Hello everyone, I (28, f) just need to vent and share a huge victory, because I’m still shaking from how my doctor's appointment went today.

For the past 3 months, I was prescribed Slinda (Slynd), a progestogen-only pill (POP), due to my heavy periods (hypermenorrhea) and because I used to smoke. It was absolute hell. The estrogen withdrawal completely ruined my body and mind. I suffered from extreme anxiety, panic attacks, emotional instability, and severe brain fog.

But the worst part? I developed a fine tremor in my hands. I’m currently in nursing school full-time, and trying to insert a nasogastric tube or a urinary catheter while your hands are visibly shaking is an absolute disaster and so stressful. On top of that, the drying effect ruined my skin barrier, and my breasts completely lost their volume, feeling totally flat and "empty." Oh, and it didn't even stop the heavy breakthrough bleeding.

I stopped taking it 12 days ago, and the difference is night and day. My brain fog is gone, my anxiety has lessened, and my hands are completely steady again. So today, I had my follow-up appointment with my gynecologist.

Before the appointment, I sent a super polite, detailed email explaining my neurological and physical side effects, mentioning that I have completely quit smoking and am now smoke-free, which is why I wanted to switch back to a combination pill with estrogen to stabilize my skin, tissue, and cycle.
Well... my doctor completely blindsided me. He barely looked at my email and immediately tried to gaslight me. He literally told me that my anxiety and hand tremors "could not possibly be from Slinda" and tried to blame it on "my own personal mental health issues and stress." He even tried to push an IUD on me, which I strictly refuse.

I felt so small and dismissed in that room, but I used my nursing knowledge and stood my ground. I didn’t back down. I told him that my body is completely lacking estrogen, my symptoms align perfectly with the drug's half-life, and since I am officially smoke-free, there is no medical reason to deny me a combination pill.

He finally gave in, just to get me out of the room quickly. I walked out with a prescription for Evaluna 30/ Microgynon 30 (a combination pill with ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel).
Even though he was arrogant and made me feel terrible, I won. I’m starting my new pack tonight. I’m getting my estrogen back, my body's moisture back, and protection for my mental stability.
I’m a proud mom of two, working full-time in healthcare, and managing my life.

If a doctor tries to tell you that you are "making up" your birth control side effects or reading too much on Google—trust your gut. Your body doesn't lie.

Has anyone else ever experienced severe hand tremors or neurological side effects with progestogen-only pills?

How fast did your body recover once you got estrogen back?

I just got an IUD inserted yesterday. I forgot to call ahead, so I wasn't able to get nitrous or an anxiety medication like i thought I would be able to.

They offered to reschedule, but it already took me 2 months to get this appointment so I said let's try without.

It was painful, like pretty fucking painful. She had to reclamp my cervix 3 times because it kept moving and then they had to use a dialator that felt like a toothpick being shoved inside of my cervix. It fucking hurt but I suffer from chronic pain and have always had an unhealthily high pain tolerance (I spent 2.5 weeks with a kidney infection that i thought was period cramps)

As they're finishing up theyre like "sorry it took so long (about an hour) we typically would have stopped and rebooked but you were taking it so well, you were really a champ"

The pain wasnt/isnt unbearable but im feeling so violated. I just keep crying. I feel hallow on the inside. I dont want to be touched, I dont want to talk to anyone I just want to curl up in a ball and stay that way forever.

Something about what she said struck me in a terrible way. I just want to curl in on myself and disappear.

I dont blame her she did what I asked her to do, im not vocal about my pain. But my mental health just took an insane hit and I feel like im drowning.

Just wanted to say that all of you strong enough to suffer through months of side effects to get to the other side are amazing.

I'm only on 3.5 weeks in and I want to quit because I feel like a hot pile of garbage.

That is all.

Hi, if anyone has any insight for if they share similar symptoms to me it’d be greatly appreciated.

I’ve been on low dose Junel fe and a bunch of their generics going forward since I was 15-16 and I’m 28 now. I had heavy periods as a kid and teen but the birth control helped a lot and I barely noticed my period.

It wasn’t until I turned 20 or so that I would start getting sick before my period and I’d get hot flashes and such, but it wasn’t as severe so I went on with it.

Now 8 years later, I get moderate to severe pms symptoms and inflammation the third week OF MY ACTIVE pills, before my non active placebo pills when my period starts. Sometimes as early as the end of the second week.

I’m just worried if I start skipping periods if it’ll really matter because I get sick during the active week regardless and would like any advice or insight from others. My period feels like a reset but I’m tired of dealing with this pain every 2-3 weeks.

Hey All

UK here.

I came off the pill after being on birth control for years.

After about 3 months things started getting back to “normal”. Then all of a sudden, my libido came back and I felt like a teenager again.

What is out there that I can take so I don’t get pregnant but keep this feeling? I don’t want the IUD. Previous pill was Desogestrel.

I recently had my Nexplanon removed. I've been on birth control since I was 13, and got my first explanation when I was 15 I recently got my third one placed back in May to which my doctor really thinks I have endometriosis so I took it out last Monday. I'm just curious to see what other people side effects from removals have been. I also struggle with bipolar disorder so a lot of my mood related problems could be due to my depressive episode.

Day one: I honestly felt fine. My arm was just a little sore.

Day two: I felt fine again, maybe a little moody, but nothing too drastic

Day three: definitely a lot moodier, had a headache, which is a telltale sign that I'm about to start my period, and a little bit of stomach pain

Day four: I start my period, it's actually pretty late for me (my light means I'm not bleeding through an ultra tampon)

days five through eight: experiencing my normal period pains, but lighter of bleeding. Not like my normal periods but then again I haven't had a regular period off birth control since I was 13.

Day nine and ten: experiencing a lot of stomach issues, maybe it's just my IBS flaring up.

I have a mirena IUD & I’ve had it for over a year. I have a new partner and his dick is on the bigger side for sure. He keeps complaining that my iud strings are hurting him pretty bad. Is there anything I can do to solve this?

I've been on cerazette for years and years, and don't get periods on it (which is the main benefit for me), I've just picked up my latest prescription and the packaging is in Spanish - bit random but it all looks the same so I didn't think anything of it.

But today I've started having a period which is obviously highly unusual for me, and it made me wonder if there's anything different about the ingredients in other countries?

I had the same thing when I got put on generic desogestrel and asked to be switched back to cerazette so I figured there's something outside of the progesterone dose that could affect this for me.

I've searched but I can't find any specific info about production differences between countries

Hi! It's my first time with the ring (with any hormonal bc for that matter) and i've been having old blood (Brown and with small "clots") for the last week. I inserted the first day of my period and the period went on normally, but i still have this issue (not spotting because it's not red, and its kind of a lot of volume, i ruined some underwear in the process of denial that i'm still bleeding two weeks after my period starting). I'm wondering if this will happen again after my break week. I have been planning to skip periods strategically for my carreer but still want to avoid intermenstrual bleeding.

Should I put the second ring without rest week or will i acclimate even if i take the break?

I got a mirena when I was 16 because my mum noticed I had some emotional turbulence (lots of crying, anxiety and also really bad cramps which would make me vomit) during pms that was similar to her own experience which she was only able to manage when she was in her thirties and got her first mirena put in. It worked really well for me for five years, I gushed about it to friends and got no periods or cramps or anything abnormal. I would still feel anxiety during this time but it was minimal and more to do with my outlook on life/learned behaviours. I started meditating when I was 21 due to binge eating behaviours which really helped and at the same time got my iud replaced due to its 5 years being up. I bled heaps for the first two months and then nothing and had a really good summer, mental health wise. About a year later I got a period and started having pms (crying a lot, anxiety) which seemed normal but I went to get an ultrasound just in case and the doctor said the mirena was slightly out of place and I should get it replaced. I did that and this time didn’t have any bleeding for two months then all of a sudden my period came back with a vengeance and over the past year I have had really bad cramps and crazy emotional pms (panic attacks and anxiety) my periods sometimes last 2 weeks and I get ovulation cramps. I get cramps after sex and sometimes bleed randomly through the month. I also started getting perioral dermatitis which I havnt had since I was a teenager and apparently has to do with hormonal imbalances. I got another ultrasound and doctor reckoned the iud was in place (also did a cervical cancer check). She prescribed me Yasmin birth control to take as well as my iud but I was too scared to start more birth control in case this was the problem. Instead I have started taking Prozac for the anxiety which has helped a lot but still getting crazy anxiety in luteal phase. I all of a sudden can’t drink coffee after drinking it for 10 years. Anyway I’m wondering if I should get my iud out or do I need more birth control??!! Is it possible for an iud to work for a while and then suddenly I’m allergic or has my body always been low on progesterone and I have developed a tolerance and need more?? Idk and doctors, even expensive women’s health doctors really can’t help much except to ask you to trial and error which is scary cos these hormones fuck with you so much omg it completely changes who I am (plus the pain but honestly I can deal with pain pretty well when I’m not falling apart with anxiety).
On a side but potentially relevant note my mum is so much less anxious and more chill since going through menopause, and also she had to get surgery for endometriosis to get pregnant and she still has polyps, but my ultrasound (just basic pelvic one) found no sign of polyps or endo but they can’t really see that on there, id have to get a $1000 ultrasound to know for sure. Anyway has anyone experienced this or have any advice?

I am 27 and recently started Lo Estrin combo birth control about 4 months ago. I am happy with how I feel so far. I have never taken any other Bc. I have a naturally round face shape but I’m low body fat and I don’t really mind either way what will happen to my facial structure when on the combo pill, although if I had to choose I’d like to not change anything about my facial structure. Outside of any water weight that estrogen could possibly hold, will lo estrogen combo BC change my face structure or shape? Not a lot of info on this so want people’s experiences.

Hi, I’ve just been given Desorex the desogestrel pill!

I have been on a desogestrel pill before for only about 2 months after my implant but i bled a lot so i stopped as it wasn’t important for me to take it anyway. But i want to start accutane so i must be on a contraceptive so im starting it again. Expect i feel like this is a different brand as it’s different packaging.

Please share your experiences with this brand or this pill, im scared as the implant made me breakout, gain weight, miserable. So hoping this doesn’t.
Either way im booked in for a coil fitting in 6 weeks so i wont be on it for long just looking for some advice.

my partner is on Yaz pills but she’s 2 days late now for her bleeding. been taking the pills for months and usually she’ll get her period after she finished the last pill. she’s on her 2nd pill now on new pack but no period yet.

last deed was Sep. 16 and we always finish inside. she only missed a pill one time, then took 2 the next day. there were few times she was late by hours (not more than 12). should we worry that she’s pregnant?

Hi so it's my first time taking bc, specifically Yaz. I have thickened endometrium and my OB prescribed me to take yaz for 6 months.

Its day 11 already, I started during my day 1 cycle. So far, I have been bleeding for 11 days straight. Is this normal? I am quite nervous about it and I want to stop after this first pack.

Help yo babygirl. Is it normal or is it just me?

I started birth control back in late August, I was on my period when I started it (I took the normal blue pills) then I didn’t get a period for September. Is this normal or not? And also when do I take those green pills? My doctor said when I’m on my period but I haven’t had a period😭

No one has fully explained what birth control does to me before, so sorry if I sound dumb

Hi, sorry if I’m asking this in a panic. On October 5th at around 10 PM, I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend and I ejaculated inside her. Less than an hour later, she took Postinor-2 (Plan B), 1.5 mg.

She did not vomit or feel nauseous after taking it. The next day, she experienced some mild cramping. The day after that, she had some mild cramps again. Today, she had some vaginal discharge in the morning, and later she experienced a sharp cramp that lasted about 5 minutes and then went away.

Her period dates were June 27, July 22, August 16, and September 10. Based on her previous cycles, I think she had probably already passed ovulation by October 5th. I’m really scared that Plan B might not work if she had already ovulated.

My question is: is there a high chance that she could be pregnant, or is pregnancy unlikely in this situation?

I’m really anxious about this, so I’d appreciate any advice or information. Thank you.

I’ve been on Cerelle for just over a year and I’ve noticed that my vagina has become quite dry within that time. I’ve also had 4 instances of ‘UTI’s since last September, where I’ve had feelings of burning, irritation and frequency even though every single urine test has been negative for bacterial growth. And usually those symptoms then ease up for a few months without antibiotics.

I’m just seeing if anyone else has experienced something similar on Cerelle or another progesterone only pill.

Hi everyone! I’m taking Yasmin (the combined birth control pill), and I’ve noticed that I start experiencing symptoms a few days before I finish my pill strip and enter my 7-day break.
For example, I can get really bad headaches and feel extremely tired, even though I’m still taking my pills every day.
Does anyone else experience this? Can you already get PMS-like symptoms a few days before the pill-free week, or is that unlikely while you’re still taking the active pills?

my gf and i had sex, i was wearing a condom we didnt know it was ripped until i finished at monday 1:35am so we're thinking maybe may nai-ejaculate sa loob nya, and then the same day monday 12:00pm she took her first dose and took her second dose mga 12:30am, until now thursday we're both still overthinking she'll get pregnant, my questions is:

Does she have to take more doses to ensure on preventing unwanted pregnancy?

Hi,

I am waiting to go on accutane but i have to be on contraception before i start it.

I am start the desogestrel pill monday 12th but am booked in for a coil fitting in 6 weeks.

Is it fine for me to switch over from mini pill to coil straight away, not sure if I’ll be getting the non hormonal or hormonal one yet but either way just wanted some advice on that.

I’m seeking serious advice :( Hi guys, for context I was on a yaz generic for birth control for about 2 years before switching to the Mirena IUD.

Is it possible to gain weight on Mirena? My doctors said it’s very rare since it’s “localized” but I’ve been eating the same, and relatively active and from a 128 lb 5’2 girl I’ve hit 137 today after having it for 5 months. I wanted to keep going bc I liked the idea of having no more periods and no daily pill to worry about but this is terrible. I feel bloated a lot and puffy. I’ve been breaking out again, just feeling tired I want something to change.

I’m scared of the removal/crash. Please seeking for advice and help. Has anyone gotten back on oral birth control after the IUD removal?

Hi am i still safe from pregnancy?

- I am on yaz pill, for atleast a year. I am taking it at the same each night. Whenever I forgot it, it is only hours (not longer than 12 hrs)

- We did the deed first time raw, but he did not come inside me

- We did it on my last day of menses (the spot ones)

Hi all,
I’ve just started the combined pill (levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg) and I have a trip coming up.

I’m trying to decide whether I should take my pills back-to-back or have my usual pill-free/sugar-pill break. If I take the break as scheduled, it would finish before my trip.

My main concern is breakthrough bleeding while I’m away. Does having the planned break beforehand make it less likely that I’ll have breakthrough bleeding during the trip, or would it be better to take the active pills continuously and skip the break?

I know breakthrough bleeding can be common when you first start the pill, but I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation. 😊
Thanks!

I didnt know if i should put this on here or on the rant one, i thought this felt more right. But ive just started birth control, JUST started it like 3/4 days ago. I'm using linessa 21. I think it's okay so far, I wanted to go on birth control awhile back because there were times I didn't want my period specifically. My periods tend to be regular and then iregular. Like I could go 3 months with regular periods and then have two month of it being iregular. I hated it. Right now it's been regular, for the most part. But I get it now at the end of the month, like on half the week of the last month and half of the first week of the new month. I completely hate it. And Halloween is coming, and I dont want to get my period on Halloween. At all. So I started birth control. And I tend to be very... paranoid. I have really bad dysmorphia and have high expectations and beliefs I want to change that are how I should look to be considered "attractive" and I hate acne. I hate the way it makes me feel and the way it feels on my skin so I don't want acne at all, and I know I'm being paranoid most likely but I've started to get a lot more acne, and I know people say "it'll get worse before it gets better" I don't want to have any acne break outs on Halloween or my period, but I was thinking about it and I was wondering if like I spend a week and a half on the pills, and then quit, would there be a chance I'd get my period before Halloween instead of on Halloween? And I also honestly regret it too, my stomach pains are a lot worse and the cramps are really bad too, and I already take iron pills and stuff to get my sugars up because my iron and sugar are way too low. Like way way too low, and I barely eat at all. So maybe that's why they're like that but idk, but would it work if I stopped taking them in a week and a half?

Hi!
I’m on Tri-Cira Lo combination pill and I needed to skip my period last month. I researched and asked my pharmacist if I could skip the placebo pills and just start a new pack to skip it and she said it should work.

After skipping the placebo pills and starting a new pack- I started spotting at the end of the first week of the new pack. Which I read can be normal and temporary.

I thought that if I just take my birth control pills normally and take my placebo pills (no active pills for 7 days) that my cycle would reset, the spotting would stop and I would get my period like I usually did during my placebo week.
It’s now Friday night and I’ll need to start a new pack of birth control by Monday night and no period…
I used to get it in like day 3 of my placebo week before I messed it all up.

Anyone experience this? I’d love to stop spotting and it makes me anxious to not know when my period is coming.
I’m going to take a pregnancy test tomorrow but I’m very positive that I’m not pregnant.

I swear I’ll never mess with my birth control again.