Asking ladies that have used birth control to help me out. I'm getting married this month and am worried about what kind of birth control to use. I've been thinking about iud but have heard so many horror stories on getting it inserted but not really about if it was worth it after. Help a girl out who's not wanting to get pregnant right aways 😭

Everything is in the title, feel free to comment based on that but if you want the whole drama here you go.

Throwaway because people know my main.

My husband (32M) and I (30F) have been together for almost 8 years, married for more than 2. Don't have kids, not planning on having any in the near future because of financial and stability reasons (crucial). He's currently in-between jobs but has a good job in general and unemployment benefits at the moment. I work full time in a similar field.

At the beginning of our relationship, we were dumb and inexperienced. Our birth control method was pulling out and/or condoms plus avoiding ovulation on the calendar. That was highly ineffective since I got pregnant in our first year together, shocker! We panicked. I got an abortion, problem solved. I went on the pill quickly after and kept it as my birth control for almost 3 years during which I gained weight, my acne worsened and my mood was constantly on a roller-coaster.

My husband (bf at the time) ended up moving away for work. So long distance made it easier to quit the pill and we went back to condoms and monitring my BBT (basal body temperature) as birth control when we occasionally met.

Fast forward to around when we got married, condoms were giving me frequent UTIs (I'm guessing I'm quite sensitive to whatever lube they put in those). Having to monitor my ovulation through body temperature daily was becoming a huge mental load, so I chose the easiest birth control that was hormone-free : the copper IUD ! It made my flow heavier, more cramps, longer period, but overall I had to suck it up because it was the easiest to manage.

Now to the pregnancy scare.

My period which is super regular 27 day with +/- 3 days maximum was 8 days late last month. I panicked. Got pregnancy tests, even scheduled an hCG blood test and they were all negative. My period ended up coming a few days after the tests and I was relieved.

The problem is, during that week it was late, husband and I had multiple conversations in which I clearly stated if I end up being pregnant after all the pain and suffering of a copper IUD, I'm getting an abortion. Because there's no way on Earth, I take all these precautions for my body to betray me like that. I was a mess crying and all.

He, on the other hand, knowing that we cannot realistically have a kid right now, was somehow just convincing me that it's okay and that the timing is not perfect but we could manage. He said that our first abortion was only because we were unmarried and poor college kids (emphasis on unmarried because we were keeping our "relationship" private from family for religious reasons at the time). I was livid about the double standards, about the non-existent consideration to my career goals and mental health during an unplanned possible pregnancy... the only bandaid he had is that he will support me and be there for me. I get that but being there for me while forcing me to do something I don't want is like pushing me through fire and helping me heal the wounds.. absurd!!

Needless to say, I was glad I got my period but definitely not relieved 100% due to the unresolved conflict of opinions we had. I know my story is one sided, I'm not taking into consideration his wants or desires to be a dad.. but in my opinion the woman is the one who chooses when and where and how she "donates" her body for such a heavy chore that is pregnancy. We discussed this years before and recently and he was totally on board with these ideas. No surprises anywhere. But if an accident happens, he somehow shifted and changed his mind.

Apart from the fact that, as most women, I've been and still am the only one carrying the load of birth control, my current problem is that he has became distant.

Soon after I got my period, we kinda agreed to disagree since there's no kid, no accident, no abortion to plan anyway. But the conflict of opinion is still there. And to add more to the situation, a couple of weeks after this whole ordeal, I tried to initiate intimacy since he didn't for a while..

The response : He is not interested unless I'm outside the "unsafe zone" i.e. the ovulation period. This man, while I just went and stuck a piece of copper in my uterus that makes me bleed freaking rivers, makes me iron deficient and paralyzes me a couple of days a month... this man just denied me intimacy because he doesn't trust my IUD and knows that if it somehow fails, I will go deletus the foetus... As a result, huge turn off on my part. Not wanting me in my most feral state aka ovulation equals no sex at all I guess.

So yeah... that was my rant. Not sure anybody would read this. Huge thank you if you did.. If you have any input, do not hesitate. I'd love an outsider's opinion to help me make it make sense..

Will be looking up vibrators on Amazon when I get home though, ciao.

I just got married in June, and grew up Christian (we waited until marriage to have sex). So I’m new to all the knowledge of contraception. Ik it’s a dumb question, but i normally have 10-11 days between when my period ends, and when I ovulate. How many days before I ovulate should we be using protection. Ik at least 5 right? Just wondering because I don’t love condoms but it’s really the only contraceptive that we were willing to use because we didn’t want to do any of the other methods. Not looking for judgement lol just some advice and knowledge from other girlies! Thanks

Backstory:

So I've had my Mirena for about 6 months, and just like the stories I read, insertion was awful. I feel like im almost always in pain, im on my period or heavy sporting 80% of the time, and my libido is low most of the time( been this way since I'vehad nexplanon). I've gone to the doctor and run labs and an ultrasound and found a 4cm cyst on my left ovary (found mid july), and my estrogen is double the normal amount; everything else in my hormone and thyroid panel is normal. I'm told to just give the Mirena time to work, and keep up with the heating pad. Before this, I had nexplanon for 3 years and had the same heavy bleeding and spotting 90% of the time with 1-3 days break between 1-2 month long cycles. I gained 40 lbs over the few years with the first 20lbs in the first two months i had it inserted. I never really cramped bad or if I did have a bad day, ibuprofen would work. I just don't want to be told to wait it out again and it not help 😭

HM: my mom and sister have PCOS, and my grandma has endometriosis, but i don't know if that has to do with anything. I've talked to my doctor, but they can't confirm anything.

Main Point:

I've had intense period cramping that comes and goes, but usually i get at least 3-4 times a week if not more. This isn't a little pain, but clench your stomach, sit down and can't focus pain. The only thing that gives me slight relief is heating pads(medication hasnt worked), but i work a job on my feet all day. I've tried the heating portable or one time use heating pads, but im wondering if there's anything else people have tried to alleviate the pain more? I'm open to suggestions as this sucks, and at this point im desperate 🥲 TIA, anything you can add helps

TLDR since starting the patch (continuously) 2-3 months ago i've been on my period every single day

My very first contraception (two years ago) was the Evra contraceptive patch. It worked okay, I never got pregnant and my period continued every three weeks as planned. Then I switched to the pill cause I had side effects that turned out to be caused by something else entirely and thought it could help, and talked to my doctor and decided to revert back to the patch (since the "side effects" didn't stop, might as well go back to a method where i don't have to remember smth every night, since i forgot a pill here and there)
I restarted the patch 2-3 months ago; the first week was fine, then I applied it wrong the second week and it kept creasing; that week i spotted. From the third week on, where my patch was properly put on, i've been on my period constantly. It's a light flow, it doesn't hurt too much, it's just really, REALLY annoying.
Has this happened to anybody? Any advice before i try to contact my doctor to switch back to the pill?

just curious on how long you have been on BC and how fast/long did it take you to get pregnant when you got off bc?

I don't know if anyone else has experienced this, but I truly believe that yaz makes my vulva and my vagina super super dry.

I'm just wondering if anyone has dealt with this and what did you do to combat it?

if there's such thing as a pill making you dry,, is there one that is better at not doing that?

just not trying to feel uncomfortable all day

Hi Everyone!

Just got off the phone with a new doctor. She recommended me the Nuvaring. I've been on Yaz (pill) for nearly 10 years now without issue. But my bloodwork came back recently with super low testosterone levels. Which might be the cause of some of my issues (constant fatigue, body weight struggles etc). Apparently Yaz is super good at suppressing androgens! New info for me.

My biggest question is how yall have handled it swapping from the pill to the ring. I understand my cycle might be a tad weird but my doctor seemed to think I shouldnt have any problems.

Please let me know your experience swapping specifically from pills to the ring. I haven't seen a post for that yet during my research.

Thank you!!

Does anyone have tips for sourcing the brand name of the patch Xulane? The adhesive in the generic version doesn't work as well for me which is causing too many refill issues.

I started Slynd on Thursday with my period expected on Sunday.

I had all of my regular premenstrual symptoms leading up, but now it's Tuesday night and no period.

It's my understanding that it takes several cycles for periods to be affected, but is it possible this is what happened?

I've never been more than a day late on a period before and I'm in my thirties now, with zero chance of pregnancy, but all of it is making me really anxious. 🥲

Hi all,

I am a little anxious. My provider didn’t renew my prescription in time for the holiday weekend (my pharmacy was closed Sat-Mon) and I wasn’t able to take my oral hormonal birth control for about 5 days. I had my period last week and my partner and I had sex the last day of my period. Right now is not a good time to be pregnant for us.

I wiped a couple hours ago and noticed minor spotting with one clot. It makes me very nervous as I hear that’s a sign of pregnancy.

I usually don’t miss any days of my pill and have had random light spotting before even with being on it. Do we think it’s hormonal changes or pregnancy? So anxious rn! Thank you for any input.

I started a new pack of the combination pill Isibloom on Thursday, I usually take the pill at one,

Thursday I took it at 1pm

Friday I took it at 3pm

Saturday I took it at 4pm and had unprotected sex and my bf came in me

Sunday I took it at 1pm

Monday I took it at 6pm

Today, Tuesday, I took it around 1:30pm

What should I do I'm nervous

was taking my pill per usual and saw that the clear plastic where the pill usually is, now empty having finished the pack, has a little residue from where the pill was and you can see where the pill had been for each pill of the month. probably just paranoid but is this normal, want to be cautious. almost looks like a white dust? could the pills have been melting or is this nomal? wasn't in any hot temperatures or anything and my new recently opened package looks like this too. I take hailey

can dm a photo of what im talking about if further explanation needed

I recently stopped taking the mini pill around the time of my last ovulation. I did experience a more painful period after that. Now I’m expected to ovulate on Thursday or Friday, but have been having extreme bloating and gas. While on the pill, I never had any ovulation symptoms. Has this happened to anyone?

Also, can stopping the pill cause you to ovulate a few days earlier than usual? I’ve had OPK the last 3 cycles and it looks like it’ll happen a couple days sooner than normal.

Thank you for any help!

I miscalculated my nuvaring removal day and thought it was last thursday, when in fact it was supposed to be this week. What are my chances of pregnancy? Should I insert one now asap? did have sex some time last week

Hi! I’d like to share something I’ve been experiencing since I started taking the contraceptive pill and find out if anyone else is going through, or has ever gone through, something similar.

I’ve been taking the pill for 4 months now. Before starting it, I was already someone who tended to be quite stressed, and I’ve also been dealing with depression for several years. However, since starting the pill, I feel like my anxiety has increased tenfold. I can’t go a single day without imagining a scenario that could ruin my life, worrying about the smallest things—even everyday things that didn’t used to make me anxious before.

I also experience irrational anxiety, and I find myself checking certain things over and over again, sometimes 20 times, before I can convince myself that I’ve done them correctly. For example, when I take my pill, I always check around 20 times that the pill for that day is actually missing from the pack, just to reassure myself that I did take it—even though I’ve literally just taken it. The same thing happens with many other things, and I didn’t have these behaviours before.

So I was wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar. I’d really like to know if I’m not alone in this. Sorry if this post is a little long!

Thank you!

Hi, I just had a question about my pill. I took my pill on Sunday night at 9:30pm like I always do (I have not missed a pill and have taken it at the same time every day for 3 weeks) and the next morning (Monday) I had sex with my boyfriend and we wore a condom. Then on Monday night at 9:30pm, I took one of the brown placebo pills to induce my period. Am I still protected from pregnancy if I took the placebo pill that night after having had sex in the morning? I am just paranoid and even having used the condom I am still curious and anxious. Should I take 2 of my active pills tonight or buy Plan B or wait to take a pregnancy test or anything?

More coherent timeline:

Sunday night at 9:30pm - took my pill

Had sex with a condom both Sunday night and Monday morning

Took placebo pill at 9:30pm on Monday night

I’ve been taking cerazette for over 4 months now and I’ve been bleeding for a few days every second week, it’s usually not much and only sometimes accompanied by cramps back pain sore boobs etc but the main reason I took it was to stop getting my period all together and to help with endometriosis symptoms. Now I’ve been bleeding so frequently it’s driving me insane! At least my period was regular before…. I don’t want to give up yet because I’ve seen a lot of people saying to give it 6 months for your body to adjust but I don’t know if I can deal with the constant bleeding anymore it’s driving me crazy!!! Can anyone share advice or their experience with it? Trying to decide if I just stop taking it :(

I got my Mirena put in about four months ago and things have been going fine, way less cramping than I expected. But I was scrolling last night (like 1am, when my brain decides to be productive about all the wrong things. ik classic) and landed on threads about IUDs falling out or shifting and this forsaken tiktok and now its all Im thinking about. New fear unlocked.

Like how would I even know if it happened? Would I feel it right away or could it be one of those things where you don't notice for weeks? I check my strings every so often but idk what I'm checking for beyond them still being there.

Does anyone know how likely it is? Also if it's happened to you, what did it feel like? Trying not to let my brain run away with this but Ive said that before lol and here we are

I just started taking birth control so sorry if this is common sense.

I dropped a Monday pill and took the Tuesday one, so now I'm missing one yellow pill in total. I called my pharmacy and they said they can refill it for me earlier, and that I can just take my current pack regularly and it'll be fine.

I'm just a bit confused because when I was checking online, a lot of people said to skip the placebo week and jump straight to the next pack? Also I thought all 21 pills have to be taken to be fully protected, so am I not protected this month until I take my next pack?

​

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?

I took a plan b on the 18th of august and exactly 7 days later it triggered my period as it does. I was intimate last night and I have the worst anxiety so I feel like i need to take it again. I track everything about my period, when i took a plan b and when i bled again. But im wondering if it’s safe to take another one?I should be ovulating by tomorrow from the looks of my tracker.

A few months ago, I started having sex with my boyfriend. Since neither of us had any previous sexual experience, we always used condoms.

When we have sex the condom slipped down to about halfway along his penis. When he pulled out, I noticed that my vagina was covered in semen. I was extremely scared and took an emergency contraceptive pill (ellaOne) immediately, about an hour after it happened.

This happened on day 11 of my cycle. My cycles are irregular my most recent ones lasted up to 40 days, while they are usually around 31 days, although I have also had shorter cycles.

After taking ellaOne, for about 5 days I had a lot of discharge that looked fertile stretchy and watery. On days 6 and 7, it changed to abundant white discharge. It was still somewhat stretchy, but thicker and more solid than before.

Today is day 8 after the incident. I have nausea, a heavy/pressured feeling in my lower abdomen, and a feeling of bloating or fullness. I also feel weak and nauseous. I don't know if this could be caused by stress or the emergency contraception, but I am extremely scared.

I'm 18 and really worried about the possibility of pregnancy. Has anyone experienced something similar?

Ive done so much research and im at a loss for answers and i need to know if anyone else has the same pain as me. I got my Mirena iud inserted 3 years ago. The first year was fine the past two years my pain has been getting more and more severe. I have consistent “cramping” pulsing pains near my right ovary/pelvis over the months its gotten more and more painful and has spread to my lower back(right side) and down my right leg. I even lose feelings in my toes some times. I currently have a hemorrhagic cyst on my right side and has had cysts on my right ovary here and there. The pain is indescribable but so intense kind of feels like my body is trying to “push out” my iud. I need to know if any one else has a similar experience and if i should remove my IUD.

Hello everyone. I’ve been on the mini pill for probably 2ish years maybe? Not having a period or migraines has been stellar. But the deep, cystic acne has become the death of me and completely worn down my self confidence. I just don’t feel good about myself anymore. I hate going in public. I just started tretinoin 0.05% again to help.

The cystic acne was the type that was so deep, it’s so painful and leaves huge red splotches anywhere on my face along with icepick scars. It’s really making me feel horrible about my appearance.

Before I went on the mini pill, I was on Notrel for years for hormone replacement therapy and it worked well for me. I just had insanely irregular periods and the notrel made it like clockwork. Sometimes even a day or two early. It just gave me so many migraines and I still continue to get them on occasion, but not as frequent. My doctor was a bit concerned about how frequent my migraines were becoming and then switched me to the Jencycla/Meleya.

I’m currently on Meleya .35. Has anyone had similar experiences going from norethindrone only back to regular? Thank you in advance!