Estrogen symptoms and conditions

Well i been on loestrin for about 5 months now, Ive tried 4 other contraceptives (that kept giving me nasty yeast infections, headaches and severe nausea! , but this is probably the only one my body tolerates..... as far as symptoms, in the beginning i would have massive migraines and nausea almost everyday it was horrible! but it got a lil better as time past....of coarse mood swings from here to there, and a low sex drive... it suxs my boyfriend thinks "im not into him" anymore, and im telling u its the pills... cuz i didnt have this problem before i got on em. but i guess i choose to be on the pills cuz i dont want any accidents....it helps my acne for the most part.....haven't had any migrans lately hopefully they wont come back.... but my next step will probably be the IUD...hopefully this wont give me no problems =/ if that dont work then i dont no what im gonna do...anything with tooo much estrogen gets me really sick.....

I had mine removed this week - thank the lord above!!! However, it has been rough and be forewarned that I experienced horrific cramping and HEAVY bleeding for nearly five days. I also had terrible back pains and some pain down my legs as well as some mental fogginess. I only had it in about one month and had gained 3 pounds and outgrown my bras! So now, two boxes of tampons later, I finally stopped bleeding altogether about 24 hours ago and the cramping has subsided. I feel mentally clearer and, believe it or not, have some semblance of libido - my husband is thrilled!

I am exploring other options for managing hormonal changes in perimenopause - including evening primrose oil and am still doing lots of yoga (even during the pain periods I did lots of yoga to help me manage)...Mainly, I feel so betrayed by the doctors (two women half my age) who insisted my symptoms were "all in my head" - to those of you planning for removal I encourage you to tell the medical professionals you work with that you are NOT crazy and NOT the only one experiencing these side effects. I personally believe that many women get too much progestin in the Mirena (which is not Progesterone, either) and this, in addition to overloading our estrogen, is enough to make us completely insane and miserable. I say let nature work its course as regards my own perimenopause and to those out there using Mirena for birth control I managed to avoid pregnancy with little concern using natural/rhythm methods and condoms as well as a diaphragm, conceiving my two beautiful (now teenage) sons without any intervention from hormones except my own. I am going to do peri and menopause the same way here on out. !!!!

Would love to hear how long it took for weight and stomach fat to go away after the removal from anyone who has been there - I eat very healthfully and exercise daily so I knew the pregnant look I got after that month with the Mirena was not due to one too many cookies )as my doctor seemed to infer !

I'm 43 years old and had a baby 5 months ago. I decided to go back on the pill and have been doing a lot of research about the "right" pill. My gyno recommended Loestrin 24 FE because of the low hormones/less effects. I was scared to death to start this pill based on all of the horrible reviews I've been reading. So, I thought I'd report on my experience so far... It's been two weeks and so far so good. I haven't noticed anything dramatic so far. I will give it more time and see how it goes. Hopefully it continues working well. I have a feeling this pill is better for women in their 40's who are peri-menopausal. Maybe the estrogen is too low for the younger women, I don't know. I'll continue to post comments as I stay on the pill. I value these reviews, but remember, everyone's body is different. So far this is working for me but again, it's only 2 weeks. Hope you find thi helpful.

I was wondering if anyone has been having a problem with acne? I had the mirena inserted in May of this year, within two weeks I was having terrible mood swings, I was flying off the handle at the drop of a hat! Crazy! I went to my doctor to have it removed, he talked me into keeping it in a few months see if it changes. My moods are better but my face has become insanely greasy! I wash it twice a day, use face-wipes throughout the day to try to control it, I blot my oil away with the oil absorbing sheets. The problem is I am doing it all the time! I have even resorted to using the tissue paper toilet seat covers to blot my face, they work great in a pinch...but they are becoming part of my daily oil control routine! As an added bonus I now have acne! Never in my life have I had acne, nothing I do helps, I have all the creams and acne treatments, nothing has worked. I am just wondering if anyone else is having the same problem?

Well, I was doing some research because my pain from my endometriosis is returning and I'm actually considering asking my doctor for another round of Lupron. I was on lupron over 2 years ago and experienced minimal side effects. I had the hot flashes, no hair loos just hair growth in unwanted places like my face, and just a few bouts of tearfulness. i actually lost weight on lupron and consider it to be the most sane time of my life. The women in my family over produce estrogen so i'm not sure if maybe my experience was different in that my estorgen level was not depleted to nothingness but to a more normal level. I am saddened to hear so many women suffering with what I considered my wonder drug!

I had Mirena inserted 6 weeks ago and just had it removed. My medical history includes TIAs (mini-strokes) and migraines. I had a migraine EVERY DAY while I had Mirena. I also experienced ZERO LIBIDO (so what was the point of birth control!?), weight gain and mood swings. I had Paragard inserted a few days ago and I am already slowly returning to normal. My point - if you have had problems with hormones in the past, not only estrogen, but also progesterone, you may want to stay away from Mirena. My OB/GYN argued with me the entire time that there is no way Mirena could cause these symptoms since progesterone is not released in the bloodstream - BULL!!! Women, listen to your body and trust your gut.

I'm 21 years old and I have had the WORST experiences with Loestrin24 Fe. DO NOT TAKE THIS SATANIC PILL. Seriously. This was the first birth control I was ever put on. My doctor put me on it because she said the low dose of estrogen would help my bad cramps (but I really think she was just trying to promote this new pill...because when I started it it was still pretty new). I started this pill before I turned 21, this past March, and for the first few months the only things I noticed were spotting when I didn't take it at the EXACT time everyday (which I soon set an alarm for and did take it at 9 am daily) and also, my breasts definitely got bigger and I didn't have as many breakouts as I used to. I also experienced being really depressed and upset for no reason or being really angry for no reason. After a few months, I started to get headaches a lot more often, have vivid weird dreams that I would remember the next day, I had trouble going to sleep at night (insomnia)...and I looked these up to see if they were symptoms of this pill...and they are. The worst was when I PASSED OUT the day I started my new pack of pills 2 months in a row! I just went to my doctor and had several tests done and they said that they were not positive, but it is a possibility that the passing out was related to my birth control. I passed out the day after the 4 placebo/iron pills (that I did not take, which could have also been a factor) which was the day I started my new pack...when your estrogen shoots up. I take my pills at 9 am and I passed out around noon in both cases. I switched to another birth control last month, but now I am completely off of birth control because the new pill made me lose my appetite and I just do not want to deal with putting these things into my body. I do NOT recommend this birth control to ANYONE. This pill should not be prescribed, especially after reading about how a large percentage of women have such awful experiences with this pill. I'm so excited to be DONE with Loestrin24 Fe and done with birth control in general. To me, birth control is not worth feeling awful all the time and having weird side effects when I could be living problem-free otherwise. I just wanted to share my thoughts and experiences and I hope that perhaps others will have better experiences with this pill than most of us seem to be having!

I started Yaz (lower dose of estrogen than Yasmin) about three months ago. A couple of weeks ago I experienced shortness of breath and chest pain while exercising which became worse with time. It kept getting worse and I would feel short of breath just sitting or laying down. I eventually went to urgent care and was told my blood pressure was really high. I have never had a problem with high blood pressure before. ObGyn office told me to stop the Yaz immediately. The shortness of breath is still present. Now I am on blood pressure medication and an inhaler.

I am 45 years old. I get the impression many of the ladies here are younger, as they speak of having younger children, so I will tell my side from a bit more "mature" (ie older!) perspective:

Had Mirena for a little over 9 months. My two MAIN side effects were a development of terrible cystic acne on my face, back, shoulders, hairline, behind my ears and straight down my spine, ending in a nice lovely rash just above my tailbone. These things were deep, solid knots under the skin, not average little pimples. Worse acne I've ever had, and at my age too!

Second, profuse sweating under my breasts and lower back, again just at my tailbone, right above my butt. After drying off from a shower, I'd run my hand back there and still feel soaked. This did not seem related to hot flashes. Just sweating, and I think that contributed to the acne, which was beginning to leave scars it was so deep.

I do feel like I gained weight, my pants were much tighter and I just felt bloated all the time.

Fortunately, no hair loss or emotional side effects. I've had anxiety for years and take Ativan (lorazepam) which keeps it pretty much under control. No loss of sex drive either. It seems there are a distinct set of side effects, and some get them in different combination than others, but we're ALL getting them one way or the other!

OBGYN said as the Mirena is only progesterone, I was missing the estrogen which were the 2 components of the pill I took for years with no trouble. He gave me a Rx for a low dose of estrogen. Now I am getting what I had in the pill in 2 separate forms, and having these awful side effects on top of it. It didn't help.

So I had Mirena removed 6 days ago. Luckily he found the strings, told me to cough, and pulled it out, no pain! I immediately went back on Alesse BC pill that same day, so no break in hormones, but I handled the BC pill fine all those years, so I"m just going back on it. Have been bleeding ever since removal, but I figure that is just my body "getting back at me" for not having periods for months. My first real one, due in about 3 weeks following the pill schedule will probably be the period from hell. Ok, I accept that. My uterus wants to get this poison toxic mess out of me, and I'm ok with that.

I'm crossing my fingers that I will miss the "crash" I've read so much about. As it seems to be mostly psychological, and I didn't have those side effects to begin with, maybe it won't be so bad, or at all. Of course that could just be wishful thinking on my part! So far, 6 days of having it out of me and I already feel 100% better! My face cleared up in a matter of days. The sweating stopped immediately. My pants are looser, although I still weigh the same. The bloated feeling is gone. I just feel thinner. Before, my profile in the mirror looked like I was 4 months pregnant! That too is going down quick. Good luck to all who have it removed. Things can only get better!

And don't let any doctor tell you you can't have it out! It's your body! You can demand whatever you want, especially if you feel like it is making you sick! Do not take no for an answer. You don't even owe them an explanation. Just a "Sorry, it's not for me..." at the most.

Good luck to all....

cannot believe how many stories I have read about mirena and hair loss etc..etc.. etc.. I have experienced many of the side effects that everyone is mentioning.. I actually feel I could live with most of them if it weren't for the hair loss. I have had ( copying from other post.. ridiculous right?)Tired all the time ~ Depression ~ Hungry all the time ~ leg cramps ~ HAIR LOSS TO THE POINT OF BALDING IN SEVERAL AREAS ~ oily skin and bad breakouts ~ Mood swings (huge...yelling fits at my husband and the kids) ~ fluttering in uterus~Sore breasts.. I have medium thick hair that is about 10 inches. I noticed a bald spot in June and now have discovered 4-5 others starting. I just had the iud removed today and my OB pretty much tried to convince me that there is no way that the IUD is causing my issues. I have never had any of these issues before. I got the Mirena on 4/30 of 08 and noticed slowly but surely all of the side effects mentioned. My OB told me that the progesterone could not be causing my issues because it is such a small dosage that it would be comparable to spitting in the ocean as far as the amount that is in my blood stream. She said because I am black and 35 that I may have an autoimmune disorder and that I should stop reading blogs. I told her that all of my research wasn't from a blog and that ALOPECIA is a side effect just not mentioned in my pamphlet that I can find. I understand what she is saying and that she is the one that is the dr. but nobody knows my body better than I do.. I am in it!! I have !never had any problems and have been healthy my entire life. There is no history of autoimmune disease in my family. I am going to my primary care doctor.. to have some blood tests done. I think that the mirena has caused an autoimmune response in my body.. it may not necessarily be the progesterone..although I don't rule it out no matter what she says . the progesterone is synthetic and has an androgynous like activity that is similar to testosterone the main thing that causes male pattern baldness. also Mirena is made out of Silicone.. perhaps those of us that are having hair loss are having it due to our body trying to fight off the foreign invader of the IUD itself. I was going to go and have the Paragard inserted.. because i was thinking it may just be the progesterone.. nope... I read that many women are complaining of ACNE and HAIRLOSS even with that because its made out of copper. So with that being said.. not sure what to do.. may have to go back on Yasmin.. didn't seem to have any problems with that.. I really just don't want to risk putting another hormone in my body.. We all need to get together and look into a class action suit because I am tired of being made to feel crazy by doctors.. sometimes what seems to not be possible is .. especially when there are so many women having the same problem. Feel free to e-mail me re: a class action suit.. if they took depo off Mirena needs to come of too. It seems like it has really screwed a lot of peoples system up.. Hopefully I won't find out I know have a thyroid problem etc.. etc..

I felt I should share my story, even though it is quite lengthy, since it is similar, and every story helps those who are still unsure.

I went on birth control at the age of 15. I tried several kinds, but all of them made me nauseous. I was on Mircette the longest, and seemed to be doing fine. Then around '03/'04 I started seeing a new ob-gyn, who told me that my problem was that I had a low tolerance for estrogen, and that was what was making me feel so nauseous. She said there was a new type of pill specifically for women like me called Yasmin that had very low doses of hormones. I was excited about starting the new pill, and did right away.

I continued taking Yasmin until about a year ago, when I switched to the generic of Yasmin, Ocella, due to the fact that my insurance didn't cover Yasmin and it was becoming expensive. On the Ocella, which I took for two months, I felt bloated like I had a basketball in my stomach, constipation, and other issues. I was told by the pharmacist that I was probably allergic to the additives that are sometimes in generic pills. So I decided to find out which birth control was covered under my prescription plan, call my gyno, and switch.

My gyno called in Loestrin Fe, but they filled it with the generic, Microgestin. I took this for approximately 3-4 months, and felt absolutely terrible, with panic attacks, crying, sleeping problems- the whole bit. So I thought that I should go back on Yasmin, no matter what the cost, and attempt to regulate again.

I went back on Yasmin six months ago, and though some of my symptoms have improved over how I felt on Microgestin, I am still a mess at times. I have moments when I am anxious and moments when I am absolutely joyful. I get really angry over little stuff, irritable and snappy. Then I get weepy and feel terrible about being snappy. Then I'm happy again. It's an emotional rollercoaster. I was never like this before- my moods were even, and I handled stress well. And I was always pretty happy-go-lucky.

Physically, I have ear fluttering/clogging/pressure/popping/pain. I'm getting fairly frequent migraines, which I never had before more than once a year. I, too, have numbness on the right side of my face in which it feels like my eyelid is swelling, neck stiffness and pain, and numbness of fingers and arm. I went to the ER a while back because I thought something was severely wrong due to symptoms of dizziness (vertigo) and right-sided numbness. I have severe TMJ and jaw pain, which I didn't have before, and allergies, which I also never had before. I have heart palipitations and sometimes random chest pain under or to the side of my breast. All of these symptoms have started to occur in the last six months after going back on Yasmin.

I went to an internist, who did blood tests, checking for thyroid issues and checking hormone levels. My thyroid was temporarily hyper, but my hormones were, according to the test, normal. But when the blood test was done, I wasn't experiencing any symptoms, so I'm not sure if it's accurate.

My yearly exam with my gyno is coming up in November, and I'm going to discuss these things with her, but I'm afraid she'll look at me strange for thinking that these symptoms are related to Yasmin...

Ironically, the only time it seems that I'm feeling pretty good is when I have my period! Which I guess would be when I have no hormones in me whatsoever! I feel happier and my sex drive goes back up, and my moods even out.

I am now considering, after reading these posts with all of you that were kind enough to share your stories, going off of Yasmin for good. I'm not sure what, if anything, my gyno is going to recommend, but I was considering trying an IUD instead...

Ok a lot of the women on here seem to have already had a kid or kids. I'm 25 and havent had any yet. I smoke and am on adderall for add, which are both risks for strokes blood clots and heart attacks. So I have to be on something with little to no estrogen. I am horrible with taking the pill, and heard horrible things about the shot, mainly weight gain.

So my gyno suggested an IUD, Mirena, saying that since there is only a "small" amount of hormone in it, that I would barely have any side effects. And I have crappy health insurance and was so happy that they covered it. I was like ok little side effects and good for 5 years and FREE! Awesome! Gotta be a catch.........I figured the catch would be the painful insertion or something.

So the first weekend with it in, I went camping. At our campsite, with no real bathrooms mind you, horrible sharp pains, like worse than your worst period ever. I had only been spotting a tiny bit. When i woke up it looked like a murder scene. Blood all over. I went home and took ibuprofen and used heating pads. But for about a month, the cramping continued. They started to decrease in pain and started to happen less and less and I was so relieved.

second month. cramps stopped, but everything else started to hit the fan. First and foremost, my hair. I have thin straight hair to begin with, and I used special strengthening shampoos and conditioners to prevent breakage. So on month 2 on mirena, I noticed my brush was accumulating more hair than usual. My shirt would be covered in hair every time i brushed. Then I started to look at the hairs.....they were falling out, not breaking. By the root. Then I started to freak. Because my adderall kills my appetite, I never really ate. So I was thinking, could be a vitamin deficiency, thyroid problem, no idea. Then I googled mirena and hair loss and I found this website as well as hundreds of others where women would post their side effects. And almost every one mentioned losing hair. i have not had any kids, I know that if you are preg or have a child you can lose hair. I got my thyroid checked, its fine. And Im taking 1-a-day vitamins for women, fish oil pills, you name it. Oh, and after all my hard work losing 50 lbs, I gained 10 lbs back already and Im not even eating too much more than I did before. Its mainly my belly and face.

Ok aside from appearance there are other side effects driving me nuts. I also have really bad anxiety already, and it has been a million times worse. So much worse that I had to up my anxiety medicine. Mood swings? Try Mood Rage. I feel like Im on a steroid. I nanny for 2 2-year olds. I used to have infinite patience, which is a major requirement if you're working with children, and now snap easily and have to go in the bathroom and calm down, but I usually just end up crying........

Cant concentrate, going to be bald by Halloween, and am gaining weight that I cant lose. Panic attacks and short temperament and almost feeling bi-polar. Also killed my sex drive!

This is my third month. thought I could just suck it up but Im losing more hair every day. I feel guilty at work when im never in a good mood anymore. I feel depressed, ugly, and bloated, fat, crazy...........oh I forgot to mention pimples. never had em. now i get em on my face, shoulders????? and back.

Im obvis. getting this demon ripped out of me, and when my gyno is finished doing it, I'm going to be giving her a nice punch in her face.

I'm having facial flushing, I'm 33 years old and not close to menopause but I get extreme migraines that last 3 to 4 days and bad facial flushing and sweating. I have had the Mirena in for a little over two years.

I just had a baby about 8 weeks ago and started nuvaring and have only been on it for 2 days and i am already feeling nausea, headaches and severe cramps. i took it out and felt a relief of pressure immediately. i don't know if it is just because i just had a baby but it was not fun and i don't think i will use it again, it is not worth the effects you get from it.

I have had Mirena in for about a year. I got it because after trying birth control pills, I was getting severe migraines all the time. My doctor told me I was at risk for stroke and should never take birth control pills again. Not wanting to have to use condoms the rest of my life, I asked for options other than the pill. My doctor strongly recommended Mirena. Well, I had it put in in September of 2008. At first I had the normal symptoms of heavy bleeding, severe cramps, etc. But after about 2 months that calmed down. However, I felt bloated all the time and started gaining weight. I was only 21 at the time, and had never had a problem with weight gain in my entire life. I wasn't over-eating, and I was still exercising. In the last year I have gained about 20 pounds. Anyways, around January I got a large cyst on one of my ovaries which eventually burst, but I still feel like I have sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen quite a lot. The real problem started a few months ago. I have been getting severe migraines again, and they are coming more and more frequently. I get optical auras with the migraines and often feel tingling in my face and hands. I am concerned that something more severe could be wrong or that Mirena is putting me at risk for stroke. I was told this would not happen with Mirena, but I have had no other significant changes that could account for the migraines. I have had migraines since I was a little girl, but never this often or with the strange tingling. The only other time I had migraines like this was on the pill. I really like Mirena because it is easy and I don't have to think about it, but I hate the migraines, weight gain, bloating, cysts, etc. I don't know what else I would use, though, since I can't be on estrogen-based birth controls. Does anybody have any advice? I am only 22 years old and don't want children for a while. I really don't know what to do.

i see that others on this site did not have the best experience with implanon. i'm on it right now and i never experienced any of the side effects presented her, although i did have one problem. implanon is a progesterone ONLY drug. my doctor inserted implanon at the wrong time in my cycle, making my periods... CRAZY. i was initially told that most patients didn't even experience a period. after i had what seemed like a TWO MONTH period, i went to the doctor. the doctor explained that it was not a two month period but that, since the above (progesterone only, inserted at wrong time of cycle) had been thrown into the mix together, i was not making enough estrogen which was causing the progesterone in implanon to basically, wear away the lining of my uterus. the estrogen builds it up, but when you're not making any estrogen, you cant really do that. so my doctors put me on Femcon FE, an oral contraceptive from the same company. the estrogen in the drug regulates the hormones. it has worked so far but the estrogen is making me a WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSON. other than that, i'm doing okay with it

I have endo and have had surgery for it and now I have not had any pain with my lupron shot but I have become VERY depressed. My husband doesn't understand! Thank God I only have to take one more shot (that lasts for 3 months) and then I should be able to have kids... if I still have a husband by then. My doc put me on an estrogen tablet to help with the hot flashes and that has helped. I feel hot but don't sweat. I am also on lexapro which helps with the depression but heaven forbid I miss one!

Reading these is both disturbing and a relief. I was put on YASMIN by my GYN after blood work confirmed my estrogen was low- I was 42 at the time and the GYN felt I needed the pill to boost my energy and she said it would "even out" mood swings. I stayed on the pill for 3 years.

I attributed my fatigue to being "perimenaupasal" meanwhile I stopped the pill 3 weeks ago and my fatigue has lifted, my aches and pains are gone. When I would try to research these symptoms I would come up with Lupus or some chronic fatigue issue, but I realize now it was this pill making me fatigued, moody, and thirsty!!

I have had blood work done to rule out any other type of illness or issue and realize so many other women are struggling with these symptoms, the pill that is supposed to make life better is making people sick.

I just started taking birth control after not being on any for 3 years. I have had 2 children and breast feed them. So at first I was put on a low dose pill, but I experienced break through bleeding. So the doctor recommended trying a higher estrogen level pill, Apri. The first month seemed fine, then the second month I bleed in the middle of the pack. Just like a period. I was so annoyed. I then bleed a little during the non active pill week. I cannot have 2 periods a month. I finally got my prebaby body back and then starting gaining weight with this stupid pill. My sex drive is really gone. I'm glad I know that I do have a sex drive when I'm not on the pill. I never realized how much it affects that until I was finally off it during and after pregnancy. I have dealt with bad headaches for years but did not realize it could be linked to the pill. These last two months I have had so many headaches. Some have lasted for days. After doing research I see it can affect migraines/headaches. After all this I was more than ready to stop Apri. I don't know what I will take now. I just want to see what my body really is like without the pill. It was stupid to take the pill to prevent pregnancy, because we didn't have much sex due to the lack of drive. Overall, this pill is bad news!

I was diagnosed with PCOS after having its symptoms for 10 years.. For a couple of years those symptoms gradually started to get worse - hirsutism (hair around the mouth, on the chin, around the nipples), and the adult acne that wasn't going away despite any medication. And i started becoming really depressed because of that.
The ultrasound and blood tests confirmed the PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and the extremely high levels of testosterone in the blood (result of pcos). I also had abnormal period - sometimes missing a month, sometimes having it 2-3 times a month. The physician told me that it was bleeding and that I'm not ovulating. She prescribed me Yaz - said it's the lowest-dosage bc pill, said it will lower my testosterone, raise estrogen, get me rid of excess hair and acne.
After a week of Yaz, i started feeling even more depressed than usual - started having nightmares, feeling very tired most of the time. Today was the end of the second week, and I am stopping taking Yaz, for good. Yesterday, I could hardly walk a mile - so extremely tired I felt. This morning - could hardly walk to the second floor. And, all day, felt extremely vulnerable, weak, and very very depressed: I started crying just looking at the gray sky, and couldn't stop. I barely got home, because I felt extreme fatigue, and burst into tears, blaming everyone around on how unhappy I am. Now I know, it's the Yaz talking... I am 26, and I am stopping this pill NOW. For my PCOS, I'm hoping to get better results with alternative herbal treatment and acupuncture.

I have great experience with this pill unlike others. Just like with any pill you can get melasma which is dark spots on your skin. I got few but from my previous pill witch was Yaz (it was terrible; daily headaches, no periods which is normal but kept buying pregnancy tests because of it, terrible breast soreness, vaginal dryness, zero sex drive). With this pill, at the beginning of taking this pill, first few days I felt little nauseous but nothing that bothered me. First month I had some breakthrough bleeding but that was gone after a month. No headaches, slight breast increase which I am not complaining about (it can happen in pills with higher estrogen). No breast soreness, no weight gain, no darkening of the skin so far, sex drive is normal. The only negative, this pill costs $75.

I am fifteen years old and I will be sixteen soon. I have tried fem con before but never really stuck with it because I kept forgetting to take the stupid pills. Well after having my period for four months straight I got back on the pill because its the only chewable one they had. (I'm terrified of swallowing pills, even if they are real small) I'm almost through my first pack and it has been THE WORST month of my life. The first few pills gave me morning sickness. I never through up because I would always eat crackers, drink water, and try to breathe it out. I still feel sick to my stomach for a little while after taking the pill. I have to eat something to get the awful taste out of my mouth.. I have gained TWENTY POUNDS in like three-four weeks. i went from wearing a size 2/3 pants to wearing a seven. Although that is not very large the drastic change is not good. Well in the past two weeks I have lost many friends because this pill makes me angry at little things. I get annoyed at little sounds and certain peoples voices. I am going into a very deep depression and have suicidal thoughts because no one wants to be around me. I am taking this pill to regulate my period and its not even working anymore! I hate this pill and everything that it is doing to my emotions and body.

I got the Mirena inserted when I was 19, had no children, but had had awful experiences on the Pill... I had tried a number of Pills, including Yasmin (became depressed and moody), Loette (spotting), Levlen ED (Crazy moods and insanely tender breasts)... etc etc.
When I am not on the Pill I am a fun loving, easy going girl with my head-screwed on, but when on the Pill I become so unreasonable and emotional.
After having Mirena inserted (so painful as I hadn't had children), I had bleeding for 3 months, cramping and bloating etc... BUT - I felt WONDERFUL for the 4 years following. NO moods, no cramps, my periods stopped completely after about 6 months, no other side effects at all.
I had to have it removed recently as I developed an Ovarian Cyst the size of a lemon and got a UTI that developed into pelvic inflammation.
I had a month with no hormonal contraception, then tried the NuvaRing (Moody and incredibly sore breasts), had another month off contraception and now im trying Yaz. It is indicated for PMDD, but I feel crazy, emotional, irrational and unreasonable on it.
I have no idea where to go from here. Mirena really suited me, but I cant have another one inserted because iv had the Inflammation. I cant stay on the Pill... I hate myself, I am a different person on the Pill.

I'm 22 years old and have been on YAZ for 1.5 years. I was originally on Yasmin and was fine but my Gyno suggested that for my body type and slight anemia I was taking more estrogen than necessary, so I agreed to try YAZ. I was excited at first, hoping it would help with my mood swings (which were not as severe as experienced with those who have PMDD). Everything was fine (clear skin, light periods, etc) until I noticed that in the past few months I was getting severely emotional (which is the complete opposite from the kind of person I am). For a while I thought it was just a phase and something that would pass but it has gotten progressively worse, to a point where I have become overly sensitive, crying with out reason and was experiencing anxiety. All out of the ordinary and very scary. Since I am an active healthy individual with no other medical concerns or on any other meds I realized that I may have been suffering side effects from the YAZ. The mood swings were particularly worse on days leading to the placebo pills and into the first week. I have been off of it for the past three days and will talk to my Gyno on Monday to either go back to Yasmin or try something new. Of course it will take up to a month for the YAZ to be processed out of my body.

Honestly it was a scary experience and it was good to know that my sudden bouts of sadness and anxiety wasn't all in my head. While YAZ may not be for me I know people who have not experienced any side effects while on YAZ. So if you are considering it I would suggest giving it a try but keep track of any changes in mood or side effects.

I have also noticed that people who were actually suffering from PMDD have like their experience with YAZ and women without PMDD have seemed to experience it while on YAZ, of course this is simply an observation and nothing else.

Have had the Mirena for a year due to needing some hormone therapy during menopause.I am 54yrs old and had my last period over 2 yrs ago-look physically like I am in my 30's. Had a breast reduction and weight reduction surgery over 10yrs ago VERY successfully lost 10# off my chest and 168# off of my body. SINCE having the Mirena I have gained over 30# and gained 2 cup sizes in my breasts! HELP!!! I have been treated by my regular doctor for mood swings with WellbutrinSR, Lexapro, Lamictal, Topamax and others-nothing has worked more than to ease some of the edge. I have gone from a size 2 to a size 10-12 in 9 months and am desperate for an answer! I feel as if all of the previous progress I had made with the weight reduction and breast reduction is all being undermined! I had a tummy tuck last September 08 and I swear my stomach was flatter before I had the surgery! I look pregnant! The surgeons have done a CT scan and can find nothing to indicate the surgery went bad. I don't know what to do as my OB-GYN tells me that "this IUD" is my best bet for hormone therapy and that it is ABSOLUTELY NOT the cause for the weight gain or breasts. Has anyone else "my age/menopausal" experienced this? Most of what I have read has been very helpful BUT all but a few are pre-menopausal and way younger. PLEASE let me know your thoughts!!