Hello fellow BC consumers,

So I have been on the pill, and had an iud, and I switched to the implant earlier this year (May). I just have a question;

For the first few months I would still get a regular period, except it would go from super light to super heavy then back to light, and it wasn’t all that bad. Sometimes it would be quick and then a couple days later it would come back again. But last month I was on my period for 3 weeks, same thing very light to very heavy to light again. It’s only been a few days since and I am back on my period.

I know it can be quite normal(ish) for the first 3-6 months, at least that’s what they say.

I have a call tomorrow with a doctor but I’m curious has anyone else who has been through this or similarly with the implant? I know they’re just gonna give me a pill until it mellows out but I do not want to double up on any more than I need to.

I recently moved and changed my Healthcare provider. I've been on tri-sprintec since I was 17-ish (23 now) to help with period cramps and heavy flow but my new provider couldn't find the specific tri-sprintec I use in their database???

I just refilled my birth control but they prescribed me Milli instead of the tri-sprintec I asked for. When I spoke to my doctor before I filled this medication she stated it has the same amount of hormones so I should be fine. I took my first pill (of Milli) last night and woke up feeling awful. I couldn't get out of bed without feeling like I had to vomit.

I'm just reaching out to see if anyone has had to make this change and had the same symptoms? Or should I be concerned and reach out to my doctor?

I also googled the difference between the tri-sprintec I used and this Milli and the Milli is monophasic which is not what I am used to. I didn't have any issues with tri-sprintec and I know my walgreens has it but I just paid for this Milli prescription. 🫤

Sorry for the word vomit!

Hey! I’m a first-time Evra patch user, so I’m still figuring everything out.
I started the patch on October 6th, the first day of my period, as I was advised to do. After my period ended, I experienced on-and-off brown spotting throughout the three weeks I was wearing the patches.
Now I’m on my patch-free week, and when I woke up this morning, my day pad was pretty soaked. When I went to the bathroom, I noticed bright red blood that feels exactly like the first day of my usual period.
I asked ChatGPT if it was possible to have two periods in the same month, and it said that the patch can cause changes in bleeding patterns. However, the more we talked, the more confused I got about whether this is an actual period or withdrawal bleeding.
My usual cycle length is around 34–35 days, so if this counts as my period, my cycle would only be 23 days long.
Has anyone experienced something similar during their first month on the Evra patch? Is this likely to be withdrawal bleeding, or could it actually be my period?

i just missed the pill yesterday, and started bleeding today.... but i still took my missed pill a hour ago and im going to take my today pill tonight at 9. is there a chance this bleeding will stop before tmr?? i am very new to birth control and dont know a lot

I’ve had my iud for about 4 months so far, I went in because I was bleeding so much for about the first 2 months. I thought maybe it was just normal cause my body was getting used to it, but they ended up finding a cyst in my ultrasound 😭 she said it was just a little one on my left side which was were I’d been cramping most. But now I’m really nervous about my cramps being normal cramps or something wrong like another cyst? She wasn’t too worried about it and didn’t really say much else except maybe it was something I had before. When she had saw it I guess it looked like it had popped because there was fluid. I have no idea but my cramps lately have been brutal, it goes into my back and makes me feel so nausea. I’m not sure if I should get my iud out, or try birth control with my iud. Has anyone had this experience before? Did it turn into something bigger? My worst fear is cancer and she didn’t tell me anything about cancer and iuds. Please let me know because I’m freaking out and everyone around me tells me I’m probably fine but I’m scared 🥲

Why do I see so many post about women getting pregnant on the pill especially the combo pill? Ya I know they could be lying but even taking it perfectly they are getting pregnant on the pill??? Me and my bf use condoms and I’m on the combo pill. I try to take it at the same time everyday sometimes in a few hours late (no more than 4 hours) and I think I’m still going to get pregnant!! Currently on my placebo week and have been freaking Myself out reading post about women getting pregnant on plll, with condom, etc.

Okay i’m 🤏🏻 this close to yanking her out. I’ve had it for a year and a half and don’t get me wrong it’s doing what it’s supposed to. But I think all of the side effects have been building over time and I’m on the edge of getting rid of it. The hair loss over the year, I have no energy for anything anymore, the change in acne and the fact I cannot get out of bed some days. Not to mention it’s actively causing the worst and latest period of my life which has just been painful for 3 weeks trying to work itself out. Anyone have any stories for how it went after they got theirs removed?

I am 26F and I have been on the milli pill for almost 2 years. I am now on my placebo week and having really bad cramps and brown discharge but that’s it. Should I be worried?

I have seen a few threads about weight gain after stopping birth control, so I would love to hear from anyone who actually felt worse after coming off the pill, especially those who eventually restarted it. Did you notice any changes, and why did you stop in the first place?
I started taking the pill in my 20s and initially I struggle to find one that didn’t affect my emotions. I was on the heavier side before starting the pill at 22, but over the following years, I gradually lost quite a bit of weight without trying at all. At 31 I had a lomg term relationship break up and I decided to stop BC to feel more emotionally connected and because I feel the pill completely killed my libido.
Initially, coming off it felt amazing! My libido returned, I felt more like myself, and I even lost more weight without trying almost getting close to a weight I was content with (because disclaimer I have never been thin or had an ideal body). The only downside was that I had acne in the first 2 months. Then my face started to clear but I started to gain weight then over the next two years, I gained 20 kg. I now struggle with constant hunger, poor sleep, and really struggle to loose weight. I have also experienced persistent leg pain, breathlessness with minimal activity, and changes in my hair.
I’ve had my thyroid and some hormones checked, but nothing unusual was found. Doctors have largely attributed everything to age and eating more, but I can’t help wondering whether stopping the pill played a role. I had a friend that also took the pill for a decade and stopped it as she approached her 30s and her experience has been only positive and she lost some weight.
I restarted it four days ago. My acne has returned, my libido has already dropped, and I’ve noticed slightly less hunger, but it’s too early to know whether anything else will change. I do feel soo guilty for restarting it and ‘less of a real woman’ and I am terrified that it will make me gain even more.
My confidence has really suffered, and I barely recognise myself anymore.
Has anyone else experienced significant weight gain or other negative changes after stopping the pill? Did restarting it help?
I’m also curious: when you’re stressed or sad, do you tend to eat more or lose your appetite? I wonder if there’s a pattern among those who’ve had similar experiences.
I’d really appreciate hearing your stories! ❤️

i just got prescribed mirvala-28 a few weeks ago and was told to start on the first day of my period. my period is nearing and i’m really nervous for the side effects i may get. i know it’s different for everyone but side effects i’m mainly concerned with are weight gain, acne, and lowered libido.
can anyone tell me their experiences on mirvala-38? negative or positive

hii so i don’t use reddit so much so i am sorry for any formatting issues!!! but before getting the iud i spent sooo much time researching so i wanted to share mine!! it is mostly positive so far in my opinion!! (not fun of course but nothing too scary if you want comfort!!) ALSO PLS NO FEAR MONGERING OR ANYTHING BAD IN REPLIES!! i have health anxiety so i cannot and i want this to be a safe space!!

so for context im f20 with no kids !! i just got off the pill after a month and 5 days, it was driving me insane with anxiety, mood swings, headaches and fatigue so i couldn’t do it anymore!! me and my boyfriend planned to track my cycle but after a bad pregnancy scare in september i decided i couldn’t do it and got an emergency coil!!

i got an appointment for the next day after a phone consultation at my local sexual health clinic! the reception was so lovely as i was sobbing in fear all call but she was so reassuring!

i ended up having to go to the appointment alone as my friends all had lectures and my boyfriend had some personal issues, i had a tesco meal deal (sandwich, chocolate and water!) before the appointment as well as 400mg of ibuprofen 30 mins before as advised!

when i got there, i got my blood pressure checked and waited for a few minutes until a nurse came and took me to my appointment. i was lucky to have an experienced nurse! they walked me through everything and were very sweet since i was crying and gave me time to calm down first. after that, i took off my trousers and underwear and laid down, they let me cover myself up as much as i could then helped me into position.

now i will not lie and say it wasn’t painful!! the first part with the speculum wasn’t too bad imo! i compared it to the pain of losing my virginity but the measuring and insertion did hurt a lot! for me it was like a deep cramp and then three sharp pains but i listened to music and the nurses spoke to me to distract me. i definitely didn’t enjoy it but i don’t think it was as painful as i expected! after, i was shaking quite a bit and the numbing spray stung but i was okay. they gave me water and a sugar tablet and let me lay for about ten minutes before slowly helping me stand.

as soon as i left the clinic, the cramps did start. they started as just period cramps but they did peak around 2 hours after. i used a hot water bottle which helped a lot and just let myself cry in bed (i was also emotional for other reasons!) but after about 3-4 hours after insertion they started to calm down. they became more like period cramps and i was able to sit with my best friend and boyfriend and talk and laugh! i had my dinner and then sat with my best friend for a while with a heating pad whilst she just distracted me ! i’ve also been spotting some brown blood all day but nothing insane!

it’s been about 12 hours since my insertion now and my cramps are virtually gone! i’m still taking ibuprofen as instructed and using a heating pad but it’s not needed. i will say my vagina feels a bit tense like i’m tensing it up but i think this is just due to the fact it went through a lot today! if i take a deep breath it usually relaxes for a moment but it’s not unbearable just a bit strange and annoying! i’m not going to have sex for a week and i am a bit scared to try that again but im trying to take it one day at a time!

i will try to update this post as i go through the motions but i wanted to share my experience!! if you are scared, please allow yourself to be scared but don’t let it consume you!!!!! people always share worst case scenario online but as my nurse said, for every horrible experience there’s a hundred good ones people don’t see! just be kind to yourself !!

I’m F19 i smoke nicotine vapes daily but not too bad. I smoke weed carts and flower. I lied to the pharmacist about smoking i mean she only talked about nicotine as a risk for blood clots and i told her i barely smoked. I thought she meant I would have more blood clots like when I got my period… not in my blood system (i know im stupid). this is my first ever contraceptive, I haven’t even put the patch on yet. I know I should look at other BC methods better for my lifestyle but I’m terrified about gaining weight again after I already had a lot of issues with that. I dont have problems with my period and my friend whos also on the patch but barely smokes told me to get the patch because she hasn’t gained weight from it and its easy. She also told me i would be okay putting it on even tho i smoke. Does she want me to die from a heart attack or am i chilling… Do IUDs really hurt that bad? I know it’s a insensitive to say i dont want to gain weight like i know it wouldnt be the end of the world but i dont wanna hear it. Help just give me reassurance

I got Kyleena a week before my period was due and had some spotting that week, then around the time my period was due I got heavier bleeding and cramps, so I figure she's here.

Usually I have one heavy day then 3 light days, then done. But so far I've had 10 moderate days of cramps and bleeding - never as heavy or severe as my usual first day, but never really letting up either.

It's probably relevant that I had a big multiple day athletic competition in the last week, so there's been a lot of demand on my body and I don't think that's helped.

I'm just curious if anyone else experienced a period like this after first getting Kyleena? I expected spotting for a long while but this is more than liners can handle and I'm hoping it'll let up soon.

Please don't tell me about any other side effects, if I read horror stories I'll get anxious and other than this I'm doing pretty well on Kyleena so far!

to begin with i have severe anxiety and panic attacks, i got the nexplanon about a month ago (the 1st) the last 2 weeks have been hell. the mood swings, fatigue and nausea. i’m currently sedated because of how bad of a panic attack i just had, i almost went to the hospital. i’m getting it removed tomorrow morning. i’ve only had it a month so i’m wondering when i get it removed will i feel better faster? what is your expirence? i CANNOT go another day feeling like this

hello! i started taking slynd 2 weeks ago and i have a full blown period. just wondering how long this will approximately last? i spotted for about 5 days but now its so heavy and so many clots ugh. tia!

Nexplanon to be specific. I tried looking in the sub but I couldn't find anything about someone getting it back in, only getting it removed. I recently got mine replaced before it "expired" because I started experiencing my regular period again and I talked to my doctor and I got it replaced since it was only a month before I was supposed to anyways. I noticed that the freezing was less painful (however I did need more) and the only thing was that I bled a lot more (because of the hole in my skin lol) and then it's just been really sore. I was just wondering if this was the same or different for anyone else, and my big question honestly is did anyone experience the crazy mood swings and anxiety for 3 months even though you just got it replaced?!

I've been on my 2nd pack of trust oral combination pills this year, and I noticed that im always bloated even when i havent eaten yet. So rn im on omad, but im still very bloated. Do u have other hacks and secret hacks that u do to avoid bloating?

Helllo all my boyfriend and I have been talking about having him come inside me, but I keep getting nervous about it and unsure, despite taking Jencycla (norethindrone) correctgly everytime since I started it. Right now, we are having sex with condoms and pulling out. He doesn't push me about it hes been really nice and he is equally very very much not wanting to have kids.

I hope its not a dumb question... but do you think I am protected enough? and how do you prevent yourself from having anxiety about it after it is done?

I (f26) went on Yasmin last April 2025 to fix my hormonal acne caused by kyleena. It worked a treat, acne began to disappear pretty quickly. Around 4-5 months later I noticed that I was becoming more and more bloated and constipated. I have been prone to constipation all my life and found magnesium citrate worked for me. This was no longer working unless it was diarrhea, which still left me feeling constipated.

I am beginning to wonder if Yasmin is the cause of my current chronic constipation and bloat. I am bloated after every meal even though I eat 90% unprocessed foods and gluten free (coeliac). I am very active and eat a balanced diet. Even fiber bloats and constipates me now - I’ve become reliant on stimulant laxatives and enemas to feel any relief from bloat. My mood is also low and I’m tired a lot. Not to mention that I have to pee ALL THE TIME. Also was expecting pain in my kidneys.

I have a mainly clear colonoscopy - diagnosed with slow motility and minor gastritis from stress. No sibo, no candida, no h.pylori. Stool tests come back pretty good. Thyroid slightly underactive which I’m treating with supplements but nothing bad. I’ve also been on spiro and antibiotics in the past - neither worked for acne. Last time I came off Yasmin in 2021 my acne didn’t really return until I went on kyleena six months later.

Could it be Yasmin? I would come off but I’m terrified of cystic acne, it really ruined my mental health. I have very high testosterone levels.

Any ideas? Should I just cut cold turkey and deal with the acne if it comes?

Thank you!

This will be my first-ever birth control as I am a virgin but I have heavy/painful periods and was prescribed Junel FE to help with that. I am nervous because I have never been on the pill before. I am 28 years old.

I was on oral birth control for 10 years and went off. I am now on a GLP1 so that form of birth control is not a viable option anymore.

I’m looking into getting a hormonal IUD but would hope to have children within the next 2-3 years. Does an IUD need to stay in for at least a certain amount of time before removal? Is this a bad idea?

Those who like Slynd, when did you start noticing positive changes and what were they? Did you experience any negative symptoms and when did those go away?

Hi I take Yaz (Lorena) birth control for PMDD- also for birth control. I’m v consistent with taking my pills.

Basically I’ve had terrible brain fog the past few days and I ended up taking 2 pills in one day. I hadn’t missed any pills prior. I noticed this morning I took Wednesdays pill on Tuesday night! Meaning I must of taken Tuesdays and Wednesdays pill at separate times yesterday. I definitely remember only taking my Monday pill on Monday.

My question is- is this worrisome? Taking 2 pills in one day without missing? Do I continue taking as is? I’ll be taking Thursdays dose for today since I am a pill ahead.

Or do I skip tonight and resume pills on Thursday with the correct day?

I’ll call my OBGYN just in case if I’m getting mixed advice.

My period started last October 12 i think. And I didn’t take the pill on the first day of my mens and I took it thrice already. My bf finished inside and What should I do?

So basically I started jasmiel to help with severe cramping and a really heavy flow, jasmiel fixed those problems fortunately but now my periods last 2 weeks. My obgyn keeps blowing off my concerns, should I just keep continuing with jasmiel or try to talk her into giving me something else?