What type of BCP do you take?

[JillLuvsNate]

There are so many kinds of Birth control pills. What do you take??

[Janey]

I do Nuvaring (http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp?SetSession=Yes&strGUID={98E566B3-F280-4137-8CAC-CF3B7E575795}&SID=96208338) ... a time-release "BCP" type thing. It seems to work really well -- no pregnancies so far ;) and the hormones are very low. Best part about it, though, is that I don't have to remember to take a pill every day.

[tlew12778]

Back in the US I took Triphasil-28. I really liked it. It didn't give me any side effects and I took it for 3-4 years straight.

When I moved to Italy they put me on Trigynon which is the same as Triphasil. I took that for another couple years, no side effects.

Then my gyn decided to put me on a low-dose BCP called Minesse which is gestodene 60 mcg/ethinyl estradiol 15 mcg which I think is similar to Seasonale only I had a period every month, not every 3 months. It's a 24+4 monophasic pill. On this BCP, my periods got really short -- like 1.5 days. Then when I went off them, I started ovulating immediately (which IMO is due to the fact that they are so low dose). My big problem with Minesse was the inexistant sex drive in addition to the intense burning sensation I got any time we had sex. It was a total downer. The reason I decided to go off them was to see if the burning sensation would go away (it did). In all, I took Minesse for 2-3 years I think. Maybe 4.

I charted to avoid for 8 months, but I was just dx'ed with PCOS so I will be going on Diane-35 as soon as AF shows.

[dusthappy]

I started using Nuvaring last week. So far so good. I love that I don't have to remember to take a pill, also that it is very low dose hormones. Hopefully it should cut down on my out of control emotions.

[PookiePrincess]

I have taken Ortho-tricyclen and am now on Orthocyclen. I have never had any problems or side effects from either BCP. Orthotricyclen also made my skin clearer.

[PG-rated]

I'm on Mircette, a low-dose pill. I like it fine, although I gain weight very easily and have a very hard time taking it off. But that happened with the last pill I was on, Tri-Phasil. I was off the pill for a couple of years, then went with a low-dose pill because I'm prone to depression. The Mircette doesn't seem to affect my moods, and my periods are short and VERY light (I'm talking 3 or 4 pads, tops), but it took a good year or so for them to get that way.

[shopaholic]

orthotricyclen LO

[looch]

i take a generic version of ortho-novum 777. i have been on it almost 7 years, and it's worked great. I switched to this one because the other BCP gave me elevated blood pressure.
it costs me $5 a pack, which is $10 less than the brand name version.

[Reenie]

I first took Triphasil (worked fine), then Dr. switched me to Orthotricyclen Lo (no good for me), and then Alesse (also fine). I have been BCP free since November. We are keeping track of my ovulation dates and using other contracption during that time, but otherwise nothing.

[bensgirl1222]

I am on the patch and I love it.

[ysolde]

I was on Ortho Novum 777 for years. Liked it. No side effects.

I have been on the Patch since September 2002. LOVE IT!!!! Short periods. No side effects. Only think about it once a week! Fabulous!

[mb1197]

I have been on Trinorinyl-28 since 1997 and have had no problems with it.

[KrissyCat7]

Ive been on Yasmin for 3 years. I really like it. Short light periods, less cramping.

[Blewbary]

I started on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. That made me nauseated and I hated taking the pill every day. I then switched to NuvaRing. I loved that, but it eventually caused classic migraines, so I had to go off of it. Now, I'm on Micronor (progesterone only pill) and I really hate it.

[greenbunny]

I take Orthocyclen on a three-month cycle. I have NO drive. I won't change, though, because I take it for medical reasons and it's making my periods bearable.

[Juliana]

I've been on Yasmin for about 2 years and it's really great for me. I started on Ortho-Tricyclen and had a lot of trouble with it- huge mood swings, weight gain, spotting, etc- but I know others who swear by it, so I think it's just what works for you. Just make sure to let your Dr. know if it's not working so you can try something else.

[Little Angel '77]

On the Nuvaring.... LOVE IT.
No side effects, never remember to take the pill, and no mood swings. (this was a huge thing with me)

I love it love it love it!

[Holls]

I take Mircette... the doctor gave it to me when i started getting migraines. Like PG-RATED my periods are short and light!

[tbell]

Seasonale---love it! Who can argue with only having 4 periods a year (and sometimes not even that many!)

[JillLuvsNate]

Thanks for all the replies and advice! I decided to try Orth-TriCyclen. The doctor said it might work best for me, and after reading advice on CC I think I'll give it a shot! I won't be starting it for 2 more weeks, so we will see! Thanks again girls!

[tigger8402]

I was on Depo Prevera for 2.5 years and loved it. had to stop it because it may cause bone loss and the doctor was concerned since bone loss is already very present in my family line. So in June I had the Mirena IUD incerted and i LOVE it. it was a little rough the first two days but since then its been wonderful. Cant beat no period. its been almost 3 years :D

[Lil' Peach]

I take Alesse. I was on OrthoCyclen for a couple of years but eventually switched because I was getting such bad side effects.

[ManteoChik]

I was on Ortho-TriCyclen for about 2 years until my ob/gyn suggested Ortho-TriCyclen Lo (lower hormone) and I've never had a problem with either. In fact they both gave me really short, light, periods.

I'm now on Estrostep. I'm pretty flexible with my BCP (my gyn calls me her "test dummy"..lol...because I'm open to trying new things) so when my gyn told me about Estrostep and the low hormone doses she asked if I wanted to try it and that she really liked it. I've been on it for about 1 1/2 years now and I still have really short, light periods.

I've never had problems with the Estrostep but I do plan on going back on Ortho-TriCyclen Lo at my next appointment because I like what it did for my skin. Since I've been on Estrostep my skin hasn't been as clear.

[incognita07]

I am Yasmin. No problems whatsoever!

[Reebs]

I was on Ortho Lo, I HATED it. I always had BTB. So my doc switched me to Seasonale. It was great not having a full blown period but for the year I was on it I had BTB the WHOLE time. It was horrible. I got a new doc and was switched to Yasmin about 3 months ago. It is great. No problems whatsoever. I love it.

[amberfiddles]

nuvaring---i've been on it for about 5 months and i love it!

i used orthoevra (the patch) for about a yr and then i started having migraine-like headaches and nausea when the first day i would wear the patch so my gyn recommended i switch to nuvaring. i haven't had any of the headaches/nausea since :)

[longislandlolita]

I take Seasonale, and love it! Very little acne, very minor cramps, and only four periods a year. Woo hoo!

[heather1029]

Yasmin--only been on it a month, but I like it! Some spotting in non-period weeks, but i'm sure this will go away after my body gets used to this stuff. My acne has gotten better, though!!!

[bensgirl1222]

Was on the patch for about 4 years. I am swicthing to NuvaRing and start it this weekend.

[Kristy]

I was on Ortho-tricylen for 5 years, then my doctor switched me to OTC Lo. I was a little concerned with the switch at first, because I was put on the regular OTC for severe cramping, but the Lo version does just as fine.

[SingleWhiteFemale]

I've been on LoEstrin FE 1/20. I'm not happier on it than I was the NuvaRing... the side effects for me seem to be the same. The only difference is that the ring made my skin look perfect, and with LoEstrin... my skin looks like complete crap, aged more than it should be at the ripe age of 20. I am horrible with remembering to take a pill at the exact same time everyday, so I've weighed my options and am switching back in a month at my next appointment.

Question: I've heard before to avoid generic BC if at all possible. Why is that?

[*Jen*]

I'm on the Orthoevra Patch and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I was horrible at remebering to take a pill every day. It's so nice to think about it once a week.

[hockeybrat]

I've been on the generic version of Ortho Tri-Cyclen but I might have to switch. I don't think my drive is there and my cramps the first couple of days is really painful now.

[ali_ohli]

I've been on Yasmin for a few years now and I really love it. It's the first pill that hasn't affected me emotionally (Alesse and Ortho Tri-Cyclen made me crazy) and my periods are a snap. I've noticed that my sex drive is lessened, though, and a few friends on Yasmin have said the same thing.

[CindyM]

I'm on trivora and I hate it. Don't have any sex drive and it makes me really moody. Talking to my doctor in a few weeks to find an alternative.:cool: