Few general questions...

[xfirealx.livejournal.com]

Hey all...

I was just wondering what kind of changes you noticed in your body emotionally and physically when you first started taking birth control pills.


Also since the pill is supposed to fool your body into thinking you are pregnant, does that mean you get the same symptoms as if you were pregnant?

Comments

[elfbabe.livejournal.com]

When I was on Ortho-Cyclen, I was interested in sex much less often and when I was interested in sex, it wasn't as easy to get aroused. The boy says that I was also more depressed and moodier, but that could be because it was winter and I was stressed anyway. On Nordette, I am back to a pretty normal level sexually, (though more would always be nice) and the only time that I EVER have moodiness problems is during the placebo week.

And SOMETIMES you can get SOME of the things that also come with pregnancy, like breast growth/sensitivity and nausea, but those depend on the individual and the pill being taken, they aren't givens. The pill tricks your body into not releasing an egg, not into gearing up into full pregnancy mode.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

When I was adjusting to my pills, I noticed that my breasts grew (or swelled, rather) about half a cup size or so. I also had dry eyes for a little while. My mood evened out quite a bit - before pills, I was a hormonal emotional wreck (meaning cyclically, from ovulation to period week, I had problems with anxiety and crying easily and things like that). Everything was pretty normal after the first month or two, though my breasts stayed a little bigger and my emotions more balanced.

Now I'm off the pill because I got a Mirena IUD, and I'm noticing some moodiness and stuff, but nothing major so far.

As for your second question...the answer is, not really. Meaning you're experiencing things now that you *could* experience if you were pregnant (mood-wise and stuff particularly, I think) but that your pill effects don't indicate what pregnancy would be like for you, necessarily. I'm pretty sure that's because these are synthetic hormones in different combonations, and your reaction to each pill brand could be different, as could what you experience in each pregnancy. Does that make sense? Your body does it's own thing, and it's hard to predict.

[lostcause086.livejournal.com]

hmmm
Which type of BCP were you on? I have the same moodiness issues that you had (mine are absolutely horrid before I get my period) and I'm planning on going on birth control soon, so the more benefits I get from the pill, the better.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

I was on Mircette. I would recommend it (or another low dose, monophasic pill) pretty highly. But do keep in mind that you may have to try a few different pills before you find one that works for you. :) Good luck, I know how it is.

ugh

[cityrah.livejournal.com]

Well- here's an incomplete list of what _I_ experienced. It's been years so I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot:
- Dry eyes, couldn't wear my contacts
- Vaginal dryness
- decreased libido
- insomnia
- irritability
- increased sensitivity to light (eyes)
- blotchy skin, like the odd -huge- freckle. I still have one today on my chest

I will never go back on that overprescribed hell-tablet again.

When I started

[zellion.livejournal.com]

I started on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Emotionally I was ok, except that on week two I would become rather emotional. I'd overreact to things, cry a little. It only lasted the first 3 months. My breasts grew almost a cup size, but again only for the first 3 months. For a while, I was completely unable to orgasm on the 3 week of pills.

I still have a little problem with vaginal dryness, but it's not that bad for me. I have been having problems wearing my contact lenses, but it's been getting better since I switched to OTC-lo.

Biggest, most noticible change- my sense of smell has increased tenfold. I have a superhuman sense of smell now, which is weird but kind of cool. (hey, I always wanted a superpower!) This is actually a side effect of pregnancy too, so yes- in some ways birthcontrol makes your body think it's pregnant.

Birth control is so random... it's just insane the different things it does to different people.

[katlynel.livejournal.com]

I took Ortho Tri-Cyclen. My breasts grew, my acne disappeared, I gained about five pounds, and my sex drive vanished.

[iliad-communes.livejournal.com]

I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen. I saw little effect except a lessening of cramps and a ligtening of my period for a while, but then I got seriously nauseous all the time. Then I tried Ortho Cyclen, and the same thing happened over a shorter time. Then I tried Lo-Ovral, which did me just fine, but I went off it because I was poor and not sleeping with anybody, and found my cramps were less bad so I didn't take anything for several years.

With the Resurgence of the Really Bad Cramps, I'm on Nuvaring. Started month 4 Friday. Am loving it -- no serious mood effects after the first month of hormonal adjustment.

I've tried a few

[tiarastar.livejournal.com]

I've tried a few pills and always go back to the original Ortho-777, but even Tri Cyclen, seems to work best for me.
When I was younger I had an old man gyno, he knew his stuff...since I thought I knew better I began exploring other options, I tried:

Desogen: he told me that the "de" equates a depression from the chemicals in the product, who knows, but he was damn right...those were some awful months I can't even tell you how awful.

About a year ago I tried:

Yasmin: It's supposed to help with water weight, I have to say that I was more depressed than ever, and my body became really soft and "rubenesque"...which was not working with my weight-training program at all, so I kicked that one to the curb too.

Anyways, on Ortho-anything I seem to have:

a larger cup size
a need for a good cry, so I watch a sappy film.
a penchant for some good chocolate
5 extra pounds padded on
a light 3 day cycle
clear skin

hope this helps...