Am calling the doc on Monday a.m. about switching my pill because I'm not crazy about the side effects of this one. (Desogen)

I've had morning sickness (bluck - thankfully that has decreased, but nonetheless waking up and throwing your guts up is no way to start the day. That and what they don't tell you about morning sickness is that it isn't just for the morning. Picture it: I'm sitting in a meeting trying to be professional and all I can think is, "I know I'm going to barf any minute in front of all these poor people...")

I also think this one might be giving me acne. And of all things, I swear it is giving me abdominal cramps - though the package inserts say nothing about that. Has anyone heard of that?

So, which pill do you use? What are your good/bad/other experiences? Anyone heard of the abdominal cramping?

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

Answers

I first took Lo/Ovral, which made my blood pressure skyrocket and gave me awful mood swings. So then I was switched to Ortho-Cyclen, which is the monophasic version of everyone's favorite pill, Ortho TRI-Cyclen. It helped my mood swings a bunch, but my B.P. was still too high. Right now I'm on Loestrin Fe 1/20, which is a lower-estrogen pill with an iron supplement. I guess my B.P. stabilized enough on this one to make them happy, because they sent me home with 5 packs instead of one and said I didn't have to go back until September. I had been going once a month, getting monitored and getting one pack at a time.

Hint: If you have weight issues, then it's probably best not to even consider the Depo shot. A couple of different people at Planned Parenthood suggested it to me, but I always declined. And I learned I was right in doing so when one of the nurses told me that Depo is well-known for causing weight gain. Wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake! I'm fat enough already!

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

Depo is evil stuff. Besides the weight gain, I've had an increase of migraines (so bad that I had to quit my job), depression, and really weird periods. I didn't get one for the whole time I was on Depo, then had one for 3 months straight. They're finally back on track, but are now a lot heavier and more painful than they ever were.

I've been researching Depo since having all these problems. The stuff can stay in your system for something like a year for every shot you got, and there are other side effects such as calcium deficincy, loss of sex drive and in some cases, miscarriage and birth defects after finally conceiving.

To be fair, I've heard a lot of people that have had great experiences with Depo, I'm just not one of them.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

Other people's experiences with different pills aren't going to be of much use to you, Grace, because the side effects result from the interaction of your pill with your own hormones, and everyone is different in this respect. Tell your doctor about the undesirable effects, and she can suggest another pill for you (maybe one with a lower progesterone dose...P is one of the primary culprits in hormonally-induced nausea).

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I started on Triphasil, which was allright, but I switched to Ortho Tricyclen, which is great. I have no cramps when I get my period, and my skin's cleared up. But it does vary from person to person, so talk with your doctor about what's best for you....

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2000

I'm on Ortho-Cept. I have been for a while, and I had no side effects.

Until November. That's when I started skipping periods. Naturally, I started to panic, because there's a reason I'm on the pill. So I took a pregnancy test, it came back negative, and I figured the reason I skipped was because I was under a hell of a lot of stress. Then I skipped the next month, and I went through the whole thing again. I called my doctor, and it seems that the pill is over-supressing me. Upshot-- more efficient, birth control wise, and I'm saving a hell of a lot of money on feminine hygene products. Downshot-- I panic every month. So I've been switching around, and all that's come of it is monster PMS. So I'm back on Ortho-Cept, and I'm hoping it will work itself out. I did consider the Depo shot, until I heard all the horror stories.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

Whoa... I guess I clicked on the wrong forum. But why not contribute an answer anyway. My wife is using the pill and I can tell you our experience.

She started on Desogen, but hated it because she gained weight and was felt queasy all day long. When she asked her doctor to switch, she was put on Levlite. She couldnt have been more happy It has a lower estrogen dose, she doesnt feel sick anymore and (according to her, mind you) the best side effect is that she lost 20 pounds.

Well Im happy that she is happy. Because she was quite moody on the Desogen. She looks great, feels great, and gives the credit to Levlite. Only one bad side effect (for me of course) is that it seemed to have lowered her libido. Damn, I guess something had to suffer... but why that?!?!?

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

I was on Estrostep for about five months. I couldn't handle the mood swings, so finally I went off it. I have no desire to try another birth control pill. I didn't really want to go on the pill in the first place, as I have a real problem with introducing unnatural hormones into my body, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

After the mood swings (and a slight weight gain, but that might have just been because I was eating more because I was depressed, see above mood swings), I went off the Pill permanently. We use condoms now.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

Jan:

The hormones in contraceptives, menopause replacement therapy, etc. aren't "unnatural". If you choose not to use them, fine.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

You know, I expected in the Nordic countries I'd get a whole menu of high-tech bc options, or at least as many options as back home, but instead they told me, "We have the pill. One pill. Take it or leave it." It's called Harmonet from Wyeth Lederle and it's a low-dose 21- day pill and my body seems to like it. But I did have nausea when I took it on an empty stomach, or with coffee. With food it's fine.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I've been on Ortho-Cept for quite awhile and I haven't had any problems. However, I have been on some form of the pill since I was 14 (I'm 22 now). It's handy as a back-up contraceptive, but I'm really only taking it because I don't want those God-awful cramps (before I went on the pill) I had before to come back. I am concerned about the length of time I've been on the pill. It may be a bit off-topic, but does anyone have suggestions? Consult a new gynocologist perhaps?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I have tried so many pills, I think I have lost count. Currently I am on one that has been good for about a year, Demulen. Prior to that I was considering forgetting the pill altogether, but since I am allergic to many spermicides, I worried that none of the other choices were effective enough. My husband and I want children, but not right now.

I have found the lower estrogen pills have fewer side effects, but the trick seems to be to find one that isn't so low that you have breakthrough bleeding (otherwise known as "the period that lasts for weeks"). There are tons of pills out there, all with different formulations, and if you can stand the switching, I think you could find one you like.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Marie -

I'm not aware of there being a problem with your being on the pill for 8 years... You might do a bit of research at on-health.com, webmd, or health central (as always, you'll get a new window).

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Marie, I'm 25 and have been on the pill since I was 18. I recently changed to a third-generation pill for various reasons, and while I was there I was asking my doctor about the effects of having been on the pill continuously for a number of years. She was very reassuring and said it has not cumulative effects - and contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take months to regain full fertility after you stop taking it - it takes no more than about 4 weeks (although if you're trying to conceive it's often advisable to go off the pill for a few months beforehand and use condoms).

So as far as I know, there are no health concerns.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I've been on Ortho Tricyclen for over three years now and it's been wonderful. It was the first and only pill I've ever taken. Within a month it cleared up any acne I had which was a huge plus. It also got rid of my cramps (which used to be so bad they would make me nauseous).

I didn't have any weight gain, with the exception of going from a C-cup bra to a D-cup. I know that many of my friends who are also the same pill also went up a cup size. I surely can't complain about that :)

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I swear by the brand Marvelon. I've been on it for two years, and I've never had an undesireable side effect. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I haven't gained weight or had an acne problem. I feel the same as I did before I was on the pill. I was reading the other posts and no one mentioned Marvelon, so I'm wondering if it's a brand only available up here in Canada. But it doesn't hurt to ask, I suppose.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Joy,

If it's a hormone that originates outside my own body, then to me it's "unnatural." Of course you may disagree.

I may be somewhat hypocritical in this, considering that I take vitamin supplements every day. Of course, when you think about it, all food originates outside your body. Your hormones, on the other hand, are self-manufactured, and that's the way I like to keep mine.

Your mileage, as always, may vary.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Jan-

Even if you don't take the pill, you inevitably take in "unnatural hormones" in many foods, especially if you eat meat or dairy products. Soy products also contain estrogens (the reason why they are thought to be protective against some cancers), so trying to avoid external hormones is pretty much impossible.

One thing that is "unnatural" about the hormones in BCP is the fact that they are synthetic--that is, a chemist produces them instead of an animal. But the same is probably true of your vitamins, as well.

Of course, taking BCP also alters your overall hormone levels, which may be the true reason for your trepidation. However, most women are able to find a pill which works for them--that's why there are so many pills out there. Every pill is the best one for somebody--which is why I said before that I think this discussion is moot.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Actually, you hit the nail on the head, Jen. It's not really whether the hormone itself is natural or unnatural, it's just that I feel extremely uncomfortable altering my body's natural hormone levels.

And yeah, I realize that the foods we eat already have hormones in them. We try to get the eggs from non-hormone-fed chickens and stuff, but it's a real hassle trying to find that kind of food at the grocery store sometimes.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Jan: Your POV might change the first time you're broadsided by a hot flash! I don't see taking hormones any different than any other medication, but I've noticed that they seem to engender a much more negative reaction among many women.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Oh, eek, I didn't mean to imply that taking hormones is wrong for everybody, especially not for people who really need them for some medical purpose or another. My own grandmother was taking estrogen pills for awhile to help her through menopause.

It's just that in my case, with no medical purpose to warrant it, I don't see the need to take excessive doses of hormones. I realize that those hormones are a vast boon to many women; however, I am not one of them.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Grace, I've had abdominal cramping on the pill, specifically Lo/Ovral.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

You are a goddess! Thank you - I looked all through the literature & on the web and NEVER found abdominal cramping anywhere. I thought it was 1) in my mind, 2) because of too many sodas, or 3) God only knows what!

Thanks everyone for sharing.... I may just go off it all together - the ONLY perk so far is that my boobs are getting bigger.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Hello: I have been on so many pills, and the depo Shot,Nasal sprays I could write a book! I actually had a hysterectomy due to such severe problems, but my ovaries were left in and I still have trouble. Depo Provera shots' side effects often do not become apparent for several months, caused vaginal atrophy in my case.I would not recommend that shot at all. As for pills, Mircette has been causing painful headaches, so I stopped.Loestrin 1/20 seems to be the best one I have tried. Frineds of mine like ortho Tri cyclen too.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001

I was on Loestrin Fe for about six months, and while the side-effects themselves weren't too bad (shortness of breath, plus all my bodyfat redistributed itself to the tits'n'ass areas), I felt incredibly out of touch with my body, began to hate having a period, and when I had to consider it, didn't much like having a cunt either.

I've started using Fertility Awareness as a method of birth control (while continuing to use condoms for a while longer)--this is based around basal body temperature, and the consistancy of cervical mucus. Combined with this, I've started using the keeper instead of tampons, and I've really started to feel more in-touch with my body and aware of how my menstrual cycle affects the rest of my body & emotional state.

Kind of rambled here, but just wanted to say thumbs down for the birth control pill :)

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001

I am back on Alesse after three months of Levora (evil! evil!) which caused instant weight gain and migraines. Then I had three months of Lo-Ovral which was a little better but still fat and headachy overall. So back to Alesse. For me, it definitely seems the lower the estrogen, the happier my body is. Alesse at least didn't cause migraines from the change of estrogen levels. And it doesn't make me as crampy/emotional/bloated/breakout prone etc. So I will stick with it for a while.

There is a good pill chart at http://www.helioshealth.com/cgi- bin/birth_control/pillsearch.cgi that shows all the pills and what is in them. It helped me when I was looking at all the pills I have ever been on in my life (about 7 or 8 types) and trying to determine what is good and bad for me.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

Oops. That link might not work because of the space inserted by the bb. Either take out the %20% when you get the Page Not Found or just select Birth Control from the side and pick the Show All Pills link from there.

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2001

I'm on my 4th month of Diane 35 and I must say that I've never had any problems with it. My libido is fine so far, my skins' great but I've always wondered if Diane is the reason for my weight gain. I am thinking of switching to other brands such as Marvelon since I heard from my sister in law that it did wonders for her (she lost weight). But I don't know if I can handle Marvelon's dose. I've always been sensitive to hormones.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2001

My G.P. refered me to a skin specialist who burnt off a skin growth on my face. Whilst I was there, he prescribed me the Marvelon pill. This, he said, would alleviete my scarring adult acne, eradicate the excessive down on my my face and regulate my periods. He did not mention the fact that I would experience excessive weight gain that my usual exercise regime kept in check. I left his clinic feeling as attractive as an overused bedsock and I'm now 3 stone heavier than when I walked in to his clinic. I took the pill in order to control my skin complaint and now find that I am fighting a weight problem I never knew I had! Any similar experiences or ideas as to what I can do?

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2001