Birth Control Pills and Mood

Tell your OB/GYN immediately. Before I ever had kids I was on Ortho Novum 777 and had awful mood swings, low libido, and felt like I was going nuts. A different gyno told me this was not normal and I needed a LOW DOSE bc pill (I took bc to control irregular periods and to combat terrible cramps and heavy bleeding). I was on the low dose pills for almost 5 years before we had kids and I had a great libido and no PMS or mood swings (sorry I don't know the name of them~I received several types of generics over the years).

I'm sure the weather and sickness aren't helping, but it's best to try to nip it in the bud early if it is the bc pills so you aren't miserable in the future. You may be able to speak w/a nurse or PA at the doctor's office about the bc to find out if you need to come in to see the OB/GYN to change to a new pill. Good luck w/it and I hope you and your whole family feel better soon!

If you have a good insurance plan I would get an iud. I had a copper inserted 6 weeks after I had my daughter and the 1st 3 years of it was great then somehow I developed an allergy to it and had to have it removed I think the mirena would have been a better option but I lost my insurance in 06 so I had to go back to the pill and my libido is shot...I have been on it for almost a year and the libido loss just gets worse unfortunatly but you may be different it might get better.. I have to take these libido pills they do work message me if you want the name of them but at 22 years old I shouldn't have libido issues. I really would get the 5 year Mirena IUD if you have insurance that will pay for it if the side effects don't ease up for you. I wish I could although now I have about a year before hubby and I will try for baby #2 so I am just dealing with the pill till then, if you need anymore advice or just need to talk or vent feel free to email me: ____@____.com :)

I am betting your doc would say try for one more month to let your body get used to the hormones. I tried three different types before giving up all together. Yaz was the worst, I was crying for no reason at all. I felt like I was going crazy! I had always been on the pill in younger years, but for some reason it didn't work for me this go round. I hope everything stabilizes for you, but I would honestly give it a little more time. Get rest, eat healthy foods and wait and see!

D.,
I'd also say give it another month or two. BUT I was on a certain BC pill and mentioned to my OB that I thought it might be making me...how shall I say this....NUTS! LOL Turns out, he was not surprised, had experienced similar complaints, changed my RX to another pill and viola, no more moood swings for me. Sometimes certain levels of whatever you take CAN affect moods, personality, etc...def mention it to your OB/GYN. Good luck!

Hi D.,

I had the same reaction when I first tried the pill. I had tried it to regulate my mood swings that time of the month, but it just brought me down the rest of the month instead.

I have done a lot of research on birth control since then, and found out that ANY altering of hormones wreaks havoc on your body. You would be better off without it - maybe consider getting your tubes tied, or maybe your husband would consider a vasectomy.

With the stories I read about blood clots, etc. caused by the pill(as well as medical emergencies that friends went through), an out patient surgery seems minor.

Good luck and feel better,
L.

Hi D.,

I had the same problem except mine didn't start until a yr and half later of being on them. I was bleeding between periods and actuual bled the whole time between my periods on the last pack of pills. By then I had already decided to quit the pills after my last pack. I went to the Dr and they suggested I stop the pills but take an ultra sound to see if there was anything wrong down there. I did it so happens I have a cyst in one of my ovaries. The Doc called back to say wait six weeks and check to see if it is still there. I am going for the appt in a week. But after stopping the pill I haven't had any spotting my period is back to normal. So my guess is, it's the pills and you may not have any other problems. But to be safe go to the doc best bet. Hope all is fine and take good care.

I agree with the others,,give it another month. These side effects are well known, especially the sex drive loss. If you see that you are still not feeling right, talk to your doctor. He/she will look at other options, dosage, etc and see what fits you best. I can't offer too much info since these pills don't work for me ( I have migraines, and the pills make them a lot worse). Also, before you try anything,do some reading about them. Some of them (one example would be the shot) is not a very good option. The side effects are not very good (loss of calcium, weight gain in average 10 lb, etc).

I know that one of my former coworkers felt like she lost her sex drive with the bc pills. I would look into alternative bc pills like the yaz. I heard they are supposed to be good if you have issues with moods or pmdd. Another thing you could do is the mirena which is an interuterine device. I one time was on a certain bc pill and I felt kind of depressed and changed to another one and was fine. If you really do not want any kids they have a outpaitient procedure that can be done now which is supposed to be less harsh on recovery time vs the old fashioned tubal ligation..It is hard being a mom let alone amother of three. I know the weather is crazy this time of year and many people have colds and the different types of flu are going around. It is hard to have a sex drive when you have kids and work to take care of them and the house. Make a date night with your husband and have one of the grandparents watch the kids, may be a sleep over. Hang in there,you will be ok.