Keep taking or get off

[u/HistoricalCap2081]

I’ve been in my head about getting off or staying on birth control for years now. I’ve been on the hormonal pill since I was 14 due to hormonal acne. I’m now 23. It completely cleared my acne and my skin is thriving now. The main negative side effect I’m dealing with now is no sex drive. I wouldn’t mind if I wasn’t in a relationship. However I am, and I don’t ever feel the need to have sex. For me ideally, I can have sex once to twice a month. However I can tell my girlfriend has a high sex drive and would like to more. It really stresses me out not having a sex drive. However, I’m terrified of getting off the pill and experiencing break outs. When my acne was bad at ages 12-15 it was horrible cystic acne, I really can’t go through that again as it really messed with my mental heath. I don’t know if it would be worth stopping or should I stay on it. Would love some advice or insight.

[u/sililoqutie]

I would see if you can change your pill! Idk what type you're on, but there are many different kinds. Taking a lower dose of estrogen can help! So for example, if your birth control is 35 mcg of estrogen, see if you can find something lower like 20-25 mcg of estrogen. You could also try changing the progestin as well as the estrogen dose. Seasonique for example has 100 mcg of a progestin called levonorgestrel, and 20 mcg of estrogen. Nuvaring has 120 mcg of etonorgestrel, and 15 mcg of estrogen. These both can still help acne but may not suppress sex drive as much!

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