questions on birth control pills

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

Hey there,
I believe this is my first time posting a topic on this community :)
Anyway, my doctor put me on ortho tricyclen this week, and I haven't gotten my period yet so I haven't started.
I just wanted to ask people what they've experienced with this pill. I've heard conflicting things about it, and while I know it varies from person to person, I wanted to get a general concensus. I've heard people got hardcore mood swings and gained weight, and my they have absolutely no side effects on some people.
Anyway, any input would be great, thanks :)

Comments

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

You might also try asking this in birthcontrol.

Please say I did the tag right. I always mess those up.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

lol yup you did it right, and thanks :D

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

My experience on Ortho Tri-Cyclen was shorter periods, more time between periods, slight weight gain (about 5-7 pounds), an increase in breast size (but maybe I just grew), and my extreme period-related back pain disappeared.
I am on OTC Lo now (about two months), and so far, I've had some cramps (which I never had before), some back pain, more weight gain (another 5-7 pounds), breakthrough bleeding (when I first made the switch), and my periods are still shorter and further apart than pre-BCP days.

When I throw all the side effects down like that, it sounds horrible, but really, it's been a pleasurable experience.

P.S. I take BCP to regulate my periods only. I had whacked periods before.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

It sounds a lot better than what I'm having now! Thanks a lot for the input :)

[puttysan.livejournal.com]

I took it for years, only going off when I changed insurance and they didn't cover it. I had no side effects. None. No weight gain. No mood swings. No spotting, completely regular. I even used it to skip periods with no problem.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

wow that's awesome. That's how it is for my friend too, hopefully that's what it will be for me

[bluebear225.livejournal.com]

ive been on ortho for about 2 1/2 years. the first few months i took it, i experienced morning sickness (i didnt actually throw up, i just felt a little nauseous), but it wasnt bad at all. i havent experience any weight gain (although i did with the first type of birthcontrol i tried), or mood swings. my periods are also more regular, lighter, and i have less cramps. i havent had much success in skipping periods, but its not the same for everyone. for me at least ortho has been great and i will continue to use it for a long time.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

that sounds great :)

[indreamsx.livejournal.com]

i was very happy on OTC. no side effects, periods were a breeze & my skin changed completely from being oily & moderate acne to clear skin.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

wow, thanks for that :D I'm not so scared now

[dichotomise.livejournal.com]

I seemed to be more tired around my period, and had a little weight gain. But my periods were shorter and lighter, and I had less cramping.

I got paranoid after a while, though, because I kept forgetting to take my pill every day, let alone every day at the same time. And when the pill isn't taken perfectly, it's only 95% effective (as opposed to 99% when it's taken perfectly). So then I switched to the patch (Ortho Evra), and since it gives a steady stream of hormones that I only have to bother with once a week, I'm less likely to not take it perfectly so it's closer to 99% effective. Plus it's just less stressful.

[phreakie-teiris.livejournal.com]

That sounds interesting...my mom suggested something like that, so i might try it in the future

[ilovedorks313.livejournal.com]

i hated OTC... It gave me the worst mood swings. it did NOTHING for my cramps... i was on it for about 9 months and the first few were just fine and then i turned into a moody freak...on the bright side it did help with acne. I had super clear skin with minimal effort. i switched to Alesse and its working much better for the mood swings, but not so hot with the acne, cant win them all i guess. THats my two cents on the matter.
peace