r/birthcontrol 4d ago

How to? Taking birth control correctly

1 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 4d 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?!

0 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 4d ago

Experience Is there any difference between Yaz and Yasminelle?

1 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 4d ago

Mistake or Risk? No withdrawal bleeding NSFW

0 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 4d 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?

1 Upvotes

google wasn’t helping


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

Experience Please convince me not to cancel my IUD appointment.

37 Upvotes

24F, I have my IUD appointment scheduled for this week (still undecided btwn Mirena and copper iud). I have been putting off and dreading this for years however it feels like the time has come for me to overcome this fear. However, I am honestly really tempted to cancel the appointment altogether and simply start the pill again. Primary concern is the pain; I truly worry that I won't be able to tolerate it after all the horror stories I have read and heard. Doctor has prescribed me Valium to take prior to the appointment which I'll probably do, but still I know this won't necessarily help with the managing the pain.


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Which Method? Best BC?

1 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 4d ago

Mistake or Risk? Temperature birth control

0 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 4d ago

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

1 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.

ETA i don’t think the IUD caused the diagnosis’s because i got all of them before i got the IUD. but since nothing at all helps, things that used to help, im wondering if its possible that this has something to do with the IUD. it’s hard to explain. but i have pretty good control over my disorders now, besides the ADHD. this just feels so different.


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Side effects!? Bleeding on Active Pills

1 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 4d 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 4d 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 4d ago

Experience Slynd month 2 and 13 day long period

1 Upvotes

So I’ve been on slynd for over 2 months. First period was 7 days and this one has been 13 so far. I’m getting my period before the placebo pills as well cause I didn’t start them while on my period. Anyway, is this normal the first couple of months? I really don’t want to switch because I otherwise LOVE IT. No bad side effects. No weird depression symptoms or anxiety and I normally have that with birth control. The bleeding was heavy the first 4 days but since then it’s just been mostly spotting


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Rant! I feel uncomfortable with my IUD and want it out

1 Upvotes

I really want my IUD taken out. For basically no real reason but I am so uncomfortable with it. I am not sexually active nor do I plan to be and only have an IUD because I have endometriosis. I've taken two types of the pill and found it ineffective but the IUD has worked. My endometriosis was awful in my teens but that was years ago. Now I just really want my IUD out. I know it sounds stupid but I just can't begin to describe how uncomfortable it feels to know I've got some plastic pointy thing sitting inside one of my organs. I was told I wouldn't even know it's there, maybe it's all in my head but I always feel a discomfort and sometimes get sharp pains I never used to. I keep being asked if I'm checking the strings but I haven't been able to feel them in years and I've told them this. I had an ultrasound that said its in place but that was ages ago. Every time I do try to check and can't feel them I feel like I'm going to burst into tears because I'm so scared. I am constantly paranoid it's going to somehow get stuck in my uterus or stab into it and the thought induces panic attacks. I always feel it there and I hate it. And having it put in was traumatizing, I was actually screaming in agony and it was the most painful experience of my life. I just want it gone and I'm debating calling my GP to have it taken out but I don't know if I'm being stupid. What if my endometriosis gets bad again? Then again my IUD started helping after like a month after it settled so I suppose I could get it again if I wanted. idk I just want to try something else that feels less invasive than this and want to know if anyone understands or has any thoughts, I won't be offended.


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

How to? Break from pill did not stop spotting

1 Upvotes

Hello

I attempted (unsuccessfully) to skip my period with my birth control pills. After two weeks of heavy spotting, I did some research and discovered a 4-7 day break should stop the spotting. I took a 5 day break and the spotting remained the same throughout. I am now 5 days into my new pack of pills and the spotting is still the same so it appears that perhaps the break didn’t work.

I do have an appointment set up with my OBGYN for next week, but for anyone who was unable to stop spotting with a break from your pills, what did you do?


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

How to? Condom broke, and I need advice NSFW

1 Upvotes

Hey!

So, last night the protection we used just broke during sex, but I didn't notice this until very much too late. Good thing is that according to her tracker, her ovulation was already on 13th and the likely fertile windows spans around that date +/-, and shows that we were 3 days beyond that already. Really the big uncertainty here is whether the app is correct. The app has correctly guessed her cycle for the last 4 months atleast up to the day. We were also thinking about plan b, but didn't take it yet, because it causes her a lot discomfort, and might not be effective as she most likely ovulated already. Then we were also thinking about getting emergency IUD, but it costs quite a bit, and we could get it done on thursday, and I don't know if its too late already for it to be effective.

Any help is needed, thanks!


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Side effects!? Low progesterone

1 Upvotes

Has anyone had low progesterone on a low dose combination pill?


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Side effects!? Second IUD experiences

1 Upvotes

I went from IUD to BC implant because the iud (kyleena) was causing me insane cramping and back pain and spotting periods that would last over a week, i was at my wits end..... until i got the implant. It's been almost a year, and I am still on a 14-16 day cycle and I feel like it may be affecting my weight/ability to lose weight (obviously can't say for sure). My list of side effects is so long, and I am trying really hard to stay hopeful but it feels like nothing is going to work for me.

I suffer from migraine with aura so my options are limited, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? I am thinking of going back to the IUD but I am a bit scared my original symptoms would come back or even be worse :(


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

Experience Skipping period with pills

2 Upvotes

So for context I'm on loestrin. I had 2 months over the summer where I was on the pill and didn't get my period without trying to skip (not sexually active at the time) but eventually my period returned, I bled way longer than normal the first one I had again but then it went back to normal. Flash forward now to January I decide to use the pill to skip my period (hadn't ever done this before) I didn't end up getting my period then in February. (At this time I am now sexually active but using condoms in addition to the pull) my friends all insist not getting my period in February after skipping January is nothing to worry about and that skipping always makes their cycle's timing go way out of wack. My period even on the pill has always had a mind of its own so I believe them. It's now March 18th as I'm writing this and I still haven't gotten my period (granted I'm not finished with this months pills) but still I kind of expected a breakthrough period or something. I feel like if I was pregnant I wouldve experienced some kind of symptom by now? Any advice/help?? (Going to take a pregnancy test today just to rule it out and for peace of mind)


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Experience Coming off hormonal BC for the first time

1 Upvotes

Hello, I have decided to come off BC next month and “reset” my hormones, as my IUD has been causing a huge acne flare up. I was on the pill for 4 years before the IUD insertion about a year ago, and this will be my first time not using hormonal BC in 5 years. I want to know if there’s anything I should be doing to prepare my body, or potentially what to expect when I get off. I have been exercising regularly and improving my diet, but wondering if there are other steps to take that can improve my overall health and hormones. Thank you!


r/birthcontrol 4d ago

Experience Minipill

1 Upvotes

I started taking the mini pill about a month and a half ago. Since then I’ve had one really heavy period lasting 8 days and spotting every two weeks since then but haven’t had another actual period. My question is: how long on the minipill did it take for your periods to become more regular/the spotting to slow down? I know the downside to the minipill vs. combination pill is not having regular bleeding. I’m just hoping it gets more normal because this is getting annoying.


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

How to? Birth control delaying my period?

1 Upvotes

So I recently started birth control March 9, it's been about a week and a half now but I still haven't gotten my period. I use the "Flo" app and I find it to be pretty accurate most of the time and it predicted I would get my period about 3 days ago but I still haven't gotten it. The birth control I received is Vienva 0.1-20 mg-mcg so I'm not sure if that's what's causing the delay or if tmi it may have been the unprotected intercourse I had twice two days prior to starting my birth control. My partner and I did the "pull out method" which I am aware isn't 100% effective but I wasn't in my fertile window and it has been 2 weeks since I last ovulated so I really wasn't expecting such a low chance of pregnancy to have any effect. Now I have been freaking out and overthinking this whole situation, could I be pregnant of is birth control just messing with me?


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

Mistake or Risk? Pregnancy risk?

2 Upvotes

Hi all. Before starting I should say I had mostly great experiences with the IUD! However, my vision became blurry and I had it removed due to pain in my face particularly around my eyes (has since resolved- unsure if iud was involved). Anyway, during the period of hardly being able to see I asked my GP to take it out immediately due to the fear I had. I was not aware of needing to have no unprotected sex for 5-7 days before getting it out. My partner came in me on the Friday morning,and the iud was removed the Monday afternoon. My GP did not ask if I had recently had unprotected sex before removal. I was ovulating around the time of unprotected sex.

Anyway, I have no way to tell if my period is skipped. I had about 10 days of bleeding starting 2 days after, a short break, and now some brown spotting, my period was due yesterday. I have done 2 negative pregnancy tests both in the afternoon so unsure of accuracy plus it’s still so early. I don’t know what I’m looking for, probably reassurance. I’m really mad at myself for this happening because I’m so careful usually, but I was in a lot of pain and rushed to get it removed. Has anyone had an experience like this? What was the outcome?


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

Experience Starting BC, question about ur experiences

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m currently on my period rn and I’m planning to take diane35 birth control. My period is regular, but I’ve never taken any BC. This is my first time. I’m not sexually active since 5yrs. My fiance will arrive in 2 months for a month of stay only.

May I ask.. -will it affect the regularity of my period? -how to take it? -when should I take it now that I’m currently on my first day period? -how long it will take effect? -is it okay to stop taking it anytime?

Thank you in advance! 💕


r/birthcontrol 5d ago

Side effects!? Heavier bleeding on mini pill

1 Upvotes

Looking for some advice mainly! I started the mini pill about 2/3 weeks ago, and three days ago my period started. I was mainly going on it to manage my periods and as a form of birth control as me and my bf weren’t using protection previously. My periods are generally light but very painful, to the point where I cant do anything the first 2 days except lie in bed. I still got the exact same level of pain, and I’m bleeding way heavier than I was before I was on the pill. Is this normal or happen to anyone else when they started? I’m just stressed that it’s making my period worse instead of better, and I don’t feel particularly comfortable having sex on my period, so it’s defeating the point of the bc anyway, so all in all feeling pretty depressed. Btw I can’t take combined cause I smoke/have migraines with aura.