- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
Condoms.
All the pills out there that I know about use hormones to help control your periods. Some use fewer doses of hormones and some use higher doses.
There's a contraceptive out there that you can get inserted and it isn't a hormone, it blocks your egg from dropping. Your gynecologist should know about it. There can be problems with infections and it sometimes moves out of place, so you have to be careful and go to the doctor regularly.
I can't use the pill any longer because it made me a little nuts and really witchy at the beginning of each period. I would be an emotional mess, up and down, up and down the first few days and without the pill, I'm not. So it's condoms.
I.U.D.!
Sometimes doctors don't like to prescribe them for patients who have no yet had children, and they may last longer than you intend to use birth control, but non-hormonal IUD's have no hormonal side effects and are 99%(ish) effective.
I've had one for almost three years and I love it. It has increased the length of my periods by about a day, and I have cramps sometimes, which I did not previously, but otherwise, I have had no issues.
I second condoms. You should check out the fertility awareness method (FAM) as well.
I think ADLawrence was referring to the IUD. That's not quite how it works (it hinders sperm motility and prevents a fertilized egg from implanting on the uterine lining) but it can be completely hormone free.
The tricky thing hormonal birth control is that they effect everyone differently. You pretty much just have to play around with them until something works for you. That said, I have heard good things about the Nuvaring because the hormones are absorbed directly and don't go through your system the same way.
Good luck finding something that works for you!
Thanks for the advice so far. Maybe I should clarify I do want it in pill form. Keep em' coming!
Another one here for the IUD- The paraguard copper is hormone free, and I cannot reccomend it highly enough.
Hey buttercup, I am a newish Kariva (Mircette) user, but I am very happy with it. Since it is a low-dose pill, the hormone fluctuations aren't all over the place. I am pretty sure I'll be sticking with it! Plus, it turns out it is pretty affordable compared to some of the other pills.
Good luck!
Birch_Chuppah_La_Partie_Events_1.jpg (339.5 KB, 17 downloads) 1 year old 
My advice is to work with your gyno to find what's best for you. We all react differently to meds, so what's good for one may not work for another. But I'll still share
.
I use ortho tricyclen lo and I don't think I am anymore emotional around my period, BUT I will take this anyday over going back to having crazy, can't stand up cramps that made me a royal pain and gave me uber pain. Its a great trade off.
I agree with Bamboo- ask your gyno....but my opinion on ortho is quite different. lol
I used to be on Ortho Tri-Cyclin (regular & lo)- Everyone I know, including myself, turned into a raging b*** or a crying mess the week before. I've tried a couple others, and so far, I've had no problems with Ovcon/Femcon. The generic version of Ovcon, Balziva, hasn't given me any side effects either. I've been on it for the past couple of years (3-4 years). Good luck!
One of the problems with birthcontrol is that the side effects vary from person to person and from medication to medication. I have been on several types of birth control over the past nine years and haven't ever had a problem other than occaisional nausea. I just recently changed to something else because of my insurance. I went bat sh*t crazy and was on my period for a month because of the hormones. My personal fave is the Nuva Ring, since it's so easy and I didn't have any side effects.
Unfortunately gynocologists do NOT have a secret way to know what hormonal birth control pill would work best for you. It's a shot in the dark for everyone. That's why when you go see one and you say, "I would like to try X brand," they will agree. Some people get lucky and get it right the first time, but others, not so much. It's a trial and error process. A totally frustrating, trial and error process. Like many others, I have also quit hormonal bc because it just didn't work for my system and I went crazy trying. Good luck to you. :)
I use Junel FE and have no issues.
Acrylic.jpg (99.7 KB, 34 downloads) 1 year old 
I completely agree with everyone who has said that hormones react differently with every person, so you really just have to find one that works for you. Having said that, some levels of hormones have known side effects. A lot of times its a trade off - you won't gain weight but you'll get acne, that kind of thing. The internet can be a great resource for finding out what are common side effects so you can guage how much those would bother you or how prone to them you feel you are. This website has a lot of good information, though its a bit hard to sort through: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm
Anyway, you asked for reviews / personal experiences, so here are mine!
- Yaz: It was okay. I didn't gain weight but I was dieting at the time. I felt a little like a zombie -- too far in the opposite direction from PMS. After I went off of it, it took my body a loooong time to adjust - I was very emotional and had problems sexually.
- Alesse: Hated it. Messed my moods up, and I completely lost my sex drive. I feel like it had a permanent effect in this regard. I also gained weight, particularly in my boobs. Went off of it and noticed an improvement in my mood within the month. FI would burn down the Alesse factory if he could get away with it!
- Mircette: First of all, crazy expensive, though maybe this won't be a problem for you if you have good insurance. I was scared to try the generic because I had seen negative reviews online. My sex drive didn't suffer but I broke out worse than I ever have. It was pretty ugly. I also started getting nauseous after I took it, but part of me wonders if this was related to "finding the right BC" stress.
- Taking a long break from hormonal birth control for the first time in years: Felt wonderful in many regards, but I have very painful periods, and the more times I ovulate, the worse they get. I also recently developed a large ovarian cyst, so ovulating just isn't for me! Also, its important to be diligant about condoms. This can be a problem for some couples, and that's how surprises happen! :)
- Nuvaring: Just started. So far, so good. No side effects, but its only been a week. I like that I don't have to remember to take a pill. I feel like since the hormones are local, it won't have as many side effects. I do feel a tad itchy up in there, but nothing too bad.
Hope this helped!
Another bee here recommending the copper IUD! I had so much bad luck with every kind of hormonal BC.
Pills can be tough, between friends and family I think everyone I know who has taken them has suffered from a side effect of some sort.
I've tried Ortho, Zovia and Yaz. The ortho made me depressed, the Zovia made me crazy and the Yaz made me gain weight.
So I also nominate Nuvaring! I know it sounds like it could be weird but it's not and it works great!
Thought I'd bring this post back to life! Starting Nuvaring today and a bit nervous. Haven't had the best experience BC pills in the past (#1 problem - horrible mood swings). But I've been having some really irregular periods for the last few months and bleeding a lot, so I finally gave up and decided to give it a shot again.
Anyway - hoping the nuvaring works for me! And if anyone else has had similar experiences, please share!
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because the pill has never affected me negatively but actually helped me. The actual period lasts for 2 to 3 days, I don't experience cramps and the pill I'm currently on helps with my migraines. I might have gained 3lbs or so but the way I look at it is I'd rather gain a few extra pounds then get pregnant and gain all that weight and have a kid to then take care of.
MissmelissaB is right. The side effects DO vary from person to person. I've been on BC for 10 years now but recently stopped. (just wanted to be ready when I have a baby.LOL)
I used Ortho Tri Cyclen LO for 8 years and never had a problem. I used Seasonique for the last two years and the last month before I stopped, I used the genric Ortho Tri Cyclen-now THAT caused me problems. Maybe because it was generic.LOL
Oh, neither caused a lack in sex drive. I always wanted it. Now since I've been off them for the first time since begiinning to have sex, I'll see how I react.
Um, abstinence? ;)
Haha, no, seriously, there is no way to know what BC method will affect you personally because everyone is different. I would discuss with your OB/GYN about the different hormonal methods (pills, etc.) if it's something you want to pursue, so they can suggest something with lower estrogen levels, etc., but if that's not working for you, as other bees suggested, condoms or other things are worth a look at.
I use Loestrin/FE (I think it's the same as Junel) and I love it. It cleared up my skin and I'm less emotional, not more. But I had long, painful periods every 45 days when I wasn't on the pill.
Yeah, every woman's body is so different, there's no way to tell how any pill will cause it to react except to try it! I went on Yaz and it made me sick/depressed/anxious, and I was going to switch to another kind of pill but decided just to use condoms for the time being. Definitely talk to your doctor (I've actually found Planned Parenthood to be an amazing resource, everybody who works there is so knowledgeable and really cares about the women they deal with).
Good luck!
I'm on the nuvaring too, and I love it. I don't have any side effects, but I really didn't have any with the pill when I took it, jsut got tired of having to remember to take a pill everyday
My sister and I are both Depo injection people. We both love it! You only have to think about it once every three months and we've both either had crazy light periods or none at all which makes for a very convenient time if you ask me!
I've tried the pill and Implanon and it's definitely the most convenient thing I've done and has been fantastic! I've had spotting and constant periods on the other two but the Depo has been fantastic! Keep trying different things until you find what works for you - good luck!
I had the impenon implant for 2 years...I liked it but I had a lot of weight gain the last year I was on it and I couldn't keep the weight off..So my doctor took it out and I am supposed to start the ovcon 35 pill....
I used Ortho TriCyclen for about 10 years and it worked for me. I didn't gain any weight, it worked (Ortho Tryclen LO did NOT work), and my periods were light with hardly any cramps.
NuvaRing was a NIGHTMARE for me! The concept is awesome, and it was a great idea. It totally removed all cramps for me and shortened my period from 6 days to a mere 3. I was in love! But after a few months on it I became gradually depressed. It eventually got to be so bad that I became non functional -- I couldn't go to work, lost all interest in being social and became suicidal. My Mr. saved me by doing a lot of research, and one day he just came home and removed it. I felt back to normal by the next morning!
What I would say is, if you already have an existing emotional issue (as I do, diagnosed with depression as a teen) a lot of doctors will usually advise that you stay away from hormonal birth control. I hated giving up my NuvaRing, but I would rather have my sanity :)
FAM. Seriously. It teaches you to know your body and doesn't involve hormones. I wouldn't dream of using other methods at this point. I've also learned how to eradicate cramps/other side effects, and my skin gets clearer and clearer with a basic skincare routine. Used in conjunction with condoms, I feel very safe and comfortable. It's also cheap, haha. You don't have to use hormones to prevent pregnancy. I'd definitely explore the other options.
Yes, Gynos haven't always been a huge help for me, not all doctors have been. Sometimes it's just up to you to do the research. Props to doctors, I hope to go to medical school one day and have huge revere for the work they've been through but some treatments can't be known like an exact science. Birth control being one of them.
I use the copper based, hormone FREE, IUD. According to statistics, and I can't quote where, they are MORE effective than getting your tubes tied.
They do cause cramps, bad ones and it hurt to put it in and hurts taking out. The first two or three months I wanted to have them take it out bc i couldn't handle the pain but I stuck it out and now my cramps are somewhat normal most of the time and I'm completely worry free.
One other thing, FI said he could feel the string that hangs down and it was uncomfortable so they trimmed it and now he can't feel it. If your guy is long or your vagina is short, you might experience this and they said there is a certain point where they can't trim anymore.
Overall, I love it!
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| fishbone | 21 |
| ndreighton | 18 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| ladyartichoke | 14 |
| aduarte3201 | 14 |
| mypinkshoes | 13 |
 rdownie1 |
12 |
| pengoala | 11 |
| Brielle | 11 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| bestbuddies | 1 |
| BodyByViGirl | 1 |
| zerlina | 1 |
Hi Bees! I'm in need of some advice. I know there are a million threads about BC but I get tired of sifting through everyone looking for specifics! Can you please share which BC pill has worked the best for you without making you a crazy emotional mess? I switched from Yasmin to Yaz a while back and I've been driving everyone crazy since......Thank you!!!!!