The Pill

I am about to go on the pill for the first time again in years....okay, well, I am thinking about it. Of all the times I have tried with the pill I could never remember to take it so I eventually just gave up. But now I think I am going to try again but I am a little hesitant because of the side effects which I know dont effect everyone the same way....but the thing I worry about most is that I have heard that mostly all birth control gives most women hyperpigmentation in their skin. So how many of you have been effected by this? I certainly dont want any pigment changes in my face....so if it is something that is almost inevidable I may decide not to go on the pill and use a different method of birth control.
Also, I just read about a new pill that only allows you to have your period 4 times a month! Is it just me, or does that sound a little...um....not good for your body? They say it is safe since on the pill we dont ovulate therefore we dont need a period....but that just doesnt seem right to me somehow. What do you all think about it? Thanks

 

I am on the pill--Trinessa, a step up on hormone levels from Ortho-tricycline low. I personally LOVE it. It has completely changed my life for the better--I used to get horrible cramps and would get pms so bad I would be manic depressive for a whole week before my period. I was miserable and I literally felt PUNISHED for being born female. Now I love being a woman, I am much more mellow and I no longer get cramps at all. I have actually never heard of hyperpigmentation, at least not to the point where a majority of women suffer from it. I for one have never had it.

I used to have trouble remembering to take it. But, I can give you several tips that can make remembering easier: Since you're supposed to take it at about the same time everyday, if you have a cellphone you can program an alarm into your phone that will go off on a daily basis. Also, there is now a birth-control case that has an alarm built in. Another idea would be to tape a string to the container and hang it above your bed at just the height where you will see it as you get into bed. This might work best if you have your own room, since it might get annoying having to explain it to people There is also Ortho Evera, which is a patch you change once a week instead of every day. Personally, it would be easier for me to forget if I only changed it once a week, but it might be easier for you.

About the four times a year thing--it's FDA approved, for what it's worth, and you can actually use any birth control pill and have your period only once a year. All you have to do is when it comes time to have your period, you skip the placebo (sp?) pills and go right on into the next weeks real pills. Women have been doing this for the last 12 years, and there is not yet evidence that it does any damage.

I still have issues with my period on a principle level. I see it as a curse to be avoided at all costs. I plan on having my period once a year once I'm on the pill a while longer. There is no evidence that it will mess up your fertility, but I personally plan on adopting all my kids so I wouldn't care anyway. In fact, there is even evidence that the birth control pill can lower your chances of developing certain types of cancers.

Obviously, the pill is not for everyone, but if it worked for you the first time you shouldn't have any problems getting back on it.

Hope this helped.

-Kate

 

I second the notion of going on Ortho Evra (patch). I am on my second month, now and I love it! I haven't had a problem remembering to switch patches. It comes with little stickers to put on a calendar to remind you.

Being sexually active, I like having my period every month, just as an okay, I'm not preggy again.
I think it is definitely a good choice of HBC.

 

I'm on microgynon 30...been on it for the past 2 weeks. I've been bleeding for 2 weeks, I guess my body is taking its time to adjust to the hormones. Besides that I've got an increased appetite, been eating quite a lot. I must have gained like two kilos in the past couple of weeks. I can easily shed off that weight later though.
I've been a little moody, but it frees me from having to worry about condoms and stuff...
i guess the side effects depend on the individual, but if you have doubts you should talk to your doctor, who will get you the kind of pill suited to your needs.

 

If you're going to go on the pill, I suggest Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. When I was on it, which was for about 6 months, I had no negative side effects. I believe the reason for that is that there's less horomones. What it did for me was get rid of my cramps, basically got rid of all PMS symptoms, it didn't cause any weight gain, or loss... although there is a slight chance that it could. Don't take my word for it though, if you want to learn more, research them. I don't know if it'll work, but try going to a teen clinic website, or calling one up, they'll have plenty of information. Good luck.

 

i'm going to be going on the pill for the first time too!!!!! yay!! both of us on the pill. woot woot... I'm going to be going on it for the first time pretty soon... The reason why i want to be on it is because I feel more secure and protected more.... it's not because of sex because i don't think about that a lot... it's just for incase something bad were to happen one day or if i decide to one day...

 

I've never been warned about or heard of anyone having a problem with hyperpigmentation because of the pill. I have been warned of serious problems, like the chance of blood clots if you smoke while on the pill, but no pigment issues.

As for finding the right pill, I don't think anyone here can realistically recommend one that will work for anyone else. Definitely talk to your doctor about any concerns you have, especially if you had any bad side effects when you were on the pill before. Personally, I am unusually sensitive to the hormones, so I tried several different pills before finding one that didn't make me want to curl up into a ball & cry for a week straight every month! And, to the poster who suggested Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, any tri-cyclic pill is a BAD idea for people like me -- if the pill causes mood swings, you are better off with a mono-cyclic pill, instead of shifting levels every week. Not to single you out, since others have made specific suggestions as well, but that one made me a raving PMS bitch 29 days every month! You're always better off talking to your doctor about the right pill, or doing the medical research yourself, than taking advice from strangers online about which pill to take.