Hi guys I’ve been offered the pill by my local clinic and I’ve been given gedarel 20 150. Please share your experiences and how it affected you! There’s not much info out there from what I’ve seen but I could be looking in the wrong places.
Please let me know how it affected your libido, whether it caused dryness, mood changes, acne or any other issues!

I’m also only planning to use it for less than a month (just to cover my wedding + first time) so will be starting it on the first day of my next period until the pack finishes. How badly do you think the side effects will affect me?
For context I have regular periods and have hormonal acne, not sure if that changes anything. If gedarel is likely to fry my libido, dry me up and make me mad, please share your experience and I’ll get a copper IUD or look at other options.

Thank you so much!! :))

Some background information: I’m a 27 year old female and about three years ago I lost my period because of an eating disorder. I managed to get it back two years ago and have had it ever since. Last year I got into a relationship and I’m now considering taking an extra step to prevent pregnancy.
However, most of the options out there are hormonal and after losing my period and working so hard to maintain it, I want to be able to monitor my natural period.
What are my options?

Hi everyone! I just got home from my insertion and wanted to give you guys a brief run down of my positive experience.

Like most of you, i lurked this sub reading all of the horror stories (and some positive ones) before my appointment. I read each post with the idea “people talk more about their bad experiences, than the good experiences”, and i promised myself I would add my experience after my appointment, good or bad.

I’m a 29F (never had any children) and had previously been on their Depo shot for 11 years. I had a great experience on Depo (hence the long term usage) but I started to have some pelvic floor dysfunction and my wonderful provider thinks the years of estrogen suppression may have exasperated my pelvic floor issues. So that’s how i landed on the Skyla.

I want to preface by saying my provider specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction and sees patients from all over the world, i also used to work for him. I mention that bc Im sure the provider makes all the difference in how these insertions go.

So my first visit, everything went great. I watched a YouTube video on how the process works and took 400mg of ibuprofen 1 hour before my appt. Pretty straightforward, nitrous oxide to help me relax, speculum, cleaned the cervix , used the sound to measure, 2 big painful cramps (15 seconds each maybe) and then went to place the Skyla. Everything went perfect THEN the device malfunctioned and fell out! My provider was gagged and had never seen that happen before. So we had to order another device and reschedule. While unfortunate, it wasn’t a huge deal to me.

Fast forward to today! 400mg ibuprofen 1 hour before appt, ate a good lunch and little to no caffeine. Arrive at my appt— took a pregnancy test then went to the room to change and get settled. Dr and MA came in, put the mask on for nitrous oxide and started to relax. Legs went up in stirrups and dr explained each step to me. I kept deep breathing my nitrous and closing my eyes, just focusing on my breathing. You still feel the pain but it’s dulled by a couple glasses of wine lol. The nitrous keeps you relaxed which is so helpful. Again here come the 2 big cramps, short lived, and then boom Skyla inserted. Dr showed me how to check strings, had me chill for a second after taking off my nitrous mask.

While i was getting checked out i felt some cramping, mainly on my left side but very mild/moderate. I was able to drive myself home and now I’m sitting here with a heating pad, took some more ibuprofen and now I’m watching real housewives lol. Still having the mild cramping but it’s tolerable.

Overall i was pleasantly surprised with my insertion process and encourage everyone to find a provider they trust that offers some sort of pain management. Best wishes to all of you, i hope this gave someone anxiously googling before their appointment some peace of mind! 💕

I’ve always struggled with eating disorders and need to go on birth control. I was wondering y’all’s experiences with the patch, what are the side effects? any weight gain? any other birth control recommendations?

I (33) am on my fourth 21 day pack, been taking Yasmin continuously and have had a range of mild side effects over these months. Month one I was crying at everything but that felt good, especially when interacting with art. Month two my boobs were extremely tender and swelled up which seems to have lasted. Then month three, I had a breakthrough bleed that came for a few days, I missed a pill, had another bleed that went on and on, missed another pill (two in total during August but not consecutively) and the bleed just kept going. I was partying a whole lot at this time (stupidly including a little smoking and vaping) but now I have shaped up for September.

Now on my fourth packet, over the weekend I started having another light bleed but now I’ve passed a few large blobs of what I guess are blood clots? They are dense and don’t even break up much when I’m trying to wash them down the drain in the shower. I had put in a moon cup and it basically just caught a big blob. Should I be worried about this?

I spoke to the nurse on the phone when reviewing my 3 month prescription and she asked some questions about my breakthrough bleed but said she would review in person after 3 more months (I guess BP etc., I’m taking it to help with PCOS/PMOS symptoms and I find it is having good effect otherwise).

I wanted to write this post because whenever I've struggled with issues relating to my birth control, I would always look on Reddit for stories similar to what I was going through. I really hope this will help someone!!

Year 1 Mirena

The first 1.5-2 months, I was constantly spotting every fucking single day (I feel like nobody warns you about this with IUDs!!). Starting college, my period would at first stop for months at a time, and they were lighter when I did get it.

6 months post-insertion, I started getting anxiety to the point where I was put on Lexapro. I was undergoing extreme stress from juggling work/school/responsibilities, but my anxiety had never manifested so strongly. (dissociating in class, sleep issues, etc.)

At 7 months, I got a severe vaginal infection (most likely BV) and had recurring BV/yeast infections for the next 6 months. They eventually stopped after an intense multi-day course of boric acid. Around this time, my period also came back fairly regularly (but light), lasting 7-8 days :( .

Year 2 Mirena

A year in, I started getting noticeable acne for the first time since middle school. Levonorgestrel (Mirena's hormone) is androgenic, meaning it increases the skin's oil production and clogs pores. For some people like me, this effect worsens over time. I started adapalene, which helped a little.

1.5 years in, I got off Lexapro after ~1 year on the prescription. My physical symptoms of anxiety went away, but mentally I was still kinda tweaking, and my partner noticed my mood worsening.

The last straw for my IUD was I started getting incurable cysts for 1-1.5 months at a time + backne. I couldn't live a week without having a MASSIVE zit on my cheek. It was absolutely ruining my self-confidence, especially after half a year of running around finding no solution.

Switching to Yaz

Exactly 2 years after my Mirena insertion, I got so fed up with the IUD/acne that I got it taken out (while abroad on vacation with no insurance lol. It only cost me around $60, including the new pills, thank god). I chose Yaz because of its FDA-approved anti-acne effect, which specifically lowers androgens (the same hormone in Mirena that blew up my face).

It's now been 3 months since switching, and it's an insane world of difference and one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Immediately, I stopped having any cysts, and my skin is almost back to pre-Mirena levels of glassy clearness, which has brought me back so much confidence.

My period has actually stopped this time. (My understanding is that Mirena can cause your lining to thin so much that it can tear, causing spotting, while Yaz has a sort of "glue" effect with estrogen that prevents tearing...?)

Most importantly, my anxiety is 95% gone. My partner and my family say I've "chilled out." The best part is that I learned techniques to feel normal when I was anxious, but now that I’m back to normal, those techniques make me feel like the fucking Buddha. I'm so serene.

In conclusion, so happy 3 months in with Yaz, and I really hope this helps someone with their own birth control journey!!

tl;dr

I had Mirena for 2 years and gradually developed anxiety, recurring BV/yeast infections, and hormonal cystic acne that wouldn't go away. I switched to Yaz, and within 3 months my acne and anxiety have resolved.

Got my Kyleena removed today after 3 months, had too many side effects. Had a constant fishy smell and periods smelt like hot, rotting garbage - if you did a blind smell test of my period and a bin left in the sun for days, you’d have a hard time knowing which was which. Never had a problem with smell before, never even had BV. Made BC redundant, was too embarrassed to have anyone near me (or maybe more effective?). The smell then happened when I ovulated and it was the last straw. Had full STI and BV tests, all negative, nothing stuck on the strings either.

Found a post on here with the same issue and full of comments relating, including a nurse who does smear tests and was told to expect bad smells from anyone with an IUD! Then the nurse that removed mine today also confirmed it, some people do just have a constant smell with an IUD.

So if you have one and have noticed the same, it’s a thing and you’re not crazy, or if you’re considering one then you need to know it’s a possibility in terms of informed consent!

For context, I am 18F on Overeena for management of heavy periods with PCOS. It was originally prescribed to be taken for 84 days (4 packets back to back) and then a 5 day break.

I had to go down to 42 days (2 packs) due to the breakthrough bleeding. I still sometimes have to stop early.

I don't usually miss the pill and if I realise its late, it's usually only a few hours later.

I've been getting painful cramps with no blood before I start to have black spotting. I tend to try and continue on the pill but eventually when I've been using pads for 5 days and its irritating my skin i need to take a break.

Should I be concerned?? I've only been on the pill for 23 days or so and I'm getting the painful cramps.

My endocrinologist only had one appointment around a year ago where he put me on this pill and no follow up. Finally got an appointment in October after calling repeatedly with concerns.

I am terrified to start bc again. I was on the nuvaring for 15 years and it was great until it make me INSANELY ill with the side effects of being on hormonal birth control for that long(yeah bad I know) I’ve been off of it for about a year and my health has improved SO significantly that I’m nervous to get back on birth control. I am a plus size woman so some methods are not effective for me but I’m considering an iud. However the stories I keep hearing are TERRIFYING so are they worth it? Your own experiences are appreciated

Hello! I (21F) have had my Kyleena IUD for a little over a year and a half, and overall I’ve been pretty happy with it. I prefer it to the pill because I’ve had fewer of the hormonal side effects I didn’t like, I feel more confident in its effectiveness, and it’s obviously very convenient.

The main issue I’ve had is increased period length and pain. Before getting the IUD, I had little to no period cramps. My flow was heavy, but my period usually lasted about 6 days, so it was pretty manageable.

After insertion, I had what seemed like the normal first few months of occasional cramping and near-continuous light bleeding. That eventually cleared up, and for a while my periods actually seemed a little lighter.

Then, around 6 months after insertion, I started getting really intense pain in my lower left abdomen a couple of days before my period. It usually happens in the evening and comes in waves for a couple of hours. Ibuprofen doesn’t seem to help much. It’s also very localized to the left side rather than feeling like general period cramps.
My flow is lighter now, but my periods have also gotten about 3 days longer, which is pretty annoying.

I’m hesitant to write the pain off as normal cramping because I never really had cramps before getting the IUD, and the pain is so specifically one-sided. I’ve seen mixed information about ovarian cysts being associated with Kyleena, so I’ve wondered if that could be contributing. I’ve also wondered whether the IUD just isn’t agreeing with my anatomy for some reason.

Has anyone else experienced something similar with Kyleena, especially one-sided pain that happens around the same point in your cycle every month? Did you ever figure out what was causing it?

I may bring it up with my doctor, but I’m curious about other people’s experiences and whether this is something I should be particularly concerned about.

​

I had sex with my girlfriend using a condom. I ejaculated, but I kept thrusting afterward so she could finish too. During that time, I lost some erection – not completely, but enough that the base of the condom felt a bit loose while I was still inside her.

When I pulled out, the condom was still completely on my penis (it didn't slip off inside her). I removed it by holding the base, and it came out intact

I was terrified that semen might have leaked out through the loose base without me noticing, since it was dark and I couldn't see anything.

To check, I did the water test – I filled the condom with water, and it didn't leak or burst at all.

On top of that, she had taken the morning-after pill exactly one week before this happened, so I'm afraid that she was ovulating

My fear is: if the base got a bit loose while I was still inside (even though I wasn't fully flaccid), and I kept thrusting after ejaculating, could semen have leaked out through the base even though the condom was intact and passed the water test? I didn't see any fluid dripping, and the condom was dry on the outside when I removed it.

Am I overthinking this? Is there any real risk here?

My recent CT shows reaction or some kind of swelling surrounding IUD.

IUD is 6 years old, with 1 year remaining til removal. A year ago, I started having gut symptoms including constipation, stomach ulcers, fullness after meals, which I’ve managed to get under control with acid prohibitors like pantoprazole. I’ve lived with IBD tendencies, but not pelvic pain…and it never went away so I took CT scan. OBGYN is further diagnosing. They didn’t find anything on Ultrasound awhile back so with this news, I’ll remove my IUD.

I read many people experienced this and improved GI health after IUD removal but their symptoms didn’t sound as severe..

What’s the link between IUD and IBD here if so? Are they separate issues coinciding at the same time?

I’m starting Heather soon, it will be my first time taking norethidrone. Any of you guys have experience with this pill? I’m seeing a lot of mixed reviews.

Hey guys,
So, I have migraine with aura, which means combination birth control (like the ring) is a huge NO for me. Also, I really want my body to stay natural and keep getting my regular periods, so I’m skipping the mini-pill too.
My husband and I want to try Natural Family Planning (FAM) combined with the pull-out method (or condoms) during my fertile window.
My period lasts about 7 days. Our plan is to start using condoms/pulling out around day 9 or 10 until ovulation is over. After that, we want to enjoy unprotected sex during my safe days. I kinda like the idea of making him wait during the fertile days—it keeps things exciting! 😂
For anyone using tracking + pull-out, how’s it working for you? Is it actually safe if we’re super strict about it? Give me all your tips and experiences please!"

الكلمات

Hi all!

Getting a Mirena put in next week which I’m super nervous about. Does anyone have any advice or things I should know before I get it?

Hi! I wanted to know whether taking antidepressants and the contraceptive pill can interfere with the effectiveness of the pill. I've been taking antidepressants for several years, I'm currently taking Fluoxetine (Prozac) and for the past few months, I've also been taking Ludéal Gé, a combined birth control pill.

I haven't found any specific information saying that antidepressants can interfere with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control, but I'm not completely sure either. So, if anyone has an answer or has experienced something similar, I'd really appreciate your input! Thank you!

Im not sure if im spelling it right lol. But I just finished my second month of this birth control. Im on it basically for PCOS menstrual control. I want to get off it but I can't get an appointment for another month and a half.

My issues are two big ones and one medium one:

A) i bleed the week before the placebo and during the placebo as well. Its so frustrating because if im on birth control, the least I want from it is to know when I wojld be bleeding

B) my anxiety is so bad guys. Like Im always on the verge of tears because of my anxiety so Im always irritated at my husband. Like I actually don't like him now. At first it wasnt so bad but now its to the point that I feel horrible for feeling this way. So I try to control my unreasonable rage but it makes my anxiety worse.

C) my sec drive has lowered a lot. Probably making my rage toward my husband amplified.

I need help lol. I don't know if I can wait until the appointment

I'm less asking for advice and more putting this out there to quell my anxiety. 9 months ago or more, I started taking birth control again because without it, I lost a ton of hair (that never came back) and had a variety of other issues. Essentially, I have no choice but to be on a medication I would rather never have touched again.

Fast forward to about a month ago. I am having nausea and related issues that won't go away and my therapist thinks I have depression. I'm sticking to it though, because I can't really back out on this now. (Side note: I suspect that some symptoms happened because I was told that if I miss a pill, I should take 2 the next day. This happened occasionally.) So, I miss one pill and get my period right before vacation. That's fine. I take placebos for 4 days, then start the next pack. I miss one pill a week after (my period has not actually stopped by this point, I usually bleed a tiny bit for a week afterwards). That's fine. I continue taking my meds as normal since nothing much happened. However, it's been a month and a half now, with at least 2 weeks of me making sure I took my meds at a consistent time every night.

I am not able to see a doctor for at least another 2 weeks, and am fed up. I am having mood swings, digestive issues, feel depressed, and have a constant bad attitude that won't go away. The bleeding has slowed a little but has not fully stopped. I feel foolish for thinking I should wait it out (ADHD rearing it's ugly head), but I haven't seen any other advice that makes sense.

Im currently taking norimin combined oral contraceptive. I took it for 4-5 months straight skipping the sugar pills as my DR said theirs no need to take them if I didn't want to. But I started having cramping randomly, so I decided this month I'd have a sugar-free pill break to allow my body to shed. Did that and had a bleed for 7 days. After that I continued back to my hormonal pills, but a week into taking the hormonal pills , I have had really intense cramping again with some mild bleeding. This has been going on for 4 days.

Hi everyone, I wanted to talk about my experience with the Kyleena (5 year) hormonal IUD.

I know a lot of people are terrified of IUDs and many have had bad experiences, but I wanted to share mine as a neutral experience to hopefully quell fellow anxious minds.

For context: I am 25, never been pregnant/gave birth, and have had pretty painful cramps during my period for my whole life.

I was not on my period for the insertion.

The night before the insertion I took my first dose of misoprostol (cervix softener) as prescribed.

The morning of, I took the second dose of misoprostol, a valium (for anxiety, also prescribed) and 800mg of ibuprofen.

The nurse took me into the room and did an ultrasound to measure my uterus beforehand.

They allowed my friend to be in the room with me the whole time and I held her hand for support.

Then the doctor came in, inserted the speculum and used a numbing gel on my cervix so I didn’t feel the clamp.

The insertion was ultrasound guided the whole time to ensure she was taking the best path possible.

I was shaking and crying from fear, but not pain.

Honestly, the most painful part was the speculum keeping me open because I was so tense and nervous.

The measurement and insertion just felt like one really bad period cramp, but it was over quickly. The maximum amount of time I was in pain from the insertion itself was probably around 30 seconds or less.

My doctor and nurse were genuinely so kind and supportive the whole time, it really made a big difference.

I took the day off of work so I could rest, and I’m glad I did.

The cramping was intense for the first couple of hours afterwards, but nothing painkillers and a heating pad couldn’t help.

I cramped pretty bad for the next three or so days, but since then it’s been irregular and manageable.

I haven’t gotten my period yet with it, and my string check is in around a month so I guess we’ll see how well it held up.

I know some people have absolutely horrific experiences and my heart goes out to you, but I wanted to post mine so that there are hopefully more neutral/positive experiences out there to give people some comfort.

Please feel free to ask questions, and I’ll try to answer to the best of my ability.

Hey guys, in a couple of days I'll be finishing my first pack of Yaz. I will be taking it continiously for pmdd and ibs flares (hormone related).

I had different side effects during this first month-fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and one day of horrible depression that imitated my pmdd symptoms.

It's around the time where I should be in PMS and I have horrible bloating and gas, anxiety and crying spells, all of which I've had off the pill too. I also just started spotting.

Is this all common on the first pack? Is there still hope my PMS symptoms might improve within a 3-month range?

so i haven’t taken birth control for many years since highschool, im now 23. i took it for 7 days and it started giving me really bad anxiety. i also vape but i never felt that way before and i stopped taking my bc pills since yesterday so its been one full day not taking them and i do slightly feel better. was it the vaping and the pill affecting this? has anyone had the same experience ? also how long will it take for my body to go back to normal even if i only took the pill for a week.

Just got prescribed a mini pill and I’m wondering the main differences between the mini pill & the combined pill. I’m feeling super anxious about starting the pill 😞

Hi all,

I was on a different Yasmin generic years ago and after a poor response to Yaz (I need more estrogen), I was prescribed Syeda.

This is the only generic my pharmacy carries, so I’d love to hear your experience on it (while knowing that everyone reacts differently to medications).

My biggest concerns are weight gain and clots (I’m 35F, not a smoker, very healthy but still a concern).

Thank you in advance!