So I'm considering going on birth control pills...

Because my periods normally last longer than they should (sometimes 2 weeks) and aren’t terrible regular, and I’m tired of cramps, I’m planning to ask my doctor about birth control pills when I go to my doctor next week. However, I like to go informed, so I have a few questions (I’m 16, if that makes any difference.):

First of all, are there any brands that are less likely to cause side effects? I’m most worried about weight gain and acne (mine is finally clearing up!)

Also, there is a chance that I may be having sex while using the birth control pill. I figure that if condoms are 97% effective, and the pills are 99.6% effective, then together they should be 99.988% effective (someone check my math, please.)

Also, any other comments about the birth control pills that you may have are welcome.

First off, you probably know, but I’ll say it anyway, to get a BCP prescription you have to first have a pelvic exam and a general physical exam (blood pressure, that sort of thing). If you don’t know what to expect of that, any of us lady dopers would be happy to describe it so you’ll feel prepared.

There’s no brand that always works for every woman. There are a wide variety of doses and also different types of synthetic hormones. I know several brands of BCP are advertised as being particularly effective in eliminating acne (Ortho Tri-Cyclin advertises as such).

BCP is most effective if taken at just about the same time everyday. Personally I take mine at night, because I don’t get up at the same time every day (sleep in on weekends, getting up very early some days etc.). Find a time that works for you when you can take it reliably and consistently.

Taken correctly and paired with condoms (also used correctly, natch) that is a very effective form of birth control, but as you’ve calculated, no system is 100%.

If you smoke, quit. Smokers have a higher incidence of dangerous side effects on the pill.

A really great book – you can get it at the library or any largeish bookstore – is “Our Bodies, Ourselves.” If you want to get informed about your plumbing and the choices you can make about it, this is the book for you!

Basically, I’ve had very positive experiences on the Pill, been on it about 5 years. I still take the 1st pill I tried, which is Ortho-Nuvum 1/35. I do have other friends who tried 2 or 3 different brands before settling on one that worked for them comfortably.

Are you in the states? If so my brand isn’t available to you (Dianette, it’s specially formulated to help acne, but I react badly to progesterones in normal preparations, so that’s why I take it) but you may be able to get Yasmin.
It prevents bloating and is recommended for acne as well.

If one formula doesn’t work, keep trying. If you are nauseous or vomiting, depressed, or have violent moodswings, DON’T keep taking that pill. Try another. Don’t stick it out for 3 packets, switch after one if you need to.
There are lots of options.
Pills, patches, Nuvaring, Depo Provera, Progesterone only pills, phased preparations, high lose, low dose, 2nd generation, 3rd generation, keep trying until one clicks.

Personally I can’t take progesterones, and am now on a high dose oestrogen with cyproterone acetate, which acts as a progesterone, but isn’t one. I was on Microgynon and Mercilon before finding my ideal pill.
Since you are using it mainly for long, painful, irregular periods, and secondarily for contraception, consider asking your doctor for a prescription for Tranexamic acid to control the bleeding and Mefenamic acid for pain.

You might also consider asking your doctor about extended use or “non-cyclical” formulations. These are relatively new additions to the market. You take the pills for 91 days (instead of the normal 21) so that you only have a period about every three months (instead of one). The recent literature shows no adverse effects of this method. This is all according to the Ob/Gyn lecture on contraception I was given yesterday.

We also discussed the Nuvaring that irishgirl mentioned. It is a small flexible plastic ring (about 3-4cm) that you insert into your vagina and leave in for 3 weeks. You then take it out for a week, have your period, and insert a new one.

Yasmin, one of the pills that irishgirl mentioned, is of the type that USCDiver speaks of - it’s mono-phasic as opposed to tri-phasic and can be take 12 weeks on/1 week off so you only get a period 4 times a year. My body doesn’t like this much so I do 9 weeks on/1 week off. Most insurance plans aren’t progressive enough to cover more than 1 pack per month (if they cover birth control pills at all), though, so if you go on this type of plan, you’ll either have to get extra samples from your doctor or pay extra out-of-pocket.

There was a recent discussion about the BC patch that also went over the Nuvaring. I think if you search “birth control patch” you’ll find it.

I wouldn’t let the fear of weight gain detract you. Most gain is minimal, if it happens at all.

Also, if you are worried about your complexion, mention it to your Dr. There are some types of the pill that can actually help acne. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is one, but I’m sure there are other derivatives as well.

As others have mentioned, make sure you take the pill at the same time every day. The failure rate can vary based on how consistent you are. If you miss a pill, depending on what day it was, you may have to use a back up method of birth control for the rest of the month. If you are not good at remembering, you can get the same effects from other forms, like the ring or the patch.

The pill worked great for me! I have no side effects and love the predictability it gives me (I am on Desogen, but different brands work for different people, so I wouldn’t get set on one brand over another. See what your Dr. thinks and try until you get one you like.)

One thing doctors don’t tell you, is that the majority of women give up taking the pill within two years, for various reasons.

There are other side effects that are rarely, if ever, mentioned by doctors. (I’ve been having this discussion on another BB!)
One I found was that I was permenantly exhausted all the time. I put on weight, not because I ate too much, but because all I wanted to do was sleep. This NEVER went away, until I quit taking it.
Also (you may like this one!), my chest size increased by 3 sizes! I was 19 at the time and thought that they had stopped growing for good.

This is someone elses quote (saves me typing…)

Other reasons against (personal experience and that of others) - weight gain, loss of strength, apathy, lack of concentration, lack of energy, breast soreness, low pain tolerance, low sex drive… need i go on? The insidious thing about it is that because these changes usually happen gradually, it sometimes takes a while to realise that it’s the pill that’s doing it.

Her other point was that is may also cause the muscles in your back to slacken, which can cause backache.

I second the recommendation of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Lots of good info in there, BC and non-BC related. Also, if there’s a Planned Parenthood where you live, go talk to them. They give very balanced and well-informed advice, and are never judgemental. They operate on a sliding scale fee system IIRC, but it’s been a while.

Daftbugger, do you have a cite for this, or more importantly a cite showing the various reasons ? I’ve never heard of this before, in fact I’ve always heard the opposite, so I’m really interested to more about this.

Thanks :slight_smile:

Oooooo, I remember reading it somewhere. I think it may have been the Daily Mail (crappy tabloid) unfortunatly. I remember it giving a % as well, let me think…

Tried Googleing, but I can’t think of good enough key words.
The reasons weren’t just side effects, it was also because people couldn’t remember to take it, or take it at the right time.

My sister went on birth control at 15 for cramps. Not only did it stop her cramps, but it improved her complexion. Worked for Mrs. RickJay, too.

Your math’s right. Of course you should use condoms to prevent infection, irrespective of the added contraceptive value.

In case it hasn’t been emphasized enough, every woman’s body and situation is different, and so it’s really hard to recommend one brand versus another. Note that one pill type that works for you for a while may eventually no longer control your cramps - I had this happen to me, and went through several changes in type and dosage before I found one that worked well again. There are dozens of options out there that your doctor can try, so don’t give up if the first or second or third type doesn’t seem to work for you.

One important note, should this be an issue for you, is to ask about interactions with other medications. Antibiotics seem to be the prime candidate, in that they (or many/most of them at least) reduce the effectiveness of the pill in preventing conception, and so you’ll usually hear a recommendation to use a method of birth control in addition to the pill for the rest of that packet of pills. Most pharmacists, at least, will discuss this with you when filling the antibiotic prescription.

And of course - don’t share pills with friends, and be regular in taking the pill. Make it a ritual, like taking it right before you brush your teeth at night, or something else that works for you.