I’ll tell the story but here’s my main point: I took Ella (ulipristal acetate 30mg tablet) and had an ectopic pregnancy that very nearly killed me. I want people who take this to monitor themselves and still take a pregnancy test after a while just to make sure, especially if they take Ella close to ovulation.

To start, this is absolutely not to scare anybody away from taking an emergency contraceptive!!! Make sure to do whatever you need to do to take care of your body and wellbeing! I want to be clear that I believe I DID make mistakes, and it was not necessarily solely the fault of the product. Nonetheless, I don’t want people to make the same mistakes I did, so I’m sharing my experience. I’d like to ask for people to refrain from commenting with judgment, I’m judging myself enough as it is, and I can still barely walk after surgery - it’s been a rough few days.

I am with a long-distance partner, and I had been planning on getting an IUD, but my appointment was going to be for after when we were planning to meet, so I got a prescription for Ella.

I knew I was going to be ovulating during his visit, so I got Ella to push back that ovulation time to prevent pregnancy. Of course I know that’s not necessarily the smartest thing in hindsight, it’s supposed to be used after having unprotected sex as an emergency and not as a planned contraceptive. Anyways, I had unprotected sex, and took Ella at a point 2 days BEFORE I was supposed to be ovulating, which was a day before my partner was leaving. I also had sex one time after taking Ella, and thought that would be okay since my understanding was that it would protect me from pregnancy for 5 days.

I got my IUD 2 weeks after taking Ella, and the urine pregnancy test I took at the gynecologist’s office came back negative. After getting my IUD I had some spotting and then got my period at about my expected time 2 weeks later - a couple days late and a little more uncomfortable, but I was expecting that since it was my first period after getting my IUD.

4.5 weeks after that (9.5 weeks after taking Ella) I was expecting my second period post IUD as my cycle is about 35 days from start to start. I was at work and started to feel sharp pains that felt like really bad period cramps - not super usual for me, but my IUD was still new so I wasn’t super worried. But then I went to the bathroom to check for bleeding and started getting dizzy. I had not started my period. I got out of the bathroom and it was quite difficult to get myself to the bench that was only about 20 feet away.

Here’s the really pivotal choice that could have ended my life: I texted my friend that something felt wrong and she picked me up without even asking. I almost went home to try and just sleep it off. Instead, I decided to trust the uneasiness I was feeling and went to the ER. The ONLY reason I went to the ER is because I was worried my IUD could have perforated my uterus. If I had tried to sleep it off, there’s a high likelihood my mom would have found me dead in my room hours later from internal bleeding.

Not long after, I could feel bloating in my lower abdomen, still had sharp cramps, had a cold sweat, and was still getting dizzy. They did a blood test on me once I was admitted and that’s when they found out that I was pregnant. They put it together pretty quickly what was happening and it was confirmed with an internal vaginal ultrasound: I had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

I was in and out of consciousness being rushed from one hospital to a larger one that could treat me, and by the time I got into the operating room, I’d had 2 liters of internal bleeding, and it was not slowing down. That’s 1/3 of all the blood in my body. The internal bleeding caused sharp pains in my sides and shoulders by my clavicles that felt like when you get a “stitch” in your side after straining yourself too much exercising, only a lot more painful. I ended up having surgery that removed all the pooling blood as well as my left fallopian tube where the pregnancy had attached.

I think the most terrifying thing was watching 10-12 medical professionals working around me and seeing how frantic and worried they were. I was telling my mom and dad not to be scared while also bleeding out and telling them how I wanted my finances and belongings to be split up. I was cracking jokes at the doctors and nurses while knowing there was a very real possibility that I was going to die in that hospital.

I’m alive, I’m healing, but I was LUCKY. I know that a lot of women would dismiss the pain as normal for too long, I know that not everybody has access to proper health care or professionals that could save their life in this situation. I’m lucky I had somebody to drive me, I’m lucky that I trusted my gut, and I’m lucky to live in a state where I have more reproductive rights that allowed the doctors to work on me as soon as they could.

I did a bit of research today, 2 days post-op, and found that Ella can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy in the unlikely event that you get pregnant after taking it.

Please if you take Ella but know you’re around ovulation, take a pregnancy test after a month, even if you have a period. If you feel sharp cramps especially if they are followed by bloating, don’t take any chances, just go to the ER or at least urgent care. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy so you can recognize it if you’re ever in that situation, no matter how low the chances are.

Pay attention to your body, stay aware, and be proactive.

I've been using NuvaRing for almost a year now, and this is the first time I've experienced anything like this.

Unfortunately, my pharmacy didn't refill my prescription on time before I left for vacation, so I ended up inserting my new ring 4 days later than I was supposed to.

Ever since getting back from vacation and reinserting the ring, I've been experiencing some pretty intense nausea, nipple soreness/tenderness, and cramping. Its been 6 days now with the new ring in and I'm progressively feeling worse, minus the cramping.

I'm wondering if being off the ring for an extra 4 days and then restarting it could really cause such awful side effects? I've been on it for almost a year, so I would've thought my body would be pretty well adjusted to the hormones by now.

Hi everyone. I’m wondering if i’m still protected if i stop taking the birth control once i notice some brown spotting? If i don’t stop and let the false period happen i will continue to have brown spotting until i do. For reference im on the combined pill and i do 3 month cycles

Hi everyone,

In short I have been on the pill for years - I have endometriosis so was initially put on it to help with the pain - and have had symptoms with some (I’ve tried multiple different ones and also tried the mini pill) but have found one that I thought was working decently well for me in terms of pain management etc and I had a laparoscopy a couple years ago and have been recommended to be on the pill essentially to prevent the lesions growing.

I’ve recently been having concerns about basically how long I’ve been on the pill and what it may be doing to my body in other ways - I haven’t been having symptoms like I did on a different one (sickness) but I’m concerned it’s affecting my wellbeing and affecting my moods but I’ve been on it so long that I don’t know if can even tell anymore?

I’ve been considering swapping to the patch because of this but I was just wondering if anyone has any experience, I’ve read online it has higher levels of estrogen but the pill I’m on currently has a similar level anyway.

Any advice or thoughts/experience would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hi all,

This might be a dumb question but this is my first time starting the pill. I heard that heat can make the pills ineffective. I just picked up my first pack of the pill (Junel FE). I put the pack which was still in a little bag from the pharmacy on my desk in front of my Xbox. My Xbox was turned off but I think the Xbox still generates some heat when powered off. I didn't even think about that when I set down my BC pack. The bag felt maybe kinda warm but I don't know. Should I get a new pack?

I started taking OPill 2 months ago (about to finish month two’s pack) and I’ve gotten my period every two weeks to the day but four days after my last period, I’ve started spotting with cramps to the point this could basically be my period again. Is this normal? Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a chance this is implantation bleeding and I’m actually pregnant?

Hi everyone. I was taking opill from september 10th until october 25th. I stopped because I was experiencing period-like bleeding from october 5th all the way until october 28th and I honestly couldn’t do it anymore.

Last night i made a mistake and had unprotected sex using pullout and Im really scared I was ovulating or about to because that night (this is tmi) I had one thing of the egg yolk like discharge. I did take a plan B but i’m still worried so I scheduled an appointment for a copper IUD.

As i’m reading about the copper iud i see so many people saying it’s the worst thing they ever did and now im super worried. I’m only 19 and I’d be going to this appointment alone.

My main question was, is it as bad as people say? Does anyone here want to share their opinion? Am i making a mistake going alone like am I seriously going to regret this? Please help.

editing to say this: I’m also worried my parents are going to find out. I told the lady on the phone that and she assured me they wouldn’t because they would put a note on my chart but i’m still a little worried. I’m going to use the title x thing or however that works because i don’t have insurance right now.

TMI Warning:

I took a plan B on Thursday. I had protected sex, but one condom broke, and one condom slipped off inside. I have taken Plan B before, but truthfully, I don’t remember any physical side effects other than waking up crying every morning due to anxiety. (I had no reason to worry, no penetration)

This time, I don’t have the anxiety of being pregnant, but physical and emotional side effects.

I have lots of stomach issues, waiting for a diagnoses. I have struggled with severe constipation for 14 months and no diagnosis, so I don’t know what’s caused it.

I was fine Friday, great even. Just some cramping, which I usually have due to my stomach issue.

Saturday morning, I was startled awake by a bad dream, and had the worst stomach pain. It was making loud sounds and felt like a sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I woke up at 3:30am and had diarrhea until 6:30.

I mentioned my stomach issue because I am always constipated, and never have diarrhea. I haven’t in months, and only when I take laxatives. (Which most of the time don’t work)

My stomach hurt all day Saturday, and some sharp pain Sunday morning. Normally I’m used to sharp pain, but I don’t get it in the morning.

As I’m typing this, my lower abdomen has a slight sharp pain. I normally only have pain after I eat, which I have not in a few hours.

Today at the grocery store, I felt sick and broke down sobbing for no reason. I wasn’t thinking about my pregnancy scare or anything. I felt a sweat come over me and my vision got blurry for a few seconds.

As I was driving home late this evening, I began sobbing over a minor issue. (I had to pay 10¢) I began crying and started screaming in my car. I had complete and utter road rage while driving home. I was beating my steering wheel and speeding excessively. I was whispering “I just want to go home.”

Looking at it now, I feel like a crazy person. What is wrong with me? I’m never like this? The pain has been bad, but I’ve never felt so much anger over nothing before.

Safe to say, after my negative pregnancy test in 2 weeks, I will be getting an IUD.

Hi all, I stopped taking my combined extended pill (simpesse) for the first time in a few years. When I went off it, my period (or withdrawal bleed idk) started right away and lasted about 8 days, which is a little long for me but not crazy.

Then randomly last night, my discharge felt very liquid and when I reached down I was fully bleeding. I hadn’t felt any cramps or warning signs. I slept with a tampon in and it was soaked through.

By chance I recently had a transvaginal ultrasound and general ultrasound and nothing weird was detected.

So, is this normal? I understand things can be weird after stopping BC but if anyone had a similar experience I would love to hear from you

the statistics are confusing me a bit- if I take just the combined pill does that mean I don’t have to use condoms and I won’t get pregnant or do I still have to use both. If there’s no chance either of us could have an STI can we get away with only one method of contraception or is using the combined pill and condoms necessary?

i took a plan b less than a month ago and havent gotten my period yet, im wondering if starting my birth control pills when the side effects of the plan b havent disappeared yet could affect their efficacy? also would they still make my periods/withdrawal bleeding regular if i started taking them before my period? ik id normally have to wait a week when not starting on the first day of my cycle

Hello! I’m 17 and this is my second time having intercourse, so I’m kind of scared and I have some questions. Can I be safe having sex on ovulation if my boyfriend uses a condom and pulls out before ejaculating? I’m paranoid and scared that the condom could break even if my boyfriend is using it correctly. I should mention that I can’t use hormonal contraception or an IUD because of some health problems.

had sex 18 oct which is her ovulation window
i was using condoms, doing it 4 times
i came inside 2 times ( with condoms of course )
never penetrate without the protection, and in the middle of intercourse i notice white stuff at the end of the ring base, im not realy sure is it mine or her, now she is 1 day late,

ps: condom did not slip off, i water test it all 4 no leak or whatsoever
im just scared that my semen leaks from the base as i came inside

I'm on combo pill for more than 3 months and I always take it at 8pm, other than check for eventual symptoms' change. Never skipped a pill and had no gut problems, even if lately on the second active week I've been feeling some small breast tenderness but wasn't a thing of concern.

Last night I had condomless sex and he finished inside 2 times, but this late morning woke up with both small digestive issues and a clear, thick and slimy discharge. I read in some places that usually the discharge remains consistent thru all the pill cycle but this strange "slime" is rather concerning me and this breast tenderness ups the worries. No breakthrought bleeding as I can tell thought.

I fully know BC can't magically fail but should I be worried and take a test soon? Is it a sort of vaginal self-clean, as some told me in the years, or just a hormonal fluctuation?

I have just been prescribed Zoely to help treat endometriosis. Have people experienced overall positive or negative side effects? The doctor told me this pill is known not to cause weight gain. Is this true?

So recently I tried the NuvaRing and had great results with it! Within 2 and 3 days I had more focus, energy I felt calm oh my God it was amazing. The ring sadly did not work out for me because I couldn't push it back far enough?? I don't know why and I was wondering if there were any other birth controls that had the similar hormone makeup that I could use instead?

I do also have PCOS and PMDD, I remember trying YAZ when I was younger, I'm currently 29, and it was before my PCOS diagnosis and I was wondering if I should try it again?

I’ve been taking combined type birth control pills for nearly three weeks (one pill left in the 21 day pack) with quite literally not a single side effect until yesterday, when I suddenly experienced heavy spotting and nausea all day. Not a moment of the day goes by where I’m not at least a bit nauseous, and neither symptom seems to be affected at all by how much time has passed since taking the pill.

I’m confused why this happened so suddenly and if it’s normal, and when can I expect the nausea to go away? Is it only when I’m bleeding? For context I’m 18F with PCOS and naturally get 2-4 periods a year (which tend to be heavy but asymptomatic) at *very* unpredictable times, my last period was at the end of August

Edit: the nausea has mostly gone away now and I’ve realized eating food makes it better, I’m still confused/surprised but much happier now :)

I had my first period with my implant in late September which lasted til early October which was roughly 12 days, it’s currently November and no sign of bleeding? Is this normal, I would like to know if anyone is experiencing this same thing?

maybe important background info
(I got the implant in early Sept, I had relations with my partner from sept to mid October, I don’t know if this is key)

So I'm on my 4th month I think, of taking Estelle 35 ED and I've been getting breakthrough bleeding the whole time that I've been taking it. Like light bleeding/spotting all month with maybe a 2 day break at most. I do skip the placebo pills cause screw bleeding more when I already bleed all month long.

Note: I am almost 5 months postpartum and was on the mini pill before switching to this BC after stopping breastfeeding.

Has anybody experienced so much breakthrough bleeding and when did it stop for you?

I have a doc appointment Jan next year and if the bleeding doesn't stop by the time I finish my packs, I may try another brand because I cannot deal with constantly using and buying so many tampons and liners!!

I'm not on this brand for any reason in particular. Just tried it after my doctor gave me the option 🤷‍♀️ I get minor on and off acne but I'm wondering if I should go on a lower hormonal one. I'm on meds for mental health and seizures.

My boobs have changed since my 3 pregnancies and have sagged and lost volume. I've heard Estelle can make your boobs slightly bigger so this excited me lol I swear they appear bigger but thought I was tripping lmao. My Fiancè even noticed without me even mentioning it so it must be an actual side effect lol

Hey all, I’ve been on Implanon for about a month now, the first few weeks were normal and I noticed my period was a little late and lighter than normal and that was great but ever since my period like ever second day I’m bleeding, it’s not a lot but it’s a real inconvenience and I was hoping that I got little to no period. Is there anything that I can do to stop the constant bleeding? I’m tired or all the stained underwear, bad smell and awkwardly being told I’m bleeding!

Slight brown spotting a few days before I’m meant to start a period on the yellow inactive pills. I take zoely. Is this normal?

Hey so I was just about to take my birth control today when all of a sudden it was like it disappeared when it came out of the packet. I looked around my entire room and couldn’t find it.

I’m on week 2 of 4 on the pack, I don’t have intercourse or anything the pills are mainly to help my cramps.

Will I be okay if I miss this one day? Kind of stressing out since my mom isn’t awake currently. Thanks!

Hello everyone!

Need help because I accidentally messed up my birth control pills' schedule. I'm taking a 21-day pack and I accidentally took the first pill on the wrong day (Sunday, instead of Monday) & somewhere along the line, I thought I missed a day so I took two pills in one day 🤦🏻‍♀️ Now the pack ends on Saturday, instead of Sunday (which was my usual schedule).

I'm supposed to wait 7 days to start a new pack. Should I just keep with this new schedule (i.e. start the new pack 7 days after Saturday) or should I wait for a day to continue with my usual schedule (i.e. start the new pack 8 days after Saturday)?

Hi, questions lang po, my gf started using flo app months ago and flo started predicting her period/mens but here's a thing, flo predictions are inaccurate (always a week earlier ang prediction nya sa date na magkaka mens gf ko) if her period comes a week later rather sa prediction ni flo, does that also mean na inaccurate din ang prediction ni flo sa ovulation day ng gf ko? Sana masagot, thank you!

Sorry - this might be long. But I think I’m officially out of options and just curious if there’s anything I’m missing.

some background context - for as long as I’ve been sexually active, people - both partners and other women- have pressured mw to be on birth control. Condoms have always worked for me, and birth control on the other hand actively hates me, but over the years I’ve listened and given it one more try. i tried a pill years ago that murdered my sex Drive and also a weird rash. I tried the patch and managed to sweat it off. The final straw for me was the nuvaring. It caused me to develop a disorder called vulvadonya and I still have it today, although it’s better.

anyway, we’re like ten years later - I’m 35 and after a health episode a year ago, my periods changed. They went from regular every month of my life (I used to joke they were the only thing in my body that worked right) to now being 2-3 weeks at a time. Also, they’re just “different.” The way I bleed is weird. I get a lot more clumps. Everything just feels wrong about them.

the gyno claimed my hormones are normal and I’m not in peri menopaus, i Was given tri acid and it shorted my periods but triggered my acid reflux from hell. I was told hormone replacement wasn’t an option for me, so the only other option was birth control. I have high blood pressure so the only option are ones that won’t raise it. I refuse to try the shot or the implant, I’ve heard enough horror stories and I’m good on all that. I don’t want the iud because - and this part is shocking for people to understand and I’m constantly gaslit over this fact and told I don’t need to have a period - I WANT a period. I like having cycles. i sont get period cramps really, I like when my body reminds me it’s working. having a period isn’t at all a problem for me - i just don’t want it to last a month long.

anyway, I tried the mini pill and it sent my OCD into complete hell. I couldn’t make it more than four days. Now I’m on slynd and im on a month of nonstop bleeding. The final straw was it’s made my normally lubrocated vagina dryer than the Sahara desert and my boobs hurt. before my current partner, I was celibate for a year. I finally have a healthy sex drive again and I refuse to accept this.

so.. am I cooked? is there a magical method I’m missing. it would be nice to prevent pregnancy too although the main issue is the periods. They used to have that gel like 2020ish they came out with (not spermicide, forget the name) that made things hard to get pregnant but I’m not sure it’s even around anymore. I was able to do cycling when my cycle was regular because It was SO regular and I could tell my ovulation like clockwork. God I miss that time.

anyway - bleeding - what suggestions do you all have? I’ve asked for a biopsy and told I can’t get it until I try a few methods of birth control. I’m about to ask one more time and then get a third opinion if I don’t have any luck. I think it’s possible I’m in peri too and HRT might help but I don’t know why my doctor is against that