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What kind of birth control is everyone on??? I just started Seasonale... the one where you only get periods 4 times a year. So far (2 months now) so good, but I have noticed that if I do not take it at the exact same time everyday, I start spotting. I used to take it in the am, but switched to night b/c when I would sleep in, and take it when I woke up, I would spot. Is anyone else on this?? I am coming up on my inactive pills and am wondering if because it is only 4 times a year if I am going to be in for a heavy flow/ cramp/ PMS from hell period as a result???

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I'm on Triphasil. I've never had a problem with spotting, and I skip periods often when I don't feel like having one. I'm a bit too paranoid for Seasonale though, since I like getting that monthly reminder that I am definitely not pregnant.

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My friend is on Seasonale, her gyno told her to expect heavier periods.

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I have also heard that Seasonale can result in heavier periods. I was on Ortho-Tricyclen (sp?) and just switched to something similar that I can't remember the name of, but it's monthly.

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Well I'm actually on the NuvaRing, which is the best thing in this entire world. I absolutely hate pills b/c of the spotting reason, so this is easier, and you know exactly when you will get your period and it usually only lasts about 3 maybe 4 days.

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I'm on Depo, and have been for close to 4 years. I never get periods any more....for the first year or two I got occasional spotting, but nothing since. It works really well for me to get a shot 4x a year and not have to worry about a pill every day.

The only time I'll probably change is when we think we might want to start TTC in the next year or two....it takes a while to get pregnant after going off Depo, so I may switch to a different BC for a while to get the hormones out of my body.

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Originally Posted by AshNJam08 Well I'm actually on the NuvaRing, which is the best thing in this entire world. I absolutely hate pills b/c of the spotting reason, so this is easier, and you know exactly when you will get your period and it usually only lasts about 3 maybe 4 days.
Whats NuvaRing????

I am on Implanon - its an implant in my arm and you can keep it there for three years. I love it, no having to worry about taking a pill every day and it has agreed with me, I have had absolutely not side-effects!

I used to be on the pill but came off it and got my implant last year Because in some cases it can take a long time to concieve if you have been on the pill for a long time, so I didn’t want to take that risk! With my implant, you take it out and your fertility is returned straight away!

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I have been on just about everything including seasonale. I had a LOT of spotting with that and it has never gone away even though i have switched b.c. several times s ince. Now i'm on loestrin (and have to take estrogin on occassion to stop the breakthrough) and its been the best so far. Very mild and is currently advertised as "the shorter period" so only about 3 days.

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I used that one once and I hated it…… the reality is that I had used more than one type of birth control and none of them worked good on me… So I don’t and won’t use birth control ever in my life…

My Seasonale experience: Got my period ahead of time… very bad cramps every single day… spotting most of the time and bleeding for 14 days once I got my period… not a good thing!!!!! My doctor told me that it was a reaction that my body needed to get used to it, he said that the first time that happened, then when it happened again, I stop the use of them on my own…

With the other birth control pills, I had bad cramps every single day of my period, and you know having cramps for 7 days… not a good thing… ohh and I never got my period when I was supposed to get it…

Some how, my period got crazy once I started to use bc pill… One of the reasons I started to used them was because I get bad cramps for my periods and my doctor told me that using pills will help… wrong!!!!

Anyway I haven’t heard of a lot of women that go thru the same thing I went… usually they use bc pills and nothing weird happened, but that wasn’t my case…

I don't mean to scare you, it might be very different for you, just want to share my experience which wasn't the greatest experience in the world....

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I've tried quite a few brands depending on what insurace approved. I was on seasonale for a while and gained some weight which was not fun and didn't help the depression. I also got really bad headaches when I went off it for the week of my period. I didn't have any spotting though I did have cramps when I was "supposed" to be having my period. I'm now on desogen and like it (and it's cheap at the student health center!). My period has always been pretty short but now it's about 4 days. Though I still get headaches for that week no matter what I'm on.

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I was on Yasmin for about 3 years and always had my period at the exact same time down to the hour. I -just- switched to Ortho Tricyclen Lo because I have had problems with chronic yeast infections and am hoping a low hormone pill will help.

Anybody know anything about the effectiveness of low dose pills compared to regular ones? Ortho Tricyclen Lo's website says it is effective, but doesn't actually give a percentage which makes me wonder.

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I'm on the NuvaRing, too. I love it cause it's the only BC with estrogen in it that I can take and still BF.

Em- The NuvaRing is a small plastic ring that you insert once a month in your vagina. It wiggle up and sits around your cervix. After 3 weeks, you take it out and have your period. It's GREAT!

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I took Alese (i think thats what its called) for like a month and i hated it. It made me sooo depressed and naucious (sp?).

I'm taking Yasmin now and i like it alot. I havent experience any side affects, except a few days of spotting towards the end when im going to start.
Sometime i wonder if its actually working in my system or not since i dont have side affect, oh well

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Originally Posted by maroki13 I'm on Depo, and have been for close to 4 years. I never get periods any more....for the first year or two I got occasional spotting, but nothing since. It works really well for me to get a shot 4x a year and not have to worry about a pill every day.

The only time I'll probably change is when we think we might want to start TTC in the next year or two....it takes a while to get pregnant after going off Depo, so I may switch to a different BC for a while to get the hormones out of my body.

Be warned....I was on Depo before I had my last child, it took almost a year and half to wear off.....after she was born I was on it again and didn't get my last shot that I was suppose to this past Febuary because we wanted to have a child in a year or two....I got pregnant in October, so this time it only took 8 months. I was on Depo of over 8 years this last time. So....what I'm saying is if you want a child in the next year or two, I suggest getting off of it within the next 6 months and using condoms or something else until you're ready to concieve. Otherwise if you wait to get off it, it could take quite awhile. You can't tell. Also when you concieve the first time, it might end up being a miscarriage. That happened to me both times I got off the shot. The first time I knew I was pregnant, this last time I thought I just was having bad cramps with my period, but then I realized, I never get cramps with my period and I was late getting it and it was heavier than normal. So....that's just my experience. Good luck!

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I did the seasonale, but it was taking a while for my body to adjust...so my gyno just put me back to what I was on (ortho tricyclen lo) and I take three packs of pills (minus the inactive ones) before I do the inactive week....so essentially it's the same as seasonale....and can I say...

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I switched pills a couple times, mostly because I had to switch doctors and one doctor thought a certain pill was better than the other. I haven't been on the pill since 2003, but I think the last one I was taking was LoEstrin. That worked really well and the doctor was really thrilled about it because it was one of the lower doses.

I did have chest pains with both kinds I took (sorry, I can't remember the first kind). I'm kind of scared to start taking them again for fear of having the pains again. I had normal, regular periods on both, though, so that was nice!

For those of you on NuvaRing... is it possible to insert it incorrectly? Sorry if that sounds silly, but I can't imagine popping that baby in there myself and getting it right!!!

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I just started on Alesse (sp?) and I only just started taking it. I am currently on my second week of my period. I dont know whether the pill caused that or something else I just think that it is strange that I am getting a very long period when I just started it. Anyone else had something similar happen?

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Originally Posted by Marge129 It wiggle up and sits around your cervix.
Just the thought of something wiggling up and just chillin there is making me crack up lol

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The spotting has not been that bad with the Seasonale... I pinpointed it to where if I did not take it at the exact time every day I would spot. So, I started taking it before I go to bed everynight and have not had much problems. I am just waiting for my week of inactive pills to see how my period goes.... Other than that.. 0 side effects!!

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I agree with Marge, the NuvaRing is absolutely wonderful!!! You just insert it, and forget about it for 3 weeks!!!

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All this talk about periods. Mine have only lasted 4-5 days for most of my life (well since I was 13! ), but this last month it was like 3 days..... really short! What's up with that? Heavy for a day or two tops.... Started wed afternoon done by sunday morning if not saurday night....

Sorry no help on the BC thing, we don't use and when we did it was just over the counter stuff (we didn't want a honeymoon baby...).

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I am on the Nuva ring too! I love it so far but it is only my 2nd moth. for me this is great!!

I have been on a few pills!

Ortho Tricyclein=spotting for 4 months in a row
Some brand I forgot the name= same spoting again
Ortho Cyclein=WONDERFUL!!! BUT, then I still was getting the horrid cramps that I get. SO... my doc said to take the ortho cycelin like seasonale. That was horrible for me. I was always spotting or having cramps. Well actually the only weeks I was fine were the weeks that I was supposed to get my period (It never came) This went on for a year for me. My doc kept telling me that it was taking my body a while to get used to. Well after a year of that I had to get all sorts of tests! Ultra sounds blood tests, MRIs, and x rays. They decided that I was fine and normal. So now Im on Nuva Ring. My first true period was Hell, but thats what I get for not having a real period for over a year.

My doc told me that when I was taking the pills continously (similar to seasonale) that I was going to get heavier periods and worse cramps!

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I used to be on Seasonale but I kept getting break through bleeding so I stopped taking it. Now I am on Loestrin.

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I have polycystic ovaries and my gyno put me on Diane. I don't know if you have heard about it. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was overseas. So far the pills are working for me. Prior to that, I was having my menses every 18 days. Right now, my menses are permanently on 28 day cycle. When I decide to have a baby I have to stop taking Diane and start taking fertility pills or else I won't ovulate.



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I wear the BirthControl patches...Or did, I haven't been on anything since Dave and I started dating... Oooooops, I need to get back on something...

I really liked the patch because I was ALWAYS forgetting to take the pill...And as you know missing just ONE DAY voids the whole month, so your not safe anyways...

With the patch you slap it on for a week, then change it, it's also visible, I remember it's there or remember to change it.