Contraceptive Pill, or stick with the Rhythm Method?

Question

POSTED this in Womens Health but havent received any Answers yet.

I'm 21yrs old, have been sexually active for 3 yrs (with the same partner - we live together) &today I went to get my first prescription for the Pill.

We've been using the rhythm method for three years and though I know it's not perfect, we haven't yet had any scares.

I told the Dr I wanted to go on the Pill for everything - contraceptive, pimple control + to lighten up my periods (they're normally extremely heavy & painful) and that I wanted to try Yasmin, but he prescribed me Levlen instead.

Reading up about it, I'm concerned about the number of women who have experienced a sudden rash of acne, have become moody or gone off sex, or even gone off their partners all together. Some people have even become pregnant on it.

Should I bother taking it? I have never become pregnant on the rhythm method, & I dont want to mess up my cycle for no reason.

What's your experience with the Pill or Rhythm Method?

Answer 1

I had lots of trouble with the pill, which I went on long before I was sexually active to help with my periods. I went through 6 different brands before I ended up getting pregnant after I switched to a 7th brand after having a heavy 3 week long period on Yasmin.

I never had any acne/weight gain/mood swing reactions on any of the brands. My only problem with them all was they did not regulate my period. It was still painful, heavy, and as unscheduled as ever.

I never tried the rhythm method because with my irregularity, I never have any idea when I might be ovulating or not.

If you're doing it successfully, I don't see any problem with continuing what you're going. But the rhythm method is probably the single most unreliable method of birth control, so unless you could support a child if you did happen to get pregnant, I would use a back up method. It doesn't have to be the pill. It can be condoms, spermicide, the shot, or even the patch. Whatever you like.

What I use now is an IUD. I have the Mirena brand, which can be left in place for up to 5 years. It's been in a year and a half now. According to the doctors and all the research I did on it before I had it inserted, it's got a better success rate than surgical sterilization.

Answer 2

maybe u have to talk again with your doctor or trying to find second opinion if u are not sure of taking the pill that your doctor suggested u. and about the rash or acnes, most of contraception pills have that as side effects, and u get it only on the first few months (some people doesn't even get that rash or acnes). and every kind of contraceptive either its pills or whatever, only guarantee 99%, so u always have the possibility to get pregnant (its very rare though).

u are right about wanting to try Yasmin, the good thing about the pills are (else then preventing pregnancy) lighten your periods, make it less painful when u have sour period, regulates your period and it also helps your skin.
i'm on the pill for almost 3 years now, and i love it.

Answer 3

A more definite way of not falling pregnant is using the pill and condoms. I guess if you use the rhythm method and know the consequences then it your choice. We were kind of using the rhythm method but obviously not well enough because I am now 18 weeks pregnant with No.2. Only a couple of months earlier then we planned.

Answer 4

go with the pill. you should use a back up method (condoms) for the 1st month or so. You are extremly lucky that the rhythm method has worked for 3 years. I had sex 2 times that way and now im pregnant!! anyway, there are side effects to EVERY drug, most never happen to most people but the drug companies have to make sure they arent gonna get sued

Answer 5

Actually the vaginal insert film has worked the best for me.
It's not messy, is easily inserted, and works so well I only have 1 child so far.
But then again, she may be a miracle baby due to the amount of fibroids in my uterus.
But because of my sensitivities, I was least sensitive to the contraceptive film inserts. And so far only the one without worrying about taking a daily or weekly pill.
As for heavy periods, you can reduce their impact by reducing or quitting caffeine altogether (unfortunately this includes chocolate) AND excercising daily for at least 30-40 minutes of walking or running a day AND eating primarily vegetables AND reducing your intake of red meat AND limiting your pork intake to ham at Christmas and no more bacon.
Mood swings happen with or without a pill, so having handy a good source of funny jokes will help release the tension when it gets to be too much (I like to read Jay Leno's "Headlines" when I'm PMS'ing, I crack up and the tension ebbs.)
Good luck in finding a decent solution. Herbalists will try to sell you on Black or Blue Cohash Tea, but I'm still iffy about the validity of their claims. Ginger root, and raspberry teas did help a little, but not significantly. But reducing the caffeine made a huge difference reducing the severity of my cramps.
Hope this helped.

Answer 6

I used to take Levlen...for the same reasons as you...contrceptive + my periods were HORRIBLE. But, according to the doctors the main cause of my gallbladder disease was from that specific birth control. I have read that birth control pills can cause gallbladder issues because somehow it affects the way you expel bile from your gallbladder while taking birth control. Regardless, I stopped taking it. I decided to start using the NuvaRing and I LOVED that!!! it worked like a charm and I never even knew it was inside of me and I never got pregnant once while using it. Of course when I stopped I got pregnant, but it totally worked. And it didn't make me sick and it really helped with my bad periods. So, I would suggest the NuvaRing.

Answer 7

My experience is that my two sisters became pregnant on the rhythm method but I never had any trouble on the pill. I'm not familiar with the brand you mention, but if you don't like it it's easy enough to stop taking it.

Answer 8

when u say rhythum are u referring to pull out method