Birth Control Frustrations

Updated on June 14, 2008
B.W. asks from Lexington Park, MD
18 answers

For the past 10 months I have been using the Nuvaring Birth Control and have yet to have any consistencies in my monthly cycle. One month it is 1 day long, the next 5 or even 7 days. Most recently, I did not have one (pregnancy test came back neg. but I am not ruling anything out just yet...)Along with the sporadic cycles, I have had an increase in headaches and often to the point of what I can only imagine is a migraine right before my cycle begins. So when I saw an add for Yaz birth control, it appears to be the answer to my most recent birth control problems. Anyone out there familiar with Yaz, or even having similar issues with the Nuvaring as I am?

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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I had the migranes, bloating and mood swings. I am now taking mini pill and it's better. I read about Yaz and am also curious. For now Loestrin works for me.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Roanoke on

Hi Brenda,

I personally do not have experience with either or the birth control options you listed, I take Ortho-tricyclin Lo and have had not problems (have taken it for 10-2 when concieving and pregnant). My mom (she is 41yo) she went on Yaz about 6 months ago. She did not have a good reaction to it. She said her heart raced, she had dizzyness, spotting, she had no energy to do anything and gained about 10lbs. She would come home from work and be exhaulsted, something not normal for her at all. She went off of it after 3 months and it has take 2 months but she is starting to get back to her normal self. When she started haveing these symptoms she did no realize it was from Yaz at first but she was getting ready to go see her doc about it and thought maybe it is the birth control. She just googled 'yaz birth control side effects' and found other women were haveing the same symptoms and some worse.
I know all birth control has its side effects so I would say google the one you are looking at and she whet other women are saying about them.
Hope this helps and Good Luck

2 moms found this helpful
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E.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi Brenda,

I've had all sorts of problems with bc pills. I have really bad pms. I tried Yaz and hated it. It made me so sick, felt like I had the stomach flu for weeks.

Talk to your dr. about all your options to find what will work for you.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.T.

answers from Norfolk on

I have been using Yaz for over a year and absolutely love it!!!! Regular cycles and very short, maybe 2 to 3 days. Everyones bodies are different though, so what's good for one isn't necessarily good for another. Ask your Doctor and see if maybe Yaz would be something for you to try. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Dover on

Hi Brenda,
After being on the depo shot for 6 years my dr wanted me to take a break & suggested the nuva ring. I hated it!!! I had extreme bloating & headaches also, and my husband & I were very "aware" of it if you will. I used it for 3 months & then got Implanon inserted last August. This is even better than the shot because there is nothing to deal with for 3 full years & with our insurance I only had to cover the $20 co-pay to get it inserted. I've lost 18 pounds through no work of my own & I spot for about 2 days monthly. It might be worth you looking into. Good luck!
Melissa

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Washington DC on

I am on Yaz and LOVE it! The first two or three months I had the lightest period ever and then it disappeared all together. Now I get a period once every 4 months and it can be heavy but it's worth it to not have a period most of the time and I don't have severe headaches anymore. A friend of mine just started it too after being on her period for about 2 months straight. Yaz finally stopped her period and she's looking forward to getting regular!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Washington DC on

I have heard of people having reactions to both Nuvaring and Yaz, although I have not used either. I did take oral contraceptives before (not Yaz) and had problems with the first brand, but no problems with Ortho Tricyclen or Ortho Tricyclen Lo. With oral contraceptives, there are tons of brands that are mostly the same, but the slight variations suit certain people better than others.

Remember that with hormonal contraception, you are not having a real cycle. It is just withdrawal bleeding from the hormones.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.Z.

answers from Richmond on

I would do a lot of research on YAZ to make sure it is right for you. Many women have depression/anxiety, lack of libido, hair loss, and nausea issues while on YAZ and Yasmin. I had a terrible time while on Yasmin and have since found many women who can't take it either.

Good luck in your search!!

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K.M.

answers from Richmond on

I am actually taking Yaz. So, far so good! It has changed my moods and has made me a calmer person. Also, I have an even younger looking face (I'm 24). My only thing is that I was on the shot and I still have not had my period but, I was on the shot for a year straight. I highly recommended! Good Luck on your choice. P.S. if you are planning on having more kids me personal I do not recommend the shot. It's get for the fact you will probably lose your period (which I loved) but, I don't like the fact now that if we wanted to try to get pregnant it might not happen anytime soon now. Which my husband would be happy about. :) Hope this helps.

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J.D.

answers from Norfolk on

Only seen commercials on Yaz. I had the Mirena inserted about 2 years ago - Love it! It's good for 5 years and can be replaced with a new one after the 5 years is up. The good thing about it is if you are thinking of more kids, it can easily be taken out. I've always been irregular with my cycle, but with the Mirena, I go a few months and not have one. Something to consider.

D.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi Brenda,

Get you and IUD device and forget about BC pills.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

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D.K.

answers from Washington DC on

If you've had a child, I would recommend a copper IUD. It's good for 10 years and has NO hormones, that'll lick those headaches.

Good luck!

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E.B.

answers from Dover on

Well, I'm gonna try to make this short. My sister went on birth control (she hasn't had kids but because she as seriously overweight - but recently had gastric bypass surgery - the dr. said that pills are less effective the more overweight you are) and so he prescribed her the Nuva Ring. Her mood immediately started to change...she was sluggish, didn't want to do anything, very irratable...sort of depressed I'd say. So, we attributed it to the possibility of it being her NuvaRing. Sure enough, her dr. put her on Yaz and she is much better now. Yaz seems to work for her and controlling her periods well. Hope this helps you out. :-) Good Luck

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D.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi Brenda, I didn't experience any of the problems you describe with the Nuvaring, and I loved that I didn't have to remember anything about it. But, when I stopped with the bc to try for a baby, I discovered that another problem I was having with vulvar vestibulitis (essentially mystery pain in the vulvar vestibule, directly outside the birth canal) was related to the hormones of the birth control. Once my own hormones were back in control, I was golden. So, now, post-baby, I got the non-hormonal copper IUD, and am very happy with it. It's more of a procedure to have an IUD inserted than I had thought it would be, but I get the benefits of not having to remember to do anything, and also get to have my own hormones in charge of my body. check to see if your insurance will cover it - mine did 100%. copper IUD = win!

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C.K.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I've had some problems with Yaz. I get pregnancy like symptoms- morning sickness, soreness, etc... It could be my dosage though. I haven't switched because my co-pay is better on that then some of the other brands.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i know i'm an old fogey hippy granola crunchy chick, but i have grave reservations about drugs that stop women from bleeding. our bodies shed that menstrual fluid for a purpose. take steps to mitigate the mizry? you bet. but i roll a hairy eyeball at anything that touts preventing something as basic and essential as a menstrual cycle as a good thing for women.
khairete
S.

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H.C.

answers from Seattle on

I haven't used either option. My cousin had problems with the Nuva Ring, and 2 very close friends became pregnant while using Yaz as a a birth control option.

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M.V.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi Brenda,
I know how you feel, when I read your post I thought of myself. First of all I never got my period until after I stopped Breast Feeding, so I am not surprised that your's is not regular. I suspect that it will continue until you stop Breast Feeding or it will regulate its self. I too get the head aches during my period. They would render me unable to do anything. Before my pregnancy I had no problems on the pill(ortho-tricyclan), but after I would get the head aches. My doctor gave me Fiorcet which is a migraine medicine and can be use while you are pregnant and probably breast feeding, you may want to ask your doctor about it. I change my pill to Yaz and the head aches were fewer and less severe. I would still occasionally get the headaches,but the Fiorcet worked for that. I hope I helped if not let you know that there is another person out there with the same issue. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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