Birth Control Forum - choosing birth control

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Q: choosing birth control

asked by: Eir on August 7th, 2008

New User

I'm just starting Ortho tri cyclen-lo, mainly because of my hormonal breakouts. Is this new Dr. crazy for prescribing me a triphasic (ortho tri cyclen-lo)? I have menstrual migraines and am prone to hormone-related depression... If my skin was clear, I'd avoid OCs all together. They've been a problem for me.

Prior to the new Ortho, I've been off OCs for a couple months. Feel great, totally happy, libido back. However, my skin is starting to look bad again, and I'm concerned about the hair thinning (?!?) and libido loss if I start up OCs again ... what can I do? Loestrin has been the only OC that doesn't make me feel horrible, but it doesn't really clear my skin.

Previously, I've been on (in this order):

Loestrin 1/20: worked fine, sex drive was fine, skin not so great, minor depression but manageable. On it for 4 years until a dr freaked out because I have migraines with aura, refusing to prescribe it.

Depo: HORRIBLE. weight gain, depression, you name the side effect and I had it. Bad. Don't take this.

Progesterone only pill: skin became HORRIBLE, worst it's ever been, sex drive disappeared, depression, moodiness. I think this also made my hair thin. This, the depo, or both.

yaz--horrible side effects: no sex drive, depression, nausea, vomiting, spotting... but beautiful skin. Not as bad as the errin or depo, but still awful.

Any recommendations? Similar experiences? I'm at a loss as to what I should do.

Replies(1)

vylettesky

replied on August 8th, 2008

New User

I was on ortho tri-lo for a couple of years. While I was on it, I experienced depression, weight gain, low libido..but great skin! I went off of it because of my depression/mood problems with it. A few months later I was feeling A LOT better...depression wasn't as bad and slowly went away, libido was back in action, and my weight stablized (my weight gain was mostly associated with the depression).

The side effects could have been also associated with the fact that I was really stressed out while I was in university at the time. So I'm not going to knock it or say it's horrible...it just might have not been the best option for me at that time and it aided to my stress and problems. It did work great for my skin though.

I'm going to try it again (or a similar type of BC) now that my life is more stable. We'll see how it goes the second time around. My doctor suggested an IUD because of the mood problems I had while on ortho tri-lo, but I didn't really feel too comfortable with that option. I don't think it helps with the skin problems as well. Good luck!

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