HBC questions

[karriaina.livejournal.com]

Several questions for all your lovely VPers!

1) So I'm a minor. My reasons for being on HBC are pretty simple, I'd like to have a period a month. Right now, I'm on a very fun "Every couple of months... maybe, oh! And then you can have two in one month!" kind of cycle. And it really annoys me, seeing as being a high school student does not let me have a chance to worry too much about my period. And surprises at school are not fun. But how can I bring this kind of thing up to my father, whom I live with, without him thinking "OMG SHE'S HAVING TONS OF SEX" (Honestly, I've had sex three times.  But that's something I'd rather not remember and I'd rather my dad not know.)

2) What kind of brands are out there, and, specifically, which one brings the most "bang" for the buck? Income is low in this house, so a cheaper, generic brand would be nice to find, but information about that kind of thing is not readily available on the internet.

3) If I do get HBC, what kind of positive and negative side effects can I expect?

Comments

[musicgirl312.livejournal.com]

If you look at this post from earlier today http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/13236625.html there's EXCELLENT information in the comments about kinds. Also check out the Vulvapedia HBC article here. http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Hormonal_Birth_Control#Hormonal_Birth_Control_.28HBC.29

Walmart's website has a list of $4 and $9 prescriptions you can cross-ref with that list. Your local Planned Parenthood or clinic may also offer low-cost options.

Honestly, tell your dad what you just told us, and hopefully he'll be reasonable about it.

[strand3d.livejournal.com]

Target also has a very similar program for generics.

[ldy-shadow.livejournal.com]

You should be able to go to your local health department for free (and confidential) birth control.

[riot-gurl-86.livejournal.com]

I recommend just telling your Dad that you want a regular period.

When I decided to go on it, my mom just told my dad it was because I was having "heavy painful periods and bad acne" neither of which was true. My dad just kind of mumbled "Oh okay..." and ignored it. (This was even when I was 18. He's just that type of worrier about his baby at college, lol).

Just be honest, and that way he won't have to worry if that's really what's going on, or not.

I also second a local health department or Planned Parenthood.

[tigerlilylynn.livejournal.com]

seconded. A calender marking when you have had your period (in bright red naturally) will make the absences and double appearances clear and possibly upsetting to him. "Never trust anything that bleeds for a week and lives" and all that. Whenever I need to get my husband to understand my womanly desires (luna pads, stacking pills) I just appeal to the gross out factor and I get left alone.

[sotepetsenu.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school, I had medication for my painful periods, but could never take it on time because my periods were so whacked out and non-regular. I would be honest with your father, that you want medication to regulate your periods. Describe to him in painful detail how annoying it is to have random periods. Tell him how much it costs to buy menstrual products when you have two periods a month. Offer to show him the bloodstains on your pretty pretty panties.

I did that to my mom and we went to the doctors. Do you have your own money to pay for birth control? If so, you can go to the doctor yourself and get the prescription without your dad knowing. Be sure to let the doctor know that price is an issue. Docs usually start you off on as low of dose as possible anyways, which are cheaper, but he may specifically prescribe you a generic or let you know where you can get your pills for cheap/free.

It's so nice having a normal period, and especially now that I stack two packs before taking the placebo's. It's very convenient and the acne clearing up was a huge plus.

No smoking on birth control. Otherwise you'll raise your risk for clots, and if you don't die, then you'll go through MASSIVE PAIN! SMOKING BAD!

[/public service announcement]

[womdigo.livejournal.com]

Maybe just tell your dad your menstrual cycles are very irregular and you'd like to make an appointment to talk to your doctor about it. That way it's the doctor that's suggesting it as a solution for your problems not you just telling him you want birth control. Just an idea. I remember the first time I talked to a gyno about my horrid cramps she made a very big deal explaining to me that hormonal birth control has many uses, not just stopping pregnancy so hopefully you'd get a doc just as cool.

side effects seem to vary widely from person to person but I'm on the Nuvaring and love it.

[brokenwishfish.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school I went to my local planned parenthood. They were able to provide me with yearly exams and birth control for free without informing my parents, and totally free since I as an individual had no income. I know in some areas there are similar clinics if no PP is available.

While I am all for honesty, birth control seems like the kind of thing you should be able to keep private if you feel you need/want to. Dads can be hard to talk to. If I had gone to my dad and told him I wanted HBC there's no way I could have convinced him it was for any reason other than having lots of sex. He wouldn't have gotten it for me, and likely would have never let me leave the house again!

[quillty.livejournal.com]

1) I like the idea of just mentioning to your dad that you want to go to the doctor's to fix your periods, and then having the doctor recommend the HBC. Also, if you're very worried about his reaction, you could completely avoid the words "birth control" if that would freak him out, and refer to it as hormonal therapy, or something along those lines. Of course how innocent you can play it depends on how much your dad thinks you know.

2) Your doctor should be able to suggest a brand that is best for you. Mention that price is an issues, and s/he should take that into consideration. They'll also make sure to get you something that works with your insurance, if you have it. Since you've never been on HBC before, there's no telling what may or may not work for you.

3) Yep, totally depends. Personally, I had some mood swings for the first 3 months or so, and that was it. I've also just switched to a new kind and have been getting some light spotting. Make sure to ask the doctor or pharmacist about side effects while you're there, if you're worried about it. If the side effects really disagree with you, the doctor should be willing to prescribe a different kind for you.