Sex & Romance
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Any positive side effects with BC?
Hi ladies, I am contemplating going on the pill (and other forms of contraceptives), but I continue to read and hear about all of these negative side effects. I'm wondering if anyone has had any positive experiences/side effects with BC, such as being happy all the time, increased energy, etc. I know this might be a stretch and it's ok if no one had positive experiences (other than the fact that they didn't get pregnant), but an inquiring mind just wants to know! :-)
Re: Any positive side effects with BC?
I have some (I'm kinda actually dreading going off of it, I wish there was something with the same side effects but would still let me get knocked up!)
1- Controls my acne completely. Off of it I breakout a lot around my mouth area, on it I'm so clear I can go without makeup.
2- Less headaches around my period (life saver for me), apparently it helps people who have bad cramps too.
3- I know when I'll be starting my period, like by the hour.
I really didn't have any negative side effects.
I used the mini-pill and had no periods. I was on it for 6 years. I loved that!
Side effects are usually remedied by switching pills. Not always. But you can't just take a pill for a month and decide on it. My doc has you take for 2-3 months, because you need more than one cycle to figure out if that particular pill will work for you.
This!
Many women get on BCP's to regulate their cycles creating a hormone balance which will also help prevent some cancers (but not many) later on. The obvious is you can't get pregnant as well as in some old wives tales it can make you more fertile when getting off the pill when you are ready to make some adorable little babies. Good luck!
I was on the pill and while I loved my clearer skin, it did give me panic attacks. This didn't happen right away and the panic attacks stopped once I went off the pill (with no other major changes in my life). Since going off the pill, I've read more about it and, for me anyway, it's not worth it. It may reduce your risk of ovarian cancer (which is rare), but the pill is associated with more breast cancers and cervical cancer. And, while it may not cause changes in weight, it does make it harder for you to build muscle. Add that to risks of life-threatening blood clots (which are rare, but can still happen) and other issues.
My husband and I decided to go completely natural and do natural family planning (NFP). We took a some classes and learned how to read my body's signs of fertility. We use a mucus-based method where I monitor my cervical mucus--there's fertile mucus around ovulation and non-fertile or absent mucus at other times. The concept is simple--just abstain when there's mucus if we want to avoid pregnancy or have intercourse during these periods once we want to conceive. I do all my observations when I wipe to go to the bathroom. Other methods combine the mucus observations with temperature and/or cervical position. When you're properly trained and when you follow the rules, it's as effective as the pill and there are no side effects! In fact, because I started doing NFP after I went off the pill, I learned that the pill actually affected my cervix and altered the cervix's ability to produce fertile mucus. Luckily, things calmed down after 1-2 years off the pill. This has worked for us to avoid pregnancy for over 3 years now. If you're interested, Creighton, Billings (both mucus-only), sympto-thermal and Marquette are all NFP methods that you can google and learn more about.
Its not PMS, its PMDD which is a way more serious thing. I would recommend talking to your doc and see what they recommend.
Its not PMS, its PMDD which is a way more serious thing. I would recommend talking to your doc and see what they recommend.
I had to stay off my NuvaRing for an entire year when I was bfing - when I weaned, I was literally counting down the days to my next GYN appointment to get my new script. I feel so much better when my hormones are being regulated.
I have a Mirena IUD. It has almost obliterated my period (I trickle about 2-3 times a year).
There are other positives, I don't know if you'd call them side effects. SUPER easy (pop it in and DONE for 5 years), no cramping (in my case, anyway), virtually no risk of user error, 100% reversible. Love it.
Thats the only positive I've seen from my BC pills
I'm on the shot as it's estrogen free and I'm not able to take estrogen. It's fabulous! I no longer get my period - maybe some spotting about 3 times a year - and it's so easy. Every 12 weeks I see the doc who gives me a tiny pin prick and I'm off!
Good luck choosing what's right for you!
I have more positives when on BC than negative (note that when I was on BC, I use Nuvaring, not an oral contraceptive). my positives:
increased libido (which I know is not the norm), decreased acne, predictable periods and ability to control when they come and when they don't (for someone with PCOS, this is a major plus). the fact that I never got pregnant was never a positive or negative for me since my husband has a vasectomy, so taking BC for birth control reasons was a moot point... I was on it strictly for controlling my period.
Glenna Harding Photography
NO FVCKING CHILDREN!
ahem I mean...controlled/shorter periods. I've never had any problems with taking hormonal pills.
Well, I don't have a child, so I'd call that a pretty positive side effect. HA!
But no, seriously, I've had a great experience with Yaz. I've never had a totally horrid period, but after I went on the pill three years ago my cramps lessened. I also lost weight (20 lbs over about a nine month period), but that could be because I moved out of the college dorms and wasn't drinking Key Stone Light like it was my job anymore. I suspect a small bit of it was to do with the pill, though, because I went off the pill for about five months, worked out regularly and didn't lose a single pound, went back on it, kept the same workout routine, and dropped ten pounds rather quickly.
I can schedule my period around trips or whatnot
I know exactly when I will start (I was very irregular before)
Only slight PMS compared to before
2 day periods
No decrease in libido
I finally have boobs!
No cycle for 3 months
Diagnosed PCOS/anovulatory in March '12 and started Clomid 100 mg
2 cycles of Clomid 100 mg - nothing
1 cycle of Clomid 150 mg - nothing but thinned lining
1 cycle of Femara - nothing
Started Gonal-F + Ovidrel + TI 6/28/12 -- BFN
Started Follistim + Ovidrel + TI 8/1/12 -- Fingers crossed
Love the fact that it made my skin clear up..It made my miserable, long, heavy periods shorter and lighter (by a lot)..I also like the fact of knowing when I"m going to have my period and if it's coming at a bad time like a vacation or something, I can just skip my week of white pills and go right to the next pack to skip it...
Oh yeah, and I tried I think two or three types of birth control pills before I settled on the one I have been on for awhile now..There are so many different variations of pills that you have to find which one is right for you.