STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I've been happiest with ortho tri-cyclen (OTC) but I know a lot of people have problems with it. Everyone is different so it's hard to really determine what will work for you without trying different kinds.

That said, I just switched back to OTC after taking Seasonique for nearly a year. I thought I was happy with the Seasonique, but just recently realized that it caused a huge spike in my weight. Because I'd never had problems with a BC pill before, I initially blamed the gain on a antidepressant I was taking, but I switched meds and still couldn't lose weight, regardless of my diet or activity level. This made me think that maybe it was related to the BC - I switched back to OTC last week and instantly dropped four pounds!

I've been on yasmin for a year and love it.  I've been on ortho cyclen and ortho tri cyclen as well and this is my favorite.  I read a lot of horror stories about Yasmin before realizing that there was a similar amount for each bc.  It really is a personal thing.  But no weight gain on this one!

Have you thought about Mirena? It's an IUD with a tiny bit of hormones on it. I've had mine for 4 years now, and I have very light to no periods, and no side effects as far as I can tell.

I'm on NuvaRing right now. It's a small ring that you insert into your vagina once every three weeks. You can take it out for the fourth week to get your period, but I usually just pop another one in there and keep on going. Every three months or so, I do the fourth week as a period week though.

It is hormonal, but it's supposed to have less problems than hormonal pills because it's a smaller amount and it doesn't have to enter your blood supply since it's actually inserted into the vagina. I'm not sure of the medical science behind that one, but that's the supposed benefit.

Pro: Eh, it prevents pregnancy?
Con: If you are at all prone to infections of any sort, this will increase those infections.
Con: It's sometimes felt during sex (by me, never yet by my boyfriend) so I have to uh, stop mid-way and take it out. Not a big deal, you can take it out for a few hours without a problem.

Overall, I'm just not that happy with the Ring, but that's only because at this point nothing but an IUD would make me happy. I haven't ever had problems with hormones/weight gain/whatever, but to be very honest, I'm not even sure if I would know if I had a problem. As I mentioned in a recent other post, I've been on hormonal BC for so long I really don't know what I would be like off of it.

blubirde wrote:

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I'm on Seasonale (generic version) and I like it. I've been on it for a few years - can't remember exactly how many though - 4 or 5 probably. I don't think it caused any weight gain and it doesn't cause any water retention at all. There is some spotting at first but that's the case with pretty much any pill you take to skip periods. My periods are much smaller and lighter than they were on ortho-cyclen (the only other pill I've ever been on) and the only PMS symptoms I have are mad cravings for chocolate, and I sometimes thing that's not really PMS but just an excuse I give myself to eat chocolate.

Pros: cheap ($15 w/ ins. for 3 month supply), very light period ever 3 months, only have significant PMS about 1 x year

Cons: sometimes there's spotting (but my dr. says that wouldn't change with a different pill and it's just my body wanting to have a period)

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Ditto all this.  I've been on hormonal BC for .... 7 years? continuously though, so I don't really remember what it's like to be off and can't really say if I've gained weight due to it.

However, I'd totally go for an IUD if I were you, especially if your insurance covers it.

 

Kelly wrote:

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I'm on ortho tri cyclen too - it was the first brand I tried and except for a couple months of getting it generic, I've never been on anything else. I tried generic (I think it's called Tri-Sprintec) for a couple months to save money, but my emotions were all over the place and it was totally not worth it.

I don't have any water weight problems, I don't think. But about the time I was graduated from college (and starting eating healthier b/c I had more money) I started taking another medicine that has a diuretic in it, so I don't know if my less-pudgy stomach is the result of that or the result of my better eating habits.

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I have been on Tri-Sprintec for a year now, and I love it. At first I used to ask my husband if I am more emotional and he says I am exactly the same. I have had no weight gain. My boobs actually got a little bigger (but I think that is normal) and I have very light periods (sometimes I get nervous). But overall I think it is great.