Birth Control Side Effects

Hi G.,

I know many moms that have had mood problems while being on birth control. I personally don't want the chemicals in my body so I use Natural Family Planning. You look at the various fertility signs your body creates naturally to determine when you are fertile and not fertile each cycle. I have been using this for 7 years both to achieve and postpone pregnancy, and both children were planned. You can check out www.ccli.org for more information and to look for a class. Consider checking it out and good luck!

I have horrible luck with any chemical based birth control. I felt like a guinea pig trying to figure out which one would work for me,and none of them did. I was either super cranky or bled constantly. I have 3 children so I decided to get my tubes tied. If you aren't ready for that, I would look into something natural.

Hi G.,

I don't think I realized it was the Pill that affected my moods so much until I switched to the Patch and the terrible mood swings disappeared. So it's totally possible that your birth control pill has caused some kind of chemical imbalance that's affecting your moods. Definitely talk with your physician about it and best of luck!

Warmly,

S.
Development Director
Cultural Care Au Pair
www.culturalcare.com

After #2 was born, I went on the Ortho-Tricyclen Lo. I know they say give it some time for you body to adjust - I was on it like 6 months and I was a total crab! Same as you - always just at the snapping point, no patience, stuff like that. And I know it's not listed as a side effect - but it should be! I just quit taking the pill. I didn't want to go back to the "try this"; "oh, that didn't work, well how about this" stuff again.

I would tell you going off birth control worked well for me, but just after I moved 1,600 miles away from my family and at the ripe old age of 38 I'm expecting #3. So, my decision to go off birth control MAY not be the best one! My third child is supposed to be born shortly after I turn 39 - and guess what! I'm too old for this! Being pregnant at almost 40 is pretty different than being pregnant at 30 - trust me!

A million times yes! I talked to a group of about 10 girls in one of my classes at school about which bc to go on, and we were all taking pills, and after discussing our side affects more than one of the girls figured out that the things she was experiencing were related to the hormones. Almost all of us admitted we would start crying randomly, especially after 10pm. So weird. I did a lot better on the mini-pill the Dr prescribes after you have a baby. When I stopped taking it I lost about 5 pounds. I'm not sure if it was related but I didn't change my diet or exercise much if at all. I'm not a fan of extra hormones! :)

I'm so totally that way on BC! My doctor always told me that it is messing with your hormones and it can take up to 3 months to adjust. I got better with some. Other pills I just quit. I know it's not listed as a side effect, but it is hormones. GL!

I would see if there is another pill you can take or another form of birth contorl.

I just asked a similar question yesterday here on Mamasource. It sounds like many of us do not do well on synthetic hormones. A few mamas suggested I check out estrogen dominance/progesterone deficiency and it turns out I have a ton more symptoms than just "moody". I'd check it out if I were you.

Good luck!