Hey everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read this, I have a few quick questions!

I was taking Alesse pills for about 4 years and the only problem I had was spotting, but it was almost constant so about 8 months ago I switched to Marvelon. Now I am getting cramps and pimples before my period. (But no spotting, which is great!)

I'm not worried about weight gain or anything of that sort, but I don't want to continue on these pills if my face keeps breaking out and my cramps don't calm down. I had BAD cramps when I was in high school, it's the reason I went on the pill in the first place.

So what I'm asking is...

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR OTHER BIRTH CONTROL PILLS?
(And I want to stay on the pill, not the needle or patch or anything.)

And one other thing...
IS SWITCHING BRANDS SAFE AND HEALTHY?
(ie. Do I have to use a back up method for any length of time when I start a new brand? Is it overall safe to switch pills?)

Any suggestions are welcome and would be much appreciated! Thanks guys n' gals!

--Hezza


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A good friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.
A best friend is someone who will sit next to you and say "That was fawkin' awesome!"

Hi Hezza! I was on Ortho Tricyclen for about 5 years and was very happy with it. It got rid of most of my pimples (which I had acquired while on Marvelon by the way)and it reduced my menstrual cramps considerably. About 4 months ago I switched to Diane 35 just because I heard how wonderful it is for the skin. My body went a little crazy for the first month but now all is well. I would recommend either brands. I haven't had any weight gain or other side effects aside from those in the first few weeks of Diane 35 and my skin is now completely clear.

I heard Diane 35 was pretty good, I just wanted someone else's opinion!

I took some really strong pill when I was 14, as soon as my horrible cramps started, and I threw up like crazy! Then again, I was in grade 9 and I don't think my body was ready for any type of birth control! I'm thinknig about trying it again, I think it's the same one you mentioned, Ortho whatever! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Is that the one with the dial and the different coloured pills for each day or something?

I'm not happy with Marvelon, that's for sure! I'm almost at the point of not wanting to trust it's reliability because of all the pimples and cramps, I feel like it's not working! I don't wanna feel like that! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks for the help!!

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A good friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.
A best friend is someone who will sit next to you and say "That was fawkin' awesome!"

[This message has been edited by Hezza (edited 10-27-2002).]

hey there.....

i too have been on ortho-tri-cyclene... i have been on it for years now.. and i love it!... i rarely have cramps.. my skin is really clear.... and i havent had any problems with it!.. i love it! and i would reccomend it to anyone... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

thanks gals!
since only hearing positive things about it, i think i'm going to switch to ortho-tricyclen and hopefully i too will have success!
thanks again!

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A good friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.
A best friend is someone who will sit next to you and say "That was fawkin' awesome!"

I was on Triphasil 28 for 4 years and am only off now because I am TTC. I never had any problems with them at all and will get back on the same brand after I have my children. Your doc should be able to recommend one that's right for you....just ask him!

I'm on Yasmin and beside making me really weepy at anything, it's working well.

One word of advice about orthotricyclin. I was on for about four years. Then I started having unexplained bleeding that took the doctors along time to figure out. It turns out that it just stopped working.

So keep an eye out for any symptoms that seem like it might not be working.

Pardon?
I've had this discussion with many doctors as I have always been paranoid about getting pregnant. They all said it's not possible for it to "just stop" working.
How on earth did they explain that to you?
But now that someone mentioned it, it was Triphasil I was on when I was young, oopsy!

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A good friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.
A best friend is someone who will sit next to you and say "That was fawkin' awesome!"

It was a couple of years ago, so I can't remember verbatim how it was explained, but it turned out the intense bleeding that I was having was 'breakthrough' bleeding. Which sounds benign seeing as much as I was bleeding at the time.

Essentially, the hormone levels were not strong enough for me anymore, which might have had to do with me getting older and out of puberty, I don't really know.

It's wierd, and I was pretty angry about it at the time, because I also, didn't think that BC could just stop, but according the my gyno, it did.

before I had my tubes tied I was on Levlite 28 and had no problems

thanks for the variation of replies, im making a list and going to the walk in clinic (just moved, no doctors available in town yet) in a couple of days! let me know if there's anymore good ones, ill let you know what i choose! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif
thanks again!

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A good friend is someone who will bail you out of jail.
A best friend is someone who will sit next to you and say "That was fawkin' awesome!"

I have been on ortho tri cyclen for years too, and I cant even tell I'm on the pill, meaning I have no side effect at all!