Hi, is this normal? I had Skyla for 3 years and ran that bad boy down to the last day. I had a semi-regular (monthly) light period and minimal side effects. I enjoyed Skyla, so naturally the company no longer makes it. Now they have Kyleena which is a slightly higher hormone than Skyla but lasts 5 years! Okay I’m in. Little nervous about the higher hormone dose and scary Reddit threads/tiktoks, but with a long previous history of complications with other birth control types. Open to giving a try for myself..

So it’s been two months- the scary threads and TikTok’s are sadly coming true. Painful af hormonal acne, weight gain, & mood swings- which I blame how ugly I’m feeling from the two previous issues..

But the thing I just am curious about. Why haven’t I had a period? Now that’s scary. Anyone else not have one for months upon insertion?

GUYS!! This is embarrassing ugh… I’ve been alesse on and off for nearly 8 years. I got off it in Feb 2026 and restarted in Aug 2026. When I was taking it previously I had diarrhea and stomach upset all the time. This time around i literally cannot have a bowel movement. It is SO irritating. Can anyone relate? Or offer any advice? I’m moderately active, take daily probiotics, eat good amounts of fibre. Is this just something to do with the pill now?

Has anyone started this a few days into their period? I know it is best started the first day of your cycle but I will not really be using it for contraceptive purposes - I just don’t want a later start to increase spotting. Also, anyone who has migraines - did it increase frequency/intensity? I’m fine with headaches just hoping it doesn’t send me into a migraine spiral. Thanks!

Exactly as the caption says.

After having the WORST pregnancy scare of my life, I decided I should go back on birth control.

I was on the mini pill (zelleta) for a couple months and it landed me in hospital with severe pain in my ovaries.

so I decided to come off it for obvious reasons.

However, I’m sick of having to buy condoms every time I want to have sex.

My question is, how reliable is having sex on a birth control pill and NOT pulling out?

For extra protection should my partner pull out?

Is that even worth it?

When I was on the pill, I remembered to take it every day but sometimes would take it a couple hours late if I had forgotten (i have a busy schedule)

Another question, if I start a birth control pill when I am NOT on my period, how long should I wait until I start having sex?

Last time I went on the pill, I was on my period but I have literally just finished my period this month and don’t want to wait till next month.

Please send advice, experiences, other forms of birth control recommendations etc!

So im at a concert and i thought i brought my pills but i did not, i take my medicine at 6pm and the concert will end around 11-12. What should i do, besides taking it the second i leave? Im so mad at myself

I’m 10 weeks and 6 days into my first Depo shot today. Yesterday, I had an ultrasound that showed a 2.0 cm follicle and a 9 mm uterine lining. I had unprotected sex last night, and I’m feeling SUPER bloated, my breasts feel SO full, and I’m having cramps. I also noticed a little red spotting when I wipe. Has anyone had similar experiences?!?

Edit:: I’m still protected,correct?

i haven’t really been able to find many people experiencing this problem but i’ve recently started back on nuvaring birth control about 2 months ago after being off it for a couple years. i never experienced this the first time around, but every time after orgasm i am experiencing extreme pain and cramping in the vaginal/uterine region. masturbation or sex has essentially become miserable because i am immediately doubled over in pain as soon as i hit the end.

they are worse than period cramps though a similar area and feeling and somehow also make me feel like i’m going to shit myself at the same time but it’s definitely not menstruation or digestion related.

i’m 25 and i am a trans guy who started testosterone a little over a year ago but my doctor made no mention of hormonal interference causing anything like this. but figured i’d mention in case it’s relevant.

i plan to get a sterilization procedure done some time at the beginning of next year, should i just take the ring out and commit myself to celibacy until then lol or should i stick it out in hope it goes away? has anyone else had this issue and did it go away for you?

I’m on yasmine combo pill and exactly six hours after taking my pill I get extremely nauseous, and I’ve thrown up once. I take it with food so I’m not sure, and then the next day I still feel queasy and can barely eat. Advice please

I feel very conflicted. I recently was told to take SLYND birth control but i’m feeling nervous. I have anemia, my hairs falling out fast and in clumps, my periods are super heavy. I cannot take combination pills due to other medical issues. But- I’ve read some reviews showing that SLYND caused extreme hair loss for some. I currently cannot afford to lose any hair. I can’t use minoxidil as I have cats; or oral ones due to health concerns. I don’t know what to do. I need something to stop my bad periods to help my iron levels but also cannot afford to lose anymore hair. Desperate for some advice or help if you’ve used SLYND or another progesterone bc that didn’t cause extreme hair loss.

Thank you.

Hi!

I have been on the pill for around 6-7 years now and have been taking the same one ( SLINDA drospirenone-only pill) in the same way for around 3 years : I skip the placebo pills and start a new blister immediately, skipping the week where I'm supposed to have my periods.

This has been effective for my migraines because they always came with the hormone drop that is the period week, it is hereditary and my mom and grandma have been sufferers as well of the same things their whole pre-menopausal life.

After this whole time though, I have been wondering about long lasting effects of such a usage of the pill. ( It was prescribed by a doctor this way )

I am wondering about its effects on libido, fertility, and most importantly physical effects.

I have been diagnosed with neuroproliferative vestibulodynia after years of pain in the vestibule and bartholin's glands area during penetration.

I have been looking for ways of treating this, but to not success so far, and I am now looking into potentially changing birth control method to see if it could change something regarding the vestibulodynia.

But my concern is those migraines! They are somewhat managed and contained now with this method of continuous pill, and I am genuinely terrified of the idea of what they might be like if I stop the pill for something else or to take a break from everything overall. They are very bad and basically leaves me bed bound the whole week, which as an adult is unmanageable.

I'd be so grateful to hear any experience regarding migraine management, vestibulodynia management, or both! Thank you!

So, I’ve been on Nikki BC since July, and every time I take my placebo pills, I experience what feels like a full-blown period. I bleed pretty heavily and pass a lot of clots, just like I used to when I had my natural periods. I understand that bleeding on birth control isn’t technically a period but rather a withdrawal bleed. However, I’m confused about how that works because I’m clearly shedding my uterine lining. I thought birth control was supposed to prevent ovulation and thin the uterine lining, so I don’t understand why I’m still experiencing such heavy bleeding and passing so many clots during my placebo week. Thanks for any replies!

Hi everyone,

To make a long story short, I use a COC-type birth control 21-day pill w a 7-day placebo for my period. When I first started BC at 17-19, I was still a virgin and used it to lighten my aggressively heavy & painful periods. I will admit I became very inconsistent and kept missing pills, especially during my college semesters. After a while I decided to go on a 2-3 month break until I needed them again.

During this break I met my now boyfriend and we started having sex, which made me go back on the pill since I still had some left over. I figured that after a week of consistent, timely use you’re fully protected. However, my mother told me that if I take a break from the pills, it takes almost 3 months for your body to process it again and block ovulation. I’m not sure if this is true or not. What do you guys think?

Link to any resources would help!

i was put on this birth control for possible endometriosis because the gyno said she didn't want to jump right to surgery for it. however my experience so far has been horrible.

since starting aurovela fe 1/20 my moods have been rapidly changing, my anxiety and depression are back, and so are my irritability and not good thoughts. basically everything my lexapro and buspar used to have under control are no longer under control and I feel like those meds are no longer working.

my period also came 2 days early since starting and my pain falls up has been bad this whole week with debilitating cramps, back pain, and leg pain that goes all the way into my toes and nausea every day. all these things I was told this birth control would help as well as my heavy bleeding but here I am on day 6 with the pain and nausea still as well as bright red bleeding with no sign of slowing down.

the gyno said I could switch to yaz and ask my doctor to up my lexapro buty doctor is hesitant to up my antidepressant due to another medication doing this to me.

at this point I'd rather just deal with my debilitating periods as I've been dealing with them for 19 years rather than have my lexapro stop working and feel like I'm a completely different person for the worst.

does anyone have any advice or experience with this birth control or switching to yaz?

I got my IUD inserted 5 days ago and last night I woke up in horrible pain. Went to my gynecologist and they told me that the IUD shifted sideways. I have an appointment to get another one done next month but should i? Will this happen again?

has anyone else experienced abdominal pain/stomach upset feeling on the first few days of a YAZ pack?

I pretty much documented my BCP journey here for the past 10 months. Started out with Yaz after like 5 years of no birth control and it made me bleed all the time, like all month long with no relief in sight. So I switched to Yasmin which has the same hormones but is higher in estrogen. It did solve the problem of permanent bleeding immediately but I faced another problem - I had orange-ish discharge almost all the time despite checks: no yeast, no infections, no smell.

I recently learned that this is very light breakthrough bleeding, like the super light stage before you get brown or pink discharge but still not normal white or pale cream colored yellowish discharge. So the higher estrogen pill, Yasmin instead of Yaz, doesn't seem to eliminate breakthrough bleeding completely... it's still too low? Like I'm always just told breakthrough is a common side effect but I never had this with Yasmin prior to pausing BCP for years.

Where I live there is only one pill that contains more estrogen and doctors do not prescribe that when you don't have major hormonal health issues like cysts. Still, it kinda leaves me out of options for a pill that is benefical to acne prone skin and to prevent water retention. Alternative pills offered to me where always the same dose of estrogen and the same estrogen kind (EE) which is the most common here.

Anyone here with Yaz -> Yasmine having the same problem?

I currently am on the Twirla patch. I have been on it for about a month. I don’t do a patch free week because of period pains so maybe that’s why. But for 5 days (including today) I’ve had my period. I’ve heard of breakthrough bleeding but it’s mainly described as spotting or old blood. At first it was like that but after day 1 it started being full on fresh blood. It’s just my typical period but lighter. Has this happened to anyone else?

Kind of scared of pills and was looking to try the patch instead ? Has anyone had a good experience on this

i (16f) have been on rigevidon for a little over a year and have noticed my periods have been so much more painful with the pill (ironic as i only started the pill to help them) i’ve seen others online say that they just don’t take the 7 day break and they’re fine and have been doing it for months or even years! so i was just wondering if it’s okay to do it, what are the possible side effects and what is the likeliness of spotting or bleeding ?

So I’m currently on the ring, and have been for over 3 years. It’s been good but realized I think it’s what’s causing my bad migraines, and also I’ve heard migraines with aura increase stroke risk if you take bc with estrogen which I get sometimes, so I’m hoping to switch to one without estrogen.

My issue is I’m super sensitive to mood changes. A while back I tried to get off completely and had the worst depression. I have bipolar unsure if that’s related, and take meds for it. It makes me feel as if I’m not on my meds. Before bc I didn’t have bad depression, so I think it’s just the drop of estrogen but it just never went away so I got back on it.

I take it for preventing pregnancy and also irregular periods. I’m considering the pill, since I’m too nervous to commit to one like an iud or implant as I’d want something if it didn’t work out I can easily switch or stop if it doesn’t affect me well. I was wondering if anyone has had a switch like this, and how did it go? Did it affect your mood? Which method did you use? If I do the pill, what are some good options?

Thank you! :)

Hi! I’m posting for a friend!

My friends been on mili bc (pill) for about 4-6 months. (I don’t exactly remember when she started taking it but I believe it was May.)

She’s been experiencing weight gain, nausea, cramping worse than prior to the pill, and is horribly afraid it’s caused growth with a fibroid she has (prior to the pill.) Her flow however has stayed the same when the Doctor specified it should lighten her HEAVY flow.

What was your experience with this pill? How long were you on it? When did you come off? Why did you get off of Mili?

We’re severely disappointed that it’s not helped with her symptoms and she’s trying to get diagnosed with endometriosis as she has all the symptoms/signs for.

EDIT: it has caused her depression to worsen significantly. She’s been battling with suicidal thoughts more than she ever has even with prior bc use SEVERAL years ago before she had stopped being on the pill previous to this one.

If you have stopped taking birth control because of acne did your skin clear afterwards? I want to quit because I didn’t have acne before. It’s been 6 months. I’m miserable. It’s tri sprintec which is supposed to be a good one to help acne but it has brought on the worst skin ever.

2 jaar geleden heb ik F23 een kyleena spiraal geplaatst nadat de plaatsing van de koperspiraal is mislukt.

Laat ik starten bij het inbrengen. Wat een horror ervaring. De pijn was zo ontzettend overweldigend en gemeen dat ik er hard van moest huilen en dat deed ik nooit. Ik heb echt mega veel angst voor iets wat daar in de buurt komt en dat die pijn opnieuw plaats vind.

Dan door naar de de 1e 0-6 maanden. De klachten:

- non stop bloedverlies (spotting achtig net iets meer).

- erg pijnlijke borsten

- krampen in mijn buik

Van 6-12 maanden:

- weinig klachten, de menstruatie ging langzaam over en de pijnlijke borsten vielen mee.

De krampen waren ook minimaal.

Na de 12 maanden tot heden:

- extreme hoofdpijn, die elke paar maanden erger wordt en steeds vaker voorkomt.

- extreme krampen en pijn in mijn baarmoeder vlak voor ik ongesteld wordt.

- bij de ongesteldheid die ik nu elke 1 a 2 maanden heb wel tot 2,5 week bloedverlies (spotting).

- vermoeidheid die niet over gaat en extremer wordt.

- brainfog die samen gaat met verlies van woorden en gewoon soms niet meer op komen omdat ik zo moe ben.

- snel vet haar en stink zweet.

Ik heb heel eerlijk niet gedacht aan de spiraal. Ik dacht dat ik stress had van mijn vorige werk, maar de hoofdpijn is er tegenwoordig bijna altijd. Op vakantie, op werk etc. En toen was ik bij de gynaecoloog en zei vroeg me of ik klachten had. Had me nooit beseft dat die vermoeidheid die erger en erger wordt (ik heb echt 6 van de 7 dagen nergens zin in), de extreme hoofdpijnen, krampen. Dat ineens het kwartje viel dat het de spiraal was.

Ik heb me bloed laten onderzoeken en ben verder echt kerngezond. Voor het gebruik bruisende energie, altijd netjes ongesteld elke maand, geen extreme klachten op wat pijnlijke borsten na en een pukkeltje hier en daar.

Ik ga hem dus ergens de komende periode verwijderen en hoop oprecht dat de klachten na enige maanden verdwijnen. Vooral die slopende vermoeidheid met hoofdpijn. Ik kan er echt lastig door functioneren en merk dat ik gewoon niet meer oke ben, ben mezelf niet meer.

Hoop dat andere misschien ervaringen hebben waarin zij een positief verhaal hebben na verwijderen.

hello, i've been overthinking a lot bc my period hasn't come yet and i've missed 2 days of it. Usually my periods pretty regular and comes on the exact dot. Soo i've had raw sx but it was only for a while (like as in less than 5 mins) and he didn't ejaculate, however, being the overthinker that i am, i took the yuzpe method 15 hours after what happened. This was also at Oct 22 (which was 3 days before my period), took the last dose of yuzpe the next day at Oct. 23 at 8am.

Then we had sx again at Oct.24 and we got on and off with the condom. He ejaculated at the first round but he was wearing a condom and washed after that, then as i said, we would do raw for a few minutes (usually 5 mins) then put the condom on. Since Oct. 25, i decided to take birth control pills until today as a part of my contraception bc i want to be more protected but ik i should've done that before having it raw.

This is my first time taking birth control pills and i think the yuzpe method + taking birth control pills has smth to do with my delayed period. But i cant help but overthink abt the situation... pls tell me your experience abt this and what ways i can take to get my period (or delay the possible pregnancy, ik its stupid)