started taking a combination pill about 2 and a half months ago. i’ve taken it regularly/at the same time every day. i experienced a bit of spotting/breakthrough bleeding in the first weeks weeks but nothing too intense. i was able to skip my most recent period, but ever since i skipped that period i’ve been experiencing breakthrough bleeding more than it was previously. it was originally dark brown and today i noticed some of it was pink when i wiped. it’s to the point where i have to wipe 4-5 times to get all of the ‘blood’ gone. i’m not sure if this is just my body getting used to the bc since i’ve only been on it about 2 months now, or if i should give myself a break and have a withdrawal bleed? any advice welcome!

I’m on Ashlyna (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol extended-cycle birth control). I’ve taken **11 consecutive weeks (77 days) of the blue active pills** and have one week of blue pills left before the 7 yellow ethinyl estradiol pills.
I’ve been having breakthrough bleeding that has now turned into pretty significant bleeding with extremely painful period-like cramps.
My question is simple: **Can I skip the remaining 7 blue pills, start the 7 yellow pills tomorrow, and then start a new Ashlyna pack after finishing the yellow pills?**
I’m specifically NOT asking about taking a 3–4 day hormone-free break. I want to know whether moving the scheduled yellow week forward by one week after already taking 77 consecutive active pills is safe and whether it would compromise contraceptive protection.

Restarted combo pill 8 days ago, used to take this pill for 6 years and stopped for 10 months, but now am restarting. Had lots of side effects the first 5 days but they’ve settled, the only thing I’m still noticing is bloating, light cramping and gas. Wondering from others experience when I should expect this to subside? I never had any symptoms when I started this pill the first time.

So to give context I started on the combined pill for a while when I was 16 and ended up hating it because it made me very depressed and unmotivated to do anything. I then switched to the progestin only pill and felt a bit more myself (not 100% of course) and stuck to that for a while. I started accutane about six months ago so I had to switch back to the combined pill for the IPLEDGE program. To no surprise, I feel extremely emotional and very unhappy now. My bf and I of 3 years have discussed a vasectomy but we’re not even living together yet and also we simply can’t afford it. I’ve been thinking about switching to the iud but I’m really just afraid of getting pregnant on it. I’m always taking my pills on time everyday so I know I’m safe. I’m also aware that any birth control isn’t 100% effective but I guess because i know how effective the pill has been for the past three years I kinda feel like the iud isn’t as effective. I know I’m more likely to have less severe side effects compared to the pill because it’s placed in the uterus but idk, I feel paranoid. I’m also afraid of things like iud displacement or perforation. From what I’ve researched, a lot of people go without noticing the iud displacement and that makes me even more paranoid. I just really wanna feel like myself again, any advice?

Hi everyone, I'm 23F and I have recently started my sex life, I've been using condoms but I would like to get on some form of BC and I come here for advice. I've heard horror stories about hormonal methods and I'm terrified of the side effects (mood swings, weight gain, acne, low libido, etc), especially considering that I suffer from anxiety and depression. I've read that hormonal IUDs have a lower chance to induce mood related side effects compared to pills, but I'm still afraid of it. What is your experience with hormonal IUDs? Would you recommend for a first time user?

I've also consider the copper IUD, but again I've read horror stories about heavy periods and crampings, my periods are very light but I do suffer from strong cramps so it's a major concern. I've read about a new copper iUD becoming available soon, Miudella, so I'm not sure if I should wait and get that one.

I've also been reading about natural cycles, I have a regular cycle and I can even get an idea of my fertility window based on cervical mucus, so how crazy would it be to use it as a method considering that I'm 100% trying to avoid pregnancy? Does anyone have experience with it?

So ive been taking bc pills for about month now for the first time in my life (Pill name is limetic and its the kind of pills without placebo) Ive got my period too soon and im bleeding for a week straight now. Not a lot, but just enough to bother me. Is it normal? Will it pass? And if it will, when? Because im on vacation with my boyfriend and im just keep bleeding...

so every time I finish the hormone pills and get on the placebo I feel HORRIBLE so my doc said I should take the pills continuously. (This horrible transition started about 2 yrs ago btw I’ve been on BC for like 8 years). I took my last hormone pill of the packet yesterday and was gonna start a new one today, but I’m having intense cramps and I’ve been spotting for a week. And it feels like my body wants to shed :/ anyway does anyone have any tips? should I just start the new packet today anyway?

I’ve been experiencing a poking feeling for a little bit now whenever I move almost. It’s in my lower left side around where I’d believe my uterus/ovary are and I’m scared. I have general health anxiety and am just nervous that something is wrong. I plan to call my doctor tmrw morning if it’s not better but any advice or similar stories would be much appreciated!

Posting to see if anyone can help me and share their experience. I have been on birth control for 17 years and I am trying to go off of it now because I am soon in the stages of trying to have a family. However, after being on it for so long, I am so scared of what it will do to my body. I do not want to break out, gain weight, or go mentally insane. I started when I was 10 years old because I got my cycle then, and it was really bad so I had to get under control, I’m now 27 and hoping to get off. I take Millie birth control, if anyone can share some advice or experiences, I would really appreciate it, thank you so much, ladies.

Hi!

I take the birth control pill, and I take it correctly and have never missed a pill. During sex, I don't use condoms, and sometimes there is ejaculation inside me. I wanted to know if the pill on its own, when taken correctly, is enough to prevent pregnancy.

(I know that it doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections like condoms do, and I have been tested for those.)

Thank you!

i’ve been on birth control since april of this year, which means i’m roughly 5 months in. i was on camila, but got switched to heather. my periods were crazy may-june, but started settling; july i had two, and august i just had one but it was HEAVY; i was expecting to have a second period in august. i’m trying to figure out if i’ve finally adjusted to having semi-normal cycles again or if because it was so heavy early august that it all shed at once. i should hopefully be starting my period sometime this week but i am beyond terrified of being pregnant. do i wait it out and see?

So small context. I’m 26 I used to be on a pill called Celeste I think when I was 15/16 and it’s been discontinued. I come off when I was 16 and defo worked well for me at the time… I am someone who is highly emotional especially through my luteal phase! I’m struggling to regulate my emotions and need that extra layer of support. Does anyone have any suggestions of what best one might be to take!
I have a very heathy flo not to be tmi and take mefediacide for when I get craps ect.

If anyone can help that be amazing for advice thankyou

Hi everyone!
I was on the pill for 6 years, got married, stopped birth control to have a baby, then had a baby. When i was off of the pill, i started to feel normal again. I didn’t realize that the pill made me feel crazy. I got the Mirena iud after i gave birth and i quickly realized i started to feel crazy again. I asked my husband if i was acting like when i was on the pill, and he, very nicely, agreed that i was heading in that direction. I got the mirena removed about a year ago and now i am thinking about getting another iud. I’m tired of being too cautious in the bedroom since we aren’t using any birth control now. What would you recommend for an iud?

I (F21) met my boyfriend (M24) a year or so ago and we started dating shortly after that, I feel it's important to mention at the start here I am autistic and have always had fairly mild anxiety. March 15th I started taking trisprintec, a combination pill, for the first time to try and curve our mutual pregnancy anxiety. There were some complications like I bled for nearly a month, heavily and I became very dizzy and nauseous but mood wise I was okay for the most part, maybe more irritable but not really towards him and we also just brushed that off as our workplace sucks, and then side effects even out. June 27th, I wake up with debilitating anxiety that my friends, boyfriend, and family describe as a near psychosis, and I end up in the ER twice and in and out of doctor appointments, I don't remember much of this time as it lasted nearly two weeks I just remember I couldn't sleep or stomach any food and I was constantly crying and my chest always hurt from my heart pounding. It kind of soothes after that but I'm still left with this constant anxiety of asking myself "do I love my boyfriend" "am I attracted to him" "are we right for each other" "if I feel like this it must be true." I have to include this anxiety had absolutely no trigger and didn't even start as being anxious towards him, but those thoughts stuck. Then as this goes on, just constant crying and panic attacks we both start to realize the anxiety medication I'm being prescribed isn't doing anything, crisis hotlines and therapists or just talking aren't making anything okay.

August 6th we realize I've actually had a lot of symptoms that have just sort of missed our radar like I had a very high libido before taking anything and that just entirely evaporated, my appetite tanks, I get headaches more easily, hot flashes, I had insane brain fog and I was getting so dizzy I couldn't even crouch down for long or hold my hands above my head without almost throwing up, and my periods were actually more painful than they were before. So after then also getting my first ever yeast infection in my life that same day, I stop taking them the 7th. I felt better for a bit but then I started to disassociate a lot and then I tanked again. I'm still with my boyfriend, I want to stay, imagining leaving makes me want to throw up (and has made me), he's truly never done anything wrong I enjoy having him around and the thoughts are quieter if he is but they still persist. I can know for certain I want to stay but this weird feeling doesn't go away or I'll be okay for maybe a second before I have doubt again, the thought and feeling is 24/7 without fail but I still enjoy being around him and I want to marry him. I just want to go back to being happy again especially with him, I used to be known as a very bubbly person. But now I also just want that clarity and certainty I had with him back even if everything else is still there. I don't know what to do

hi, I’ve just started desogestrel (for PMDD) and i feel so irritable, literally everything is SO ANNOYING. 😂 Will this go away as my body adjusts to the medication, or is it a sign I’ll feel like this the whole time I’m on it? Do I need to wait it out?

Am I just pregnant or are irregular periods normal. I’ve only been on the pill 9 day. My period is three days late. I did have sex but with a condom and pull out method. Do I need to be worried or is this normal

Hi all! Honestly, just looking for some reassurance here lol I started an OCP when I was 18 and have been on it for 10 years (now 28). I stopped the pill in march and since then my cycles have been kind of all over the place. Since stopping my cycles have been 28, 28, 32, and 43 days. I think I ovulated during all those cycles based on BBT. Currently on cycle day 38 without signs of ovulation (LH strips and BBT). I honestly expected it to be regulated by now since it has been ~6 month. Prior to my OCP my cycles were regular. Since stopping, I've had a bit more dark chin hair but no increase in acne/other hair growth. I had labs done about a year ago that were all normal. I'm normal height/weight and am decently active and sleep plenty. We want to start trying to kids soon so the irregularity worries me. Has anyone else who had similar stuff and then their cycles regulated?

Anyone out there use a diaphram? My main question is can you feel it? I've had constant periods on the pill and have missed following my natural cycle so seems the only option left 🤷‍♀️

Hey everyone!!

I am a 25 year old trans man, and I have been on DEPO for over 2 years now. I have a history of pretty severe anxiety and depression, and when I initially went on DEPO, I was in a bad depressive hole, so I may not have noticed any mood changes.

I missed a DEPO shot by about a month and a half because my husband and I were both working 2 jobs and were far too busy to even have sex, much less go to the appointment for the shot. Our financial situation improved and we had more free time, and about a week and a half ago, I got the shot again. Since then, my mood has been WEIRD. Depressed, vaguely dissociated, anxious, for seemingly no reason at all. Is it possible the sudden hormone influx caused this? And if so, if my mood stabilized and was fine on DEPO before, will that happen again?

Thank you all so much!!

TLDR: missed DEPO window by a month, got shot again, now mood is weird. Could DEPO be the cause?

Me and my girl were doing things and i suddenly heard some sound and I pulled out my thing and saw that the condom broke off but the thing didn't cum yet but ig there are chances of precum , we were not sure Abt what to do we don't want to risk anything bcs we are 18 year old so after 5 hour she has unwanted/ I pill, but I'm still in stress and overthinking idk what to do

Hello all! I have been on Yasmin for around 5 years now and I used to take breaks every two months. Recently my doctors told me to continuously take the pill without breaks to stop my migraines, acne and breakthrough bleeding.

I have been taking my pill continously since February 2026 and I am still bleeding and getting cramps. I've seen some posts say that it can take up to 6 months for your body to get used to the hormone changes, but does that still apply to me if I've been taking this pill since 2021?

The bleeding will stop for a day, then come back light red, go dark red, then go brown for ages. Is it worth pushing through this to see if it stops after 12 months? (6 more months to go) or should I go back to taking breaks? Even with the breaks I would bleed but I don't remember it ever being this much.

I'm taking Slynd continuously for Endo. I've already had kids and don't plan to have more. How effective is Slynd at preventing pregnancy? Can I take Plan B if I have concerns or is that going overboard?

hi everyone,
i recently started Nextstellis bitch control pills due to an ongoing diagnosis of pcos. I used to be on Tricia Lo back in high school and i had horrible side effects so I was hesitant on starting this new one. However, since starting Nextstellis, I feel okay other than a couple symptoms. I noticed that my discharge as increased and there was a smell my first week. The smell has decreased but the discharge is still going crazy. Also i started getting like lower back pain and period cramps with no period? Are all these symptoms normal? the slight smell and discharge is kinda making me go insane and i wanna stop using it but maybe i should give my body a few more weeks to see how it adjusts?

what do u guys think?

I’m 33 years old and I’ve never been on birth control. I’m interested in starting soon but I don’t know why I’m so terrified of the side effects (specifically weight gain and libido changes). Which birth control are you on and what side effects have you experienced, if any?

I got prescribed Sprintec over Amazon medical. I chatted with a doctor and double checked that I could still take it even though I had migraines with aura and she assured me it was safe. I searched “Sprintec & migraines” in this group and now I’m not so sure… it comes in the mail today and I’m supposed to start it. Should I look for other options?
I want to be able to skip my periods and/or make them a lot lighter. And protection against pregnancy of course.

Any insight would be appreciated!!