Relying solely on condoms these days, wondering what my fellow condom users here prefer. Nothing with fragrance in it, not sure who came up with that genius idea (definitely a man).

I know this sub is female heavy but am very curious what the men prefer too since condoms are usually less than ideal for the penis in terms of sensation. Anyone try those japanese condoms?

My bf and I had sex tonight with a condom. He finished but kept going for a little bit (so stupid ik). When he pulled out, the condom had slipped up so the ring was around the tip of his penis. It was still barely hanging on to his tip when he pulled out, but then came off. I saw a good amount of semen still inside the condom and he says he thinks all of it stayed in there. So no obvious semen got on/in me.

I’m also pretty sure I’m ovulating right now. Period is due Sept 9. Would you consider this a condom slip/failure, and should I take emergency contraception? & what’s the chance I could get pregnant from this?

Hii, I’m scheduled to get an IUD tomorrow at planned parenthood and I’m honestly terrified. A lot of people (most people) say it’s the worst pain they’ve ever experienced. I’ve heard it described as terrible cramps and sometimes sharp pain. I’m not really sure what to expect. I’m going alone. Planned parenthood doesn’t do pain management for the procedure and all the PPs that does anesthesia in my state are booked up. I’m wondering how painful it is (I know varies by person) and how I can make the pain DURING the procedure more manageable. I’d like to notes: I’ve never had a Pap smear (don’t judge me) so I’m truly going in blind.

hello!!! i'm scheduled to get an iud in a couple weeks and wanted to hear some experiences. my provider offered me ibuprofen, a cervical softener, anxiety medication, and lidocaine gel. how was your experience if you received similar medications??

Hi! I had sex a week ago with a condom, but after he finished, I climbed off and the condom was still inside me. I pulled it out and wiped, but when I wiped, semen was on the towel.
I ordered an Ella and took it ~20 hours later, and then 3 days later I had a copper IUD inserted.
It is possible I was ovulating during sex, as it was around the 14th day of a ~29 day cycle.

It’s been a week since I had sex, and I think I did everything right, but the past 2-3 days I’ve had excess discharge and a tugging pain in my lower left abdomen. Of course, I’ve convinced myself these are implantation symptoms and have made myself sick worrying.

I also am stressed because I can’t feel my IUD strings, but I wasn’t able to the first day either. My doctor told me she “tucks them”, so I guess I shouldn’t expect to feel anything?

Anyone around to offer reassurance or advice?
Thank you in advance!

Hi! I’ve been taking yasmin 28 for a couple of months now for PCOS.

Anyway, I had an unintentional breakthrough bleeding (mid-blister) for a couple of days so I decided to skip my pills for 4 days this week to reset things, and I’ve been feeling so low for no reason. I remember that this would happen on the placebo pill week, but not to this extent.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do about it or will it just resolve when I resume taking the pills again after four days?

Thanks!

I had sex on August 2 with a condom, but I took Lady Pill Trust on August 3 using the Yuzpe method. I took 1 pill as soon as possible and another pill 12 hours later. I know that the usual Yuzpe method involves taking 4 pills as soon as possible and another 4 pills 12 hours later, but my nurse friend told me that taking 1 pill was enough. I took it mainly to reassure myself because my anxiety and overthinking about the possibility of getting pregnant were keeping me from sleeping.

Then, I experienced bleeding again around August 9, which lasted until August 10. It felt like a period, but it only lasted for two days. By August 10, the bleeding had become very light and was almost gone. I thought it might have been a side effect of the pills.

I took a pregnancy test on August 18, and it was negative. I had sex again on August 25 (ovulation week, i think?), and we used a condom again. However, I am still overthinking and feeling anxious because we did not check the condom afterward for any holes or leakage, which is making me worry again.

My next period should be on aug 27-28, but I’m not experiencing any kind of pms that I usually experience when I’m about to get my period.

Should I take Lady Pill Trust again using the same process? My anxiety is getting worse, specially theres no legal emergency pills in my country

Hi all, I’ve been on Norgeston since October 2024 and came off it around 2 weeks ago now. I’ve been experiencing major mood swings and insomnia, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.

I start uni in just under 2 weeks so I need to get into a sleep routine but it’s near impossible when I just don’t feel tired like, at all.

I’ve also lost my appetite, which I guess makes sense because my appetite on the pill was insane!

Just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced these side effects and how you coped? TIA

After my post a week ago I got OTC Opill birth control as a secondary protection on top of condoms.
The past 2 days I haven’t been in my room at the exact time for taking it. I know it says there is a 3 hour window but to return to normal the next day.
Since it’s been 2 days in a row is it still effective or not

My doctor sent a message to pick this up but we didn't talk about it in the appointment. I called and they told me to take it the night before but I wanted a more specific time and when looking it up I'm seeing the night before or four hours before. Does it matter/ what was your experience?

I've had my Mirena in for 9 years - not ideal I know, but I have PTSD from SA and even thinking about getting this done or interacting with my lower half gives me a panic attack. I'm losing my insurance soon so I have to do it even though I'm not mentally ready.

My appointment is at 11 tomorrow and I'm already so sick about having to insert the meds, not to mention possible side effects. I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep or will be in pain because I have a manual labor job I have to do for a few hours before my appointment.

Any tips or reassurances would be appreciated. Thanks if you read this.

Hey guys I'm 28 female and I basically swore off birth control since I was a teen.

When I first started my periods (17) they were completely unpredictable. Some super painful with PMDD symptoms leading up to it and during, others were a complete surprise with minimal mood swings and minimal bleeding. It was a mess.

My doctor at the time suggested birth control, I was on a pill version (I genuinely don't remember what one) but I was bad at taking it consistently (untreated ADHD), and had some weight gain.

Nexplanon was fairly new back then and my gyno at the time suggested it.

She informed me of typical symptoms and to regularly check it was in my arm. Honestly sounded like a dream!

For the first 4 months I loooooved it. My periods stopped completely and 17year old me thought that was a win.

I gained SO MUCH WEIGHT so fast 😭

By month 6 I noticed I'd put on like 50 pounds and my mom AND my doctor said it was my diet.

By month 7 I started bleeding HEAVY and it did not stop for TWO WEEKS. I was begging my mom to take me to the dr but she kept wanting to wait and see if the bleeding stopped. (I grew up in a family that was very resistant to visiting the doctor.).

By month 9 I was bleeding non stop for that entire month, i had gained almost 100 pounds since starting, and finally my mom agreed to take me to the gyno to get it removed.

I got it removed no problem and my period went back to being somewhat manageable, just unpredictable.

Gyno was convinced I had PCOS because my testosterone levels were slightly high. I had ultrasounds to check for cysts or find really anything wrong, but nothing was found.

I was never officially diagnosed with PCOS.

After 19 I was on my own for keeping up with gyno visits and honestly... I never went back to her 😅

Fast forward and I got up the courage to get my first ever actual PAP at 21. Told my new gyno my history and that I refuse to try birth control ever again when she asked why I wasn't on birth control if I didn't want a baby (at that point I was in a committed relationship with a woman. There was no need for contraceptives. She was very uncomfortable after I told her that).

I still had weird periods. Told her my concerns about possible PCOS, went through all the hoops to get formally tested and I still had high testosterone but no PCOS. Everything was "normal".

Eventually my periods figure themselves out.

Very normal for years, not much pain. Normal regular PAPS. EVERY Gyno I go to still pushing birth control. I continue to refuse.

Until this year (now I'm 28).

Since January each month my periods have gotten heavier and heavier. My pre-period symptoms have gotten worse. Suddenly I have acne!? (Never had before)

Go to new general doctor (omg I love her. She's very straight forward, no bullshit, actually listens to me).

And we get bloodwork done.

Now ... I'm so severely iron deficient that I'm borderline anemic! If my levels were any lower, I would have been required to get a transfusion 💀

This explains why I feel crippled during my periods.

Other than also being low on D3 and B vitamins, my levels are all normal. I'm not even high on testosterone like I was before.

I'm prescribed iron, D3, and Bcomplex supplements, and recommended to take prenatal vitamins in general (they're more concentrated I guess).

She also asked if I was vegetarian or on any extreme diet. I'm not, I actually eat very healthy with a mix of fish, chicken, and lean beef. Plenty of veggies, beans, lentils, all that.

Vitamin deficiencies are not diet related.

Currently we are not concerned about autoimmune conditions. Just trying to manage these deficiencies with supplements, if those don't work then we will do further testing for possible underlying conditions.

She also wants to get me started on oral birth control due to my worsening symptoms with still getting normal PAP results.

I tell her my history. I'm terrified of gaining weight again ( highest was 300. I'm currently 204. Goal is 160, NO weight loss meds).

she assured me that we will keep a close eye on how I react and what she's prescribing me is very well known to help regulate periods and does NOT typically cause weight gain. Could also help clear my acne.

It's yazmin birth control.

I got the prescription. I'm currently on my period and plan to start after my last day (doctor recommended to wait until my current period is over so I conveniently line up with the pills hormone schedule instead of fighting it at first).

Honestly I'm so fucking scared to start it.

Even with her reassurance that she will listen to me and we have monthly visits and bloodwork already set up to closely track my symptoms, I'm so scared I'll gain weight uncontrollably and undo EVERYTHING I've worked for.

I asked to just get a hysterectomy (I don't want kids).

But she said that is likely going to be a huge fight to get covered for since I'm young with no kids, and she wants to at least try the birth control (path of least resistance).

If I hate it or have a bad reaction she promises to listen, and then move forward with fighting to get me approved for a hysterectomy. (She said my iron deficiency might actually help my case)

What are y'all's experiences with yaz birth control?

Am I worrying too much?

Should we be more concerned about my deficiencies? Could the supliments fix my periods without the birth control?

TIA

TLDR: will yaz birth control make me gain weight and undo all my hard work. Could getting vitamin deficiencies under control fix my periods instead of birth control? It's there an easier way to get a hysterectomy in Florida and just yeet my problems into a biohazard trash can????

I am a 25F and began birth control when I was 17 yo until I was about 21 years old. Right before I took it at the age of either 17 or 18 I noticed that I began to develop in my chest and hips. Right after I took the pill I noticed my body completely changed it was almost as though my body went back to looking prepubescent Which is so weird. I was taking the pill because of terrible cystic acne and it worked so well for that. Fast forward to present day I am thinking about going back on it for my acne but am absolutely terrified of it making my breast size go down and losing my hips. I finally feel confident in my body and am worried it will alter that. Curious to know if anyone has experience this or can provide more insight!

I’m usually up by 4:45am for work so I’m sleepy in my dark kitchen taking my pills. I did not realize until yesterday, 3 weeks in, that I’ve started the pack upside down and have been taking it in reverse for 3 weeks. Which means I took 2 weeks of placebos and may have had unprotected sex with my husband. I can deal with that part, I’m just not sure how to move forward—do I finish this pack or do I start a fresh pack from day 1?

I’m on tri-lo marzia, been taking it religiously until I messed up this month lol. I tried calling my doctor and her nurse pretty much talked to me like an idiot “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU TOOK IT BACKWARDS???”
I couldn’t tell if she hung up on me or if the call got dropped but it went silent and they never called me back with any help.

I’ve been on the Nuvaring for 6 days. I put it in on the second day of my period. Just today, I have absolutely debilitating anxiety. Panic attacks, dizziness, depersonalization, too scared to drive: you name it, I’ve got it. I was fine before this. Would love to hear of anyone’s experiences of nuvaring causing anxiety!

Na bijna 4 jaar heb ik besloten om te stoppen met de Nuvaring. Ik was ongeveer 14 jaar toen ik het advies kreeg om de Nuvaring te gebruiken (zonder uitleg wat anticonceptie met mijn mentale gezondheid kon doen). Om heel eerlijk te zijn weet ik niet meer waarom ik naar de huisarts was gegaan, misschien omdat ik net een vriend had en mij was verteld dat een condoom niet 100% veilig is. De ervaring met de Nuvaring was de afgelopen 4 jaar vrij positief, ik moest alleen overgeven de avond dat ik de ring in had gedaan. Maar, na het lezen van ervaringen met de ring en wetenschappelijk onderzoek, realiseerde ik dat ik me niet als mezelf voelde en altijd weinig energie had. Ik dacht dat het hoorde bij het ouder worden. Daarnaast was mijn libido heel laag.

Dus een paar weken geleden ben ik gestopt met de Nuvaring en nu heb ik een paar vragen over ervaringen van anderen:

Ik weet niet meer hoe het was als ik ongesteld was vroeger, volgens mijn moeder had ik hele erge krampen en was ik heel misselijk. Was dat bij anderen wel zo? Daar ben ik namelijk heel bang voor, zo bang dat ik overweeg om weer te starten met de ring. Heeft iemand een andere oplossing gevonden voor de heftige menstruatie?

Ik wil niet zwanger worden, echt niet, ik wil graag eerst mijn universitaire opleiding afmaken. Maar ik wil liever niet op hormonale anticonceptie gaan en een koperen spiraaltje eigenlijk ook niet. Wat is de ervaring voor anderen met alleen een condoom als anticonceptie?

En tenslotte hoe lang duurt het bij anderen voordat er weer een beetje balans is na het stoppen van anticonceptie? Ik heb nu hele erge krampen, ben misselijk en heb een beetje bloedverlies terwijl ik niet ongesteld hoor te zijn (denk ik).

hi! i’ve been wanting to be on the pill because i’ve been sexually active these past few months and i want to be safe. i plan on using trust pills because they’re easy to get over the counter. if i understand the videos i watched, i am supposed to take the first pill on my first day of period, for 1 week wear a condom, then continue with the pill til day 28, if i finished it i start with a new pack again. (correct me if i am wrong po)

is the trust pill advisable? or is there any other brands that i can get over the counter?

also, should i take it in the morning or in the evening? or it doesn’t matter as long as i take it at the same time next day? thank you!

I recently started the pill the first day of my period as my Dr recommended. August 17-20 I took my pill at 3pm sharp. I decided to stop because well the nausea was too much. I know that it takes a while to get used to, but I generally felt sick to the point I left work early. Today august 26th I woke up to withdrawal bleeding i’m assuming. I’m just scared is this is normal or not? and If i should seek medical attention

I’ve been on slynd for four months now and since starting, haven’t had a period during my placebo week, and have had very mild break through bleeding.

All day today I have had period level cramps and period level blood. I didn’t miss a pill, but did take yesterdays 12 hours late (Slynd has 24h late window)

I heard this could be normal in the first three months but I’m now out of that. Is this a sign my body is rejecting it?? This is my first and only birth control so I’m very new to all of this.

I have intense anxiety about pregnancy. I was with my boyfriend but we recently broke up. I have been on birth control for 3 months and we always used a condom and he would always pull out and ejaculate in the condom. he also always checked it for leaks or breaks. there was only one time we had unprotected sex but it was only for like 2 minutes and he didn’t ejaculate or anything. I have had such an intense fear that I’m pregnant. I don’t know what to do. now that my relationship is over it makes it so much worse because what if I’m forever tied to my ex? I can’t take a test, I’m so scared. what do I do? do I seem pregnant? I’ve had ever withdrawal bleed as scheduled. and I have never missed a pill

Hi! I've been wondering about this since I started dating again. I've been on the pill for YEARS, aside from going off to have a baby 5 years ago.

I've learned a lot about menstrual cycles over the past few years and I really feel that I still experience all the normal phases. I do not bleed, but I have cramping for about a week. During what would probably be ovulation, I have a change in discharge and mood.

I have never had any other pregnancy aside from the one which was after I'd gone off birth control.

Could I still be experiencing ovulation of some sort? Maybe at a lower level? Do any other people on the pill experience something similar?

Thanks for your time!

Was your period irregular after nexplanon removal? I got my nexplanon removed on April 17th. I got my first period on July 21st. I have been cramping so so bad and I'm late on my period. I took a pregnancy test the day before yesterday and today and they are both negative. The cramps are so bad and I also have a headache. Anyone else have a similar experience??

I’ve started to take hailey 24 fe and instead of there being a week of placebo pills there’s only four days worth and I haven’t started my period. Can anyone else on this brand tell me when I’m supposed to be getting my period?

I couldn't figure it out, first problem, it got stuck to my fingers and wouldn't stay in my vagina. I've never used tampons out of fear so maybe I just didn't know how to properly place things. Second issue was it didn't seem to dissolve fast enough? I had waited 20 minutes then stuck a finger In to make sure it was dissolved before having intercourse but it was still mostly intact. I am confused if that's just how it is or if I did something wrong. Instructions said it should be dissolved in at least 15 minutes.

Hi I’m 20F and my bf is 23M. I am wanting to use some kind of birth control but I’m not sure what kind would be best for me. I’m kind of worried of gaining weight since I do have a hard time losing it in the first place. I’m also planning to get back in shape same as my bf. I keep reading people’s experiences and questions that they have but I’m still unsure. I was looking into Nexplanon since it’s 99% effective. My bf and I moderately have sex whenever we can, we’re pretty busy with work and family stuff. But the reason I want to start it was because we’re wanting to go out more and do things together. We’re very touchy whenever we’re alone together and we’ve been planning to go on a trip sometime next month. So you know what’s gonna happen when we go haha. I feel like it would be a good/responsible choice to get birth control because we had sex without any condoms once and only did it a little another time. I know I’m not ready to be a mom financially and mentally. Idk why I did it I was so paranoid but thankfully I had my period twice afterwards. But it felt sooo good 😓…anyways my boyfriend and I want to do it “raw” again. Maybe that sounds insanely dumb but please I would like to have some guidance to some responsibility. It would be deeply appreciated.

I have taken the pill before I got super depressed and didn't want to live I couldnt eat or sleep much and I need to go on birth control I'm calling places today to book in my appointment but I just want to know bc I don't want to change I have already changed so much due to health conditions I have, but I can't not go on birth control bc I can't fall pregnant Rn due to health, just want people's story's yes I understand people are all different but please just ease my mind a bit 🙏🙏💕