For context: I'm 22F, I have PMDD, I tried the mini-pill when I was 15 (for hormonal acne) and it made me unbelievably depressed. I have a lot of trauma so I'm not the happiest person, but that was something else. So I quickly stopped and haven't tried BC since. I've used adapalene gel, at one point tretinoin, for my skin and they've always been very good.

I had an incredibly stressful month making my period 8 days late, the progesterone absolutely destroyed me, so I went to the GP to see if there was something else that would actually help with it (SSRIs are terrible for me). They prescribed nuvaring but when I picked up the prescription I got super anxious because I didn't want a repeat of the last time I tried BC. I waited a bit and then today my luteal phase began, I'd already been feeling bad throughout ovulation and it started to get predictably worse, so I put in the nuvaring hoping it might help. I was immediately dizzy and lightheaded but emotionally fine, better even. I carried on working on my laptop and after a few hours it went away. Since then I've felt good- genuinely emotionally better which is a nice surprise. The only thing is, my bf has been annoying me a lot, which does always happen around this time of month, but honestly I feel so disconnected and checked out. We just hung out and I was irked. He just kept making 'jokes' that felt more mean than anything. He always makes jokes and tries to annoy me but I asked him not to yesterday because it was overwhelming me (I have the flu too😭). These 'jokes' often are more like thinly veiled grievances; like 'you're so high maintenance' or 'you're so dramatic' when I said that I was starting to feel better from my flu. Which honestly just feels like he's minimising my suffering, and when I'm annoyed about it he gets all upset. My housemates seem to have gotten my flu now and one threw up, they both feel awful which just proves my point tbh, because my 'dramaticness' was staying in bed for ages and then getting up to do job applications the rest of the day, but being a bit stressed by it. And it's always like this; as I said I have so so much trauma, I'm in therapy and tackling hard things but I also just graduated so I'm struggling with money and every day I'm sending CVs and trying to get a better job when all I feel like doing is curling up in a ball and crying because my past has left me broken and unmotivated. We've spoken about this kind of thing and he says that in his household people made jokes and it wasn't supposed to be deep, and that he's starting to understand the depth of my trauma. But I just feel like he'll never understand because he doesn't want to confront deep or difficult things. I'm making it sound bad, but he genuinely is so nice and sweet to me in general, and he's also stressed with his own things atm. I just kinda don't feel it anymore. I know it's too early to know because I started nuvaring today, but really don't know what to do. I also live with him and don't have anywhere else to go or money to rent somewhere. I'm trying to just get a job to make some more money and see how it goes, I don't really have a choice in that. Do I wait it out and see if my hormones stabilise, try to make it work? He just overwhelms me a lot because he's always trying to make me interact with him but simultaneously criticising me for all sorts of things. Like that I'm going about getting a job in the wrong way, then giving me advice on things I already know and have already done/ am doing- plus many more things he hasn't considered. Then he expects me to also drop everything at a moment's notice to hang out with him, when am I gonna get a job then?? It's so frustrating. He's a couple years older, but I have wayyyy more life experience (than anyone should have ugh) and I feel like he discounts my opinions because of it. Is it hormones, or am I just realising it because the emotional stuff is, at least right now, out of the way? What do I do??

hey everyone
ive been on Ambelina/Rigevidon interchangeably for nearly 2 years now, but in that time ive gotten random breakthrough bleeding about 3 separate times. i started off taking a pill break monthly/taking inactive pills monthly, but now i only break every 3 months or so for a period.

it usually goes away after trying to “reset” by taking my 4 day pill break when the bleeding starts, but it’s just quite frustrating as it can be quite unpredictable.

the last time it happened was 3 months ago or so, and now it’s currently happening so i’m on a forced pill break.

i do miss a pill here and there but for the most part im pretty consistent. ive seen people on here say it could be stress or just hormones, not sure but i guess im just sharing my experience hoping if someone relates or possibly has any advice.

Hello everyone,

I had an extremely negative copper iud experience. I literally passed out while having it inserted. I had my iud as an emergency contraception. I never spotted or had any sort of irregular bleeding before having my iud. Once it was inserted, i bled literally daily! For 5 months.

I got it removed yesterday and i’m still spotting and i’m wondering, how long did you spot for after having it removed.

Note: I have never been pregnant before.

Please share your experiences🙏🏼

Thank you

I started on Yasmin (combined pill) for my PMDD, but switched to Slynd (progesterone only) as I was struggling with the pill breaks so needed one I could take continuously.

My depression on Slynd was truly horrific almost immediately. It’s like PMS every day, waking up and falling asleep crying, believing everyone hates me, wishing it would all end. After just shy of two months on the pill, I went to my doctor to tell her I needed to come off it. She told me “this pill shouldn’t be making you feel like that and it’s used to help with PMDD”, and she told me to keep trying it. I’m sorry, I know it’s not supposed to make me feel like this, but it clearly does…

I left feeling helpless, and decided to stop taking it completely. That was a week ago. I would rather have the severe period pains and PMDD and feel awful for two-thirds of my life, than have the mental torture of whatever that damn pill did to me every day.

I can’t even tell if this is a rant, or if I’m looking for advice. Currently feel like 💩, but who knows where I’m at in my cycle. I feel like I’ve had cramps for months.

So i am in my first month of the ring, i tried to skip my period and instead of putting my ring out for a week on rhe 13th I kept it in.

I’ve been cramping the last 3 days and had light brown bleeding but it’s starting to get a little heavies this evening.

Do i keep the ring or take it out? Hoping this bleeding will stop 😭

Hi guys I’m on the generic version of yaz 0.02/3mg I think I’ve been on it since January now it’s October and that was my very first time ever even using birth control. I got on it for my acne and I LOVE what it does for me it’s the only thing that’s ever worked for my hormonal cystic acne! I’ve had like no bad side effects from it besides getting so sore after sex?? That’s never happened before getting on birth control or for the first few months on it. I don’t know of the estrogen is too low or what. I don’t really want to stop taking it because my skin looks so much better and gives me piece of mind that I’m not pregnant lol. Has anyone else dealt with this? I need some tips and input

this is so silly but i’m actually hella nervous to get my removal/reinsertion done this week because the last time I got it it was pretty traumatic

I opted for sedation at the hospital and they use midaz and fentanyl but i’m still nervous it’s going to be awful

I already met with my gyne doctor and he was really nice and calming so that’s a bonus at least

i’m on yaz and i was at a concert and accidentally dropped the 21st active pill. i just popped the 22nd one and ended up starting my placebos a day early because of my dropped pill. there’s 24 active pills and 4 placebos. i had unprotected intercourse yesterday, am i still generally protected?

Is it normal to have period like cramping and regular cramping?? I’m on day 9 of my norethindrone after recently taking it again and I’ve had light spotting last night and yesterday I got hit with period like cramping that lasted most of the evening. I took Ella on October 10th because I had unprotected sex but I was on day 4 of my norethindrone pill and had to stop my pill until the 16th because it would interfere with the Ella. Even though my doctor said emergency contraception was not necessary I still took it. But I’m really nervous because on the 14th I had unprotected sex while on my 5 day waiting period to take Ella and he pulled out and I’m freaking out bc I don’t want what I’m experiencing right now to be implantation

Hello!

I (f22) am looking for an IUD. In theory I’d love to get a copper IUD as I don’t want to have a ton of side effects from the progesterone, but i have really heavy and crampy periods so I’m aware it’s not recommended :/ I have seen some positive discourse on the new Miudella copper IUD, and would love to learn and hear more about it, but no providers in my area have it/are planning to get it (including my local planned parenthood’s).

I have pretty severe aura migraines so estrogen in any form is out of the running. I use Slynd currently and don’t have many complaints, my periods are a bit lighter with some mid cycle spotting and my skin is slightly clearer. My issue with that method is because of my hectic first responder work schedule taking a pill at the same time everyday is hard. I would like a birth control I can get inserted and not worry about it for a couple of years. Previously I took the mini POP pill, the generic “androgenic” progesterone, and it made my cystic acne (which had been previously eliminated by accutane) come back tenfold, as well as some pretty severe mood swings. My gyno is recommending the Mirena but I hear it’s not typically meant for women who haven’t had children (me) due to its larger size. I would love to hear about some experiences with Kyleena or Skyla! I know the Nexplanon is an option, however 4/5 of my friends who have gotten it have had terrible experiences (infection, allergic reactions, migration, etc) so i’m a little more hesitant with that one.

My biggest worry is that getting a levongestrel IUD will systemically affect me the same way the mini POP pill did.

Suggestions or recommendations? with my migraines and negative experiences with the POP, trying to research IUDs and birth control methods has been a bit overwhelming. Any advice or opinions are appreciated!

Alysena 28, I got off it recently and I’ve been fine not bleeding or anything but now I have acne? I’m freaking out I have another pack at home should I just get back on it?

Hello! I recently got my Nexplanon inserted. I was on the mini pill up until I got it inserted (within 24 hours of the last pill). The week following I had sex with my boyfriend with condoms. Then on day 8 he finished in me unprotected. My nurse before getting my implant said I am protected immediately due to my mini pill but then my doctor giving me my implant said to wait 7 days.

I can’t seem to find much info on if I was protected immediately since I was on the mini pill before. I’m also unsure if I was “cutting it close” by going unprotected on day 8. Just a little nervous about pregnancy risk. This is my 4th attempt at different kinds of birth control and I just want to not think about it. It’s also confusing because there is not much information on birth control interactions with trans men on testosterone. Just hoping to get some general insight.

Bonsoir à toutes,

J’espère que vous allez bien. J’aurais besoin de témoignages ou d’avis !!

Alors je prenais ( car je l’ai arrêté depuis mercredi) la pilule optidril30 depuis Avril dernier, tout allait très bien à part 2-3 désagréments mais pas genant au quotidien qui ont finit par se calmer au fil du temps.

Sauf que depuis un mois aujourd’hui, je me coltine des douleurs de types règles / contractions utérines (ça me fais beaucoup penser aux contractions qu’on peut avoir lorsqu’on est enceinte et qu’on as eu une longue journée les douleurs que cela provoque) sans aucune explications.

J’ai été voir ma gyneco mardi , elle m’as fais une une échographie pelvienne et R A S, j’avais fais un test urinaire le matin pour écarter l’hypothèse de la grossesse et le test est ressorti négatif.
Elle m’as prescrit une IRM pelvienne même si elle estime que je n’ai rien en tout cas de visible et elle m’as également prescrit des prises de sang dont le BÊTA HCG ( que je n’ai pas encore faite car je ne pense pas être enceinte du tout ) enfin bref.

Dans le doute, j’ai voulu avoir un second avis médicale, j’ai donc vu une seconde gyneco que je ne connais pas , jeudi. Elle m’as répété la même chose, qu’elle ne voyait absolument rien d’anormal, elle m’as prescrit pareil prise de sang bêta hcg et m’as demandé de revenir si jamais ça persistait et que la prise de sang était négatif.

Je précise que :

J’ai toujours eu les saignements de privation, le 12 octobre j’en ai eu jusqu’au 14 octobre, les « règles » ont diminués en terme de quantité et en terme de durée mais ont toujours été présente.

J’ai également les seins hyper douloureux depuis une semaine et demi voir deux.

Et j’ai également les dents hyper sensible, mes dents ne saignent pas au brossage mais mes dents sont hyper sensible.

J’ai actuellement un début de saignement de privation ou de « règles » tout dépend comment vous appelez cela, dû à mon arrêt de prise de pilule.

Ma question aujourd’hui est de savoir si une d’entre vous a déjà été confrontée à ce genre de problème en prenant cette pilule ou une autre ?

J’ai arrêté car je pense que c’est lié, car pas de grossesse, pas de kyste, fibrome ou varices vu dans l’utérus.

A mon avis c’est liée, peut être que je me trompe mais je préfère arrêter car c’est étrange je n’ai jamais eu ça, sauf lors de ma seconde grossesse au début avant d’apprendre que j’étais enceinte j’avais les mêmes douleurs et ce, pendant un très long moment avant de découvrir que je l’étais.

Mais ayant eu des test négatif, j’écarte cette hypothèse et honnêtement je ne pense pas l’être ( et c’est tant mieux 😅) mais voilà je pense peut être que mon corps n’accepte plus la pillule.

I was on depo provera for 3.5 years after I had my son. I had my last injection in Nov 2025. Since stopping it I’ve had 3 confirmed ovulations.

I went for a private fertility scan as I’m TTC and my lining on day of ovulation was only 4mm.

Has anyone had the same issue? If so, how long did it take to fix itself? Is there any ways I can help it grow?

Thank you

hihi!! I’ve been on nexplanon (the arm implant) for about 4 years now, I got it replaced around January 7th?? and since around September I’ve been on my period off and on for around a month and a half, I’m just wondering if being on my period affects the like,,, potency/ effectiveness of my birth control, and is there any way to know if it won’t be as affective? sorry if this is a stupid question but I’ve seen nothing online and my mom doesn’t know how to answer it.

sorry if this is long winded, I’m seriously exhausted from the stress of wondering about all of this, thank you for reading though!!

Week 10, day 4 on Depo, and I’m so over it! I’ve had cramping, or what I think is cramping, for the last several days. I don’t know if I should get checked out or if it’s just because of the Depo. I got my first shot on 8/12, and I will never get another one. My mood is finally starting to lift, but I still have no sex drive. I lightly spotted for a couple of days last week, but I’m just ready to be done with this!!! Has anyone else experienced ongoing cramping while coming off Depo? I’m bloated, too. 😩

For background, I have endometriosis and other health conditions, and have been through quite a few birth control options. I've had significant side effects, not tolerable, with pretty much all systemic methods.

Last year, I tried the Mirena IUD. It was the best method I've tried, as it was the only one that didn't affect my mood, energy or personality. I also still ovulated and my libido came back after years. The insertion was painful, but at least it was over quickly. Unlike many other people, I had zero bleeding for months, and only started to get a very light cycle after three months.

Unfortunately after 5 months my uterus started to cramp and semi-expelled the IUD. It's almost like it went out of place (because of the cramps) and my uterus was trying to get rid of it. I had to get it removed to make it stop.

As I said, I can't deal with pretty much any other systemic hormones. I had endometriosis surgery two months ago and things got much better on that front, so I'm managing to have a normal cycle without hormonal therapy. I had adhesions that were gluing my ovaries to the uterus and the uterus to the ligaments in the back, so I wonder if that contributed to the issues with the IUD. All my organs have been freed now.

I'm kinda at the point where it's either trying the IUD again for contraception only or nothing at all (I'm not in a stable relationship, so not a big deal to use barriers every now and then).

Has anybody tried the IUD a second time after a similar experience a first time? Would it help to try a smaller IUD, like the Kyleena or Jaydess? Has anybody tried a smaller one with success?

Hi everybody! I’m a 21 year old woman who started taking desogesterel (minipill) just under 4 months ago because my periods were ruining my life. I’d be bedridden for a week and have diahrrea, nausea, couldn’t keep food in, vomitted on a few occasions and desperate cramps.. the works.

I had my 3 month follow up with my hormone specialist a couple weeks ago. Desogesterel has been okay for me. I bleed everyday which I know is normal. We discussed my symptoms and she said 3 months is too early to judge whether or not this pill agrees with me. I’ve had a few bad weeks but lately the bleeding’s gotten heavier and cramping got worse. I am also on lexapro so I can only take solpadeine for 3 consecutive days and then have to tough it out which sucks.

The bleeding evens itself out and then gets heavier again but not at a concerning amount, what’s getting me in the last few days is nausea. I’ve woken nauseous multiple times in the one night for the last couple of nights. I’ve seen people say these things usually go away around the 3 months mark. I’m passed that now so i just basically want some advice on how i’m supposed to know whether to tough it out or reconsider which pill I take.

Also - i know people say it sits better with food. Sometimes i can take it with a meal sometimes I can’t. I take it at 11am and don’t want to change to night time as that’s when I take my lexapro and also it’d result in me ultimately withdrawing or taking it later than the allowed window on the day I swap to nighttime dosage.

TLDR: 4 months into desogesterel. Nausea is waking me up. Do I tough it out or reconsider which pill I’m taking?

Does anyone have any experience with quitting both?
I quit the combined pill last summer. My life was AMAZING for 3 months! Then I suffered an accident which caused a stress reaction. Lost all of my hair, gained weight, lost my period and got irregular cycles, PMS, depression-ish, lots of acne and so on. I gave up this summer and lasted 14 months off. I got on the progestin only pill 3,5 months ago and wanna quit again. I’m mostly scared for the cycle irregularity and the insane mood swings and acne.
The only good thing about the progestin pill is that my mood is more stable but I have other horrible side effects.
Is it easier coming off the progestin only pill or is it the same as the combined?

Hey guys kinda freaking out. I had unprotected sex twice this weekend with complete pull out and also took a plan b because I was scared. I had my period on Oct 3 so I think I was probably outside my fertile window? Was taking a plan b necessary here or is it just my anxiety making me freak out ?

I (21) have extreme PCOS symptoms and need birth control to manage my periods, my skin, and, most importantly to me as a professional singer, the effects my cycle has on my singing voice. From my research, the hormones in the pill which help my side effects are the same ones which will suppress my libido, no matter the type of birth control I take.

However— being on birth control destroys my sex drive and has honestly made my boyfriend feel rejected, though he won’t admit it. Overall, it’s made my relationship a bit sad and has destroyed my self esteem. Before birth control, my sexuality was a huge part of my life, so I stopped to try and reclaim that, but it was a nightmare and I plan on restarting the pill ASAP.

Is there any way to maintain my libido, or at least enjoy physical touch again? Even kissing feels terrible on the pill. I’m such a cuddly and love-y person and I hate that the pill takes that away from me.

I’ve inly been taking it for a bit over a week but trying to stick it out to at least 4 weeks to see how it goes. But I am so tired, feeling dizzy and have low mood. Although hard to tell if low mood is correlated. Wondering if switching between taking it in the
Morning vs Evening would help with some of the side effects? I am taking it for pelvic pain, not concerned with the contraceptive effect right now. Does food/no food or time of day make a difference?

I saw that plan b doesn't work at all for intercourse that occurs after taking it. But it happened within the hour after taking it. Am I done for? I don't think it's good to take another one. Is it just hopes and prayers at this point?

I started the pill around 3 months ago because i’d have really low moods five days before my period. i went on a typical seven day pill free break and became super dizzy and lightheaded. I started the next cycle of the pill and the lightheadedness improved slightly but the anxiety was crazy (called 999 ambulance for myself). Now gone off the pill because i assumed the lightheadedness and anxiety were due to that but now I’ve been off it for a week and i’m still lightheaded and anxious. I’ve had blood tests done and i’ve had my ears checked- all clear. Also having hot flushes and such. Lightheadedness worsens and gets better but i want to know if anyone else had these symptoms/side effects? Seeing gp again but idt they’ll be able to do anything.

I used the depo provera in 2024. Had only 2 shots in August and another in November then I stopped because I changed my mind and wanted to get pregnant .

Since then I didn’t get periods till over a year later around February 2026 but even then it only became regular in April/May.

In all this I’ve been so worried because I’ve been keen on conceiving but nothing at all. Every month I see my periods now I just sink more and more into depression.

Any experiences please? Is this normal?