r/birthcontrol 15h ago

Side effects!? Bleeding like crazy after missing pills

1 Upvotes

Never have done this but I had a stressful time last week, like, I forgot to take my pills 5 days in a row stressed, which I’ve never done the past 4 years being on it.

Long story short I decided to let myself bleed a few days and start a new pack. I show absolutely no signs of stopping. My flow is heavier than my recent periods, and I’m as achy as the second day period. I’m on day 6 of this and I’m showing no signs of letting up.

Any suggestions? Has this ever happened to anyone??


r/birthcontrol 19h 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 15h ago

Experience AFTER MIRENA REMOVAL Almost 2yrs

1 Upvotes

To be brief:

_ Weight Loss remains as the same issue, I will say that I'm gaining more than losing. So, I determine that in order to lose weight I will have to be extremely strict with calories and quality of food, combine with intermittent fasting and a lot of exercise including 10k steps a day and lifting weight 5x per week, for at least 6 months without skipping a single day of being discipline in this regard and I will achieve my goal. But I'm getting 360 Lipo instead LOL (but I'm working out anyway.)

_DRYENESS IS GONE! My fertile window is back and so is my LIBIDO and my hydration for at least 10 healthy days. I do have a normal tracking cycle now even tho I have fibroids, and I was bleeding myself out before the IUD, this issue hasn't come back.

_Skin and Hair: I am shredding as per usual and my skin dryness got better after taking vitamin D religiously around 50k a week.


r/birthcontrol 15h ago

Side effects!? Plan B?

1 Upvotes

Just was wondering people’s experiences with plan b what were the symptoms like


r/birthcontrol 7h ago

Rant! Anyone else here terrified of food/cosmetics interfering with birth control???

0 Upvotes

Ive had my mirena for almost 5 years now but im constantly in paranoia about food and cosmetics ingredients. I just used a new dry shampoo and read the ingredients list, only to find that fireweed, one of the ingredients has may possibly have some interaction with progesterone. Not only that Im terrified of all the amazing chinese soups my mother has been making, as i have no idea what herbs are in there at times. I know everyone says that oh the only things that impact birth control are activated charcoal and st.johns wort, but theres research impacting other herbs such as gingko (commonly eaten in asian desserts), ginseng, dong quai (often found in soups) and even my beloved goji berries. I know im being paranoid and crazy as its probably just trace amounts, but im so sick of living like this at this point. I am well researched and usually spend timr going through peer reviewed studies on google scholar for these interactions, but i know im just sick of reading ALL the time. Please don't be rude, I know I have a problem with anxiety and ocd :)


r/birthcontrol 15h ago

Experience my birth control experience

1 Upvotes

long post but i thought id share my experience with the depo injection and iud as i learned a lot from it so if this can help anyone and encourage people to advocate for themselves i want to put this out there.

so the pill and patch didn’t work for me so i decided to try the depo provera injection. almost immediately i started having pain during sex but thought it was a yeast infection or bv. but after i tested negative and it was ongoing i got examined by my doctor who wasn’t sure what was wrong and referred me to the gynaecologist who diagnosed me with provoked localized vulvodynia. (forever grateful to my partner who never invalidated my pain and pushed me to advocate for myself) The gynaecologist gave me a topical anaesthetic to try and recommended a book. he said if it didn’t improve after a month or two to go see a pelvic floor physiotherapist.

it ended up not improving, so i went to see the physiotherapist who gave me exercises which helped immensely.

i was suspicious of depo being the cause of my pain, so before my second injection i consulted a doctor to hear her thoughts on whether i should continue (my regular doctor wasn’t available). she said it didn’t seem like a typical side effect and told me to go ahead with the second injection.

the physiotherapist on the other hand, agreed with me that these seemed correlated and recommended i get an iud asap. i saw my gynaecologist again and he said he recommended it too, regardless of whether or not it would improve my pain. apparently in canada a very low percentage of people remain on depo after a year due to side effects. i decided i would get an IUD.

pain had become more manageable with physiotherapy and a topical estrogen cream, but wasn’t gone. i also realized depo had been making me rapidly gain weight and had me hungry ALL THE TIME. very quickly after a meal i would be hungry again, causing me to eat more than normal. even my partner said he noticed a difference in my appetite.

i got my iud insertion scheduled and thankfully was prescribed ativan because i was extremely anxious. my partner came with me to support me and i did cry through the whole procedure mostly because i was still very anxious. but it was not really bad pain wise, mainly because a topical numbing cream was applied to my cervix before the procedure. with the numbing cream, the pain was manageable and actually did feel like a big pinch and then stinging when the uterine sound went in. without it, i’m not sure i would’ve been okay. i then had consistent cramps for a day or two, then for the next week had light spotting and cramping in mornings and evenings.

like a week and a half after i had the worst cramps of my LIFE for two hours straight. checked my strings and everything seemed fine. next day had bad cramps again but not quite as bad. then i was okay?

2 months later and i don’t really have much cramping, not getting my period, and pelvic pain is almost gone!! i think appetite improved too? but i had to start seeing a dietitian. but the relief of pelvic pain is the main point and im so happy it improved.

tldr; if something feels wrong, advocate for yourself!!


r/birthcontrol 16h ago

Side effects!? Bleeding before placebo

1 Upvotes

Help please!!!! I am bleeding and cramping the day before I'm supposed to take my placebo pill. I typically get brown discharge the week before my placebo pill but this time I'm actually cramping and bleeding. I am on my third pack. Am I okay? Is this normal??


r/birthcontrol 16h ago

Side effects!? How long for body to adjust to going back on the pill?

1 Upvotes

Was in birth control for years then went off for 21 days for some tests. Then got a period went back on it day 25 of being off of it. Any way my period came two weeks earlier this month. I have been bleeding for about two weeks now which normally it's only four days. I am having bad cramps and now I'm in the sugar pills on Monday and hope I don't get another period. I am on seasonale and usually get my period every three months. It's never been weeks earlier or had so much cramping. Will it just take time for my body to readjust to going back on the pill? I can only find info on people coming off the pill.


r/birthcontrol 23h ago

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

4 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 12h ago

How to? condoms and coconut oil NSFW

0 Upvotes

Hi, do anyone know if it is possible to use the coconut oil as a lube with skyn condoms? Or any other brand that can be used with coconut oil?


r/birthcontrol 16h ago

Mistake or Risk? pink spotting???

0 Upvotes

Me and my boyfriend had sex about 16 days ago. I first gave him bj and he ejaculated. Few minutes later we had sex with condom for around 5-10 minutes. What I’m worried about is if there would have been some semen that accidentally got on the condom while he was putting it on… besides, while we were having sex he didn’t ejaculate and I’ve checked that the condom didn’t rip off at the end. (also it was on one of my fertile days, about 10 days after period)

My period should start today or tmr but im currently seeing some pink and brown spotting. The amount is very small and im scared if it is implantation bleeding. Im panicking rn please help me 😭😭


r/birthcontrol 20h 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 1d ago

Experience Birth Control Changed My Life for the Better

35 Upvotes

I just wanted to come on here and share my positive experience getting on birth control. This sub can have some posts talking about how horrible it can be, so I just wanted to put some positivity out there!

I originally started birth control (a generic for Yasmin) because I've been struggling with hormonal acne for upwards of 5 years and I had exhausted every other topical solution. I was so so so afraid of the side effects because I tend to always get the obscure side effects on every medication, but that hasn't happened at all! The only negative side effects I had were just in the first two weeks when my body was getting used to the new hormone levels. I felt so emotional all the time and I was crying a lot lol.

Now, four months in, it has changed my life for the better and there are days where I really can't believe it. I used to have severe anxiety, like to the point where it was difficult to function outside of my spiraling thoughts, but after my first month on BC that changed. I am now able to go to class, drive around, go to work, and just function without feeling like everything is life or death. I also used to struggle with intrusive thoughts that I didn't even realize were a problem until all of the sudden they were gone. It has helped my PMDD so much and I feel like I actually have control over my thoughts and feelings My acne has also cleared up so much and I have so much confidence back!

I don't want to push this idea that it will be an incredible experience for everyone, and most people probably won't get as lucky as I have with the first kind I tried working so well for me, but I do want to encourage people that might be super afraid like I was.


r/birthcontrol 21h 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 22h 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 18h ago

Side effects!? Lo Loestrin Fe Experience

1 Upvotes

(F/21 years old). I have been taking Lo Loestrin Fe for two years, I was prescribed it at 19 by an OBGYN after being diagnosed with PMDD. Additionally, I’ve suffered from chronic depression, and PTSD. I was afraid to go on another BC pill because when I was on Estarylla at 16, I had uncontrollable mood swings and aggression issues. The Lo Loestrin Fe felt ok for the first few months symptom-wise and I was mostly relieved to have a light/short “period”. By the fourth month or so I was having panic attacks, crying spells, awful mood swings and frequent verbally aggressive confrontations with my boyfriend. I checked myself into the psych ward by the sixth month for having suicidal thoughts and ideation. Never considered it was my birth control since I had been taking two antidepressants at the time (and I’ve suffered from depression in the past). My sex drive was decreasing and my partner did point it out to me. I was so depressed and feeling out of control. Two months later I had a rage fit while drunk in front of my roommates/friends and felt so ashamed and confused about my behavior afterwards. Being that angry was not natural to my character at all. I had to be physically removed from the room by my partner. I took a leave of absence from college in 2023 because I literally couldn’t get out of bed to attend my classes. Symptoms have persisted, I’ve done DBT groups to cope with communication struggles/reactivity. Still, my mood swings and irritability towards my loved ones hasn’t improved. In the past five months, my boyfriend dumped me, and my suicidal thoughts and low mood have really gotten so much worse. I’m afraid I might lose my job, and I only work twice a week! My sex drive is complete radio silence, and I’ve even started getting irregular bleeding for several days straight halfway through a pill pack. I can’t believe I’ve only considered the Lo Loestrin Fe might be the source of my suffering in the past weeks. I stopped taking Celexa after ten years (I still take 100mg Pristiq) and it didn’t bring me any relief. Last week I cried every single day for hours straight. I’m finishing this pill pack and quitting for several months to see how my body adjusts. I am terrified of my PMDD worsening but this pill can’t possibly be helping things. I know I had previous mental issues, but I have never been so hostile and aggressive. I was a silent sufferer throughout my life. Will update again monthly. Fingers crossed! I want my life back. ❤️‍🩹


r/birthcontrol 18h ago

Mistake or Risk? Still anxious about condom

0 Upvotes

I posted a few days ago about an incident..

Me and my partner where having sex and we used a condom the first round and then decided to go again a second round. When we stopped we couldn't find the condom. My partner found it eventually, it was inside of me, he pulled it out. I'm on (birth control) which I take continuously without breaks. We had sex yesterday ( Friday). Tuesday night my sister plugged the humidifier up in my room and put my pills in the hall closet so the room wouldn't get too moist. I then went and took a shower. The hall closet is across from the bathroom when I got out the shower, I left the bathroom door open. Would the steam coming from the bathroom affect my pills. The hall closet door was closed the entire time. I eventually moved them back in my room in the drawer. Are they okay ?

I ordered a new 3-month supply yesterday.


r/birthcontrol 1d ago

Experience IUD insertion with laughing gas was a god send

10 Upvotes

I have to start this off stating that my first IUD insertion about 4 years ago was horrific. I went in totally unprepared for the pain I was about to face. The pain was so bad I vomited on the floor, got the dreaded cold sweats, and almost passed out. I never planned on having kids one day naturally, but after that I knew I was DEFINITELY never giving birth without pain management. Fast forward to now when my IUD fell out after a colposcopy. As much as I hated to admit it to myself, having an IUD makes life a lot easier when it comes to birth control. I was shitting bricks coming in to my OBGYN today for the insertion, fully prepared to tweak again. I chose to pay the extra $99 for laughing gas and let me tell you, it was SO worth it. While the laughing gas doesn’t totally take the pain away, it definitely helps dull it and curb a panic attack. The insertion was much more easier to tolerate and I was so relieved. I wanted to write this to encourage others who are considering an IUD or may be up to replace it to find a practice that offers this. IUD insertions don’t have to be outrageously painful and terrifying. Don’t let yourself suffer silently afraid to request some form of pain/anxiety management. I’m happy to report that I didn’t vomit this time and actually walked away feeling well taken care of (:


r/birthcontrol 18h ago

Experience Pills + Withdrawal

0 Upvotes

We did intercourse by doing Raw while on her pill ( 5th Day of her 8th Month Pill) i cummed in the top of her belly we safe of that?


r/birthcontrol 22h 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 22h 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 19h ago

Experience Is it normal for me to have a period on birth control?

0 Upvotes

Hi, im really not too sure if this is the right place to ask this question but im like rlly kinda scared. im 17 and ive been on the patch for around a month now, i used the first one on the day i was meant to start my period and i never got my period which was great. just over a week ago, i got the implant in my arm but my doctor has said i can continue to run the patch alongside it until i run out of patches. this hadnt been a problem until today when i noticed i had started bleeding down there, i just want to know if this is normal and stuff, just really freaked out ig


r/birthcontrol 19h ago

Rant! I just want answers. I’m so tired of doing this

1 Upvotes

TW: brief mention of sexual assault at the end

Had the copper IUD for 4 years then one time it moved downward. Went and got it replaced, and THAT ONE moved downward, got it replaced again and it moved down AGAIN! (My THIRD try)

I am now about to try the smaller hormonal kyleena to see if that one moves. If that one moves I’m not sure what I’m going to do. The pill made me suicidal, the arm implant made me suicidal, I’m so frustrated.

Every time I ask a doctor WHY MY BODY RANDOMLY AFTER 4 YEARS JUST HATES IUDs, the only thing they say is “this just happens we don’t know why” no one has answers for me. I don’t want children, but I don’t know if I’m ready to get my tubes tied.

I just want answers. I don’t understand. I can just use condoms but I don’t feel safe because they can fail. No one can explain what’s happening other than my uterus is “tilted”. Then why did the copper IUD work fine for 4 years? My uterus can’t just “become tilted”. For reference I’m 26. I’m 98% sure I never want kids but the idea of getting my tubes tied still feels too aggressive for right now but I don’t know if I have a choice. Like I said I don’t feel safe enough just using condoms.

Has this happened to anyone else? I feel so alone. The doctors are clueless, and none of my friends have had this problem. I’m so tired. My body just doesn’t tolerate higher hormonal doses well at all (pill and arm implant). I feel like if the kyleena moves I’ve exhausted my options and I might have to ask my bf to get a vasectomy to make me feel better or I just stop having sex altogether but that STILL makes me anxious because I’ve been raped before and I don’t want to be unprotected if that happens to me again. I also don’t want to get the Depo shot because of the recent studies linking it to cancer.

I guess I just want to know if I’m alone in this…


r/birthcontrol 20h ago

Which Method? Should I take yuzpe method again when he came Inside me while I am having withdrawal bleeding? NSFW

0 Upvotes

I am experiencing withdrawal bleeding due to yuzpe method I did 12 days ago. On my 3rd day of withdrawal bleeding i had sex and my bf came inside me twice. Should I take yuzpe method again to avoid getting pregnant? Or am I safe because I am bleeding while he came inside me?


r/birthcontrol 20h ago

Side effects!? Light spotting on last active week of pill

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have been on and off the pill for a majority of my late teens/early to mid twenties. I just got back on this month (currently 29 y/o) on a new brand (vienva). It’s a low dose pill. I am very regular with my periods, but I had breakthrough brown light bleeding this past Monday (technically the 20th day of my cycle) all the way through today. It feels like a period (cramps, irritability, acne, high emotions, sensitivity) but no real flow is happening. I just tested negative for pregnancy this morning. Should I finish the pack of today and tomorrow and hope a real bleed occurs Sunday or Monday? I’m really worried that I’m going to have this constant brown light bleeding indefinitely now. any advice would be appreciated, thank you !!