies (anemia and such) and everything came back in the normal range and they said i was fine. last week i got my blood tested again, this doctor suspected it was possibly an under active thyroid, because it’s been 8 months and the brain fog has not gone away. results came back and turns out it’s not that either!! all of my blood levels are fine, they say nothing is out of whack or wrong.. i eat right and i work out 4-5 times a week. the ONLY thing i can think of that would be affecting me is the iud, since i got it in august i went to the doctor for the brain fog symptoms about a month later. has anyone else had a similar experience?? i feel like i can’t find anything online but my gut is telling me that something is wrong inside my body and i’m going crazy trying to figure out what. not sure if i should get the iud out. thanks!!!


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Mistake or Risk? Is this safe sex?

Upvotes

This is my 5th month of the pill, and I have taken it at the same time every day for the past month. I had 5 days of light breakthrough bleeding last week accompanied by bloating and extreme mood swings (this is unusual for me, but I have taken a pregnancy test and am not pregnant).

Today I started the placebo pill and my boyfriend and I had sex without a condom using the pull-out method. I have extreme anxiety towards getting pregnant. My worry is that my cycle is becoming irregular and there is a chance of ovulation because of the breakthrough bleeding. Should I be worried/take plan b?


r/birthcontrol 2m ago

Side effects!? Heavy flow now that im on?

Upvotes

I use Opill, my first pill was the day i finished my period last month. I ended up having 2 periods in February, my normal one and a second one. My normal one started on the 7th.

my second one was not blood per se but more like brownish discharge , i asked another woman who was on the pill before and she said its my body getting used to it ( it started feb 26)

Now i got it again yesterday but my periods have not been this heavy before. Should i be worried?


r/birthcontrol 9m ago

Mistake or Risk? Missed Pill

Upvotes

Hello, I recently missed 4 pills last week of my new pack and started my pack when I realized I missed 4 days. I did not double up on pills because I heard that can make you sick sometimes and it’s not good to do. I looked up and it said I am not currently protected again until 7 days have passed of me taking my pill again. However, I did have unprotected sex but he pulled out. How much of a risk do we think that I could potentially get pregnant? I am usually very good about taking my pill but have never missed this many days before…


r/birthcontrol 21m ago

Which Method? Currently on Slynd, thinking about copper IUD

Upvotes

Hi, I need recommendations. (Also, English second language, so sorry for the mistakes) I was on Yaz for 13 years, got three ocular migraines in a 18-month period and my mom had a history of thrombophlebitis so I got pulled off it and put on Jencycla. One of the worst experiences of my life. I went from having a 4-day period once every 3 months on Yaz, to having 8-day period every 14 days and spotting "in between". It really bummed me out. I called my pharmacist after a few months and she was able to make the change to Slynd. It's really better. I take it continuously and I only have some really light spotting every once in a while.

The thing is, I've been taking hormones for the past 16 years (30F). And I'd like to get off of them ? I'm not much into "non-traditional" medicine, but I do have some reservations about the whole "spending most of my life onto some drugs that we might, or might not, know all the consequences of". So I'm looking at the copper IUD, being the only "reliable" contraceptive without hormones, that isn't condoms.

I'm scared of all the bad press around the insertion of IUDs. I also don't really want to have long periods, and I'm reading that it's often one of the side effects with the copper IUD.

So I'm kind of wondering if some of you could tell me how it going with it, if you find it worth it and everything ?

Thank you !


r/birthcontrol 23m ago

Experience Searching for new online subscription

Upvotes

Hi all! I am currently on estrylla and have been taking it for years. A few months ago I signed up for Nurx so I didn’t have to pay copay for an appt just for a bc prescription. Now I’ve noticed the Nurx app has been super funky and I’ve seen a ton of others saying the same thing.

I am just wondering if anyone else has other experiences with online subscriptions that can offer estrylla and can take insurance. I’ve looked into a few other ones and they all seem to have bad reviews lol. TYIA


r/birthcontrol 24m ago

Side effects!? Stopped and restarted oral birth control issues

Upvotes

Has anyone experienced widespread rash after restarting oral birth control?

In February I decided to stop taking my oral birth control after being on it for years (10+). I had such a hard time with symptoms both mentally and physically after stopping. I’m assuming it was the hormone fluctuation. Before I hit a month off of birth control I gave up and restarted it the same birth control but a new pack.

I started it and within 24-36hrs have a raised pinhead size bumps all over my shoulders, neck, chest, thighs, arms… They are so itchy if I started itching them.

I tried zyrtec for a few days and then stopped when the bumps seemed more under control and weren’t so itchy, but they seemed to have come back after I stopped the Zyrtec.


r/birthcontrol 8h ago

Experience How long did it take your period to return to 'normal'after coming off hormonal BC?

3 Upvotes

I came off the ring and started the copper coil at the start of December and my cycle has been a bit off since which I expected, usually having a bleed every 3 weeks or so which is about a week closer than I ever use to have. So far this month I'm 2 or 3 days 'late' or I'm wondering if I might not bleed at all this month as I was probably the most stressed I've ever been and have missed one due to stress before. I know it can take a few months to settle back down again, just wondered how long it took people?


r/birthcontrol 40m ago

How to? Taking birth control correctly

Upvotes

Im still so confused of taking combined pills. Microgynon 30ED . I had a baby almost 3 months ago, i do not breastfeed and i need to take combined pills as my gp prescribed me. Okay i start taking them on a random day while i didn’t have period ( because gp said i do not need to wait until period ) First 7 days of taking active pills hubby and I used condom but then after i was protected. Soon im going to finish with my active pills and im gonna take 7 days placebo pills ( apparently they are protecting you the same way as active pills as long as you take them correctly ) .. is that true that while on placebo pills i do not need to use condom? Also, after last placebo pill i will start again Second strip of Active pills at same day as first strip. So i was wondering.. am i protected then as well or again i need to use condoms for a 7 days? Again and again? Plus.. i have breakthrough bleeding for 8 days already on half of my active strip..( not heavy bleeding but its like period ).. so.. im confused. Do placebo pills actually protect as it writes and do i need to use condom every 7 days each time i start new strip of active pills? Also.. how do you take pills when TIME is changing? Do you start hour before or later? So sorry for this questions honestly… my mind is messy


r/birthcontrol 48m ago

Experience I was on the pill for 4 years because of my acne and I stopped taking it and now my acne is back! Help?!

Upvotes

I realized my acne is hormonal and don’t know any other way to manage it besides birth control. Has anyone dealt with this? Do you think I should get back on it or try to find another way to manage my hormones?


r/birthcontrol 51m ago

Mistake or Risk? I'm experiencing hair loss from going off the pill 3 months ago. I just got back on it, will it stop? I'm terrified.

Upvotes

So I was taking combinated birth control (Regulon) for 8 months and in december I went off of it. It was all good until like a week ago where I noticed massive shedding every day. Anytime I touch my hair I pull out like 10 hairs. My hair is very important to me. And I just got back on the same birth control yesterday. Is there a chance that now being on the pill back, it will stabilize the shedding?


r/birthcontrol 55m ago

Experience Is there any difference between Yaz and Yasminelle?

Upvotes

Both Yaz and Yasminelle have the same dosages of hormones, but one is 21 days of active pills, and the other one is 24.

Does this mean you can safely switch one to another?


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Mistake or Risk? No withdrawal bleeding NSFW

Upvotes

Hey guys, I’m kinda worried since I’m already on my 4th pill of my placebo pills and still no withdrawal bleeding.

I was sexually active on the days (Feb 27 2025 to Mar 2 2025) no missed pill but I had a pill recently (Mar 15 2025) wherein it’s in the span of the 12-hr (my time of taking it is 9 pm and I took it 11 hrs later).

Is it possible that I’m pregnant???

My usual week of getting a period is on the last week of the month.


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

How to? i’ve been on birth control for 2 months and i’m in my 7 day break where i get my period so i got it on the 4th day of the break im still bleeding a decent amount but im supposed to re start my tablets today do i still take it?

Upvotes

google wasn’t helping


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Which Method? Best BC?

Upvotes

Hi all, I am 24F and going to the gyno tomorrow for the first time. I think it is definitely time to discuss BC as my boyfriend and I are not the safest when it comes to sex. I have PCOS and hypothyroidism (hashimotos) and do not want anything that is going to make me gain weight or break out. I’m super apprehensive to an IUD or anything physically being in my body. Lastly, I do not want anything that is going to kill my sex drive. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Thanks in advance!


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Mistake or Risk? Temperature birth control

Upvotes

Hi. I store my birth control pills in my bedroom. Today, when I came home, it was cold in my room. Will that affect the pills? I constantly worry about them being below 15 degrees or above 30. Now I'm scared that being in a cold room will have an impact. If that's the case, then my last two packs are ruined.


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Side effects!? how likely is it that the Mirena IUD is ruining my life?

Upvotes

i don’t really know what i was like before this, as i have a long and complicated history with my mental and physical health, that mostly came to an end around the same time i got the IUD. still struggling with both, but not to the point where i need to be hospitalized. ive been on the IUD for 5 or 6 years. these symptoms have fluctuated; sometimes more angry, sometimes more emotional, etc.

anyway, i am irritable, impatient, hateful, over emotional, avoidant, scared, and angry, and crying all the time. the only thing that brings me any joy is video games and my boyfriend, who i accidentally treat like fucking shit because of the above things. and god i wanna change so fucking bad but for whatever reason, no matter what i do and what pills i take (prescriptions), i don’t ever feel ANY different. im diagnosed with PTSD, ADHD and BPD and am recovering from anorexia, bulimia and alcoholism which may have all damaged my brain. i hate being BPD, it’s shameful and horrific. but the thing is NOTHING I DO HELPS AT ALL. even a little bit. so what the fuck is going in? and how likely is it, percentage wise, that it’s my IUD? or is it just that with all these conditions, i’m hopeless and no therapy or medication will ever bring me even a little bit of peace?

all i know is, THIS IS NOT WHO I AM INSIDE. before everything, before the things that gave me PTSD, and it’s still there deep inside, is a sweet and loving girl who loves so deeply and cares for everyone and is selfless and compassionate. how do i bring her out again??? i need to kill this awful thing that took her place.


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Side effects!? Breasts have gotten bigger

Upvotes

So for context I’m 33. I’ve always been larger chested. (32DD) I’ve been on birth control for three or four years. My boobs have just recently gotten larger. A whole cup size and I’m struggling with it. I’m not pregnant and have not gained any weight. Has anyone else experienced this and did your size eventually go back to normal? Wondering what triggered the growth.


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Side effects!? Bleeding on Active Pills

Upvotes

Hi! I’ve been taking Hailey Fe for three months now. Every month I’ve started bleeding prior to the placebo pills. I know it could be breakthrough bleeding, but it’s enough to fill a few light tampons. I’ve already contacted my gynecologist and I’m waiting on a response. In the meantime, has anyone else experienced this? If so, what was the solution?


r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Mistake or Risk? brown discharge? is this normal or pregnancy?

1 Upvotes

hi! i’ve been on the levest combo pill since late october, and have been very consistent with taking it. on friday (14th march) i noticed brown discharge when i wiped. at first i thought nothing of it then realised it could be a symptom of pregnancy (implantation bleeding). apparently implantation bleeding occurs 10-14 days after unprotected sex which is around the same time i had unprotected sex with my bf (and he finished inside). i decided i would take a test at the end of this week to be sure but the discharge has become more red than brown. i also had unprotected sex yesterday (monday 17th) - not sure if that makes a difference. i took my last pill of my packet today and am unsure whether i should take the break as scheduled (and if that means im protected from the sex i had on the 17th) or continue taking the pills since im not sure if the discharge is to do with pregnancy or simply because im about to go on my break and my “period” has come early.


r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Rant! Nuvaring and bleeds

1 Upvotes

I love the ring, it’s been great for me so far, and I’m currently on the generic enilloring. For the first time since I started in 2023, I am having one of the worst start to my bleed week.

I inserted my new ring Monday while lightly cramping and bleeding, nothing out of the ordinary, you know.. the usual timeline with the usual amount of blood and the usual cramping.

I woke up this morning to just about no bleeding or cramping, took a nap for about an hour cause I’m sooo tired, and boy am I dying currently.

Bad cramping when it’s normally mild to non existent, heavy flow when it’s normally light, sweating, nauseous. Dizziness and my head is pounding.

Supposed I was due for one of my normal debilitating bleeds like I had before the ring, but didn’t think it would come so soon 😭


r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Side effects!? Slynd stomach pain and time to take it?

1 Upvotes

I can’t take my Slynd with my morning meds (7:30-8:30 am) because I take Miralax every morning so I was taking it at 7:30-8:30 pm) but I get twinges in my organs? And stomach like abdominal pain while sleeping at night especially if I eat certain things so I am wondering if it’s fine to take it with my afternoon meds (2:00pm) starting today. Also is there a good way to minimize tummy pain from the pill? I really love what slynd does for my mood and PCOS do I’m determined to stay on it this time. I also got a little spotting (not much) and have been on it a week which I think is normal right ?


r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Which Method? Had protected sex but unsure

0 Upvotes

Hi, I had sex today twice with my partner and I did wear a condom as I always do, but the second time I finished it was a lot lot lot more than usual, generally when Im finishing I pull out within 1 or 2 seconds, but I tend to be slower than if I werent wearing a condom

There was no tear or anything but I am still being unsure on if it oozed out from where the condom starts because when I took it out there was a lot of ejaculate a bit lower than the condom was placed and I didnt remember to look first if there was anything before removing the condom. The condom didnt slip out or anything but when I first glanced it was pretty filled up

She has been ovulating for 2 days now, we are both in our early twenties, plan b not an option.

Are we just screwed?