Hello,

I started using birth control about 2 years ago shortly after my boyfriend and I started having sex. It has been a roller coaster, and I feel as though I am running out of options.

I started with Ortho Tri Cyclin Lo. It was great, except for the first week of pills (the white pills with anyone who is familiar with the pack). During that one week, I was an emotional wreck, getting irritated at nothing, crying over spilled milk, those sorts of things. I

My doctor then put me on Yasmin. On this pill, I had a 7 day period every month(not to mention, it was horribly painful). I also sweated uncontrollably, even when I was not hot. Even clinical strength deodorant couldn't help it. The mood swings went from one week a month to every week of the month.

I was then put on Loestin 24 fe. This pill was great for the first month. It chilled out my mood, I was never hysterical or anything... but I was never happy either. I reached this emotional state of constant blah, almost depression. I had absolutely NO sex drive, no wetness down there, and it started to wear on my sex life. I went on birth control to have sex safely, not to kill my sex drive.

I have just been put on Yaz, and I am telling you, it's the worst out of the four. I have had constant mood swings ever since I have been on it. I have been snapping at my boyfriend over the dumbest stuff, and I have had NO energy and NO sex drive and NO wetness down there. I have had horrible nausea and headaches (and I have been taking this pill at night to try to avoid this, but it wakes me up in the middle of the night). My boobs have also been in HORRIBLE pain, and no growth seems to have taken place, it's so painful my boyfriend cannot touch them.

SO, I don't know what my other options would be. I do not feel safe simply using condoms (not to mention it would be very difficult to go back to condoms permanently). I have stopped taking yaz as of today and have decided to take a month off the pill to rid my body of the hormones and such.... then I will make an appointment with my doctor and start from scratch again.

Does anyone have any idea what my other options would be? If anyone knows about the hormone content of these pills, maybe there is a line that can be drawn between these four pills that suggest that I should be taking something completely different? I just want myself back. And my sex drive. I am usually a very sexual person and I havent had the desire in about 8 months..... yeah it sucks.

I was on Linessa for a while and it made me moody, not anything close to what you were experiencing but I had no sex drive and I was moody and cried over little things.

I went to my doctor and she put me on Aviane (the generic version of Alesse) and she said that it might help because Linessa was a different amount of hormones each week but Aviane the pills all have the same amount of hormones in them (all the pills are the same color) and she said it may help stabalize the hormones and make me less moody.

You said you have been on a lot of pills though and maybe you have been on a brand that is the same amount throughout the whole three weeks, I'm not sure. Good luck and I hope that you find something that works for you!

Maybe switching to another form of BC would help. Like the patch or Depo Provera (the shot). I had used the Ortha Evra Patch and it worked well. It made my period last shorter and not painful anymore.

Now, I have been on the shot for about 2 years. No hormonal ups and downs, no periods--a plus for me at least--sex drive is up and running better than before.

My objection with the Depo shot is that I have heard that
1) about 70 percent of women gain weight on it. I am happy with my weight and would like to maintain it
2) I have heard that it is very hard to go off the shot once you are on it.

I have heard that the patch can cause blood clots, and the fact that it contains more estrogen makes me doubt that it would help the emotional problems associated.

Grr.

My doctor has put me on Alesse, what has been everyone's experiences with that?

Hi
You are not clear with your thoughts, will you give more information. So I can help you out in this matter.

Condoms aren't really that bad! You get used to it. I've been using condoms only for almost two years since I got sick of being on hormones all the time (plus I worry about cancer risks that haven't been given enough long term study -- breast cancer and more). I haven't had one broken condom or other problem. You just have to make sure to get all the air bubbles out (but leave a little flattened space at the top) and pay attention to the lubrication level, and you shouldn't ever have problems! If for some reason you do, you could have a morning after pill 'just in case' dose at the ready.

Ick , Ortho Tricyclin sucks majorly. It made me so sick.

So sick that I refused to take any more birthcontrol until I researched every type. You might want to consider NuvaRing . Its not mainstream yet , not really. Its a vaginal ring made of rubber that YOU insert monthly . If you use a tampon , you can use this ... and not feel it . It stays in for 3 weeks and is out the 4th , same concept as the pills . It takes 7 days to get into your system when you start it . However , if you are having side effects to it , you can take it out and they generally go away , as long as you put the ring back within 3 hours ... your still protected ( not that your doctor will tell you that , but its in the reading ). Your partner may feel it , but from what mine tells me , its not unpleasant .

Its not for everyone , but you might want to look into it . For me it has helped with cramps , I dont have mood swings other than normal PMS and my period is just one day a month. Also , you may need to be firm telling your doctor you want it , particularly if you go to a clinic or health department . Its price is about the same as Ortho , insurance should cover it no problem .

I feel your pain. Some of us.. or maybe most of us.. have complications with the hormones effecting our mood. I have been on a 20yr search to find something that works with side effects I can tolerate. Fortunately I dont have the libido problems on anything Ive tried, its more mood altering that cause me to get upset about things I know I shouldnt. I have to deal with it to regulate my period, and of course the BC aspect too. I can only offer this advice, spend at least a few months on each one and try to find something that has side effects you can deal with. Ive used the nuva ring for over a year. I did stop taking it twice for a few months to see if my period would regulate and it still hasnt.. and although I do have mood swings, it has been the best thus far.

I was on Yaz for 4 months & I was a head case! I was always upset about something or other & had little to no sex drive. I took a 2 month break from birth control but I'm starting the Nuva Ring next week. It is a very low dose hormone & my roommate took it & claims it helps with mood swings (granted every hormone reacts different with each person) but I'm taking a chance on it! Hope you find something that suits you better!