Birth Control killing sex drive!!!

stephaniestacey1

I know I'm not alone out there! I've been on the same birth control for the past 6-7 years (Ortho tri cyclen). It seems like over the past year or so my sex drive has just continuously been dropping. I've noticed other issues such as spotting more often and moodiness with this pill lately as well. I'm curious who else has had similar issues and which birth control worked for you to raise your sex drive. I would love to try out one of the newer pills that offer only 4 periods a year. Anyone tried it? Thoughts?

ReturnOfKuus

Yeah, this happened to me with my birth control pills, too, pretty much at the same time frame of taking them (and not just the low libido, but breakouts, nausea, and weight gain, too).  I didn't try that particular pill, but I did try an extremely new one that's the absolute lowest dose (Lo-Loestrin), and my body hated that one even more; I felt like I was hung over all the time.  The situation kind of sucks. 

stefaniewong

I didn't have the same issue with the sex drive thing... opposite actually? lol... but I did have the same issue with the spotting after taking it for many years.  I was also on the Ortho tri-cyclen, and my doctor switched me to the "cyclen" where all of the pills are the same color, it's lower estrogen... so i took that for another 4-5 years afterwards with no problems.

 I'm afraid of using those one's that make us have our periods less (even though i hate periods), but i read lots of studies how sometimes it creates higher chances of blood clots, etc, b/c it changes the flow of things, and how our body is supposed to properly function, so I didn't want to risk it.

 I'm having an opposite affect righ now, meaning, i've recently gotten off the pill after probably about 10 years on it (i know, that's long), and recently been reading studies about the effects of going off the pill and the effects on our libido b/c of our choices in 'mates" while we're on it? I found lots of articles of recent studies... so now I'm actually really worried b/c I've gone from having a high libido, to having none?!  Some other articles I read actually suggested that people go off the pill 6 months before the wedding to make you've made the right choice?

Good luck with everything

DaringMiss

Go to your obgyn.  Other medical issues could be affecting your sex drive...thyroid, pituitary etc.  

litlecowgirl

BCP have been so extreme for me. Prior to losing Emma I had been on Ortho Tri Cyclen then was change to a compound prescription. I have a thyroid issue (Hashimoto's) so my hormones were a mess. In working with my doctors we found that the compound prescriptions were the best. After Emma passed I return to a different formula of a compound prescription. It has been amazing. My periods last for 3 days, barely any cramping, and hardly any mood or sex drive issues. 

I highly suggest talking to you PCP and OB/GYN. You might want to also explore a doctor that focuses on non-traditional medicine to look at your whole body and see if there is something more going on. Like PP said it could be a variety of things.  

stefaniewong

oh wow... thanks... i didnt' even think about that? I actually don't have an obgyn... but i'm going for a physical in 2 weeks, so i'll mention it then... thanks -

emilykathleen511

I would ask about Nuvaring at your appointment. The short time that I was on BCP I was SUPER crazy moody. Luckily, I then went on the Nuvaring, which is great because the hormones just stay where they need to be and don't circulate throughout your body, hence no mood issues. As far as I know there aren't side effects like weight gain or loss of libido, but I don't pretend to be an expert. Just another option to consider. Also, you don't have to worry about remembering it everyday!  Good luck.

DragonflyBelle

BCPs definitely kill my libido. I had to stop taking them altogether because of my ENDO, but I know that isn't an option for everyone, so I would consider alternate forms of BC.

sturner11

The same thing happened to me. I have been on Lo-Ovral for 9 years and the last couple years I have seen my sex drive decline. I was too afraid to switch BCP in fear of becoming pregnant. I haven't found anything to help me :-(

lizinwien

i have been on the Nuvaring for about 5 years and i also see a difference in sex drive. i dont really have mood swings, but i definatly have a lower sex drive.

japrela

So glad I am not alone on this! My sex drive has been low lately too, and I have just switched birth controls within the past year. My husband isn't too happy, but we aren't financially ready to start a family, so going off of BCP is not an option at the moment.

KillmanCouple

Me too! I've switched pills multiple times, and I always end up in the same place: low libido, moodiness, spotting after a while. The best time of my married life was when I went off the pill for a summer and told hubby that it was "his turn" for a while. My goodness, that was great. But it wasn't realistic long term, so I went back on the pill.

 

Why can't men take birth control instead??? At least then we could take turns being miserable. :-/ 

MrsCadillac

I had the same thing happen.  

My first BC was the Nuva Ring and that worked well for about 4 years until I started randomly spotting and being insanely tender in my lady parts (couldn't have sex for about 3 days after any romp - even with a lot of lube and foreplay) and had to stop using it.   

Next up was my IUD which was fine as sex drive goes but when it got dislodged and had to be yanked, that was the end of that.

Had to go back on the Nuva Ring for a bit but then my sex drive plummeted the second time around.   

So I talked with the hubby and have been off BC for a few months now and I feel 1,000 times better.  

 We play with each other more, and just condoms (Lifestyles Skyn is the best for sensation IMO) and it's been really satisfying.  And we're not TTC for a long time, yet.  

For now I'm happy with our situation until I can research the Implanon a bit more (I'm not sold on it yet) 

Good luck! 

NicoleMarcelle

This happened to me while on Yaz and later on Loestrin24.  I am now on Nuvaring, and it is much better, my periods are light, and the cramping is very light (which is amazing for me, considering that i could barely get out of bed on my period before BCP) my libido has also returned (not to the level it was before BCPs but significantly better.) 

Rheanacherie

I am on the same BC and when I started using it, I was fine, my sex drive was great, but since november I've notice a drop in my sex drive as well, and I've been on Ortho for close to 3 years now.