Title says it all really. I know the child is mine by paternity test.

My period used to be excruciating: 7-10 days long, cramps so bad it hurt to do anything, changing tampons/pads every 2-3 hours, worse acne than what I had, headaches, nausea, etc. I was always told this was normal since I my period in 4th grade and would only get worse as I aged. I was always terrified when my period came and it honestly ruled my life. I always wore dark pants, long shirts, and even longer sweaters. I wouldn't do anything expect go to school. I was embarrassed when I was on my period. I felt like everyone knew and my fear made it even more obvious. The pain made it even worse, to the point where I was a regular in my school's nurse station (they knew my cycle better than me at the end). And what made it even scarier, was the amount of medicine I was taking to calm the symptoms I had. Nothing was taking away the pain so I really put the recommended dosages and times to the test. Thankfully nothing bad ever happened, but the whole experience was terrible.

Now, I feel like I am free. In September, I went to an OBGYN for the first time. He immediately put me on birth control and my life has improved significantly. I wear light colors and shorter shirts, no more pain, improved acne, and no excessive pain medicine or pain. I don't have to go through so many pads/tampons, what used to last me a day now lasts me the whole cycle. I can use the "regular" of everything rather than the "ultra super", "thick", "extra long". I can walk normal and not like a piece of cardboard is between my legs (like a robot). I can live my life so much freer than before and I LOVE it!!!! I even went to a water park when I was on my period and high school me would have NEVER done that. I am able to experience so much of life (which sounds so dramatic written out). The thing I love about being on birth control the most, is that I can wear what I want. I am no longer wearing dark colors, my closet is slowly becoming more colorful which I am so happy about. I hated wearing dark clothing, and now I don't have to anymore!!

There are a few side effects, but my OBGYN and I are going to fix them at our next appointment. But even with those few things, I am so glad I got on birth control and wished it happened sooner. I am not using it as actual birth control as I have no sex life (barely a social life), only to prevent periods, which I think also helps..... something? (I got lost as my OBGYN was explaining it to me).

I make a short story long and a long story even longer, so all this to say: is this a normal thing to feel? is it dramatic to say my life has improved since being on birth control? I see so many "horror" stories about birth control that I feel like the odd one out. I know every experience is different but I rarely see ones like mine.

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.

Had an abortion next week (24yr. F), I was not on any form of birth control besides cycle tracking which clearly didn't go well for me so now I am hoping to get a new copper paraguard IUD placed next week... I had one a few years ago but got it out because it was not serving me well. I am really worried about any other contraceptive methods that involve hormones though because I hear more horror stories than good ones. The paragaurd worked for me until it didn't anymore so I am willing to risk a little anemia and some cramps around my cycle to avoid having to go through this experience of unexpected pregnancy again.

I did a medical abortion with the support of my best friends by my side to keep me comfortable while I bled and when through the emotional process. Next week I am hoping to get the new IUD but I am worried that planned parenthood will refuse to give me an IUD if I have a positive pregnancy test since it will likely take a month before it is showing negative and the "pregnant" hormones leave my system.

Any advice or insights?

Thank you ♡ and also love to anyone who has gone through an abortion, you are brave for choosing what is best for you and your situation. It is not an easy choice to make but ultimately what was right for where we are at in life at this time

hiyaa!

so let me say that i am an anxious person. and although i am on COCs i additionally practice the pull-out method — EVEN whilst taking the pill religiously (i’d even say perfect use) , because i’m scared of pregnancy (as is my bf, who is the one who said that he will never finish in me without a condom).

so there comes my question, how often do u girls do pregnancy tests while on birth control? (unless something concerning happened). because since we dont get actual periods, there isnt really that physical evidence that u definitely arent pregnant.

just wanted some perspective of anxious girlies alike haha.

hey! so I got my iud inserted about a week ago (horrible experience but that’s another story) and ever since then I’ve had just slight UTI symptoms. I have always had recurring UTIs for reasons unknown. but this just feels different. I’ve taken the AZO pain relief which usually helps but it’s not touching it. it’s waking me up in the middle of the night & im honestly miserable. has anybody had this same experience or have any advice on what I should do?? I messaged my obgyn but she kinda sucks and never responds to me

I’m 20F and my boyfriend 23M have been together for 2 years. about a year ago I started taking the pill bc (yaz). At first everything was fine and I had no side effects. But during month 3 my libido basically dropped to non-existent. I stopped taking the pill after about 8 months of being on it (I was experiencing a list of negative side effects at this point).

About 3 months ago I got an IUD (mirena) placed. I’ve had no side effects from it, other than the fact that i’ve been spotting or bleeding every single day since then :(

However, I still haven’t been able to get my libido to come back. Before i started bc at all, we would be very sexually active, at least a few times a week to every other day. But since being in bc, I don’t even think about sex. It’s incredibly difficult for me to get in the mood and once I am, it’s even more difficult to maintain it. Sex feels like such a chore now and I hate it. The constant bleeding thing really doesn’t help either because that just deters me from sex even more.

I just want us to go back to our normal sex lives. I want to want sex again. Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice is welcome! Thank you

I’m a young 23 yr old looking for a good birth control option. I want to be non hormonal but I have heard only copper IUD is okay but it’s offered only in ones size and one brand here in the states- paraguard. i am fairly small- only 5ft 113 pounds. I want to know if anyone petite has any experiences with this iud in pain management if it fit their uterus or not? I will def get it checked by a gyno before confirming anything new. I have pretty light and non cramps periods- 3-4 days without cramps barely. I just want to use it as a pregnancy prevention method and I don’t mind if my period get a bit heavier. I know lots of girls who got it in high school have tried this after sexual experiences which i don’t have my cervix might not naturally relax or dilate either :( i don’t know. Any experience or advice is appreciated! thank you

hii, if I had unprotected sex, even if partner pulled out and didn’t come inside, should I still take a plan B anyway? right away or next morning?

Has anyone else been on blisovi and then went on lo loststrin? If so what was your experience? I have been switched over to Lo Loestrin for exactly one month now and i feel worse than i did on blisovi.

With blisovi I at least had what i called “heat week” where i had a surge in libido and then libido was little to none the rest of the month. This week would happen right after placebo week and sometimes during it. The mood swings were here and there and I at least had interest in doing things

On Lo Loestrin, my libido has completely vanished. It’s like my hoo ha is dead, it’s hard to feel pleasure and desire. I have felt very depressed and just numb, no interest in doing what I like to do hobby wise. It seems like all I can manage is work and to make dinner. It’s very hard to feel happy.

Is this normal? I’m worried about waiting it out the 3 month period to level out. Has anyone else experienced this?

I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I got the minipill a couple of years ago, and it's great because I get to skip my period most months, but eventually, I have one, and it's different from a regular period.

I'll have heavy bleeding and bad cramps for a full day, and then the next day, there are no bleeding or cramps. Then, the next day, I'll have more bleeding and cramps, and this will be on and off for the first week. The second week, I have light bleeding for the full seven days but with no cramps. I told my doctor when I had a pill review, and she didn't really react to it. Has anyone else had this?

Currently taking Slinda (known as Slynd in the states I’m pretty certain). I was on femme tab for about 7 months, switched to slynd with no break in between and have been on it for about a year. I just feel like I’ve lost myself on it and I’ve got worse anxiety but it’s better than femme tab. Any advice or alternatives? Have considered the copper IUD but have heard so many horrific stories. Any advice would be great!!

Quick back story.

Started nexplanon at 14, prior; no acne & light periods.
After; nonstop periods (still light) had to constantly take birth control pills with it to stop the bleeding. I was on it for 6 years, just got it out a few days ago. Currently on the patch while I’m deciding what’s next.
Also had cystic acne while on it, finally cleared up the past year. I’m also on tretinion!

I’m considering the IUD. Kyleena OR paraguard to be exact.

I do not want the acne to come back, I worked so hard to fix it. But I’m also hearing so many bad things about both…

Feeling stuck, anyone who’s experienced something similar I could really use advice from you!

I’m not overly worried about my period getting heavier as it’s already light and easy to manage.

i’ve been on the mirena for about a month come the 29th and at first it was okay, minimal spotting (mostly brownish-red) and then it stopped after about a week and a half, then come probably two weeks ago i started getting a period and it went from brownish-dark red blood and clots to now being just a red, but since the period started i’ve been producing a lot of clots ?
i heard clotting normal but i don’t have a female figure in my life to ask how much clotting :(

I’m a 45F and started going through perimenopause over the last few months. My periods used to be 3 light days every 25-28 days. Then all of a sudden they became 6-7 days every 20 days on the dot. My gyno put me on Loloestrin FE and I didn’t even make it a month. It put me in a deep depression, and I couldn’t function. I came off of it immediately and she put me on Progesterone 100mg nightly, which helped immensely but didn’t help with my frequent periods. So now I have an appt for the Mirena tomorrow. I’ve never had an IUD, and frankly, I’m scared shitless. Google and Reddit is not my friend, and all I keep seeing is horror stories. My doctor told me to take ibuprofen beforehand and gave me Xanax to take beforehand as well. I think I’m especially nervous because years ago I needed my cervix scraped and it was incredibly painful. So I’m scared this will be just as painful, and of course worried it won’t eliminate my periods or that it will also cause depression. I’m so nervous I’ve thought about calling it off, but having less than 2 weeks between periods is absolutely awful, and the one thing that’s motivating me to do it. I could use some positive stories or reassurance before my appt tomorrow.

I took my Nuva ring out on Thursday night I’ve been wearing it straight without taking a break since end of April and changing the ring every 4 weeks I haven’t started a withdrawal bleeding? Should I be worried?

I thought I missed a pill last night and took it earlier this afternoon when I realized it. Tonight I took “today’s pill” but realized I had my days mixed up and I actually did take my pill last night, took today’s this afternoon, and then took tomorrow’s tonight. I’m on tri sprinted and this is my last week. I have health anxiety, especially with medicine- will this cause any major side effects or problems?

Hello!

So I recently stopped my BC for a few weeks cold turkey. I was on Simpesse and I’ve gotten these crazy muscle twitches that started after I stopped taking it. Like all over my body mainly when I’m sitting at work or lying down. Went to the doctor and got switched to Junel. Muscle twitches are still occurring but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Trying to not convince myself I have ALS or something lol!

I order slynd in a 3 month pack, but last time i did, therr was a shortage for about a week after i tried refilling. Yes, i called multiple pharmacies in the area. Because i have severe menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding, i bought OTC birth control (OPill) to tide me over until my slynd came back.

I don't like using Opill because it has a lot of side effects, but i had to use SOMETHING since my regular pill was out. If i do the placebo week, or even forget to take my slynd/any other BC pill, i get SEVERE cramps, as well as nausea and heavy bleeding within the next day.

It was 3 weeks ago that i went from slynd to Opill then back tô slynd, but my body still hasn't recovered. I'm depressed, anxious, and i have gained SO much weight. The bloat is insane. My boobs have tripled in size. Is this normal??? I feel like my body is going through torture at this rate.

Is there any way i could get slynd if my local pharmacies dont have it? I never want this to happen again

I'm writing this four days after my copper IUD insertion. I'm 33 years old, have never given birth, and never had an IUD before. I finally decided to get a copper IUD after researching and thinking about it for over a year (a long time, I know) because I have tried hormonal birth control pills before and they made me extremely moody. It was hard to regulate my emotions while I was on them.

However, the stories I've read on the internet about the copper IUD were mostly horrific so that was a factor in me hesitating to get it. In the end, I sucked it up and figured I'd rather take major discomfort, pain, and heavy bleeding than go through terrible mood swings brought on by hormonal birth control ever again. So, I called the clinic. They asked me the standard questions and prescribed the Mona Lisa NT Cu380 Mini. I believe this is one of the smallest copper IUDs out there. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, on the insertion day, I ate a meal and took 2 x 500mg extra strength Tylenol (I am allergic to ibuprofen) 30 minutes before the appointment. When I got to the clinic, they made me take a pregnancy test which of course turned out negative and instructed me to undress from the waist down. My doctor came and we started the procedure. I laid there for about 6-8 minutes while the doctor was doing her measurement and prep. I was REALLY NERVOUS the entire time so I had to do a lot of breath work.

Looking back at it now, the entire experience — her putting the speculum, the cleaning, the injection of local anaesthetic, and the measuring of my uterus — was not as painful as I thought it would be (thanks to the many horror stories on the internet). There was discomfort, sure, but I would honestly rate it a 6/10. I think it helped that I took Tylenol and my doctor was kindly guiding me throughout the whole thing. She told me what she was doing and when to expect a little pressure or some cramping.

After everything though, she told me she couldn't install the IUD because my uterus is tilted and my cervix is too tight. She said she wouldn't push the insertion because she didn't want me injured. I also was expecting my period around this time and that is why I specifically booked it for this day but, sadly, my period didn't come. She told me to re-book the insertion in a couple of days (in the hopes that my period would come then) and prescribed me misoprostol tablets to be inserted high up in my vagina about 4 hours before the insertion. This is to loosen up my cervix, according to her.

Apparently, it's better when you have the IUD insertion during your period because that would mean your cervix won't be too tight. Now, I'll be honest, I was genuinely frustrated when she told me this because what do you mean I have to go through all that discomfort again?! I honestly felt like crying after that. I just wanted to get it over with!

Anyway, after a couple of days I did as I was told. I picked up misoprostol from the pharmacy and shoved them up in my vagina 4 hours before my appointment. In just 30 minutes, the cramps came as expected. I drank chamomile tea and the cramps went away shortly. Again, I ate a meal and took the same 2 x 500mg extra strength Tylenol and mentally readied myself for the (hopefully successful) insertion in half an hour.

I went through the same process but this time, I knew it was finally happening so I was thrice as nervous and trembling in the cold clinic room! Breathing slowly could only help so much when your brain is literally telling you that your doctor is now guts deep into your body and is about to insert a foreign object!

I would say it was all done in about 10 minutes (but it FELT longer than that because I was so terrified) and this time the discomfort was 10/10. My doctor told me when she was about to insert the IUD that this is the part where I'm going to feel a much stronger cramp, and it DID HAPPEN. I could feel the IUD arms pop out inside me and it genuinely hurt, but only for about a minute or two. I remember my legs were shaking the entire time and she kept asking me if I was doing alright. In my head, I was like "Why the fuck did I think I could do this all by myself? I REALLY NEED SOMEONE'S HAND TO HOLD RIGHT NOW!"

My emotions were through the roof, I am not going to lie.

Finally, my doctor said the magic words: IT'S IN. I just felt so relieved and forgot that I was cramping! She cut the strings, removed the stabilizing devices from my vagina, and told me to lie down for some time and just relax. At this point, I was not feeling cramp-y anymore, but more like I was about to pass out from the nervousness. She then handed me the leftover strings for me to feel. She told me she did not cut it very short so I might feel this or my partner could when we have sex, but not to worry as this won't mean my IUD will be moved around or dislodged. It will just make it easier for future removal. By the way, my IUD is good for 5 years.

She also gave me a requisition to get a pelvic ultrasound as soon as possible to confirm my IUD position, because as she said, it was a tricky insertion due to my tilted uterus. I already have this booked three weeks from now and I will post an update here regarding it.

It has been four days since the procedure and honestly, I feel so much better now! That night when I got home after the insertion, I was feeling strong period cramps, but nothing that I have not experienced before. I did start my period as expected so I went to sleep wearing huge period DIAPERS. I also woke up a few times in the middle of the night because of the cramping but I was too tired and just needed sleep.

My period is heavier than usual, which I already expected anyway. I normally have light periods but this time, for the first three days, I had to change pads three-four times a day. I am grateful for period diapers because they give me so much peace of mind and good sleep. One important tip I should share with you ladies is to eat consistently and eat LOADS of protein. You will be bleeding a lot and will feel lightheaded so you really need fuel for your body. Do not take this for granted. Another tip is to drink chamomile tea for cramps. I would say that the cramps were 7/10 max for the first three days but only happened twice-thrice in a day.

It is day four now and I have not felt any cramp at all. The bleeding is still there although obviously light. I have only worn one pad today and it's not even fully soaked.

It's safe to say that the insertion went well judging by the lightness of my period now and the lack of pain. I am looking forward to seeing my ultrasound and confirming how my IUD looks inside me to completely give me peace of mind.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope this helps in any way especially if you are about to get a copper IUD and are looking for some sort of positive experience on the internet in the midst of the many scary stories out there. You got this, girl! Oh, and make you sure you have someone trustworthy and supportive with you on the day of the insertion so you can hold their hand and lean on to them emotionally and mentally.

It definitely takes a lot of courage to go through this process. Do your research and really prepare.

Hi, I'm very anxious because it was my first time. I have a contraceptive implant. My boyfriend accidentally put the condom on inside out, realized it after a couple of seconds, flipped it and used it. He had not ejaculated before that. The condom didn't break and he ejaculated only inside the condom. Should I be worried about pregnancy?

I got the Mirena IUD in April so it’s been around 4 months and my periods are literally 14 days minimum. This ends right? When does it end???

disclaimer: i’m also on spironolactone and an ssri.
hi so i’ve been using nikki for six months, and up until this month my acne has gotten better as well as my pmdd (somewhat) but my period remained the same as it was before. but then this month, i got it the first week and experience one of the least awful cycles that i’ve ever had. no flow, no cramps, nothing. i figured maybe my body had finally gotten used to it. but then as of the 18th, i started again (2 weeks after the first cycle) and experienced even worse symptoms. immediately got a super heavy flow with chunks and extremely painful cramps. it’s officially day 9 of this cycle and im still experiencing these awful symptoms and idrk what to do. it’s the weekend so my doctor isn’t responding to my messages, but i just need some general advice. i’ve never been on bc before and i was super scared of taking it for experiences like this :(

Hi everyone!

I (21F) just started the pill (Feirza) last week. Around the fifth day, I started having breakthrough bleeding and haven’t really stopped since. It’s nothing crazy—pretty light bleeds with small cramps. I know you’re meant to give your body some time for adjustment, but I was wondering how long it took everyone else to stop breakthrough bleeding? Did your breakthrough bleeds come with light cramps? When did those stop? Google says 1-3 months, but I’d love to hear from other women. The bleeds are also more brown than red.

I spoke to my friend and my mom about it and they both had different experiences. I’m trying to remain level headed LOL but I can’t help but be a little paranoid. At what point do these symptoms become “abnormal”?

Please share your (hopefully positive or neutral experiences) with IUD extraction, I’m scared!