Okay - I have tried SO many BC pills and none work. I've searched through threads and only have seen information on the "bad pills" to take.

If you love your pill and experience low side effects, can you please post what you're on?

Thank you SO much in advance!

mircette (generic=kariva)

I know that there's a lot of hype about it and many people will disagree with me but I really really like the Patch (ortho-evra). 2 of my SILs use it also and absolutely love it.

Neither of them have had any side effects whatsoever. I get a little crampy and slightly nauseated for a couple of days when starting my first patch after my flow but nothing untolerable.

I've never tried anything else but both my SILs have and said they'll never go back to any of the others.

Kelly

How long have you been on the patch? Have you personally had any side effects?

Thanks for the info Kelley.

I started taking Ortho Cyclene today instead of Yasmin so hopefully it works well for me. I liked the Ortho TriCyclene I was on for 9 years, but it made me way too moody & angry the week prior to my period.

Does anyone have experience with Ortho Cyclene [Sprintec 28 is the generic that I'm taking]

I've been on the patch since December...so almost 6 months. My SILs have both been on it for several years.

Kelly

I am currently on my second pack of Minestrin. The first one was a little rough (like all new bcp's). However I am loving it!!! The pills first of all don't taste chalky. They come in a cute black case. My moods and emotions are stable. They've totally helped with my acne. And they gave me boobies! (one whole cup size and still growing!). All this I'v noticed already and I'm only on the first week of my second pack. I'v tried so many others but I think I found one to stick with. Good luck. Everyone's hormones are different, it's just a matter of matching yours up with the right pill for you.

Have you had a good experience with the patch? Have you noticed weight gain, headaches, nausea, or loss in sexual interest?

Thanks Kelly!

I've been on Seasonale for over a year and absolutley love it. Only having 4 periods a year is awesome. For once, my life doesn't revolve around my period. The only side effects I had were a little hair loss and slight nausea when I first started the pill. That was it. I still have the hair loss though, but it's nothing major. The only think I don't like about it is the price but I do think it's worth it.

:bouncing: Another Kariva (Mircette) fan here! I've been on them for 2 years and they are the best pills i've ever taken!!

No side effects at all? How is your sex drive? Was it diminished at all? Any noticable weight gain?

Thanks all for the info! :)

Hey Shaelynn,

My experience has been excellent. I really have no complaints whatsoever.

I used to get migraines with my cycle and haven't had ANY since starting the patch...not so much as a headache. No weight gain either.

I have some very slight nausea, very mild cramps and breast tenderness for the first three days of my first patch after my period. Compared to what I was used to this is NOTHING. It has completely irradicated my PMS and menstrual symptoms. I also no longer have acne...ever.

It hasn't reduced my sexual interest at all either.

The patch does get fuzzies around the edge because it's sticky but they rub off easily. I have never had one fall off. It was kind of itchy at first while I was getting used to it but I don't have that problem anymore.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly,

What about moodiness? Any mood swings before your period?

Also, I heard it causes blood clots, did your Dr. tell you anything about that risk? I'm trying to make an educated decision...it's so hard with so many product out there!

Oh and also, is there different KINDS of the patch or only one?

Thanks,
Shae

I was on the Patch for over a year and loved it! I went off it because of the risk of blood clots... now I'm on the NUVARING and don't like it. Too much nausea, no sex drive... irregular bleeding. It sucks! I think I'm gonna go back on the Patch... the more I read about it, the risk of blood clots is greater to those women over age 35 and smokers. I don't fit into those categories so I might just switch back :)

Yeah, see I am 32 years old...so I may be at more of a risk for blood clots. I am seriously thinking of trying that pill two others have posted about that works well for them.

I took my first pill yesterday of the Ortho Cyclene and I almost instantly felt moody like I did the week before on the Ortho TriCyclene. Every little thing irritates the hell out of me and I end up being a major you know what to everyone around me.

I almost can't stand to be around myself when I feel like that.

Thanks Kelly,

What about moodiness? Any mood swings before your period?

Also, I heard it causes blood clots, did your Dr. tell you anything about that risk? I'm trying to make an educated decision...it's so hard with so many product out there!

Oh and also, is there different KINDS of the patch or only one?

Thanks,
Shae
My mom is a gyno and some of her patients have had really bad experiences with the patch, one had to be hospitalized. I wouldnt touch the patch, but i guess its your own risk vs. benefit ratio. I just started taking yaz and i like it so far, i cant tell of any side effects yet. I also took mercet for awhile and that was always a really good pill, if for some reason yaz doesnt work out then i might go back to that one. The only thing with mercet is it made me get some acne, but it wasnt that bad.

I just started taking yaz and i like it so far, i cant tell of any side effects yet. I also took mercet for awhile and that was always a really good pill, if for some reason yaz doesnt work out then i might go back to that one. The only thing with mercet is it made me get some acne, but it wasnt that bad.

I took Yasmin and it wasn't until my 3rd month into them that I began getting terrible headaches, dizziness, and nausea. I believe now that the diuretic in it, caused me to be dehydrated, because those symptoms are symptoms of dehydration. If you drink a ton of water, you may not have issues. If you start feeling funny though, like I described, try drinking water or get off of them. Drinking water didn't help me personally.

I think I want to try the Mercet if the Ortho Cyclene doesn't pan out. I feel like it's not going to just because of how irritable I am after taking it and I am only on my 2nd day. I am worried though that my Dr. will make me stay on them an entire month before trying the Mercet.

I appreciate everyone's input SO much. Any negative side effects with the Mercet that anyone can note?

Shae

Nope no moodiness at all :) .

My OB informed me of the risk for blood clots but the risk has not been PROVEN to be any greater than with any other form of BC. The risk is only theoretical due to the higher estrogen content.

Studies have not shown that women on the patch have more vascular incidences than women on other forms of BC. No matter what BC you're on the risk for blood clots goes up after 35.

The hype is there but not the proof :) . I researched the patch before going on it so I knew before my dr told me. He was very hesitant to put me on it but I insisted (I take thyroid meds and a pill would interfere with my meds if I take them at the same time; if I don't take them at the same time it's unlikely I'll remember to take the other one later :o ).

I do hope you're able to find a BC that works well for you soon! I'm so grateful that the first thing I tried has worked so great. I was afraid that I'd have to do the trial and error thing.

Kelly

No side effects at all? How is your sex drive? Was it diminished at all? Any noticable weight gain?

Thanks all for the info! :)
absolutely NO side efeects here! My sex drive is great and I actually lost weight while on these pills! My period every month is light spotting for about 2 hours....that's it! I've tried many other kinds, but these are absolutely the best ones for me!

Thank you SO much!

NuvaRing. I LOVE IT!!!!

I don't like the idea of having something inside of me all the time. I worry [it may be a false worry] that there will be some sort of build up on my cervix from the ring...just doesn't appeal to me.

I totally love the ring....i've had no side effects and it's so easy!

My favorite BC: paragard IUD. no hormones, its good for 12 years, you just have to check the string once a month. easy!
but if we're talking pills, its definitely Mircette. I LOVED that pill. had to stop because I have high blood pressure and it just made it too high.

Its really hard to give people advice on b.c. because everyone's body reacts differently! After all that is why there are so many out there. They are trying to creathe the "right" one for all women. I have been on 3. Ortho Evra (patch) - for a year. I didnt particularly like the patch. It had a hard time sticking to me and sometimes It would bunch up and pinch me or cut my skin. (I had it on my back, abdomin, and butt - butt worked best - but came off mroe often). Also the patch changed my period. Toward the end all i got was massive blood clots, then when I got off of it - i bleed super heavy for a month. So I didn't really have many side effects until 7 months in - when my period started changing. Then I was on Yasmin(3 months). Yasmin cleared up my skin really well - but I never got my period (except for the first month when I switched, when it was super heavy - because of the change in hormones) I only went off of it because it wasn't getting rid of my cysts. Then (and now) I am on depo. I like it alot. Its a different hormone, no estrogen. It is a every 3 month shot and as long as you make your appointment after your last appoitment it goes pretty well. The first 3 month I had hot/cold flashes, from the hormone change and a change in appitite. The 3rd month my body finaly regulated and they symtoms are gone. I am now mid way through my 5th month, the only thing i dont like is i tend to break out on it. But it is controlling my cysts - so I'd rather have a breakout once in a while then pain on my ovaries!

I know you didn't want a bunch of complaints, but its really what works with your body. I've heard excellent things about all b.c., however I have heard many long term negaitve things about the patch - mostly when you go off of it. So just be careful in choosing and if it doesnt work change it. You should look at the ones you have taken and list your side effects and see if you know why they are coming from that pill (usually internet searches can bring up side effects and whats in them) then decide where to go from there. Like does higher levels of estrogen screw up your moods, then you should take a lower dose. If its the additives then you should avoid them im other pills!

I hope you find what you are looking for.

I took Yasmin and it wasn't until my 3rd month into them that I began getting terrible headaches, dizziness, and nausea. I believe now that the diuretic in it, caused me to be dehydrated, because those symptoms are symptoms of dehydration. If you drink a ton of water, you may not have issues. If you start feeling funny though, like I described, try drinking water or get off of them. Drinking water didn't help me personally.

I think I want to try the Mercet if the Ortho Cyclene doesn't pan out. I feel like it's not going to just because of how irritable I am after taking it and I am only on my 2nd day. I am worried though that my Dr. will make me stay on them an entire month before trying the Mercet.

I appreciate everyone's input SO much. Any negative side effects with the Mercet that anyone can note?

Shae
yeah i was on yasmin before this, and i didnt like it but i think it was b/c of the higher estrogen rather than the diruetic. But the diruetic is VERY mild in yasmin/yaz and it shouldnt make you dehydrated unless you drink barely any water. But mercet was always the best pill, i also liked nuva ring except it made me get pimples too.

I've been on Mircette for four years and my face has cleared up, no weight gain, no cramps, easy easy and I love it!

Every body is different. There is no comparison with BC.

What works for you may well not work for someone else.