Ok, so it's not really beauty or hair but it's kinda related...

Guys...you really don't want to read this thread...so...move along!

Okay ladies. I'm completely at my wits end here and really embarrassed to have to post this and ask some of these questions at 25 years old...but I don't have any girlfriends and I'm really lost.

I've decided to go off the pill. I've been on BC for about 6 years now continuously. The most recent years I've been on Yasmin. I've noticed that over the last year I've lost about 1/2 the volume of my hair, and now it's just falling out in gobs. 100s and 100s of hairs in just one shower, not to mention what falls out with brushing, and drying...etc. Not only that but my libido = zilch, my cramps are nearly back to being bad as they ever were, I am back to bleeding for a week, I get weird chest pains and horrible leg cramps, terrible mood swings, anxiety...you name it.
I was told by someone on another board that I needed to do a search about Yasmin. Apparently I'm not alone in experiencing these side effects (most notably the hair loss) - there are thousands and thousands of postings out there about what this has done to their bodies.
This hair falling out has been the last straw. I can't take it anymore. I've tried to talk to my doctors but they just tell me the hair loss (and other things like depression, mood issues, etc) cannot possibly be related. Even when I point out that the literature enclosed w/ the pill even lists these as possible side effects and to tell your doctor immediately if you experience some of them, they won't listen.

So I've decided to go off the pill. I'm seriously scared to death because if my acne comes back as bad as it was, and if my cramps come back full force, and my cycle going back to being very erratic....I just don't know what I'll do. I don't remember life not on the pill. Even with all that, I can't take these effects, or losing my hair, or getting breast cancer.

So here's the thing. I've never had sex when not on the pill. I don't know what to do.

I mean....yeah..condoms, I know all about those. But they aren't always so effective. What else can I use in addition? My gyno just makes me feel stupid and horrible for going off the pill. I don't want a baby. Don't tell me abstinence - I'm not an idiot. I know what things are...like foams, and sponges, and creams, and films and blah blah blah. But has anyone used them? Does anyone have real experience? Diaphragms seem terribly uncomfortable...and I'm not at all comfortable...ya know...shoving something...up there. I have no clue what using "the rhythm method" means...

I feel like such an idiot....

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I'm considering going off the pill too because I think it's causing me to be depressed, and I've been on for a similar length of time as you. Again, like you, I've never had sex without being on the pill!

Condoms are actually really effective when used properly. It's better to use some lube on them to reduce friction, and use them anytime there's genital contact. In general, if they don't work, it's because they broke (in which case you can get the morning after pill) or they were not used consistently (which you can avoid.) Personally I don't want to take the morning after pill because, well, I would just take the regular pill if that was the case!

Have you considered an IUD? The new one is hormonal but it only contains progesterone, which apparently does reduce cramps. However, insertion and for a few weeks after, it's really painful. It lasts for 5 years and you don't have to do *anything* except occasionally make sure the strings are still there.

For foams, contraceptive film, diaphragms, etc, make sure you're not allergic to spermicide. (I am... ) These tend to be better as backups to condoms.

Some people use a modified version of the rhythm method. They use condoms for a period of about 10 days when it is likely that the woman is ovulating, and don't bother in other times. It's actually apparently pretty effective, but um, yeah, I would not do that personally! If you are married and really dedicated to it, that might be a consideration but put it this way: the birth control methods with the least effort required are the most effective.

If none of the above options seem feasible to you, you could consider going on the mini-pill if you haven't tried it. It contains only progesterone so you have to take it within an hour or so everyday, but it doesn't have the estrogen that causes a lot of side effects.

I hope this is a bit helpful!

I would get a second opinion..go to another doc and see what he/she has to say.

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if used correctly and consistently, the success rate for condoms is 97% (3 out of every 100 women will get pregnant in a year), but the typical # who get pregnant is 16 out of 100.
there are actually a few different methods that are similar to the rhythm method. there is the "standard days" method where couples avoid unprotected sex on days 8-19 of each cycle -its supposed to have the highest rate of effectiveness for the "natural" methods (95% if used correctly)
the mucas method - a woman keeps a daily chart of the amount & texture of her vaginal discharge. its kind of complicated, but you are allowed to have unprotected sex on the "dry" days.
rhythm method - you keep a chart for a year recording the length of your cycles. to determine the high risk days where you should avoid unprotected sex, subtract 18 from the # of days of shortest cycle. to estimate when you can have unprotected sex, subtract 10 from # of days in longest cycle.

i have never been on birth control b/c of all the horror stories of mood changes & depression, but the school head nurse tries pushing it down your throat if you are female. they dont seem to care about the negative side effects, the only info they will give you is the positive & they make you feel stupid for not being on it.
have you considered just using condoms and taking the morning after pill if they break?

Jessica I would look into the depo shot if i were you. I know a lot of ppl have had side effects but i'll pm you later about my experience.

is Yasmin a high hormone BC?

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Silver, try switching around until you find what's right for you. One of the things often suggested for women experiencing weepy symptoms and loss of sex drive is a progesterone based birth control, as opposed to a estrogen. I am not sure what yasmin is, but it might be the issue. BUT hair loss seems like a progesterone-type side effect. So I have no idea, but start talking to another doc and get some opinions on if they can find something good for you, if not, get an ovulation monitor, track your cycles and combine that with condom use, and you should be right as rain.

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I have a new kind of IUD, very small thing. It didn't hurt to have it inserted, as they just knocked me out for an hour to do it. It wasn't painfull afterwards, just the first periods were a tad uncomfortable.
I've had it for two years now, it's the best I ever did. I don't have to worry about anything, and my gyn just checks it when she checks everything anyway.

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Tigi - I'm gonna pm you.

Rivkah - that is VERY helpful. I had no idea you could be allergic to the spermicide. I know about latex allergies. When I have extremely prolonged contact w/ latex I have problems - as in I used to have to work all day long in sweaty latex gloves and eventually the skin started falling off my hands. EW. Strangely though, using condoms has never been an issue.

jetta - I didn't know that condoms were rated that highly. I guess I'm just paranoid and without having the security of knowing that the condom is there to just back up the pill....I just get worried. I think I'd feel better with something to help back up the condom too. Maybe I can just use something like the rhythm method only just not have sex on the high risk days and use the condom on the days when the risk is lower. Screw the unprotected stuff...NO BABIES.
I know exactly what you mean about having the pill shoved down your throat!! The gyno on the phone did her best to be really mean and make me feel like a moron going off the pill. Like I was actually killing someone instead of just NOT taking a pill.

frisky - my roommate freshman year had that and had her period for 5 months straight! That scares me. I'd appreciate hearing your experience with it.

missMD - no, it's one of the lower ones.

Keri - this is the 3rd pill I've been on. And you are absolutely RIGHT that it is progestin-type (synthetic progesterone).

missmk - I would...if I could. But I don't have the time or money to spend in finding a Doc that will listen. Unfortunately my insurance here at work is the absolute cheapest (WORST) that my employers can offer and still call it insurance. I paid $40 last week just to speak to my gyno for 10 mins about the HPV vaccine. Then when I go back in to get it...I have to pay $40 to be stuck w/ a needle (3 times over I'll have to pay that). But at least the insurance covers it.

jenn - can you feel it up there? Or can you feel it when you have sex? Does yours have hormones at all? Aren't there strings or something on it?

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Wedding accomplished!
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I've experienced hiar loss with the progesterone based bill I'm on, but it was a blessing. I have very very very fine hair, and a ton of it, even now, losing about as much as you, and before it was much much much bigger, i could pick a fro if I wanted to.


I'm on levora, it's the generic of nordette, similar to yasmin.

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Nope, it's like nothing's there. There are strings, but I don't feel them- I mean, I don't exactly look for them.
It has minuscule amounts of hormones. It's called Mirena. Don't really get my period anymore, no cramps, nada.

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i think the safest method (if you dont want to be on b.c.) is abstaining on the "high risk" days and then wearing a condom on the "low risk" days...i think why condoms are looked down upon for our age group is because they assume we're going to forget to use them (getting drunk, heat of the moment, etc.) I have also known people who have gotten pregant tell me "i dont know how this happened, we were using condoms" and then i ask "wow, so you used a condom every time and it broke or something" and they proceed to tell me that no, they did not use a condom every time, but most of the time. If used correctly and consistently I think condoms are very effective (esp. if the guy pulls out right before.) Its the people who dont use them correctly that give them a bad reputation. I've taken 3 different sex related classes at college and I remember the pregnancy rate for the calendar method + condom use is very low, not as low as b.c., but definately something to consider if you dont want any nasty side effects.

aw jess I'm sorry.

but the HPV Vaccine is awesome-I really want to get it. Do I have to go to a gyno to get it, or can regular doctors give it to you?

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When condoms are actually used correctly, they're even more foolproof than birth control pills. I've never been on birth control (I used to get crazy-bad cramps and got my period really irregularly, too...but I refused to go on it b/c it seems unhealthy to me), and as far as condoms go-- the important things are to 1) Duh, USE THEM 2) Put it on before any penetration- pulling out and then putting it on before ejaculation is a bad idea 3)make sure they are not 9 year old condoms (could break) 4) don't use oil-based lube on them (breaks down the latex) and 5)1 condom per hump session ;P
I don't think they're a bad method of BC at all- they're fairly cheap, there are lots of different kinds to play around with, and if you want to be extra super paranoid, get the kind with spermicide (I don't like it b/c it burns).
My college roomie has an IUD and loves it, too.

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I hated the pill and depo-shot for different reasons. I don't like condoms but of course in a new relationship they are a must until you both get tested. My doc recommended the IUD says it's worry free, reversible and there are ones that are hormone free. You cant feel it because it's inside of your uterus, nor can you feel it during sex. There is a little string that hangs down which you check occasionally to make sure it's still in place. The only downside was the initial cost which I think he said was around $500 but considering that's 5 years of birth control...it's quite cheap. I just found this which has alot of info on them: http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/bab...bus=content#10

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The hormone free one actually lasts for 10 years! But it's a terrible idea if you have heavy periods and cramps.

I had heavy periods and cramps before getting the Mirena IUD (very small, minuscule amounts of hormones). I hardly get my period anymore,just a few drops, and no cramps. My gyn recommended that IUD specifically because of its properties.

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The mirena one has hormones though. The copper one is hormone free and tends to give women worse cramping and bleeding. The mirena one has progesterone and reduces/stops periods and cramps.

Have you had kids before, jenn? (There's a higher risk of rejection and painful insertion if you haven't had kids, so I want to find other people who've never been pregnant who have successfully had one inserted. I am scheduled to get the mirena one in november!)

No. AFAIK the Mirena is especially suited for women who don't have children yet.
I know that it has hormones- as I said, very small amounts.

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This is insanity. How dare your doctor tell you it's no big deal that these things are happening to you. There are TONS of different birth control pills they could prescribe you. None of that shit is normal. You need to change doctors.

When you go off the pill, just make sure it is at the end of your cycle. Do not stop mid-pack. I had to stop mid-pack once because I was extremely allergic to a dye being used in the pill. I had lots of terrible acne outbreaks, irregular periods, you name it.

I have an IUD but here they often recommend them for women who have had children. It may not be the best choice however if you've problems with cramps and severe bleedings. I have the regular old copper one since I want to be totally hormone free. Long story short but all my bc pills ever got me was a lousy temper and a forced hospitalization.

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Girly I am with Shelley

your doctor is an ass.
1) you have the right to demand something different....patients are always in the right...you know YOUR body.

2) I would change docs anyways, doesnt sound like personal rapport to me.

um, other than that I didnt use it( well in 10 years ), so I am not of any help. but good luck, your body shouldnt have to go through this

jess, i'm on the patch, and have been for about four years. i had some minor off week bleeding, so they switched me over to the pill, and then switched me back when my cycle was "corrected". the patch is really easy to remember to use, sticks well (if it gets pulled off, just stick it back on, press, and you're good). and you only have to remember to change it once a week. i also thought about switching over to the ring (i don't know what its official name is). when my doc showed it to me, it looked just like the gothic bracelets (the black ones, but these are white or something), but thinner; you twist it into an 8 shape, overlap the ovals, and then insert. he said his wife couldn't feel it at all, and it was really easy to use. i'd recommend you talk to your doc, or maybe another doc about those two methods. . let us know how it works out for you!

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On the subject of docs, I went to all sorts of fancy well paid docs in my time when I had insurance, but then my mother's dropeed me when I was 18, cause her workplace was a bunch of cheapos, I ended up going to planned parethood, and the best docI ever have been to was there, I have insurance now (and pp is not covered), and i still go, I can sit and chat with my doctor about everything, my sex life, lubes, enhancements, and she offers sound advice without ever being judgemental.

I think it's because there, they aren't in it for the $$$$, they are obviously there to do good, and it shows, so you might want to try there, they aren't expensive to go to, and they'll send your prescription out anywhere, and a lot of places will match your insurance's copay (i dont do it because I figure I can give back to them, they are NFP)

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