Welcome to The Purse Forum.

meganfm · Nov 7th, 2009, 12:00 AM

I've been on the pill since I started uni (so 3yrs now). I was on TriCyclin-LO for the first almost 2 years, until I started getting 2wk periods. Then I was put on Alesse but the same thing happened, so I was put on Minovral.

Since starting uni, but in the past year especially (being on Minovral), I've been really stressed and I find myself getting upset really easily, I'll cry for no reason, and I get these bouts of depression. I thought it was just from getting burnt out from school (which I'm sure is a big part of it) until a few of my friends mentioned they've had terrible mood swings on the pill-which made me start to wonder if it's the pill causing this?

I went to the doctor today and he really struggled to recommend a different pill to me. He said there's a pill between Alesse and Minovral, but it's no longer on the market, so he's getting me to try TriCyclin (see if that does me any better than the Lo version). But I'm REALLY hoping the 2wk periods don't come back.

I also noticed that back in high school (ironically, before I was "active" I had quite a high sex drive-but since uni/the pill/having sex my drive seems really low. When my DBF wants it, I do get excited-but I never initiate, and sometimes I'm just tired or really not in the mood. I used to do things "alone" all the time as well, and that NEVER happens anymore. I'm wondering if this could be a cause of the pill as well?

Just wondering what pills people are/were on and if they had these issues? The doctor suggested the patch as well, but he couldn't tell me the progesterone level in it (which is what can cause depression) so I opted for the TriCylin instead.

fabae · Nov 8th, 2009, 04:42 PM

I've been on FemCon FE, Yaz, Yasmin, and 3 or 4 others that I've forgotten at this point. I recently quit taking the pill and have decided I will never take it again. It just doesn't work for me. This last time, my mood swings were insane, my temper was out of control, I had NO sex drive ever (I think it was in the negatives), and I would get so aggravated at my husband for NO reason that I couldn't even look at him. I was, literally, a completely different person. A homicidal one. On previous pills I've had 2-3 week periods, bleeding during sex, crying jags....

If you decide to stay on it, good luck finding the right one. I know that people say over and over again, "You have to find the one that's right for you," but after trying to find the right one for me off and on for the last 15 years, I just don't think that's true. I think there are some people that simply cannot take it unless they're willing to put up with Jekyll & Hyde-like issues.

meganfm · Nov 11th, 2009, 02:07 PM

My problem is that the alternatives make me quite nervous as well. I looked at the shot, but it can effect your bone density permanently. I was thinking of an IUD too, but in some few cases it can poke a hole in your uterus and cause infertility.

My DBF suggested I go off it, but I don't trust condoms enough to rely on them for BC all the time.

Heidiho · Nov 12th, 2009, 06:58 PM

Loestrin destroyed my libido. I went a whole year with no desire and never thought it could be the birth control pill. I stopped taking them as a last resort and lo and behold it was the cause of my no sex drive. I feel so much better off the pill. Mind you I don't need them to prevent pregnancy, have my tubes tied, but rather to help with PMS symptoms. I am not on any hormone pills at all, not worth it for me.

Cornflower Blue · Nov 12th, 2009, 07:22 PM

Myself and a friend of mine swear that the pill can cause subtle changes in personality. Nothing major, just that we didn't feel like 'ourselves' somehow.

This all came out after several years of us independently stopping it btw...

macska · Nov 12th, 2009, 08:42 PM

I've only been on two kinds: Tri-quilar which worked great, but I wanted to "stop" my period, so had to switch to one that had equal amounts of hormone every day. No more period unless I want one.

Never noticed any mood swings. As for sex drive ... mine is insanely high, so if the pill is taming it, I'm not going to complain.

fabae · Nov 12th, 2009, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Cornflower Blue

Myself and a friend of mine swear that the pill can cause subtle changes in personality. Nothing major, just that we didn't feel like 'ourselves' somehow.

This all came out after several years of us independently stopping it btw...

Totally. I am living proof. I was a monster, I tell ya, a MONSTER. My poor husband didn't have any idea what to do with me. It was bad. As soon as I quit I felt like myself again - a completely different person.

nooch · Nov 13th, 2009, 12:15 AM

The pill destroyed my sex drive, but it happened over the course of five years so it was so gradual I barely noticed.

I noticed when I came off the pill and everything looked like a penis to me. It took me a couple of months for me to sort myself, my sex drive, and my natural cycle out again but now you could not pay me enough to go back to hormonal birth control.

It definitely served me well for those years, but it is not for me at this point in my life!

Nov 7th, 2009, 12:00 AM	#1
meganfm OP Member Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,613	The Pill and mood swings (and sex drive?) I've been on the pill since I started uni (so 3yrs now). I was on TriCyclin-LO for the first almost 2 years, until I started getting 2wk periods. Then I was put on Alesse but the same thing happened, so I was put on Minovral. Since starting uni, but in the past year especially (being on Minovral), I've been really stressed and I find myself getting upset really easily, I'll cry for no reason, and I get these bouts of depression. I thought it was just from getting burnt out from school (which I'm sure is a big part of it) until a few of my friends mentioned they've had terrible mood swings on the pill-which made me start to wonder if it's the pill causing this? I went to the doctor today and he really struggled to recommend a different pill to me. He said there's a pill between Alesse and Minovral, but it's no longer on the market, so he's getting me to try TriCyclin (see if that does me any better than the Lo version). But I'm REALLY hoping the 2wk periods don't come back. I also noticed that back in high school (ironically, before I was "active" I had quite a high sex drive-but since uni/the pill/having sex my drive seems really low. When my DBF wants it, I do get excited-but I never initiate, and sometimes I'm just tired or really not in the mood. I used to do things "alone" all the time as well, and that NEVER happens anymore. I'm wondering if this could be a cause of the pill as well? Just wondering what pills people are/were on and if they had these issues? The doctor suggested the patch as well, but he couldn't tell me the progesterone level in it (which is what can cause depression) so I opted for the TriCylin instead.
	__________________ Wish List: -Alexander McQueen Flapper -Balenciaga GSH City -Miu Miu Coffer -YSL Muse

Nov 8th, 2009, 04:42 PM	#2
fabae Member Joined: Jun 2006 Location: The South Posts: 1,651	I've been on FemCon FE, Yaz, Yasmin, and 3 or 4 others that I've forgotten at this point. I recently quit taking the pill and have decided I will never take it again. It just doesn't work for me. This last time, my mood swings were insane, my temper was out of control, I had NO sex drive ever (I think it was in the negatives), and I would get so aggravated at my husband for NO reason that I couldn't even look at him. I was, literally, a completely different person. A homicidal one. On previous pills I've had 2-3 week periods, bleeding during sex, crying jags.... If you decide to stay on it, good luck finding the right one. I know that people say over and over again, "You have to find the one that's right for you," but after trying to find the right one for me off and on for the last 15 years, I just don't think that's true. I think there are some people that simply cannot take it unless they're willing to put up with Jekyll & Hyde-like issues.
	__________________ Banned? I haven't bought a bag since August! Though I am getting weaker.

Nov 11th, 2009, 02:07 PM	#3
meganfm OP Member Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,613	My problem is that the alternatives make me quite nervous as well. I looked at the shot, but it can effect your bone density permanently. I was thinking of an IUD too, but in some few cases it can poke a hole in your uterus and cause infertility. My DBF suggested I go off it, but I don't trust condoms enough to rely on them for BC all the time.
	__________________ Wish List: -Alexander McQueen Flapper -Balenciaga GSH City -Miu Miu Coffer -YSL Muse

Nov 12th, 2009, 06:58 PM	#4
Heidiho Member Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 374	Loestrin destroyed my libido. I went a whole year with no desire and never thought it could be the birth control pill. I stopped taking them as a last resort and lo and behold it was the cause of my no sex drive. I feel so much better off the pill. Mind you I don't need them to prevent pregnancy, have my tubes tied, but rather to help with PMS symptoms. I am not on any hormone pills at all, not worth it for me.
Heidiho Member Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 374	__________________ Wishlist Mono Galliera PM Wilshire Blvd [x] another Vernis Sarah Wallet

Nov 12th, 2009, 07:22 PM	#5
Cornflower Blue Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,329	Myself and a friend of mine swear that the pill can cause subtle changes in personality. Nothing major, just that we didn't feel like 'ourselves' somehow. This all came out after several years of us independently stopping it btw...
Cornflower Blue Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,329

Nov 12th, 2009, 08:42 PM	#6
macska Member Joined: Sep 2008 Location: World Traveller Posts: 1,136	I've only been on two kinds: Tri-quilar which worked great, but I wanted to "stop" my period, so had to switch to one that had equal amounts of hormone every day. No more period unless I want one. Never noticed any mood swings. As for sex drive ... mine is insanely high, so if the pill is taming it, I'm not going to complain.

Nov 13th, 2009, 12:15 AM	#8
nooch bubblehead Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,890	The pill destroyed my sex drive, but it happened over the course of five years so it was so gradual I barely noticed. I noticed when I came off the pill and everything looked like a penis to me. It took me a couple of months for me to sort myself, my sex drive, and my natural cycle out again but now you could not pay me enough to go back to hormonal birth control. It definitely served me well for those years, but it is not for me at this point in my life!
nooch bubblehead Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,890	__________________ Come cheer me on at my weight loss thread - http://forum.purseblog.com/health-an...re-488893.html

Welcome to The Purse Forum.

Our Purse Forum, or TPF, is the #1 online social network for everything designer handbag related. Join over 200,000 enthusiastic members in this friendly community and start engaging in the discussion today.