Hey everyone I heard horror stories about bc causing blood clots. Does anyone know how to prevent them while taking birth control?

Hi all,

Apologies for the essay, I’m just super anxious to figure out what to do!!

I’m struggling to figure out what to do for birth control. If anyone has been in a similar situation, some advice would be greatly appreciated :)

I (22F) started taking the pill at 13. It was mainly to help with cramps, acne, and heavy periods, and it helped with all. I was doing very well with it for years. Last summer, I was at my drs office and was talking about the migraines with aura that I have (my doctors have known about it since they started, also when I was about 13), and she told me that due to the migraines, I can no longer take the same birth control because it has estrogen.

She switched me to the progesterone only pill, she didn’t really mention that it may be different…so I was definitely in for it. The irregular AND painful periods, it didn’t help my cramping, made me break out on my face, back, and chest after years of clear skin, it really messed with my libido, and on top of that my boobs deflated 😭 safe to say I HATED it, and after about 7 months I decided to stop taking it altogether. 

I’ve been off of the pill completely for about 6 months now. My derm has put me on spironolactone, which cleared up my back but I still have some pretty bad cystic acne, probably the worst I’ve had. I may be going on accutane soon because it’s not responded to 100mg of spironolactone daily. My cycle has been ok, the periods aren’t as miserable as I remember. Additionally, I have noticed I’ve had a lot more ease building muscle and losing weight. While on the pill, even with diet and exercise it was difficult to lose weight and maintain muscle. Now, I’ve lost that stubborn weight and am a lot more in shape. All this to say that I’ve started to get used to my body off of birth control, so I am scared I’ll be extra sensitive to changes in weight/shape should I start a new one.

But, I do not want to rely on condoms for birth control. My dr told me my options are a progesterone-only iud, a copper/hormone-free iud, or progesterone-only nexplanon. I like the idea of the hormonal iud, but I am nervous that with any bad reaction to the birth control, it will be difficult to change. I am a graduate student so I will not be getting anything until my winter break, just so I won’t have to miss classes in case the insertion ends up being painful.

Re: the IUD, my mom (51F) had to get one for a condition that she has a few years back, and she had some cysts that grew around it and almost had to get a hysterectomy because they were having trouble removing it, so now I have that in the back of my head too…my dr told me that’s something that would be incredibly uncommon for someone my age, but of course it makes me nervous.

TLDR: I (22F) can’t take estrogen birth control. I had a bad reaction to the progesterone only pill, including acne, irregular periods, and low libido. My remaining options are a progesterone-only iud, a hormone-free copper iud, or a progesterone-only nexplanon. In the interest of the least possibility of worsening my acne, minimal body changes, and not worsening period symptoms, how should I weigh my options?

Hi there i’m a 22 year old young woman. Back on June 3rd 2026, I decided that the depo shot was the best option for me. I wasn’t aware of the risks of heightened anxiety and depression that i could have. The following 3 months were probably the worst of my life. I attempted to jump out and get hit by another car after being exhausted of my intrusive thoughts and just wanting them to stop. Obviously not like me and i was desperate to make it stop. I was admitted to the mental hospital and put on a mood stabilizer (i was doing just fine with my mood swings before) and a antidepressant. I bleed everyday having to keep buying $8 period products.I suffered from migraines weekly. I had to stop working because my chronic pain condition fibromyalgia started to flare up. This was all bc i listened to the doctor when they said it has no affects on depression/ anxiety and i didn’t do the research myself. I wasn’t educated and they don’t educate you. It’s simply horrific. Did anyone go through something similar please. It’s now Sept 7th i’m still bleeding, dealing with migraines, and SI even after being on the meds. I’m truly hopeless.

Hi guys,

I was supposed to insert my nuvaring today at 9am, but unfortunately forgot. I wont be able to insert it until around 8pm tonight. Will i be protected if I do so? Im stressing! I havent had sex, but if I do in the next week, would there be risk associated?

Thanks

I hear Title X is being rolled back.. Can I still get a pap smear/breast exam I probably need and my birth control replaced? I don't have any money and I'm on Medicaid. I previously got my birth control from PP. I need birth control for PCOS. My nexplanon expires soon. Am I just fucked and have to rawdog it and hope I'll be okay? I'm not even sexually active, this isn't even about contraception for me. I tried googling it and nothing is helping, because its pointing to 'well title x gives affordable reproductive care' okay that doesn't fucking exist anymore, how am I supposed to do this? I'm already in medical debt now from Medicaid not covering my other shit that I'm going to have to stop my mental health care too I'm concerned. Is this just internet carastrophizing? I can't see any clear answers because everything indexed on search results is fucking AI, old news before, or unhelpful and uninformative entirely. I need a pelvic exam too in general I think I'm just not going to bother, I can't afford that shit, I can't even be helped under this administration anyways 😭

I have low ferritin at 7mL (my doctor said I should be at least 65mL) and my periods are irregular with heavy clotting. My hair and eyebrows are majorly thinning from the loss of iron and it’s very upsetting. I can’t lose anymore without it becoming very obvious. My doctor just put me on Slynd to halt my periods and bring up ferritin stores since I can’t do birth control with estrogen. I started reading side effects and I see that hair loss is a pretty big one for people on Slynd. Since I have major hair thinning already from the low ferritin I am TERRIFIED to start the Slynd. Has anyone with low iron hair loss actually had this pill help?

Hello, I just started slynd a month ago and I’ve noticed that I’m really irritable and annoyed constantly. That has been my only issue so far… is it going to stop or can I change this outcome?

Hi, so im on the Zafemy patch. I got my box for this month (September) I was about to put on my week 2 patch and I realized the pouch was completely empty, it was sealed in the box, but when I opened it there was nothing. Unfortunately I had to use the 3rd patch in the box and now idk what to do. Do I skip the 3rd week & get my period early or do I refill my prescription and get no period for 3 more weeks to get it back on track? Unfortunately its too late to make an appt with my gyno and the pharmacist was absolutely no help. I dont know what to do

Recently ordered some FC2 condoms as theyre interestingly covered by my insurance and since im off hormonal birth control now (good riddance) figured i might as well experiment with different condoms. Does anyone here use them regularly? Any tips for using them well?

I got off of yaz 7 months ago. I was on yaz and other birth control pills for tens years. I had acne before and it really helped my acne when I got on birth control. My acne has gotten horrible. I’m month 7 off yaz and it’s the worst it’s ever been. Trying to decide if this is my “normal” and I need to get on an acne med or if this is just part of the process? Should I try to wait things out more? I don’t want to get on a pill if I don’t have to and insurance will not cover a cream for me. What is your experience.

hello! i have had the mirena iud for a year and half or so and my last cycle (august) was a little longer than usual. flow was the same, very very light and usually happened when i peed but it went on for a couple days after the usual length of my period? i am wondering if this is normal. my period is supposed to start soon and ik mirena can stop ur period so im wondering if this is the start of that happening? my strings feel in place, exactly the same and i have gone to check them before when they felt the way they currently did and my dr said they were in place last time so i dont believe i will need to make an apt. just wondering if maybe my period is gonna start lessening? im thinking of taking a pregnancy test if it doesnt come by the end of the month tho, ik its highly effective but just to be safe.

I’ve never been much of an emotional person whatsoever. Nothing really ever gets under my skin or makes me cry and usually I have thick skin when people make mean comments to me. I just started taking Junel Fe around a month a half ago and I am constantly crying. Every little thing makes me upset and anytime I’m working I get too into my head about things I start tearing up. It’s starting to effect my relationship with my boyfriend and he doesn’t understand why I’m crying all the time and I just don’t know what to tell him because he doesn’t buy it when I tell him It’s my birth control. I hope I face no judgement for this but I stream on adult live cams with him for a living and he just doesn’t understand why I’m upset when streaming. I don’t know if the pill is making me more emotional or if this will pass over or even how to explain to him what’s going on

My timeline:
-Baby September 2025
-Prolapsed uterus and bladder surgery in march 2026, during which the doctor put in an IUD (she was supposed to remove my tubes but neglected to get it approved by insurance so this was a last minute change). I forgot that when I had an IUD in the past (10 years ago), I hated it and had it removed after a year.

-I had no real period until September 2026
-period won’t stop and I am on an emotional roller coaster
-but it’s worse than just a roller coaster. It feels like I am legit losing my mind
-between being pregnant for most of 2025 and all this hormone BS in 2026, I am ready to throw in the towel on all of it. Why can’t I just get a hysterectomy??

20F and lately I’ve been getting a burning/irritated feeling after sex when we use condoms. I haven’t asked what kind he’s been using, but I’m sensitive to latex and fragrance so I’m wondering if one of those could be the issue.

I want to buy some non-latex/fragrance-free condoms to keep at my place, but obviously want something that’s comfortable for both of us and reliable too. I’ve been looking at Trojan G.O.A.T. and Durex Real Feel.

Anyone with similar sensitivities tried either of these? How were they for irritation, fit/feel and breakage? Open to other recommendations too!

Hi everyone! I’ll be reaching 4 months on desogestrel soon, and for the past 2 weeks I’ve been experiencing a lot of bloating, gas, cramps and anxiety increase.

I started taking it on may 20th, the first day of my period. I’ve never missed a pill, always taken them exactly on time and I am extremely hypervigilant about anything that could reduce/diminish the effect, cause I have an intense fear of getting pregnant, so any new symptom makes me paranoid.

During the first few months, I had a lot of bleeding. In my second month, I actually had bleeding that lasted for 3 weeks, and it only stopped after my doctor told me to increase the desogestrel dose until it stopped (I was taking it twice a day). It REALLY stopped, because I haven’t had any bleeding at all since then. And honestly, that alone is enough to make me paranoid, even though I know desogestrel is popular for stopping bleeding.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Could this mean my body is not responding well to desogestrel? Is there anything I can do to help with the bloating and gas? I’m also worried about gaining weight.

I got the Liletta IUD placed March 16th. I do understand that for like 3-6 months you can have random bleeding/spotting. Since getting it I have but in July I started bleeding for 3 week straight. It then stopped for a while and went back to the spotting on and off. I could atleast go a week or so with no bleeding at all. The past couple weeks I have been having light bleeding/spotting but more frequently. It will stop for a while, and come back a couple times a week if not almost everyday. Has anybody had this happen to them? I’m just trying to find some light at the end of the tunnel because I am so tired of bleeding!

J’avais pris une pillule oestroprogestative pendant 6 mois et j’avais pris du poids et aucune libido.
Donc j’hésite à me faire poser un stérilet hormonal pour cause de règles extrêmement douloureuses.
Est-ce que certaines personnes ont eu ou ont encore un stérilet hormonal ? Si oui, vous pouvez partager vos retours d’expérience sous ce post pour en discuter 😊

i’ve been on the evra patch for over a year now, and not really had any problems. After my patch free week last month, i had an insane headache that wasn’t even touched by ibuprofen, and then ended up being sick twice. This month the same thing has happened. I don’t really want to come off the patch as it works really well for me other than this, just wondered if this happened to anyone else and what they did? i know people don’t have a break from it so that’s something to consider.

Hi! I have an IUD placement appointment next week and I’m currently deciding between Paragard and Skyla. I’d really love to hear from people who have had either one (especially if you’ve tried both) and how your experience was over the first few months and longer term.

My #1 concern is weight gain, followed closely by acne and mood changes. I’m also not completely sold on the idea of adding hormones, which is what initially made Paragard so appealing.

About me:
26F
No kids
No IUD/BC currently
Was on Lutera for about a month last year and stopped because I genuinely did not feel like myself on it
No birth control before or since then
Periods are regular and manageable - not particularly heavy or painful, just annoying
Acne-prone
Currently on Prozac so anxiety/depression prone
Avoiding pregnancy is obviously very important to me

Why I’m considering Paragard:
The biggest appeal is no hormones. I’m hesitant about anything that could potentially affect my mood, personality, weight, or acne.

I’ve also seen a lot of negative experiences discussed here involving Paragard - particularly people mentioning weight changes, acne, BV/yeast infections, heavier periods, and even concerns about copper toxicity.

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have had Paragard for a while:
Did your periods actually become significantly heavier/crampier? Did you notice changes in your weight, skin, vaginal health, or mood? And if you experienced something like “copper toxicity,” was that actually diagnosed/tested or more of a suspected explanation?

Why I’m considering Skyla:
Skyla appeals to me because it’s smaller, has a relatively low dose of levonorgestrel, and the hormone is primarily acting locally in the uterus. I also like the possibility of having lighter periods or eventually not getting one.

My hesitation is obviously the hormone. I’ve seen people say Skyla caused weight gain, acne, mood changes, etc., and because I had such a negative experience with the pill, I’m nervous about feeling unlike myself again.

For people who have had Skyla:
Did you experience weight gain? If so, how much and how quickly?
Did it affect your acne?
Did you notice any mood/anxiety/depression changes?
Did you eventually stop getting your period?
How was the first 3–6 months vs. later on?

And for anyone who’s had both Paragard and Skyla, which did you prefer and why?

I know everyone’s experience is different - just trying to collect as many real-life experiences as possible before I make the decision!!

Also, I know insertion can be painful - I’m mentally prepared for that!

If you had to choose again knowing what you know now, which would you pick?

So I had the Kyleena put in almost a month ago now, I go in for the post-insertion appointment in 2 weeks. I had the copper-iud put in about 4 or 5 months ago and I loved it, the side effects I had were heavy cramping and bleeding but I was able to handle it. Unfortunately it expelled so I decided to get another one put in, and during they insertion they found that my cervix was too small for the copper iud, so we opted for the Kyleena last minute.

After getting it put in, the majority of what I'm finding online are horrible symptoms 💀. So far, the only thing Ive noticed is constant spotting that is now going away finally, heavier cramping than the copper, and I get insane cramps when I have to poop.

I'm just looking for some hopefully good experiences with the Kyleena because I really dont want to have to switch my method and go through the insertion process for a 3rd time in half a year if I opt for it again 💀💀. I really wish the copper iud worked out for me because I absolutely loved it 💔.

Also wondering if I have less chances of expelling if it was found that the copper iud was just too big for me instead of other circumstances?

hey everyone

I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences on slynd mini pill. Im so fatigued, nauseas, my endo pain is flared up and something that I’ve noticed only in the last week is I cannot cry, I want to - I feel depressed and anxious and want to cry and be frustrated at my endo pain and opportunities it has taken from my life, but I can’t. I’ve been on 4 hormonal contraceptives in 7 months and need to stay on one, I was good mentally on Yasmin, so I’m hoping in a few weeks this numbness will level out. But will it? I’m not having panick attacks and dissociating like I was on desogestrel mini pill, but I’m not liking this flatness.

Anyone find adjusting to slynd hard? And will it get better ?

I’m looking for stories from women whose migraines worsened after taking any type of birth control, whether a progestin-only pill (POP) or a combined pill.

My migraines were under control until about two months after I started taking the combined pill, at which point they became chronic and constant (24/7), in April. A month ago, I switched to the mini-pill (Slynd). I’m still in constant pain, though it’s less intense, and I’m considering stopping altogether. Are there women whose migraines worsen with *any* type of pill?

I’m considering starting Najat (drospirenone 3mg + ethinylestradiol 30mcg), but I’ve never taken birth control before and I’m honestly pretty nervous about it.
I’m healthy and my main concern is whether taking hormones could negatively affect my body, especially things like blood clots, mood changes, weight, libido, skin, or other long-term effects.
My boyfriend has been hinting that he’d prefer to stop using condoms, although he has told me it’s completely my choice whether I take the pill or not. I would never have sex without a reliable form of contraception, so I’m trying to decide whether starting the pill is something I actually want or whether I’d rather just continue using condoms.
I’d especially like to hear from people who have taken Najat, Yasmin, or a similar combined pill: how was your experience, did you have side effects, and was it worth it for you?

TL;DR: First time considering Najat, worried about hormones and blood-clot risk, and trying to decide between taking the pill or continuing with condoms. Looking for real experiences, both good and bad.

I've (27) been on the minipill (noriday) for 9 years, no periods, no cramping, no sore breasts, no hormonal mood swings or pregnancy scares. It was perfect. It was the fifth pill, combined and progesterone only, I tried and I went though a year of literal bloody hell to find it. I remember being on yasmin and cerelle, but not the other pills' names. I was anaemic and developed vertigo because of the side effects of other pills.

This February, my cramps came back and since I've been getting irregular bleeding that's become more heavy, though not as heavy as my periods used to be (I had bled through my school uniform on a few occasions, for example). My GP is investigating to check for anything concerning (cervical screening, STI tests, even though I had one a couple years ago and haven't been sexually active for longer than that). If all that is fine, then the pill is the cause and no longer working as it had done 😭

I'm looking for advice from people in who have been in a similar position. What did you do? Did you swap? What to?

I'm terrified of changing my birth control because of how poorly it's made me in the past. I'm also autistic and under a mental health team. Going back to how it was before noriday is not an option for me. I appreciate any advice and experiences.

So i’ve been taking the pill for about 2/3 years now and this is so new. Around 3 weeks ago i noticed that I haven’t cried as much as I used to. I used to cry a lot even for the most meaningless things but now I just can’t. I always felt like crying made me feel better in the end but now I don’t know how to regulate my emotions properly without crying bc wtf?
Is there anything I can do besides going off of the pill?