My Experience of Birth Control - Ladies, Can you attest to this?

For those of you who are putting down birth control pills. They have helped the OP and they have helped my daughter. She used to cry uncontrollably the week before her period and sometimes during her period. She would say there was nothing bothering her and nothing was wrong, she just "had" to cry and sob. Once she started taking Yaz (and I KNOW it causes problems with some women) she became freed from her crying jags. Her OB once tried to change her to the generic form because of insurance, but the crying jags started again. For her it was practically life saving to take Yaz.

If you haven't been through intense hormone induced mood changes you don't realize how much relief birth control pills can offer. She started on Yaz while she was a virgin and remained a virgin for several years after starting it. She used Yaz just to live a normal life.

reply to post by SearchLightsInc


The only problems I had with birth control was the nausea I experienced if I took them without food, beside that they took away my painful periods that I had since I was a teen and the heavy bleeding.

But then again I am old school from the good old days of the 80s, I took provera when it became available in the 90s because it promised that I would not have periods but it actually did the opposite, I could not stop bleeding so I stop after two injections.

You have to remember that is different types of birth control that targets your female hormones, and unbalance of hormones will bring your body into a shut down and you can experience the same problems that women experience during menopause, now that I am in that rollercoaster I can tell you that is not easy.

My daughter in the other hand is in the new generation with the newest medications and she was having all kind of side effects from the pills she was taking, the worst was that she said she sometimes felt that her body and mind were out of control, she stop taking them and doing better now.

Work with your doctor and perhaps you can even try the old fashion birth control that had years of proven efficiency rather than the newest medications that are causing soo much problems.

reply to post by mistressofspice


Wow...I could have written your post. Right down to the blood thinners.

When I was on the Pill, years ago (heavier hormone doses 20 yrs ago?) I developed cystic acne. I am talking painful, deep, red cystic acne. I went to a dermatologist, who when doing my med history noticed I got the breakouts AFTER starting the Pill, said to me "listen to your body...it's telling you something. Be glad your only side effect is bad breakouts." Well, he was an older man, so of course I thought he didn't know what he was talking about. He prescribed going OFF the Pill immediately and gave me some topical rxs.

Weeks later, during my next cycle, I too had the huge leg swelling. ER and admitted to the hospital for a blood clot. Then sick for months after on the blood thinners (had horrible bleeds I remember from the acne + thin blood). I DID immediately go off Pill...but I felt like I lost a year of "normal" because of it.

I still remember what the Derm said. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. And I have ever since.

I do believe that they have weakened/changed Pill over the years, BUT even AFTER explaining my (brief yet near deadly) Pill experience, I still have had ob/gynes TRY to prescribe "different" versions. Like IT WAS THEIR SWORN DUTY.

It literally drove me away from annual visits/doctors because I felt I was NOT listened to...that I was an rx quota to fill.

I don't know how old you are or how many children you have had...
Uterine trama leads to a larger uterus and adenomyosis. The Uterus makes its own hormones leading to longer periods more frequently, heavy cramping and bleeding, mood problems, hot flashes etc.... Uterine trama like miscariages, assisted d&c,
c-sections, extra long pregnancies such as ten months, stripping the membranes etc...
Seasonique helps with this instead of a hysterectomy. Go to a specialist and get your hormones regulated for you. Do research... women past 40 start having imbalance problems sometimes. Body fat can even make extra estrogen. Plastic kitchen ware, fertilizer, shampoo, pesticides some times put estrogen into the environment. Having a female dog in the house who goes into heat can put more estrogen into the air and affect you. No shame in taking a pill until you go through menopause at which point it all stops happening.

opal13

Also, OP, have you been checked for PCOS? if you are only seeing a GP for your problems, you may want to see an OB-GYN. They would be of much more help.

Good luck! I feel your pain...all of you

I dunno what PCOS is but i will take the time to do some research.

I also get bad acne lol, Im happy to be on BC at the moment but if there's an alternative, im willing to consider it!

thedeadtruth
reply to post by SearchLightsInc

 

What are you. Some kind of psychology "academic". . They love to label ambiguous disorders to justify their existence.

Sometimes chemistry is the issue. In this case the over aromatization of estrogen / hormone imbalance. The tipping point for behavioral issues / aggression is a fine line in ALL animals.

The pill takes out the peaks.


And yes. In the old days you would have ended up in an asylum. Locked up with a bunch of pen pushing academics.

Cant decide if you're having a go at me or not lol

It seems i have a hormonal imbalance and this has plagued me pretty much since my mid teens but nothing was ever done about it until i was 22... so...

Im not as bad now that im on the pill. I dunno where my life would be right now if i had never taken BC. Im not trying to be a psychology academic, i just feel sort of weirded out by how that little pill changes your mind set..

Agartha
I have also never taken the pill as I knew somebody who developed a blood clot because of them and nearly died. The contraceptive pill is dangerous: you are ingesting synthetic hormones on a daily basis, I'm sure that will affect your health sooner or later. After having the kids my ex husband started using condoms again, at my request, as I did not want any man made chemical in my body......I know many don't like condoms, but luckily I never had a problem with them.

My periods have always been regular and painless, sometimes I don't even feel them and they still are the same now, and I am almost 44.

The contraceptive pills have a dangerous side and present a deadly risk...I've seen that with my own eyes.

Im not disagreeing with you. Im well aware of the risk's carried and at first, i did not like the thought of man-made synthetic chemicals coursing through my body. The trouble is, i didnt like suffering all the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, i simply could not live my life. It was depressing and literally driving me crazy.

I'd like to imagine that one day it will all settle down and i wont have to take the pill anymore...

I hope. I really hope so.

amraks
reply to post by SearchLightsInc

 

Hey S+F sorry to intrude on a womans topic.

Me and my girlfriend(age:38) are discussing this topic and discussing her moods.

She is on Trifeme and has mood swings, have you ever been on this pill? as my girlfriend is on this one. If you are saying this pill will change the mood swings would it be wise for a change for her.

She don't want anti-depressants either.

Ive never been on that pill, i think the general advice is to try different pills until you find the one that's right for you - If there is one. Or perhaps your GF could look at all the other great advice coming out of this thread - Looking at her diet and Vitamin B intake.

As far as im aware each BC has a different dosage, i am personally on a lower dosage (Loestrin 20)

She should really speak to her doctor or look into her diet. I understand her not wanting to take anti-depressants.

Best of luck to you guys

I have never taken any form of hormonal birth control............and NEVER will.

Women are moody because the majority of women (not all) are desperately short of various minerals, for example and very importantly magnesium.

I am not a medical person but can tell you how I found it easy to control these massive mood swings.

Agnus Castus herb........follow the instructions. Takes about 3 months to start working properly but does work.

Magnesium supplements of up to 600mg a day in divided doses.

Probiotics super doses.

A good bone supporting calcium / magnesium / and supporting vitamins supplement EVERY day.

Signs of wanting to eat salty foods, peanuts, chocolate and other cravings would take me first to the magnesium supplements and then to eat brazil nuts, apples and a good meal.

I always take a regular iron supplement in water form..........double the dose.

Evening Primrose oil up to 3000 - 4000 mg a day.

Cod liver oil in large doses and beta carotene in high doses also can suppress heavy bleeding.

As I said, I can only express my own opinions but know people who have found how magnesium in particular and these other supplements have helped them. Magnesium can calm a moody lady very quickly .......within half an hour I found but as I said, I am no doctor or medical person and can only give my own experiences.

That 'crazy buzz' that PMS ladies get can also be due to Candida infections so that's why I take the massive amounts of probiotics which I personally find very helpful.

I hope my experience helps. Good Luck!

reply to post by SearchLightsInc


the pill is nasty...never agreed with me.

I have no other suggestions for birth control accept condoms.

I fell pregnant with my 1st child whilst on the pill... had antibiotics and lots of vitamin c (found out that can counteract the pill)

second child was 'rhythm method' => LOL and well... that isn't reliable.

condoms are probably the best form of contraception...make sure you learn how to use them correctly... I spent ages trying to put a condom on backwards. lmao.

unless you educate yourself, condoms are a bit like cling wrap without a tab to tell you where the end of the roll is.

reply to post by SearchLightsInc

Have you been checked for endometriosis? Some of the symptoms remind me of endo.
It might be helpful to get checked for it.

I can understand those who take the pill to ease symptoms.

But I believe synthetic hormones are not good for a body at all.
We just don't know what those synthetics do long term.

My mother and sister both took synthetic hormones for BC...and both had autoimmune diseases.
My mom lupus and my sister sjorgrens.
A friend of mine briefly took synthetic HRT and lost an inch of her hairline.

BC is something most of us must deal with at some point in our lives.
But, I think hormone imbalances should be handled as naturally as possible.

DontTreadOnMe
My mother and sister both took synthetic hormones for BC...and both had autoimmune diseases.
My mom lupus and my sister sjorgrens.

You just tickled my brain. I was on synthetic ('natural') hormones for a while after my hysterectomy. They gave me huge breast cysts. I had to stop using them after a year or so because of all the needle aspirations (drainings) I had to have done (about a dozen of them). And now I have Sjogrens ... and will be tested for Lupus in June.

reply to post by FlyersFan


I don't know if there is a connection or not....but no one else in my family seems to have it.
Most of my aunts were too old to be on the pill.
Don't have many female cousins.

reply to post by DontTreadOnMe


DontTreadOnMe and FlyersFan...I am stunned. I came back to check ATS news and aee if any more posts on this thread and was shocked at your mentions of auto immune diseases. I have been battling several issues but the "noticeable" one is the molar (butterfly) type rash that has been recurring. The Dermatologist rec'd that I see a Rhuematologist...thinking I am presenting as SLE (Lupus).

My adverse reaction to BC was over 20 (25?) yrs ago (when I was hospitalized w/clot in leg). As it happened SO long ago, I would NEVER mentioned it to Rhuem Dr (appt in May). But now I will. And will research about BC/adverse reactions/auto immune diseases my self (bless the internet!) before I have the appt.

Wishes for good health for you both...and THANK YOU for making me "think" about my own health history in greater detail.

Glinda
I have been battling several issues but the "noticeable" one is the molar (butterfly) type rash that has been recurring. The Dermatologist rec'd that I see a Rhuematologist...thinking I am presenting as SLE (Lupus).

Yep, thats classic Lupus presentation. Go as soon as you can so you can start your plaquinel right away. The sooner you start the meds, the less damage the disease will do. Plaquinel slows it down.

Not to be preachy or to try to sound like a know-it-all, but when you go, make sure that the Rhuemy does a full blood screen for all the autoimmune antibodies ... SSA/SSB (SJogrens), RA, ANA, everything. Autoimmune travels in packs. 50% of people who have one autoimmune will develop others.

I hope the best for you.

I will never tell anyone not to take the pill. I know there are some conditions where they can be very helpful to people, but I also know from my own experience that there are some people who are not helped and can be hurt by them.

The problem is that we live in a society where it is a social norm for a woman to go "on the pill" as soon as she wants to become sexually active. We are told this is women's health care as if it is actually unhealthy for you not to be on the pill or something. Now, I know that there are other forms of women's contraception, but as soon as the subject comes up, it's the pill that is in everyone's mind and the two are often used synonymously.

As this thread shows, the pill is another drug like any other and should be carefully evaluated by any person. It's not simply a harmless thing. It's a serious medication with a full range of side effects, some of which can be potentially lethal.

Okay, I speculated yesterday about the OP's issue and just got spanked by the mods, so I'm here to apologize to the OP.

Sorry, OP!

Please excuse this post.

Restricted
Okay, I speculated yesterday about the OP's issue and just got spanked by the mods, so I'm here to apologize to the OP.

Sorry, OP!

Please excuse this post.

I dont remember taking any offence at your post's but thank you - Hope you enjoyed this thread regardless of your stance on the matter

ketsuko


As this thread shows, the pill is another drug like any other and should be carefully evaluated by any person. It's not simply a harmless thing. It's a serious medication with a full range of side effects, some of which can be potentially lethal.

You are absolutely correct: the pill is another drug and before you take any medicine you should read about it carefully and then talk to your doctor and see if the benefits outweigh the side effects or risks.