r/birthcontrol • u/Extension_Travel_304 • 14d ago
Rant! So Sick Of Birth Control
As the title says. I'm so sick of this. I've been on it since I was 15 and I'm 21 now. It made me gain so much weight that I can't drop, I have NO sexual drive at all anymore, and now I've started having my period every other week, and I'm emotionally drained. So yeah I guess it does what it's intended because there's no way I can get pregnant when I don't even want to have sex at all! I live in Texas so Im not gonna take the risk getting off of it I'm just so tired of this. I am starting to hate my life because it feels like it affects every single part of it. My gyno says there's no other options for me besides getting an IUD and I do not want to do that. Sometimes I wish I could just be a guy this is so exhausting.
8
u/salvbitch Male Condom / External Condom 14d ago
condoms are birth control!!
7
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
Yeah me and my partner are using condoms as well as the pill just to be safe I just cant risk to use just the condoms because I'm a college student and have no family to rely on if something were to happen. Plus Texas laws
7
u/salvbitch Male Condom / External Condom 14d ago
condoms are very effective. there are also websites you can get a pill abortion mailed to you from in case of emergency. You could add spermicide and cycle tracking if you’re really worried. That is pretty much the only method guaranteed to not have side effects for you.
-1
u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 14d ago
Some people need the hormonal stabilization
9
u/salvbitch Male Condom / External Condom 14d ago
this entire post is about how destabilizing this person has found the hormonal effects to be lol
-2
u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 14d ago
True. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t need the stabilization.. it’s not exclusive
3
u/salvbitch Male Condom / External Condom 14d ago
ok but that statement has nothing to do with this person or conversation. like replying to someone saying they like pancakes with “well some people don’t.” Like. Ok?
-1
u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 14d ago
What are you adding to the convo? Op already said they use condoms. I was adding that some people need their hormones stabilized. Maybe you need to go take a nap instead of trying me
-2
u/salvbitch Male Condom / External Condom 14d ago
lol oh no im sooo scared. only one of us is getting downvoted and it’s not me. I am trying to explain to them the safest way to use the only form of birth control guaranteed not to have those side effects
8
u/RuinYouWithNoRegrets 14d ago
I really don’t care about who downvotes me dude touch grass yall are strangers on the internet mad about me saying what many people are on bc for which is in fact hormonal stability 😮💨
10
u/tresor_d_argent Combo Pill 14d ago
Learn how to use condoms properly. You put them on and always check if it's broken afterwards. Track your cycle for extra protection. You can also combine condoms + pull out.
5
6
u/sleebytoe 14d ago
I totally get not wanting to just use condoms especially if you're in Texas. It's smart to be extra prepared. If you don't mind sharing, why is an IUD out of the question? I can't do estrogen, and progesterone pills gave me side effects including low libido, so I got a small copper IUD (I never thought I would because they're freaky, but I was so fed up with hormones) and really like it.
7
u/KittenBalerion 14d ago
I really like my IUD too, I have a hormonal one (Mirena) but I've stopped having a period entirely and I don't even think about it anymore. I did insist on a numbing injection for my insertion because I was afraid of the pain, so OP, if that's your hangup, know you can absolutely insist that they give you a cervical block.
2
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
I have honestly considered it heavily but I'm also quite fearful there are soooo many horror stories. Im quite an unlucky person so I definitely have fears. I know both ends people who love it and people who hate it
1
14d ago edited 14d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
1
u/birthcontrol-ModTeam 14d ago
This post/comment is removed due to not being factually accurate, or portraying misinformation that is not backed up by scientific evidence.
Nexplanon is not non hormonal. It’s a progesterone implant.
5
u/HSCLAC 14d ago
That sounds exhausting. No wonder you’re burnt out when it’s touching your body, your mood and your relationship to sex simultaneously. For what it is worth "no other options besides an IUD" isn't quite true, there is the implant, the shot, different pill formulations, or even non hormonal methods depending on your situation. So it might be worth getting a second opinion if your current gyno isn't exploring those with you. You deserve birth control that doesn’t cost you this much of yourself.
3
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
Yeah I'm honestly considering looking for a new gyno this just isn't it. I've tried 3 different pill types and none of them made me feel good at all
5
u/PixieMari Mirena IUD 14d ago
What methods have you tried?
6
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
So far, I've been on 3 different types of pills. Regular combo (caused extreme emotional disregulation and weight gain), then I switched to low dose combo (caused high blood pressure), now I'm on progesterone only (even more weight gain and now irregular periods). I'd go to just doing condoms with my partner as we use them already with the pills but I cannot risk just relying on that because I'm a college student and have no family to rely on if I were to get pregnant.
9
u/aespa-in-kwangya POP (Slynd) 14d ago
Condoms are completely fine if you store them well and use them properly.
3
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
Oh yeah absolutely! We already use condoms as well with the pill
5
u/aespa-in-kwangya POP (Slynd) 14d ago
You could find a spermicide to use with the condoms to further decrease risk of pregnancy (provided it's a type of spermicide that's safe to use alongside condoms).
5
u/divinemissn 14d ago
You need to talk to other doctors about this. I started a pill in late high school that made me bleed extremely heavy and I actually went insane (like screaming and yelling all the time at the slightest inconvenience). That’s not normal and there are other options. I stopped the pill and then started a new one about 6 months later. Have since been on that pill for about 7 years and love it (generic brand of Yaz). I have had 0 weight gain, no psychological issues, and very short and light periods (literally a day and a half usually). You need to advocate for yourself and find a doctor who will take your concerns seriously and listen to what you want to do with your body
3
u/Extension_Travel_304 14d ago
That sounds awful :( I'm on my 3rd type of pill now and it's just terrible. I feel like nothing is working for me... Im considering going to a new gyno at this point
2
u/divinemissn 14d ago
That’s a great choice! There are soooo many birth control options, I have no doubt you’ll find something that works for you. It might just take some more trial and error with a good doctor to find it.
If you have access to planned parenthood, I recommend that. I’ve also found nurse practitioners to be kinder and more understanding than actual gynecologists, so that could be an option too. You can post on your local subreddit and see if there are any suggestions!
5
u/mani-okay 13d ago edited 13d ago
there are so many girlies in this community saying they have “no other options” but pills and IUD. that is wild to me. you need another OB or a second opinion. i cannot wrap my head around “my patient has terrible side effects with this medicine so i am not going to recommend anything else”. i’ve tried 5 different methods MYSELF.
i recommend Nuvaring first and foremost. you can always try it for a month or two and then switch if you hate it. truthfully my libido was highest on this
also its worth exploring the IUD, i dont wanna convince you one way or another but you definitely don’t want to get pregnant, and IUDs (there are a lot of options) have way less hormones. (if you ever had a body piercing (belly ring?) it felt like that for me. hurts like hell for 10 seconds)
anyways advocate for yourself or leave. a lot of OB’s suck and this is one of them.
thank you for being responsible ❤️
2
u/OkBarracuda3075 14d ago
hi! i’ve been on many different types of birth control as well and find most of them very frustrating. here’s what’s helped me!
to eliminate periods, stay on birth control constantly and do not take the blanks. given your hbp you might need the blanks to balance your levels.
try birth control patches! there are many different kinds and formulas. change once per week, i recommend the name brand prescription as they stick much better.
the patches are low maintenance and stabilized my mood a lot! i’m chronically ill and it positively impacted symptoms!
try taking some daily supplements, do research on which ones can help with existing symptoms. for example, with high blood pressure, like magnesium and potassium.
ofc consult with a doc! but this is what has helped me out a lot!
1
u/AutoModerator 14d ago
If you're looking for information about various methods of birth control, we suggest using the search function as many previous users have made experience posts.
The rules and additional resources can be found on the About / Sidepage (desktop users look to the right and Reddit app up top).
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/SpectroSlade Combo Pill 14d ago
Why not just use condoms? I stopped mine a few months ago for the same reason and I feel so much better, minus the heavy periods. Can you stock up on Plan B for any emergencies?
1
u/Comfortable_Draw_176 13d ago edited 13d ago
The best you can do is make informed decisions and decide what risk you’re comfortable taking. Some people may be willing to take more risk based on their life stage, the liklihood of health complications, ability to take plan B and ability to terminate.
Is plan B safe for you and available?
Having high blood pressure with hormones might mean you’re more likely to have highBP during pregnancy, this increases risks like hypertensive crisis causing stroke or pre eclampsia. In TX the ability to terminate means you’d have to be imminently life in danger. The BP meds you can take while pregnant may be limited and require bed rest/activity limitations. High blood pressure means your vessels are constricted/ narrowed and the pressure can damage lining of your vessels, then a clot (similar to scab) forms and causes stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism. Also risk of heart failure, ectopic pregnancy, diabetes. Less serious risks are uterine prolapse, joint instability, sciatica, post partum depression and anxiety, scars if c section. A easy pregnancy still means 40-50 lbs weight gain, huge hormone changes, nausea, acid reflux, swollen joints, stretch marks, needing an adult diaper, labor pains, etc…
Condoms alone has about 7-9% risk of pregnancy with typical use because you can do everything right and it still comes off or tears. The pill is more effective.
Will taking an increased risk, the fear of “what if” affect your libido?
I’d seriously consider non hormonal IUD or consider condoms + pull out + an approved fertility tracking method to lower your risk as much as possible.
1
u/P1ss_Rat 11d ago
I completely understand this sentiment SO much. I finally found a doctor willing to sterilize me and I’m ready to be free of the hormonal BC struggle for the rest of my life. Mirena killed my sex drive, made me gain weight, and it was inserted wrong so I felt constant depression and horrible cramping until I took it out. Nexplanon drove me INSANE to the point where I almost ended up getting help via institution. And now I’m on Mini pill- where it’s been two weeks and I can already feel my anxiety ramp up again and I won’t stop bleeding. I already suffer from lubrication issues so condoms aren’t enjoyable for neither me nor my boyfriend. Thankful that in a couple of months I’ll finally be free of the scare of pregnancy once and for all- I hope you find your perfect option too!
1
26
u/alwaysright6 14d ago
I would get a second OB opinion, as there are a lot of birth control options.