If you have questions about or want to discuss methods of birth control, this is the place for you! Please see our sidebar for some great resources.

Can you get pregnant during your withdrawal bleeding? I use nuvaring.

i’m 3 days into taking it and when i drink i usually drink a 6 pack of beer (corona premier if it’s relevant) so i was wondering if its safe to do so

Hi I just finished my first ever pack of birth control pills (Yaz) and I did not get withdrawal bleed. I've been active with my boyfriend unprotected. Should I be worried? I took the pill on my first day of period. Or does anyone have similar experience on this?

hey i have been taking the pill for three months. Noranelle. Only the last month i have taken the pill on time. i took the last pill yesterday morning but i would not like to take a break for seven days. i would not like to have my period yet. is it possible to start a new pack right away? if so, for how long? and when can i take my break?

I missed my dose of my combination pill last friday and had unprotected sex that night. I proceeded to take the pill the next day regularly and had sex the following two days unprotected. While having sex he never finished in me, but we had sex multiple times throughout the night after he finished and cleaned off. I am now on my placebo (but on a high dose of estrogen) so I don’t get my period normally. Should I be concerned, i’m super anxious.

omg does anyone else literally get the WORST feeling of sickness once starting the pill?? i’ve came off and on it about 3 times now and the first week has been hell, throwing up multiple times constant feeling of sickness in the morning and being unable to eat. has anyone dealt with something similar on the pill (for reference i take rigevidon) and have any tips on how to manage it better? or maybe alternative methods of BC that helped you more than the pill. thankyou

If so what were the side effects?

Hiya, I'm in my mid 20s and due to a medical issue I don't get periods very often but wwhen I do they last weeks. Because of this and because I'm low iron my specialist has recommended going on birth control (specifically the marina coil). Just wanted to ask what other people's experiences have been like with this type of birth control, as I tried the combined pill when I was younger and really didn't get on with it at all.

Had unprotected sex 3 weeks ago, no pullout. I’m on Loryna combination for a very long time and take it every day around the same time each day, recently I’ve been experiencing bad nausea, increased heart rate for long periods of time, some bad cramps, stomach pains, and have thrown up, but I took a clear blue early detection today on my second pee of the day and it came back negative. I do have a lot of other worries in my life rn and I have experienced this thing where I drank a lot of water in the middle of the night and felt this exact same way which I did last night. Just wondering if I should be worried or not?

Has anyone lost their period bc of birthcontrol. I have PCOS and had a pretty normal period, but ever since I got on bc (on my 3 month) i am bererly bleeding. I take bc religiously, and we use condoms. Now im scared 😥

I texted my Dr and he said it’s normal, but considering I had protected sex last month multiple times, now I am freaking out.

Started bc in early November, bc made me bleed probs for a month straight then I went back to normal, now on Month 3 I am bererly bleeding.

I’ve been on depo for years. I’ve been in a dilemma about getting off of it for numerous reasons including the class action lawsuits against them for causing brain tumours, feel like it’s caused my skin to be bad and think it has contributed to my depression. The reason why I’ve stuck with it is because I haven’t had a period while being on depo and that has been a huge relief as my period was horrendous when I did have a cycle. My doctors seem to agree that an IUD would be the best option to switch to and sounds like mirena would also work to prevent me from having a cycle. Was the pain of having it inserted worth it? Can you feel it while having sex? If any of you have been on depo and had problems with your skin and switched to mirena, did it make a difference? Any information is greatly appreciated.

My cycle has been irregular the past 6 months, I have a doctor’s appointment in a couple of weeks. I’ve had protected sex but the condom broke and now I wonder what I should do. I already took plan b in july 2023 and I know it’s been a while but I just feel bad bombarding my body with hormones once again. But at the same time I absolutely do not want do get pregnant so I think I should take it?

So I (27 F) had my second Mirena removed almost 3 weeks ago. I had my first for the full 5years then my second for about 2.5years. Before that I was on different pills to regulate my period and to ease/mask the symptoms of endometriosis.

I am currently not on any birth control other than condoms as I want to regulate my periods again and get to know my body with no hormones after over 10years of being on birth control.

In saying all this, I am still waiting for my period to return with no indication of when it will come. I am not experiencing any cramps, mood swings and I have absolutely no discharge. So I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and knows what to expect

Hi guys, so on the 25th my boyfriend finished in me and I’m on birth control but I was nervous and the next morning we got a plan b. Today, I’m spotting and after googling it I’m nervous that I am having implantation bleeding and I’m pregnant. Can anyone help please! Thanks guys

Hi! I saw that contraception pages are being removed from the CDC website and am facing an interesting choice I wanted to ask for your opinion on. I’m on year 8 of my Mirena and need to get it removed under general anesthesia. My GYN suggested Nuvaring after because of the trouble I’ve had with the IUD. I don’t want a kid right now given the state of the country and am worried that, if I get it taken out, I won’t be able to get birth control eventually. Is there any evidence for/against the effectiveness of IUDs beyond year 8? Do I just leave it in or take it out and hope I can still access Nuvaring? Thank you for your time!

I F(18) just started taking the pill about 3 days into my period. Right after my period ended as in no more bleeding which was only a couple of days later had intercourse and my boyfriend did finish in me.

Prior to it we had looked into it all we could about potential risks. My doctor showed me that if taken within 5 days of my period starting I would be protected. Learning this I was comfortable with my boyfriend finishing in me when I came off my period however I’m still very unsure if I was actually protect.

Note I have been taking the pill every day as proscribed. To say again as well I had started the pill about 3 days into my period and have been on the pill for a little over a week now.

Hello fellow people on BC 💕 I (F32) started Slynd 3 weeks ago tomorrow after 11 years on the combined pill. Last Friday I started spotting and from light pink it gradually turned in either bright red or darker red blood, with no sign of stopping. It is still minimal, just enough to wear a liner, but it’s not reducing AT ALL! When does this stop? 😭 My Gyno said to give it 3 months at least, does it mean I’m going to be bleeding for 3 months? How long is too long? I don’t have any other symptoms, my boobs aren’t sore and I don’t have cramps.

I should note that this past week I have also been on antibiotics due to an illness (Diverticulitis, it sucks) and I’m on the mend now, and my husband gave me a shitty cold too 😭

I am on BC to prevent pregnancy, never had any issues otherwise. I am switching because I had a neurological issue some years back, and I am also a smoker (yes I know, I’m trying to quit!) so the minipill was reccommended by my Gyno, since I don’t want to go with an IUD.

Thanks everyone 🩵

I am switching over from the pill to the ring after taking a three month break, and I was waiting to start my period before I do my first ring insertion.

Yesterday I had light clotting and very light bleeding so I thought I started my period so I put the ring in. Now my second day I normally have heavier bleeding but this time I didn’t, I just have very light clotting.

I’m worried I over reacted and put the ring in before I started my period. I am not looking for medical advice, but I was wondering if anyone else has been in this situation. I see it as I have two options, remove the ring and see if I start my period and reinsert it once I do, or leave it in and possibly throw off my cycle.

Edit: I do track my period, but since I’ve been off birth control for three months it’s been a little whacky, one app says I should’ve started last week, the other says I should start next week. My last period ended 1/2 and I normally have a 23-27 day cycle.

I have been taking two types of the pills by accidental. My doctor moved me from Desogestrel to Norgestrel and I have just realised I’ve been just taking pills from each packets by mistake!!!!

Can I stop my period by doubling up on birth control pills? I need it gone asap tbh

On December 16th of last year I went into the emergency room because I was experiencing severe back pain and other complications. I was sure it was due to me lifting a heavy box.

The staff ran a few tests on me because they were under the impression it was not a pulled back muscle. I was soon put into an outpatient room and a doctor told me I had blood clots on my lungs.

I was shocked because I never had anything serious happen to me and I thought it was my ticket out of here. I was sent to a hospital where I had to stay overnight to receive medication that would help the blood clots be absorbed back into my body. To their understanding, it was my birth control that caused the blood clots. I have Endometriosis and because of that I already have more estrogen in my body than a woman without Endometriosis. The extra estrogen introduced into my body is what caused the clots. Now, I have to be on blood thinners until my clots are cleared.

I wrote this because I want other women to be aware of this possibility happening to them. My symptoms was pain in my back from the waist up to my shoulders, labored breathing and intense pain whenever I’d bend down. I was on the birth control known as, Cyred.

I just got my copper IUD (Paraguard) inserted this morning, and the cramps are pretty bad which I know is expected, but I’m curious to know how long other people experienced cramping after the insertion?

So I’ve been on the Elyring for 2 weeks and I’m BLEEDING like it’s not spotting its full blown period type bleeding with little to no cramps and dark red almost brown. Should I be concerned? I know everyone’s different but I planned on skipping my next period which is in February but I’ve been bleeding for 3 days with no signs of slowing. Should I take it out or keep it in and wait? I don’t know man this is confusing.

Hi! I just realized that it has been 3 years since I had my nexplanon inserted (I should’ve replaced it like 2-3 weeks ago). The thing is, around that time I had unprotected sex and I have been worrying about it. I have yet to get my period so I am hoping its still working. Any advice? Should I get it replaced immediately, get plan b, or anything else?

Thanks for any and all advice!

Hi all! I was told to switch to a mini pill as my combo pill puts me at risk of stroke due to no past history of migraines and getting them now. I’ve been told pretty good things about Slynd and already have the prescription on hand. I was just curious as to some things I should look out for? My only concern is hair loss but I do have very thick hair lol. Weight gain and things of the sort aren’t an issue as im pretty tiny and could use an extra few pounds lol.

I just got my prescription for the patch, but I don't see a clear answer in the instructions about when I can start. I know with some brands you are technically supposed to wait until you start your period, is that true? Will it still work if I start applying it when I'm not on my period? I know that you need to wait 7 days before you're protected, just making sure I'm doing this correctly. I have seen conflicting answers on the internet.

When should I stop taking the pill before I get the IUD? For reference, I take the combo pill.

I was also prescribed cytotec to insert 4 hours before the procedure, but now I'm reading that people had bad experiences with it and that it doesn't really work. Idk what to do because I really don't want to experience that pain again. I kinda wish I'd just start menopause already. 😅

I’ve had two IUDs for the past 8 years. The first was the Skyla IUD and then I had the Mirena. I have two upcoming appointments, one to get on BC pills (Yaz) a week before IUD removal.

The Skyla and Mirena caused some side effects

• horrible cystic acne for me throughout the years (3x accutane, and now on spiro, going on 4th accutane round).

-still bled every month and had pretty bad cramps

I’ve heard really good things about YAZ birth control pills. Thoughts on switching from IUD to pills, and Yaz specifically?

I have horrific periods. The pain is just agonising and I go through so much tampons due to a heavy flow it actually worsens the pain cos my vagina feels really sore and uncomfortable.

I am on Ridgvidon and I have been taken a week break but it isn’t making my periods any easier so I’m just wondering could I realistically just take the pill continuously for more than a few months. What about a few years?

I’m waiting to get a laparoscopy done for endometriosis but I can’t take the agonising periods anymore.

Edit: I am in the UK, I am NOT American.

Starting tri-sprintec today to treat my acne. I’ve never been on BC so I was wondering if there is anything I should be aware of as far as side effects when you first begin the pill (like mood swings, nausea, dizziness, weight gain)? Also do y’all recommend I take in the morning or night?

Thanks