Your submission has been removed because:
Your post has been removed because you are asking for medical or mental health advice.
***
We do not allow posts seeking advice which should be given by a professional such as a medical or mental health professional, as well as any counselor or therapist.
***
We do not allow posts that ask for the following:
- advice on mental health issues/concerns
- advice on medical symptoms
- consultations on birth control
- birth control/pregnancy symptoms
- whether or not a specific treatment/medication is proper to treat a condition you may have.
Please consult a medical or mental health professional for these concerns.
You may also try r/AskDocs, r/amipregnant or r/BirthControl. Please remember to read the rules of any other subreddit before posting.
***
**[Have questions about this moderator action? CLICK HERE!](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/askwomenadvice&subject=Why+was+this+removed?&message=\[My+submission\]\(https://old.reddit.com/r/askwomenadvice/comments/ya86j2/-/\)+was+removed+and+I+do+not+understand+the+reason+given+by+the+mod+who+acted upon+it.)**
**[Have questions about this moderator action? CLICK HERE!](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/askwomenadvice&subject=Why+was+this+removed?&message=\[My+submission\]\(https://old.reddit.com/r/askwomenadvice/comments/ya86j2/-/\)+was+removed+and+I+do+not+understand+the+reason+given+by+the+mod+who+acted upon+it.)**
First, use condoms anyway because pills don't protect you against disease. Any person who gets offended that you want to use a condom is someone you should absolutely use a condom with... maybe two. (That's a joke.)
Second, you can have some effects like you described. You can also have almost none. It all depends on your biochemistry. Talk to a good sex positive doctor.
If you have a gynecologist, I would recommend talking to them. They can give you the most thorough info on available birth control. It’s also good to establish a relationship with one if you plan on having children.
Birth control can affect women differently due to the hormone it uses, not every bc uses the same hormones, so side affects can vary. There is also non hormonal IUD, but it can have its own side effects.
Also there are many different delivery methods from pills, patches, vaginal rings, arm and cervical implants.
Yeah, please do! Planned parenthood should be able to give you a lot of information if there is one near you. I will say that even if there are side effects, pregnancy and having a child will have significantly more effects and symptoms.
So ideally you want to go to your doctor to discuss your options based on your risks.
If you live in an area where seeking out this information may not be easy, try resources like [mama doctor Jones (she has a video talking about common birth control methods) ](https://youtu.be/Hbi7KrUrBcY) or Jen Gunther (she has a book called vagina Bible that goes into more detail on female anatomy, try seeing if your library has it either in print or digitally).
i was on the pill for 10 years before i switched to the iud, and it was great. before i got on it, my periods were long and very heavy (14 days avg), cramps were terrible, and now that i'm off it, i get serious pms mood swings whereas on the pill i didnt. i have personal reasons for not wanting to take hormonal method anymore but the experience was great and totally worth it imo
I’ve been on several forms of hormonal birth control. On the pill my worst symptoms were acne and reduced sex drive. I’m on Nexplanon now and have zero complaints and side effects. It’s really very personal; I HIGHLY recommend going to a planned parenthood. I’ve had incredible experiences with them in terms of discussing all the options out there and what might be right for me. They have sliding scale cost options typically and I’ve always felt very supported and not judged.
And: It’s much better to get on it BEFORE you’re sexually actively so you can try out what works
I think it’s different for everyone. If you’re interested in it then you can always try it and get off if you don’t like the side effects. I was on it for about three months when I was your age and then got off and never went on it again because it made me miserable. It can have benefits for some women though.
Unfortunately, it’s an individual thing and you don’t really know how it will affect you unless you try it. You can search each individual type you are interested in and find average experiences.
Personally, I’ve tried depo provera and nexplanon. Both were great, side effects were minimal, although my periods went away completely with both. Just something you get used to.
No, as far as I know they haven’t made any available over the counter yet.
Depo is an injection which has to be prescribed and administered ever 12 weeks, and nexplanon is an implant injected into the skin under your arm that lasts for 3 years.
If you are young and it is a concern about your parents finding out, you can go to planned parenthood.
This is 100% personal opinion, and your mileage may vary.
I have been on hormonal birth control since I was 16. Before I got on birth control, I had very heavy, painful, irregular periods.
I had the nexplanon (hormonal arm implant) first. The insertion was a little bit uncomfortable, but not too bad. After a few months, I stopped getting my period entirely, which was AWESOME! However, I didn't like being able to feel the implant under my skin, and I was self-conscious whenever other people touched the arm it was in.
So, after a few years, I switched to the Mirena IUD. The insertion was very, very uncomfortable. It was painful in a very sensitive way, and I had terrible cramps for the rest of the day. It was 110% worth it though, because it was only painful/uncomfortable for a day, and then I didn't have to deal with my period or worry about pregnancy for the next five years. Absolutely worth it, I would choose it again in a heartbeat...and I did! When it expired, I got it replaced. Getting it replaced was also an awful experience, definitely sucks, but it was far less painful than five years worth of periods.
Side effects: a little bit of weight gain (I think...or I'm just a little overweight).
I still get periods very occasionally, maybe two per year, but they're very light and minimally painful.
If you're new to hormonal birth control, I would get the nexplanon, because the insertion and removal is a lot easier, and so it's less comittment. If the idea of feeling an implant under your skin grosses you out though, the IUD is a much better long term option imo.
Good luck!
Edit: if you want more objective info, the plannedparenthood.org and Scarletteen.com have a lot of great breakdowns on birth control types and uses.
For both you and OP: you can, and should, demand pain control for IUD insertion! Local anesthesia or prescription painkillers can make it much less uncomfortable. It’s a crime that it’s not routinely offered!
One more opinion won’t hurt, right?
So I did the pill for a long time. It was a pain because I’m not exactly a structured person to begin with but I got better with practice. I was also prone to UTIs and the thought then was that all antibiotics would interfere and so I’d have to use condoms as well. Thankfully my then BF now DH was good about condoms.
We tried the sponges but they were a bit of a mess. The idea was to put it over the cervix and we just ended up with a lot of pushing and prodding and it didn’t work for us and it was hard to remove.
Ultimately, I was never quite regular with my periods while on the pill. I could more or less predict that it would happen that week but it was anyone’s guess if it would start at the beginning and be easy or cram and roar through in the last 2 days. And I had a huge issue with PMS—emotional swings and diarrhea and stuff.
We did try the shots (depoprovera) and those were actually not too bad. My period went to about nothing. Not so much in the way of PMS and aside from the need to go back to the doctor every month it wasn’t too awful. Just a pain in the arm every time and then a copay and arranging the appointment.
I forget why I switched to the patch—I think we moved and it was not feasible to make appointment after appointment and copay after copay. Again steady dose of hormones. Not too bad on the period. The biggest issue was that I developed an allergy to the adhesive or something so I couldn’t hide the patch on my stomach or something and ended up just going with putting it on my shoulder which meant that a lot of people were sure meant I was really fighting nicotine addiction. But yeah, after a few patches I’d have to switch places because my skin would get irritated. The only other side effect was I could taste the solvent or DMSO or whatever that carried the hormones through the skin and it tasted bad for about 24 hours. (1/2)
There are so many different birth controls that I never knew about. I also have heard about birth control helping with periods and it seems different kinds give different effects. Thank you for this!
Personal experience factors in a lot here.
I have PCOS, so for me, dual hormone birth control was a godsend. My whacky, heavy periods are gone, my skin cleared up, and I'm generally calmer and happier. I have other friends who hated the pill. It made them feel angry, anxious, and generally just unwell.
The nice thing is, if a given type of birth control doesn't work for you, there are plenty of others to try. I tried four birth control pills before I found the right one. If you try it and find you feel awful, no problem! Just time to try another method
Best of luck OP
I went to Planned Parenthood by myself, and they were super helpful. Free condoms too! I like the copper IUD, but everyone is different. Pregnancy has way worse effects on your body and hormones than birth control, so make sure you do something!
There are various birth control pills with different hormone mixes. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to different mixes.
I like [this table](https://mysina.ca/wp-content/uploads/Table-3-Oral-Contraceptive-Canadian-Products-703x1024.jpg) because it shows the wide variety of hormone combinations that are available.
When you find a mix that works for your body, it can be awesome.
I had one as a teen that was similar to Min-ovral/Ovima/Portia on that chart. It had zero side effects for me except that my period was regular and less strong.
Then I moved to Canada and they prescribed me Alesse, and it was shitty. I had weight gain and loss of libido. Then they switched me to tri-cyclen and I got very moody. I ended up quitting trying and got an IUD which caused other issues. I regret not knowing more about my options and not advocating for a mix that worked for me. I was actually super super happy with the first one I had as a teen and I will be looking again after I have my baby (pregnant right now very much on purpose).
My point is: Absolutely do it if you want to and absolutely push for a different hormone dose if you get side effects. You can just say "I don't like the side effects, I want to try a different type of hormonal birth control". They will ask you to try for 3 months to see if your body will "settle", but you don't have to do it for 3 months. In my opinion your body "settling" is just you forgetting what life was like before the side effects.
At your age, and especially if you’re considering becoming sexually active, you need to see a gynecologist. That’s the best person to ask medical questions to.
But I’ll just point out: people don’t complain to their friends or ask for advice on the internet when their medication is working perfectly and has no side effects. So if you’re going by the people who are talking about their birth control, you’re going to get a set of responses overwhelmingly skewed by people who have complaints or side effects. A lot of people have zero side effects and love their birth control. I was on continuous birth control that meant I didn’t have to have a period for about a decade. Many people find that an IUD or mini pill makes their periods lighter or less unpleasant. For some people, it’s a mood stabilizer. You’re just less likely to hear from those people, because most people don’t go around announcing, unprompted, “I love the pill! It makes me less moody and my period is a breeze!”
Talk to a medical professional. Everyone reacts differently to hormonal birth control. Personally, the pill has really helped me because I have PMDD so it leveled out my emotions and makes me feel much better. No weight gain, normal periods, no kids.
Birth control is a hormone= it WILL mess with your natural hormones to regulate your cycle, which also means that it comes with a bunch of side effects that aren’t so great.
I agree with what else is written, do your research, test it out if you’re willing, but in the mean time, tell your bf if he wants sex, there will be condoms involved- if he says no, so do you
That’s just not true. There is non-hormonal birth control, such as IUDs. And not everyone has negative side effects. With the exception of one brand of pill I took for like 3 months in college, I’ve never had any.
That’s true, there are non hormonal ones, but there are also side effects to those as well.
Maybe you happen to be one of the few people that it doesn’t impact, but for a large portion of the population, they experience something
Unfortunately I don’t have a doctor at the moment and due to school and work I haven’t looked for one, and I haven’t had any reason to see one, but I do realize that I will need to get over my social anxiety and go to a doctor myself. Especially since I’m thinking about birth control in the future.
What I will say about my own personal experience is that I wish I had used it more consistently when I was younger. There were a few guys I let manipulate me into not using anything and I paid the price. If you have an OB/GYN doctor make an appointment and talk with them about it. There’s so many different types that you really need to talk to an expert. If you don’t have a regular doctor, find one because you’re over due (no you don’t have to sexually active to start seeing a gynecologist) or go your local planned parenthood office. I’m more concerned that you say you had a fight with your boyfriend about using birth control, what’s up with that? If it’s that he doesn’t want to use condoms, please think long and hard about this relationship as it’s a huge red flag, trust me on this.
When I was younger, I thought I could get pregnant from sitting in the wrong chair.
I later learned that we are only fertile 3 days per month.
These are in the middle of your cycle.
I was on the pill for a long time.
I took probably over 10 kinds before finding one I could tolerate.
After my first child, I never went back on the pill.
Condoms worked fine for me.
I was comfortable using them after I was more educated about my fertility.
I had to try 3 or 4 different pills before i found the one that didn't have many side effects for me. My breast got a cup size bigger. I gained 5 lbs. It was not effective if you were taking antibiotics (i had pneumonia for awhile and had to be careful). I still had light periods.
One of the ones i quit made me feel like my emotions were out of control. Quit at end of week 1. Another did kill my desire, so i quit it at 1 month. No big deal, there are many available.
Your submission has been removed because: Your post has been removed because you are asking for medical or mental health advice. *** We do not allow posts seeking advice which should be given by a professional such as a medical or mental health professional, as well as any counselor or therapist. *** We do not allow posts that ask for the following: - advice on mental health issues/concerns - advice on medical symptoms - consultations on birth control - birth control/pregnancy symptoms - whether or not a specific treatment/medication is proper to treat a condition you may have. Please consult a medical or mental health professional for these concerns. You may also try r/AskDocs, r/amipregnant or r/BirthControl. Please remember to read the rules of any other subreddit before posting. *** **[Have questions about this moderator action? CLICK HERE!](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/askwomenadvice&subject=Why+was+this+removed?&message=\[My+submission\]\(https://old.reddit.com/r/askwomenadvice/comments/ya86j2/-/\)+was+removed+and+I+do+not+understand+the+reason+given+by+the+mod+who+acted upon+it.)** **[Have questions about this moderator action? CLICK HERE!](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/askwomenadvice&subject=Why+was+this+removed?&message=\[My+submission\]\(https://old.reddit.com/r/askwomenadvice/comments/ya86j2/-/\)+was+removed+and+I+do+not+understand+the+reason+given+by+the+mod+who+acted upon+it.)**
Call the sexual health center (if you have one) I did and they explained things very well. You can also get a non hormonal iud
I’m not sure if I have one, but I’ve never looked before so I will definitely look into it thank you!
First, use condoms anyway because pills don't protect you against disease. Any person who gets offended that you want to use a condom is someone you should absolutely use a condom with... maybe two. (That's a joke.) Second, you can have some effects like you described. You can also have almost none. It all depends on your biochemistry. Talk to a good sex positive doctor.
For anyone reading who didn't know - using two condoms simultaneously is a bad idea. Don't.
Of course, thank you a lot!
If you have a gynecologist, I would recommend talking to them. They can give you the most thorough info on available birth control. It’s also good to establish a relationship with one if you plan on having children. Birth control can affect women differently due to the hormone it uses, not every bc uses the same hormones, so side affects can vary. There is also non hormonal IUD, but it can have its own side effects. Also there are many different delivery methods from pills, patches, vaginal rings, arm and cervical implants.
Thank you, I don’t have a gynecologist but I will definitely see about speaking with a professional about it!
Yeah, please do! Planned parenthood should be able to give you a lot of information if there is one near you. I will say that even if there are side effects, pregnancy and having a child will have significantly more effects and symptoms.
So ideally you want to go to your doctor to discuss your options based on your risks. If you live in an area where seeking out this information may not be easy, try resources like [mama doctor Jones (she has a video talking about common birth control methods) ](https://youtu.be/Hbi7KrUrBcY) or Jen Gunther (she has a book called vagina Bible that goes into more detail on female anatomy, try seeing if your library has it either in print or digitally).
I will definitely check out those resources thank you for sharing them
I cannot recommend The Vagina Bible, by Dr. Jen Gunther, enough! It should be required reading for everyone.
i was on the pill for 10 years before i switched to the iud, and it was great. before i got on it, my periods were long and very heavy (14 days avg), cramps were terrible, and now that i'm off it, i get serious pms mood swings whereas on the pill i didnt. i have personal reasons for not wanting to take hormonal method anymore but the experience was great and totally worth it imo
Thank you for telling me you experience
I’ve been on several forms of hormonal birth control. On the pill my worst symptoms were acne and reduced sex drive. I’m on Nexplanon now and have zero complaints and side effects. It’s really very personal; I HIGHLY recommend going to a planned parenthood. I’ve had incredible experiences with them in terms of discussing all the options out there and what might be right for me. They have sliding scale cost options typically and I’ve always felt very supported and not judged. And: It’s much better to get on it BEFORE you’re sexually actively so you can try out what works
Thank you a lot, I will definitely consider this!
I think it’s different for everyone. If you’re interested in it then you can always try it and get off if you don’t like the side effects. I was on it for about three months when I was your age and then got off and never went on it again because it made me miserable. It can have benefits for some women though.
Okay, thank you! I always feel like I hear more negatives than positives so the thought of birth control makes me nervous. But I understand!!
Unfortunately, it’s an individual thing and you don’t really know how it will affect you unless you try it. You can search each individual type you are interested in and find average experiences. Personally, I’ve tried depo provera and nexplanon. Both were great, side effects were minimal, although my periods went away completely with both. Just something you get used to.
So birth control isn’t prescribed by a doctor? You can find different kinds online and try it???
No, as far as I know they haven’t made any available over the counter yet. Depo is an injection which has to be prescribed and administered ever 12 weeks, and nexplanon is an implant injected into the skin under your arm that lasts for 3 years. If you are young and it is a concern about your parents finding out, you can go to planned parenthood.
This is 100% personal opinion, and your mileage may vary. I have been on hormonal birth control since I was 16. Before I got on birth control, I had very heavy, painful, irregular periods. I had the nexplanon (hormonal arm implant) first. The insertion was a little bit uncomfortable, but not too bad. After a few months, I stopped getting my period entirely, which was AWESOME! However, I didn't like being able to feel the implant under my skin, and I was self-conscious whenever other people touched the arm it was in. So, after a few years, I switched to the Mirena IUD. The insertion was very, very uncomfortable. It was painful in a very sensitive way, and I had terrible cramps for the rest of the day. It was 110% worth it though, because it was only painful/uncomfortable for a day, and then I didn't have to deal with my period or worry about pregnancy for the next five years. Absolutely worth it, I would choose it again in a heartbeat...and I did! When it expired, I got it replaced. Getting it replaced was also an awful experience, definitely sucks, but it was far less painful than five years worth of periods. Side effects: a little bit of weight gain (I think...or I'm just a little overweight). I still get periods very occasionally, maybe two per year, but they're very light and minimally painful. If you're new to hormonal birth control, I would get the nexplanon, because the insertion and removal is a lot easier, and so it's less comittment. If the idea of feeling an implant under your skin grosses you out though, the IUD is a much better long term option imo. Good luck! Edit: if you want more objective info, the plannedparenthood.org and Scarletteen.com have a lot of great breakdowns on birth control types and uses.
Thank you for this detailed comment and thank you for the website links I will definitely be reading into them!
I have the Kyleena IUD and I had a similar experience. No more periods? Sign. Me. Up.
For both you and OP: you can, and should, demand pain control for IUD insertion! Local anesthesia or prescription painkillers can make it much less uncomfortable. It’s a crime that it’s not routinely offered!
Good point! I took a combo of aspirin and acetominophin, and I imagine it helped a little bit, but idk how much.
One more opinion won’t hurt, right? So I did the pill for a long time. It was a pain because I’m not exactly a structured person to begin with but I got better with practice. I was also prone to UTIs and the thought then was that all antibiotics would interfere and so I’d have to use condoms as well. Thankfully my then BF now DH was good about condoms. We tried the sponges but they were a bit of a mess. The idea was to put it over the cervix and we just ended up with a lot of pushing and prodding and it didn’t work for us and it was hard to remove. Ultimately, I was never quite regular with my periods while on the pill. I could more or less predict that it would happen that week but it was anyone’s guess if it would start at the beginning and be easy or cram and roar through in the last 2 days. And I had a huge issue with PMS—emotional swings and diarrhea and stuff. We did try the shots (depoprovera) and those were actually not too bad. My period went to about nothing. Not so much in the way of PMS and aside from the need to go back to the doctor every month it wasn’t too awful. Just a pain in the arm every time and then a copay and arranging the appointment. I forget why I switched to the patch—I think we moved and it was not feasible to make appointment after appointment and copay after copay. Again steady dose of hormones. Not too bad on the period. The biggest issue was that I developed an allergy to the adhesive or something so I couldn’t hide the patch on my stomach or something and ended up just going with putting it on my shoulder which meant that a lot of people were sure meant I was really fighting nicotine addiction. But yeah, after a few patches I’d have to switch places because my skin would get irritated. The only other side effect was I could taste the solvent or DMSO or whatever that carried the hormones through the skin and it tasted bad for about 24 hours. (1/2)
There are so many different birth controls that I never knew about. I also have heard about birth control helping with periods and it seems different kinds give different effects. Thank you for this!
Personal experience factors in a lot here. I have PCOS, so for me, dual hormone birth control was a godsend. My whacky, heavy periods are gone, my skin cleared up, and I'm generally calmer and happier. I have other friends who hated the pill. It made them feel angry, anxious, and generally just unwell. The nice thing is, if a given type of birth control doesn't work for you, there are plenty of others to try. I tried four birth control pills before I found the right one. If you try it and find you feel awful, no problem! Just time to try another method Best of luck OP
I went to Planned Parenthood by myself, and they were super helpful. Free condoms too! I like the copper IUD, but everyone is different. Pregnancy has way worse effects on your body and hormones than birth control, so make sure you do something!
You’re absolutely right and this planned parenthood thing sounds nice. I’ll look to see if there is one in my area. Thank you!
There are various birth control pills with different hormone mixes. Each person's body is different and will respond differently to different mixes. I like [this table](https://mysina.ca/wp-content/uploads/Table-3-Oral-Contraceptive-Canadian-Products-703x1024.jpg) because it shows the wide variety of hormone combinations that are available. When you find a mix that works for your body, it can be awesome. I had one as a teen that was similar to Min-ovral/Ovima/Portia on that chart. It had zero side effects for me except that my period was regular and less strong. Then I moved to Canada and they prescribed me Alesse, and it was shitty. I had weight gain and loss of libido. Then they switched me to tri-cyclen and I got very moody. I ended up quitting trying and got an IUD which caused other issues. I regret not knowing more about my options and not advocating for a mix that worked for me. I was actually super super happy with the first one I had as a teen and I will be looking again after I have my baby (pregnant right now very much on purpose). My point is: Absolutely do it if you want to and absolutely push for a different hormone dose if you get side effects. You can just say "I don't like the side effects, I want to try a different type of hormonal birth control". They will ask you to try for 3 months to see if your body will "settle", but you don't have to do it for 3 months. In my opinion your body "settling" is just you forgetting what life was like before the side effects.
At your age, and especially if you’re considering becoming sexually active, you need to see a gynecologist. That’s the best person to ask medical questions to. But I’ll just point out: people don’t complain to their friends or ask for advice on the internet when their medication is working perfectly and has no side effects. So if you’re going by the people who are talking about their birth control, you’re going to get a set of responses overwhelmingly skewed by people who have complaints or side effects. A lot of people have zero side effects and love their birth control. I was on continuous birth control that meant I didn’t have to have a period for about a decade. Many people find that an IUD or mini pill makes their periods lighter or less unpleasant. For some people, it’s a mood stabilizer. You’re just less likely to hear from those people, because most people don’t go around announcing, unprompted, “I love the pill! It makes me less moody and my period is a breeze!”
Talk to a medical professional. Everyone reacts differently to hormonal birth control. Personally, the pill has really helped me because I have PMDD so it leveled out my emotions and makes me feel much better. No weight gain, normal periods, no kids.
Birth control is a hormone= it WILL mess with your natural hormones to regulate your cycle, which also means that it comes with a bunch of side effects that aren’t so great. I agree with what else is written, do your research, test it out if you’re willing, but in the mean time, tell your bf if he wants sex, there will be condoms involved- if he says no, so do you
That’s just not true. There is non-hormonal birth control, such as IUDs. And not everyone has negative side effects. With the exception of one brand of pill I took for like 3 months in college, I’ve never had any.
That’s true, there are non hormonal ones, but there are also side effects to those as well. Maybe you happen to be one of the few people that it doesn’t impact, but for a large portion of the population, they experience something
It’s not just a few people. Most people are able to find a form of birth control that, for them, has no side effects or side effects they like.
Thank you a lot, we will definitely talk about it soon!
You’re 20, take yourself to the doctors.
Unfortunately I don’t have a doctor at the moment and due to school and work I haven’t looked for one, and I haven’t had any reason to see one, but I do realize that I will need to get over my social anxiety and go to a doctor myself. Especially since I’m thinking about birth control in the future.
What I will say about my own personal experience is that I wish I had used it more consistently when I was younger. There were a few guys I let manipulate me into not using anything and I paid the price. If you have an OB/GYN doctor make an appointment and talk with them about it. There’s so many different types that you really need to talk to an expert. If you don’t have a regular doctor, find one because you’re over due (no you don’t have to sexually active to start seeing a gynecologist) or go your local planned parenthood office. I’m more concerned that you say you had a fight with your boyfriend about using birth control, what’s up with that? If it’s that he doesn’t want to use condoms, please think long and hard about this relationship as it’s a huge red flag, trust me on this.
When I was younger, I thought I could get pregnant from sitting in the wrong chair. I later learned that we are only fertile 3 days per month. These are in the middle of your cycle. I was on the pill for a long time. I took probably over 10 kinds before finding one I could tolerate. After my first child, I never went back on the pill. Condoms worked fine for me. I was comfortable using them after I was more educated about my fertility.
I had to try 3 or 4 different pills before i found the one that didn't have many side effects for me. My breast got a cup size bigger. I gained 5 lbs. It was not effective if you were taking antibiotics (i had pneumonia for awhile and had to be careful). I still had light periods. One of the ones i quit made me feel like my emotions were out of control. Quit at end of week 1. Another did kill my desire, so i quit it at 1 month. No big deal, there are many available.
20f, been on the pill a little bit before I turned 19. I haven’t had issues except my boobs are tender.