Womanhood symptoms and conditions

I would also just like to add that I have developed a ganglion cyst in my right wrist, and do experience frequent joint pain. I don't know if this can be attributed to the use of Yasmin.

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)

Has anyone been on Yasmin, if so what are the side effects you have faced? I recently started it and i've had a headache of and on it's not bad but i'm a little worried. My appetite has increased but that's the most i've seen so far, yur answers will be deeply appreciated.

I have been on every birth control imaginable since I was 12 years old (extremely heavy periods/ hospitalized 3 times for cramps...excellent way to view womanhood!) Every single birth control I've been on I've had side effects such as: severe mood swings (crying over nothing, starting arguments for little things, weight gain/loss (which I don’t mind), headaches, nausea, anxiety....etc. After telling my OBGYN about my symptoms I was having while on Seasonal, she tried to diagnose me with bipolar disorder...long story. One of the worst symptoms I've ever had out of all of these was the loss of sex drive. I did not become sexually active until I was 18 (I'm 20 now), my boyfriend of a year now constantly reminds me of my lack of sex drive. I was on the ring (been on it for a year) when we first started dating, I slowly started losing my sex drive (nothing serious, more foreplay) and I started having weird mood swings. We fought a little not really noticing my fun outgoing spirit slowly decreasing. I spoke to my doctor who suggested yaz…bad idea. I gained so much weight and I started getting acne! So I switched to loestrin which I started taking in November last year. At first I liked it, I didn’t have a period until last month, which only lasted a day (no blood just the brown discharge). I don’t mind not having a period, while I was on the seasonal I didn’t have a period which is fine. I do mind the severe mood swings I have acquired; I’ll have a good day but if one thing happens that in the least bit upsets me I’ll go into full aggression…which isn’t good because I work with people on a daily basis. I had a full week of depression. I did not want to converse with anybody I just stayed in my room after getting off work and cried. I started getting acne on my face and my back. I’ve gained almost 15 pounds (I’m 5’4”; I’m not too thrilled about being short and chunky). The worst is my relationship is on the rocks. My boyfriend tries to understand what’s going on, but it’s hard for him. I used to be incredibly “active” with him, now if we ever have sex and I get distracted by a dust particle I lose all interest and dry up. I tried talking to my OBGYN but she insisted it wasn’t birth control. I asked her if the IUD would be a good option, but she won’t give it to me because I haven’t had kids yet… so at this point I’m thinking about changing doctors and stop taking birth control all together… I’d rather not take anything and use other methods of birth control than suffer like I have been.

Hey, I totally know what you all mean about the personality changes. I was on NuvaRing for about 6 months. For the first few months the ring was great. I gained a tiny bit of weight (maybe a couple pounds) but nothing crazy. I am slim with a tall frame, so while I was a bit bummed, it wasn't the end of the world. And my boobs got bigger which was cool, lol. I didn't have any physical side effects with the ring. No cramps, my periods stayed pretty much the same, no spotting, no weird infections or irritation. Just normal. but the mental side effects have been so out of control lately that they have been interfering with my relationship. I used to be totally go with the flow, chill, happy go lucky, outgoing, and very confident. In the last few months my self confidence has dropped to zero even though I am doing well at work and life, etc. it's like I think everyone is out to get me, and it has gotten progressively worse. I cry at everything, have mood swings, depression and the paranoia about the boyfriend (even if he is going to study with a male friend I get jealous! Lame!) I was starting to wonder if I had suddenly become bi-polar until I figured out it was the ring! I still had a sex drive, but it was harder to get fully aroused. It's like I wanted to have sex, but it wasn't as good. So I took my ring out today and my boyfriend and I are going to research our options. The Pill does the same things with me. condoms make me a little nervous as to their effectiveness, though we will be using them for now until we find something else. I'm thinking of going with the copper IUD, as there are no hormones in that one but it is still very effective. My main concern with the copper IUD is the physical side effects (irregular bleeding, super heavy periods, etc.) but as I have not experienced any physical side effects with other forms of birth control, i'm hoping it won't be too bad. Ah, the struggles of womanhood!

My Mirena Removal....
So i posted here a few weeks ago after I found this site. I had EVERY side effect listed and was so freaked out that i immediately made an appointment for removal.
For those of you reading and wondering what the removal is like..
Well, NOTHING like the insertion. I was so so nervous and it was over before we actually started. The DR was surprised that i was back in his office to have this removed. He then proceeded to do an ultrasound to be sure it was placed properly before removal. And yes, all was OK on the position of it. I explained to him my reasons and he looked at me like he had never heard this before. I honestly can not imagine with all the women he sees that NONE of them have complained. But...as I was getting dressed afterwards, I took a good look in his office. There was Mirena literature ALL over the place. In fact, that was the ONLY thing he was advertising. Not to mention...they made me pay up front with the insertion back in Nivember...billed my insurance and I still have yet to receive my reimbursement. Oh yeah, and that...they charge more than the actual Mirena costs, then they bill your insurance for the price they know they will pay and the DR then makes about $150 profit. Nice.
Ok, back to my side effects post Mirena. The removal was not painful at all. I did spot for about a week- nothing too heavy but it was clotty and def there.
A couple of days after the removal it felt like I was coming out of my skin something terrible. I figured this was my body adjusting to the lack of hormones. I also had some headaches.
It has now been 2 weeks and the spotting has disappeared. I also can see the bloating of my stomach is starting to go away. It looked like I was about 4 mos preggo while I was on it. I also have an increased sex drive. And sleep-- well let me tell you, I have not slept this good in a very long time. I am actually sleeping more than 6 hours now and the night sweats have also discontinued.
I can't believe EVERY time I come to this site and look up Mirena ALL the people that have posted their experience as being negative. Yet, the DR looks at me like I am crazy! I have been seeing him for years and I have never complained about something like this. I really am so happy that I have it out and wish I would have done my research on this prior to insertion (which was one of the most painful things ever!)
So..for those of you out there that are either contemplating having it inserted...I say NO WAY. And for those of you out there that are nervous about the removal or not sure..I SAY YES, DO IT! For our bodies to be reacting this way, it is clear to me that it should not be inside of us. Listen to your bodies...they really do speak to you and let you know when something is not right. Forget about the DR saying it is safe or he has not heard of any of these side effects...YOU be the judge.
Good luck! And I promise it gets better once you get that lil' demon out!
Mona