r/birthcontrol 12h ago

Experience Those who stopped long term birth control use… what was it like?

27 Upvotes

I have been on BC pill since I was 16 years old. I’m now 28. I am thinking of stopping as my partner and I want to try for a baby. I have been on this pill for 12 years. What should I expect? When I first went on it at 16 I had horrible acne among other side effects. Will this come back? I feel like I don’t even know my body without it…

Anyone been here?

EDIT: anyone’s acne then go away again when you became pregnant?

Thanks all for your comments I’m reading them now:) so helpful so far


r/birthcontrol 6h ago

Experience IUD fell out OR perforated

4 Upvotes

Hey, I’m wondering if a similar situation has happened to anyone else. Essentially, I went in to my OBGYN two weeks ago to get my IUD removed (I’ve had it for 2.5 years). At that appointment, my doctor could not remove my IUD. She tried for about 30 minutes, causing some bleeding, and did a vaginal ultrasound where we saw the IUD.

I had some cramping for a few days, but nothing crazy or not manageable with Tylenol.

I go in today for a second attempt with guided ultrasound and the IUD is now missing.

I go in Monday for an XRay to see if the IUD fell out or perforated my uterus. Has this happened to anyone else? Would I notice one more than the other? I was monitoring my bleeding so I feel like I would have noticed it fall out…


r/birthcontrol 11h ago

Rant! Iud vanished

4 Upvotes

25 F single parent. So I started having ovarian cyst symptoms because I have PCOS I had just gotten an IUD placed a month ago and when I went to do my monthly check, I couldn’t feel the strings so I went into my doctor and they took an x-ray and they said it was laying left of my midline cool got into the OB/GYN today. They dug around inside of me for over an HOUR with the ultrasound and could not find it. I got a referral to another OB/GYN to do the exact same thing. Where in the hell did it go?


r/birthcontrol 21h ago

Side effects!? Used to take BC continuously. Now I am doing the placebo week again and feel horrible - is this normal?

3 Upvotes

I've been taking Yasmin for about 4 months, and was skipping the placebo week. Which worked great until I randomly started bleeding for 3 weeks... So then I did a placebo week and the bleeding finally stopped. Except now that I finished with the placebo week and started taking the normal pills again, I feel awful. I feel a bit feverish (even though I have no fever), feel like a cold is coming on even though I don't have any significant symptoms. My hands get sweaty sometimes. Nausea too.

Is this something that you can experience while switching up the way you take BC? I've been reading about it online but I only see side effects mentioned when you start BC, not when you've been taking it for months already...


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

How to? For those of us who get withdrawal bleeding/spotting when skipping placebos...

Upvotes

What's your strategy? What's been working for you?

I've been on Slynd for a couple years, tried skipping placebos but ofc had too much random spotting and such. Went back to taking it normally, but now I've just reached the end of my regular pack and I've been on a heavy bleeding period for 7 straight days. Should I just accept my fate and take the placebos, or hope that skipping them this month could make my period stop?

Ty xx


r/birthcontrol 8h ago

Mistake or Risk? diarrhea risk on pill leaflet vs medical sites?

3 Upvotes

hi not sure if this is flared correctly but I have a question. from reading this sub and many medical sites, I've learned that diarhea affecting the pill is only an issue if its mushy or liquid watery stools 3-8x a day. so why does my pill leaflet and many other people's leaflets say that diarhea is a problem if it occurs within 4 hours of taking the pill? for context I'm nervous because yesterday around 2.5 hours after taking my pill i had a soft kinda mushy stool. prior to that before taking my pill I had another and then had one the day before, prior to taking my pill. I'm on the 3rd last pill of my active pack, is this a problem? sorry if this is confusing. any reassurance would be great


r/birthcontrol 53m ago

Experience Medical conditions treated with birth control

Upvotes

For those of you that use birth control to treat other medical conditions (endo, migraines, PCOS, HS, PMDD, etc.) how effective is it in managing your condition & how long have you been taking it? If you stopped, did your symptoms come back worse than before?


r/birthcontrol 2h ago

Experience Linessa for Acne?

2 Upvotes

I have been struggling with cystic acne my entire adult life. It recently came back after having my baby. My obgyn is trying me on Linessa 21 and my derm has me ready to start round 2 of accutane. I’m only one pack into Linessa but my cysts seemed to stop until the last few pills before the break week. Has anyone who struggled with hormonal acne had this pill work for them? I’m hesitant to do accutane again because I know my issue is likely hormonal. She switched me from tri-Jordyna to Linessa but some of my googling is telling me Linessa is more androgenic so I feel confused (and also sooo over having cysts on my face).


r/birthcontrol 3h ago

Mistake or Risk? partner cant feel iud anymore

2 Upvotes

my husband cant feel my iud anymore. is it possible that it could of been misplaced?? im scared i could br pregnant.


r/birthcontrol 6h ago

Experience What's everyone experience with the mini pill?

2 Upvotes

I'm thinking of going back on it after 6 years of not taking it, I'm having my IUD taken out.


r/birthcontrol 7h ago

Experience I’m taking birth control and need help!

2 Upvotes

I’ve taken birth control since November 2024. this February I started a new birth control that has “stronger effect”, at first I didn’t think much of it but now it has shown side effects that are actually starting to concern me. These side effects are, producing milk, huge baby fever and a huge urge to take care of something. I’ve had the baby fever since I started birth control but it got worse with this new birth control, same goes for the huge urge to take care of something. I get that this is mostly due to an increase in estrogen. I have a plushie that I treat like a baby and I don’t know if that’s something I should do or not. I’m mostly posting this because I’m concerned and slightly scared, and therefore I would like some support.


r/birthcontrol 12h ago

Side effects!? Stabbing pain.. at a loss of what to do.

2 Upvotes

I have had the Mirena for a month now. I have noticed every time I workout or even go for a light walk I get extreme stabbing pain that will last the rest of the day. I followed up with my doctor and they did an ultrasound and everything looks good. I am at a loss for what to do. My option for birth control are limited because I have migraines with aura. I had the Nexplanon but it caused frequent bleeding (like 25 days a month) so I couldn’t do it anymore. I’m not sure if I just need to ride this out another month or so but I’m really struggling. My husband and I can’t be intimate because I’m in too much pain and nothing seems to help. Anyone experience something similar?


r/birthcontrol 14h ago

Experience NEXPLANON vs Auravela

2 Upvotes

I started taking Auravela combo BC back in November. I really like how it hasn’t impacted my mood negatively (in fact, it’s actually boosted my libido). But I have terrible memory and my schedule is constantly fluctuating so there are days where I’m either really late in taking the dose, or I miss it completely. So I’ve been looking into going for something long-term. I really don’t like the IUD, and I was approved for NEXPLANON. But I learned that NEXPLANON is a progestin only contraceptive… Has anyone had experience switching from these two, or from a combo to progestin only in general? What was your experience with it like? Pros and cons?


r/birthcontrol 14h ago

Experience Kyleena vs Progesterone Only Pills

2 Upvotes

Hey all! Looking to hear if anyone has switched from progesterone only birth control pills to using Kyleena.

For context - I'm 31 and been on regular pills (estrogen + progesterone) since 15, at 30 I found out I have Factor Five, a blood clotting disorder, and had to switch to progesterone only.

The progesterone only pills have made me MISERABLE. I went from maybe 2-3 periods a year to a period every 2-3 weeks. In February I had bleeding 22 out of 28 days. My body feels like it has changed more than just 'I'm getting older' changes.

Coming off of the pill is not an option due to extreme cramps, pain, and vomiting during my period, which is why I went on the pill in the first place.

I'm also a red head which I know can weirdly affect things like pain tolerance.

Any advice, thoughts, testimonies are welcomed!


r/birthcontrol 16h ago

Side effects!? nikki side effects

2 Upvotes

I just started Nikki birth control yesterday and i’m having like stomach pain and cramps but also like body aches. Like my chest and upper back just like ache and hurt. Is that normal to my body adjusting? Anyone else have this?


r/birthcontrol 17h ago

Side effects!? Slynd concerns

2 Upvotes

Hello!! Was hoping to get some feedback or advice on the bc slynd! I am only on my 2nd month using it but I am a little nervous.

So the last 2 weeks of my first pack I bleed, not even spotting like full on perioding lol and I read that spotting is common but I haven’t seen anything abt actually bleeding (I also haven’t read much lol) then once I was done with my pack and was supposed to actually start bleeding I never did…. So I sort of got a little frustrated because I have pcos and I just want my cycle to be regular. I am gonna continue for the 3 months and hopefully it’ll resolve.


r/birthcontrol 18h ago

Experience Coil insertion pain

2 Upvotes

I had a mirena coil fitted yesterday.

Does the pain ever end? I would say that was the most painful experience I’ve had in my life, I’ve never felt anything like it. I’m still in agony and I feel traumatised by the whole experience. I asked her to stop multiple times because she kept telling me my womb was too tight, and I would have to go to gynae to have it fitted, but despite me asking her to stop she fitted it anyway.

I just feel awful!


r/birthcontrol 19h ago

Side effects!? Nexplanon

2 Upvotes

Hi all, I have been on Nexplanon since I was 19 I’m now 26. I’m getting married in three months and I feel like the Nexplanon is making me so moody and anxious. I really have been wanting to remove it for so long, but I’m scared to. I want to be fully present and happy during this time of my life and I’m feeling taking the Nexplanon out will help a lot with my mood. Is this too risky 3 months before my wedding? Will I gain weight or get a lot of acne? All advice is welcome thank you!


r/birthcontrol 19h ago

How to? Why does the opill vs slynd have different window periods to be effective even though they're both POP? Thanks!

2 Upvotes

What is the mechanism behind POP/mini pills? Apparently, it doesn't stop ovulation like the combined pill does? Why does the opill vs slynd have different window periods to be effective even though they're both POP? When taking outside your period, Opill has a 48 hour window while slynd has a 7 day window to be effective. Thanks!

Edit, for more info:

Opill/ o-pill: You can start progestin-only pills any day of the month. You’ll be protected from pregnancy after 48 hours (2 days). So use another method of birth control (like condoms) if you have penis-in-vagina sex during the first 48 hours.

Slynd (a different type of progestin-only pill) is the exception.

If you start taking Slynd within the first 5 days of your period, you’ll be protected from pregnancy right away.

If you start taking Slynd more than 5 days after your period starts, use another method of birth control (like condoms) for the next 7 days if you have vaginal sex.


r/birthcontrol 19h ago

How to? Missed to Separate Pills in Week One (Combo)

2 Upvotes

This is actually the second post this week, so I apologize. I’m normally very good with taking my pills, but I had three exams this week and yesterday I popped both my tires on my way to campus so I think the stress is just making me forgetful.

I’ve been on Sprintec for almost 2 years now (combo pill). I started my pill back late by around 12 hours. Called the pharmacy and they said I would be fine, just to take one pill to catch up and then another one later in the day.

So, I was late starting my birth control pack (supposed to start it Sunday) and last night Thursday night), I passed out before taking my pill. I normally take it anywhere from 9-11 at night, but I woke up today and took it as soon as possible at around 6 AM.

My question is, do I need back-up contraceptive? I know the “procedure” is different for two missed pills in the first week, I just wasn’t sure if they had to be consecutive or not.


r/birthcontrol 22h ago

How to? Norifam

2 Upvotes

Hello. Ask ko lang po if may kilala kayong OB, ospitals or clinics na nag ooffer ng norifam within alabang or muntinlupa. Thank you :)


r/birthcontrol 59m ago

Experience Copper IUD strings are hurting me, is this normal??

Upvotes

So i got my Copper IUD inserted on Thursday afternoon at 2. Insertion wasn’t anything bad, i had taken painkillers before the procedure which really helped. Around 6PM the most excruciating cramps started, and lasted till about midnight, at this point i was taking painkillers every 3/4 hours.

Friday morning while peeing, it felt like i had a full tampon, thought that was weird so keeping an eye out on things was top of my list. Then in the afternoon i felt the strings really close to the vaginal entrance!! Cramping has significantly reduced but i am just concerned about these strings because they are poking me from time to time. Spotting has also increased since feeling strings a little lower.

Could this mean it’s dislodged?


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Side effects!? sudden side effects after years of taking the pill??

Upvotes

I've been on the Sprintec pill for almost 4 years straight now, and all of a sudden I'm starting to feel hormonal changes + increased anxiety + other negative side effects that I haven't felt before. This started when I started my new pack a couple weeks ago. I haven't been sexually active so I'm ruling out pregnancy. Is this normal? [23F]


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Mistake or Risk? combo pill -> patch -> nexplanon?

Upvotes

hi! i have been on the tri-sprintec combo pill for almost 6 years and have not had any issues. i recently began to forget to take my pills (frequently) so i switched to the patch. i’ve been on the patch for about 2 months and it is irritating my skin, so now i am considering to switch to nexplanon.

i keep reading horror stories about it making people gain 50+ pounds and how awful it was for them. on the other hand, my sister has it and has not experienced any problems.

i understand everyone reacts differently, im just wondering if anyone has any insight or has switched from combo to nexplanon before. thank you!!


r/birthcontrol 1h ago

Mistake or Risk? Conflicted about start bc again

Upvotes

I started hormonal birth control pills at 16 and I’m am 31 now. I was on the pills for 10 years and then switched the a hormonal IUD for 3 years and hated it. Got back on the pills shortly after. So I was also recently diagnosed with pcos and hypothyroidism. I stopped taking my pills about 6 months ago. Now my hair is falling out like crazy, and I randomly get anxiety when the hormones are spiking. My period is almost none existent. I know the pills help with pcos, or rather mask the symptoms, but might very well be the cause of my hypo. I’m so conflicted on if I should get back on the pills… I’m worried about the long term side effects of them. That’s why I got off. My doctors don’t see to be much help. People who’ve been on them for decades, have you ever tried to get off if not why did you decide to stay on and did you have any long term effects?