STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

member · Hermes

Birth Control Pills

Kitty · Hermes

You might like NuvaRing. It's basically a ring you insert into the vagina once a month. I had the same problem as you and would forget to take my pill and had HORRIBLE side effects, but I didn't have any problems with NuvaRing.

I was on NuvaRing for a few months but then I stopped because I'm generally freaked out by birth control and prefer not to use it.

member · Hermes

Kitty - someone else mentioned the Ring to me too. I'm just wondering if this would do anything to help, or even worse, hurt my face/breakouts?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I agree with Kitty. Pardon me, but I felt like total a** when I was on BCpills. NuvaRing definitely has fewer side effects. My skin majorly cleared up on the ring too.

Kitty · Hermes

It should help your face...it still has hormones, just a slightly lower dosage.

jrhampt · Kenneth Cole

I had to go off the pill for a while a couple of years back, and I did notice less bloating. Part of the problem is that birth control pills tend to make you constipated, so it's very important to make sure you're eating lots of fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Which you should be doing anyway, since it's better for you, but it can make an even bigger difference when you're on the pill.

Kelly · Hermes

I've heard that birth control pills make you the opposite of constipated (haha is that a more polite way to say it?) - sounds like people are having problems all the way around!

I wonder if Othro Tri Cyclen Lo would help more? Honestly I've only ever been on OTC and I've not suffered many side effects, so I don't know a whole lot about avoiding them, but lower hormone dosage might help.

ETA: I guess you're unable or unwilling to take some other medicine for your skin and use a non-hormonal birth control instead? I dont' know a whole lot about acne medications because my acne problems basically all cleared up with my BCP, but I've had friends who took different medications to help their acne.

-- Edited by ttara123 at 12:59, 2008-06-25

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

I was on Loestrin for a long time, but asked my doc if I could switch to OTC because of the skin clearing effects. I HATED IT!! I felt so terrible on that pill I had my doc switch me back to Loestrin within 4 weeks. Now I am on Loestrin 24fe which is sweet because lady time only comes around 4 times a year.

If I were you I would get a second opinion from a derm too. Any doc that tries to pawn a problem that is in his specialty off onto another specialty is pretty lazy IMO.

member · Hermes

ttara - i actually tried Ortho tri cyclen lo a few years back, and my skin broke out like crazy and I hate break through bleeding, so not for me

Farrah - my derm never tried to pawn my problem off on my gyno or pills. The two can work together - b.c pills & acne meds and have for me for years. When he heard I stopped taking them he was concerned considering my skin starting breaking out again when I stopped. I don't think that's trying to pawn my problem off or being lazy at all.

My derm also offered antibotics to me as well if the pill didn't do anything to clear my face up again, or I didn't want to take it. I'm wondering if that's the route to go for a while. I'm going to call my Obgyn this afternoon to get his opinion.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

shopchicago33 wrote:

My derm also offered antibotics to me as well if the pill didn't do anything to clear my face up again, or I didn't want to take it. I'm wondering if that's the route to go for a while. I'm going to call my Obgyn this afternoon to get his opinion.

Be prepared with the antibiotics: my derm had me try them a while back when I had some bad break outs and I had to stop taking them: they made me feel like (to quote you) total a$$ wink

. Hopefully they will not hit you the same way and will be better for you than the pills are though.

kmd · Kate Spade

I take a generic, and I have had absolutely zero problems with it. I've been on it for almost 3 years. It's called low-ogestrel. I set my alarm on my phone, so I don't forget to take it. haha.

halah · Kenneth Cole

Birth control pills can be so tricky. I was on Tri-levlen and gained weight but was fine otherwise. Switched to Yasmin and then Yaz was psycho on both. Most recently tried Ortho tri cyclen lo and it cleared my skin but made me moody and bloated. Different brands use different synthetic hormones and some may work better than others for you. If you really hate Ortho ask your doctor if you can try a different one.

Someone once posted a picture in here showing which brands mapped to which hormone. I couldn't find the pic but the chart on this page is kinda helpful...
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/birth-control-pills.html?pageNum=3#3

blubirde · Chanel

Have you tried talking to your gyn? I'd suggest telling her all of your symptoms and see what she suggests. My dr. says she can help direct me to a pill based on my reactions to other pills. I'm not sure if that's always the case or if it's 100% accurate, but it's worth a shot. If anyone should know how different pills react with different people, it's a doctor.

As for the skin issue, I had a friend who got off the pill and her skin went apeshit crazy. She tried everything short of accutane and finale had to get back on the pill. Now her skin is back to normal. She switched to Seasonale (or Seasonique, I forget which one) and she likes it much better than OTC.

I was on regular Ortho-cyclen and now I take Seasonale. I think it cause some weight gain but my period lengths/heaviness, sore boobs, PMS symptoms, etc., went waaay down.

alagirl · Kenneth Cole

Kitty wrote:

You might like NuvaRing. It's basically a ring you insert into the vagina once a month. I had the same problem as you and would forget to take my pill and had HORRIBLE side effects, but I didn't have any problems with NuvaRing.

I was on NuvaRing for a few months but then I stopped because I'm generally freaked out by birth control and prefer not to use it.

I was going to suggest the same thing. I tried 3 or 4 different types of pills, going on and off of them before trying NuvaRing. I had none of the side effects that the pills had given me and it was a lot easier to use.
I stopped using it a couple months ago because I don't really think that all the extra horomones that BC exposes you to are good for long term health.

lynnie · Chanel

I'm on yasmine and it has cleared my skin a ton. I haven't had bloating or headaches or noticed any change in my weight/boobs. However, it does make me feel crazy a couple of times a month. I don't know why though and natural hormones/life situations could result in the same thing. So I just chalk it up as normal. Some people have said it made them insane though. I haven't noticed that but who knows ;)

I was on and off OTC and Ortho cyclen for about 7 years. i like this pill better.

I have my phone set to a daily alarm at 9pm for my pill. Without it, i would SURELY forget.

tara t · Marc Jacobs

i've been on the ring for about a year now. i like it alot. i'm not sure if it helps my skin though, i've never had an issue in that area. also, i've been on some form of BC for about 15 years, so i'm not sure about the other side effects because i'm just used to me on BC. so basically, i can help if you have any questions about the ring, but that's about it. good luck.