Breakthrough symptoms and conditions

I've been on the pill for about 7 days, and yes, I know it takes awhile to adjust, but I really didn't expect to be cramping so much, or for there to be breakthrough bleeding every day. The pills are making me bloated and giving me gas; I have to take pain meds each night to sleep since the cramping starts around bedtime. How long should I give the pill before I give up on it?

I began taking this pill in August 2009, to prevent pregnancy. I am nineteen years old. In the first month, my sex drive increased, I had no "breakthrough bleeding" or spotting, no mood swings that I could tell...everything seemed fine. My doctor put me on this pill because I told her I wanted a pill that wouldn't make me go crazy. This is the first bc pill I've ever been on, and hopefully the last. Let me put it this way: before I got on Loestrin 24 Fe, I actually WANTED to have sex. I had a sex drive. I have absolutely NO SEX DRIVE now. Sex is a chore. What's the point of taking a pill that enables you to have sex without the risk of being pregnant, if you completely lose interest in having sex anyway? I'm extremely frustrated. Over the past two months (I'm now on my fourth pack) I have been extremely fatigued, depressed, and especially anxious. I also have a blistering headache 90% of the time, I kid you not. Additionally, my blood pressure has gone way down, which makes no sense, as I am a very active and healthy person. This pill is literally deteriorating my mental and physical health. I refuse to put these pills, or any bc pills, in my body any more. I would much rather deal with the terrible cramps and heavy periods that I had before. And I still experienced bad cramps while on the pill anyway. I'm sticking with condoms.

I have been on this drug for a month because I HAVE BEEN HAVING IRREGULAR PERIODS FOR 5 MONTHS AND THEN MY DOCTOR GAVE THIS TO ME and THREE WEEKS LATER I HAD A PERIOD CHANGING TAMPONS EVERY TWO- THREE HOURS WITH VERY HEAVY CRAMPING? BLEEDING AND BREAKTHROUGH BLEEDING ALSO EVEN NOT ON PERIOD DAYS..PERIOD LASTS FOR 8 DAYS......YEA RIGHT? SHORTER AND LIGHTER........NO WAY!

I'm on my 3rd month of Jolessa. I've got about another 2 weeks until my first period, but I've been breakthrough bleeding for 3 weeks already.
I've had several abnormal mood swings and it's also been affecting my sex life.

*Most recently I've started to have a difficult time breathing. Feeling breathless and not feeling like I'm getting enough air and gasping. Also, slight wheezing now.. Has anyone else experienced this?

It just doesn't seem worth it..

I've been on Loestrin for about 4 or 5 months. I didn't even have a period last month and haven't gotten one this month (I'm not pregnant). I had some breakthrough bleeding the first month and second months, but none anymore. I take Loestrin because of debilitating severe cramps and I haven't had any in months after starting this pill. The only problem I've been having is that I get extremely nauseous when I eat anything. The funny thing is that I get super hungry a little while later and the vicious cycle starts over. I don't know if it is because of this pill. I had extremely low blood pressure before taking it, so it could be because of that.

I am trying to find out if anyone has experienced 5 minute delayed reaction from Lamictal. My 18 year old son has been on Lamictal for over 3 years. He started out at 200 mg, had a breakthrough seizure after 1 1/2 years and is now on 600 mg. Since they increased him, he has episodes about every two weeks where he feels really dizzy and then forgets what just happened five minutes before. His short term memory is getting progressively worse. You wouldn't know anything is wrong if you were talking to him, but since he has had four grand mal seizures, he knows something is up. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I am using Yasmin for 1 month now and 2days after today I will wait for my very first breakthrough bleeding.
--I always feel paranoid that I might be pregnant but we never had sex without the pill and condoms (both methods used in the right way;never forget to take a pill; waited for 7days after taking the first pill)
--extreme depression
--breast pain!!!
--dryness in skin
--migraine
(but now gone)
--stomach cramps
--going to the bathroom more often
--breathlessness at times
--nausea
--my heart feels like it wants to get out of my chest after walking and several hours after taking Yasmin
--and now slight hair loss

--NO spotting

could i be pregnant?
OMG,
I am getting paranoid again. I don't know why I am asking this question every time, even though I know that we used condoms and pills correctly...Depressed!!!!

I've been on Loestrin 24Fe for two months now and I DO LIKE it. I was taking Nuvaring before and in no way did I like it...I have had nausea and have a lot of cravings (lots of pregnant like symptoms, Im 100% sure Im not pregnant). I really like that I have no mood swings, I totally did with Nuvaring, I would snap out of nowhere. My sex drive is amazing! I'm really happy about that. I do get fatigue but I can keep clear headed and if I want to do something Ill do it. I do get heartburn, really bad heartburn but I do eat a lot of chili and hot/salsa food but it goes away with Tums. Oh has anyone been peeing A LOT?? I pee so much constantly and I checked for an infection and didn't have one so the pill might be causing it...also my sister is taking this pill and I asked how she liked it...she said that for the first two months she had mood swings but that after the third month it all went away and she said she liked it...(so she had mood swings for the first two months and I didn't) I seriously do not recommend NuvaRing at all...but so far I would recommend Loestrin 24Fe.

ok so i just started loestrin 1 week ago. i took my first active pill the day my period started. the first 2 days were fine. my period almost stopped completely. then, on the 3rd day i had as much bleeding as i would during my normal period. im on the 7th day and still have a pretty heavy flow. i know breakthrough bleeding/spotting is normal, but how long? they say up to 3 months but this is so annoying! has anyone completely stopped spotting/bleeding between periods? also, i feel very tired and irritable. help! should i stop taking the pill? and if i stop will i get my regular period?

Okay. I have been on Yaz for the last year. I have been having horrible migraines. I have been told to switch from Yaz to something else. The doctor prescribed me Loestrin 24. Now, ever statement I read someone says they have had a lot of spotting. Is there anyone taking Loestrin and is not spotting? I am not sure if I should take this pill now?????? I also need to loose about 10 pounds from taking the Yaz. I am afraid that taking the Loestrin I will gain more........ I just don't know what to do.

This is my 2nd pack of Alesse, and I think i'm going to stop after i am done with this pack. I am experiencing breakthrough bleeding all the time, im irritable, i get lightheaded all the time, and i cant keep away from sweets! With the breakthrough bleeding, I feel like i'm getting my period and i get the cramps and back pain along with it. I know it's due to this pill because I have 2 kids and I am very into healthy eating and working out and i have a lot of will power when it comes to sweet food and chocolate. Also, by 5pm or 6pm, I am soooo fatigued that I can't even drive, I just want to sleep! People say to be patient and give it a few months, i totally disagree, I am not going to mess up my body. i think I am just going to stop birth control overall and try a different method of birth control.

I started taking loestrin in nov 08 i was on my period all of Dec 08 and parts of jan Then i stopped and my periods started regularly and i started bak on it and as soon as i get off my period i go right bak on it and my periods last 7 days not 3!! and its making me extremely emotional and on top of it all i don't get sleep at night but in the day time it makes me extremely drowsy this pill is a piece of shit anyone know anything better??

I'm trying to determine some sort of pattern based on each woman's experience with different brands (estrogen/progestin levels) of birth control... Recently my gyn prescribed Loestrin 24, I have yet to begin a cycle but am trying to gauge possible side effects.
Generic Ortho-tricyclen: AWFUL!!! Reeked havoc on my emotional stability. Bitchy, moody, impatient, weepy (constantly), and weight gain. I did not notice any sexual side effects though.
Yaz: Better than Ortho... Random periods (heavy one month, non existent the next). Emotionally and sexually I feel fine, but hard to measure after taking Ortho and Cymbalta.

Please share thoughts and experiences

I am 42 years old and started taking Loestrin in January to regulate my irregular period and I suffer from ovarian cysts as well. The first 2 months my body ached like I had the flu. I could not stand for my knees to touch each other as I slept, so I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs. My knees ached like I was about 70 years old with arthritis. I had lost 5 lbs by the time I got to the 3rd row of my 1st packet. My normal period only lasted 3-4 days anyway, so that did not change at all. However, last month, my period came 1 week early starting out with "spotting" or "breakthrough bleeding" for 3 days and what I assumed was my "period" last for 7 days and back to "spotting" for 3 days after that. I thought it would never end!!! I was about to go the ER and have them administer the shot that stops your period! On top of that, I suffered with severe lower back, knees, and lower part of my stomach pains that were almost unbearable. I also have experienced severe headaches (may be migraines) since I have started taking Loestrin. And sex, oh forget about it!! Sex has been painful to the point where I have to stop and lay in the fetal position for about 20 minutes before I can get myself together. What is that all about!!? My daughter who is 17 started at the same time I did with Yaz to help with dysmenorrhea and acne, and she's been fine!! (Except for a little weight gain!!) What is it about this pill that does this to our bodies? I said I would give it 1 more month (June) and see what happens. If my body and period go haywire this month, I will discontinue Loestrin and deal with the irregular periods!

I had Mirena inserted into my cervix in March 2009. Almost one month later, I started having lower back pains and also pain in the left side of my pelvic. After going through 3 weeks of physiotherapy, the pain has reduced but it is not yet gone. Also, I've gained almost 10lbs during the past two months even though there is no change in my diet. Are these side-effects of Mirena?

After all the bad ratings on the nuvaring, I am suprised it is still recommended for use. My doctor told me to try the nuvaring because I have a history of having break through bleeding every day and he didn't want to put me on the medicine (northindrone) that will stop it and straighten me out quickly. Not sure why but I might have to switch doctors. The first month I had break through bleeding every day during the 2nd and 3rd week. When I took it out for the 4th week, the break through bleeding stopped which I find weird. My cycle didn't start until 3 days later. I'm currently on the 2nd month and I experienced large amounts of discharge the first week and just moving into my 3rd week I am starting to experience break through bleeding, cramps, and bloating. I have never bloated before in my life. During these past two months I have also experienced episodes of extreme hunger and then episodes where even the thought of food makes me sick. I have ZERO sex drive, am extremely dry (doesn't make sense with the increased discharge?), and there are times when it is too painful to even have intercourse. I have not experienced the real bad mood changes/ depression but I am tired all the time. The tiredness gets to the point where I can barely stay awake and I always get more than 7 hrs of sleep a night. I'm going to give nuvaring one more month and if it straightens out my breakthrough bleeding I will stick with it because bleeding every day is the most frusterating and depressing thing I can think of. It doesn't even compare to the side effects I experience while on the ring. I have tried 6 different forms of BC with no avail and bled for a year straight once before.

weight-gain/ alternatives have been availalable.."Amour-thyroid" about.com any alternative medicine sites! Thy-Aid..etc,Synthroid does nothing for thy,roid issue Everything starts there! Bio-denticals deals w/ harmonal...read and learn..FDA lies! Alternatives have "Cured" ask "Breakthrough" Susann Sommers book w/ doctors! Larry King! Truth re: real cures for thyroid,not HRT's..yet another that has killed and/or close to from...Side-effects..alt's do not have side-effects.soon,if enough people stop being lazy and so afraid to take what will keep them alive and happy only then will ALT'S push the bad FDA approved poisons away! Both MUST be explored,but the FDA make billions w/ doctors who get kick backs from each script they write for the infamous SIN-Throid,made my life a horror..hypothyroid issue does not need syn! There are better natural things! Headaches,never get the right dose! Right thyroid tests? Endocrinologists will use those bio-denticals bec- hormone & Thy go together,for all of the idiots out there who think their doctors are sooo good,slowly they are killing them in many ways!

I'm SOOO glad I stumbled upon this site. I am 32 and have never taken birth control. I talked to my gyno about getting on the pill and she recommended Loestrin. I started Loestrin the first day of my period. Typically they are 3-4 days max. I usually have really bad cramps the 1st day, sometimes the 2nd, but no pain after that.

I honestly thought I was going crazy bc the 3rd day I was on the pill, I woke up so extremely irritated that I got in a fight with my b-friend, yelled at the jewelry woman at Nordstrom, was yelling at people while driving, and basically acting like a crazy person. I am a high stress person, but never ever like this. I never behave this way, especially to sales associates. It was rather embarrassing, but I couldn't control it. I continued to feel this way for 2 days and now it has become slightly less. I am anxious and irritable and more sensitive (not usually very sensitive at all). I've had continuous bleeding (it's now been 7 days of tampons) and horrible cramping all the way down to my legs. It's really painful and uncomfortable. I thought something was wrong with me - thought about going to the emergency room last night it was so bad.

I will admit that I do love to eat, but I find myself constantly hungry. I eat and eat and eat and can't stop. My stomach is completely bloated. I haven't weighed myself, but feel disgusting.

I called my doctor this morning bc I'm so freaked out, but am waiting for a call back. Luckily I read these postings to find that I am not sick or crazy...it must be the pills.

Does anyone know what happens if you stop taking them suddenly after 1 week? How long does it take the body to get back to normal? Also, does anyone know if the bleeding stops immediately - my boyfriend is taking me on a trip this weekend and I'd really like to be "normal."

I have been on Seasonique for over a year and have had no side effects or breakthrough bleeding. My period used to be unbearable and heavy, lasting over seven days and now is a manageable normal flow lasting around four or five days. I still get cramps, just not in the same intensity I used to. I would recommend this product to anyone... Just make sure it's covered by your insurance - I paid for mine out of pocket!

ive been on the yhe 50 mg for nine yrs now, and now i get no relive from the patch seems like its not working at all help

I have been on MANY birth control pills over 15 years, and this is the first one with NO breakthrough bleeding. I have always bled randomly through-out the month, or when I was an hour late taking the pill I would get a full week's period. With jolessa I could be a full 24 hours late and have no bleeding. After 15 years of not going more than two weeks without bleeding, 3 months with none is the best thing thats happened to me since this "womanhood" sh*t started. Two weeks before my period I get typical swollen sore breasts, acne, and extreme anger, depression and irritation that makes me not want to not live and my family and co-workers want to kill me- BUT better two weeks every three months than the normal one week out of every four weeks. Oh! and I am insanely hungry, I need almost twice the food I used to eat in order to not faint of hunger! ( minimal weight gain, but I can hardly afford all the food)

Well I have looked at a lot of web site for information about birth controls and this one by far seems to be the best. I'm 22 years old and have been on and off birth control since I was 15. So far every one I have tried has caused either nausea or Sever Break through bleeding. Last November I decide to give the depo shot one more try, for the first month I had no break through bleeding. But in December it started and never stopped, here it is April 30 and I experienced maybe 5 days during my duration of the depo shot no bleeding. So I went to the doctor today because I have come to realize that my body may need a higher dosing of hormones so she prescribed Femcon. Now in the past I have had the same problems that have been posted on here but when I was not on birth control! Birth control, controlled my symptoms a little but never stopped them. So im hopping that Femcon control that awful breakthrough bleeding I experience with many other contraceptives. At the end of my pack im going to update! Todays day 1

Hi, I've been looking for information about Femcon Fe. This is the 5th type of pill that I've taken. (I've been on the pill for 11 years and have always had breakthrough bleeding). My doctor just started me on Femcon thinking maybe I need a higher dose of hormones. It's only been 10 days but so far I feel like a completely different person. I take the pill before I go to bed and in the first few nights I woke up a couple hours later with horrible cramps (worse than on my period). The cramps have for the most part gone away but I am emotionally a completely different person. My fiance said the first couple days were terrible mood swings, but now I feel completely detached or disconnected from having any emotions. I just feel like I'm in a fog. And for the past 4-5 days I've had trouble sleeping, had terrible headaches, and zero sex drive. I would much rather deal with breakthrough bleeding than deal with this constant disconnected feeling. Does anyone know if it's bad to just stop taking the pills? I ordered a refill of my old Yasmin but it won't get here for a few days.

I am not on synthroid, but also feel tired all the time with brain fog. I was actually thinking about getting my thyroid checked. I just read a wonderful book called "Breakthrough" and will be going to one of the recommended doctor's in the book. All of everybody's symptoms, including mine, sounds like the result of out of whack hormones---estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, etc.(guys, you too) You might want to go to a doctor that deals with bio-identical hormone replacement---not your OB/GYN. They also have a better thyroid hormone replacement---a natural one made from, um, here it comes--pig--which is supposedly better than the synthetic stuff everyone is taking. Also, every single doctor interviewed in the book raved about the fact that diet sodas are poison--the artificial sweeteners are killing us--so if you're downing those, you might want to stop for a while to see if you feel better. Good luck and God bless you all---hope this helps you and I hope the doctor that I'm going to see helps me...I really recommend reading that book---there is a wealth of info in there. Some things I questioned but most things really made sense.

OMG! And I thought I was dying! LOL I am having the same problems... I have been hurting badly right above my stomach. I have had a lot of nausea and gas. Also, I have had problems with diarrhea for the first 2-3 months of having it. I have had cramping and frequent urges to use the bathroom and go to the bathroom about anytime I eat something. And I fell butterflies in my stomach... and sometimes flutters like I felt when I was pregnant. I was never like this before. I spot bleed a lot. I wish they would have told me that the spot bleeding could be a daily event. I would have bought stock in Tampax and Always. LOL N e ways... I told my mother about the pain I had been experiencing and she thought it was my gallbladder. I went to my doctor and they ran tests. She told me that my gallbladder was fine. I called my gyno and told her about what I had been experiencing and asked her if it was linked to the Mirena and she told me it could be... that with time my problems would get better, but she would take it, but to think about it. After reading all of your postings I believe I will call and make an appointment tomorrow. I was just telling my husband how I miss feeling normal... well like I did before the baby and the mirena. Did anyone get theirs removed? And if so did your problem resolve?
ERT