NationStates Jolt Archive

Just so the men are warned, if you don't like reading, then remember, I warned you, feminine issues will be discussed. So don't complain to me if you don't like it.


Anyways. I've been on the pill for a bit more than a year and my circulation was getting crappy (like my hands and feet would go numb all the time) and I didn't like it so I went off it.
But now I'm starting to break out, not so much on my face, but my stomach and my period is late. Since it was ok last month and I've only had sex once (with a condom) since, it is highly unlikely that that's what it is, I'm wondering if the pill could have effected this, like caused it to be delayed (it's been less than a week so far).

If anyone could set my mind at ease and possibly reccomend a good body scrub or something. :(

I'm no expert, but I think that's normal for some varieties, which affect the skin. Supposedly, some are good for the skin. All varieties can potentially affect your heart, with a minor risk of stroke/heart attack, which your doctor probably told you. Maybe the chemical was just holding back a natural tendency toward acne.. I had terrible acne, took Acutaine for 4 months, never had a single pimple again. That'd be the way to go if you're getting it bad and are worried about your heart.

I'm not worried about my heart. My circulation went to shit though, my hands would go numb from being on the computer for an hour. My ass would fall asleep in class et c. And I hadn't changed my exercise... I was still walking everywhere. It's a bit better now though.

I'd say it's almost certainly the fact that you went off the pill--those are hormones you're taking, and they're powerful. Getting off them cold-turkey is bound to have some side effects, and one of them is that your cycle loses its regularity, especially if that's one of the reasons you were taking it in the first place.

Just a suggestion, but you might want to ask your doctor whether or not you might have just had too large a dosage of the pill, and if that's what was causing the poor circulation. Maybe a reduction in dosage is what's called for rather than just getting off them completely.

I hate to be the one to say this, but condoms are not 100% effetive (only 85% I think) and neither is the pill. An ex-GF of mine became pregnant while on the pill and while I was using a condom. We were both just 17, so you can imagine the shock that was. Never have sex with someone you don't want kids with is the only sure thing. Not easy.

Be well.

Too large a dosage? I didn't even know there were variations there, I know there's a mini-pill, but that's not as effective as birth control (which is mostly what I was taking it for, plus the whole lightening period thing, that was nice)

I'm not worried about my heart. My circulation went to shit though, my hands would go numb from being on the computer for an hour. My ass would fall asleep in class et c. And I hadn't changed my exercise... I was still walking everywhere. It's a bit better now though.

That's good. If you do have serious acne though, like disfiguringly bad, and don't mind giving blood every two weeks, Accutane (that's the proper spelling) is the industry standard, and works basically like a miracle cure. Not sure about the cost though, since I didn't pay my own medical bills in high school.

I hate to be the one to say this, but condoms are not 100% effetive (only 85% I think) and neither is the pill. An ex-GF of mine became pregnant while on the pill and while I was using a condom. We were both just 17, so you can imagine the shock that was. Never have sex with someone you don't want kids with is the only sure thing. Not easy.

Be well.
Condoms are 97% effective and the pill is 99% effective if used properly.

That's good. If you do have serious acne though, like disfiguringly bad, and don't mind giving blood every two weeks, Accutane (that's the proper spelling) is the industry standard, and works basically like a miracle cure. Not sure about the cost though, since I didn't pay my own medical bills in high school.
Well, it's not that bad and it could be a combination of encroaching summer and the loss of the pill and who knows what else... stress maybe.

It would probably go away if I exfoliate or get some of that acne preventing body wash. Unless it's something else that just looks like zits. I don't know.

Too large a dosage? I didn't even know there were variations there, I know there's a mini-pill, but that's not as effective as birth control (which is mostly what I was taking it for, plus the whole lightening period thing, that was nice)
Oh yeah--there can be major differences in reaction based on just a couple of milligrams. I'd have a heart to heart with your doctor about it. At the very least, he/she needs to know that you've been having side effects.

Are you saying your period has been late since you stopped taking the pill? I don't think you should worry about this. Since the pill was the one regulating your cycle, now that is gone your whole body is a little "confused" about it. It must be back soon, but you still should see a doctor if it stays gone for too long, also to ask them about the problem with your circulation. Pills can cause circulation and heart problems and these are well know side effects, it can be solved by changing the type of pill they are giving to you though. I don't recomend you to keep having sex relying only in the condom, if you're leaving the pill definitively, you should look for another contraconception method.

Oh yeah--there can be major differences in reaction based on just a couple of milligrams. I'd have a heart to heart with your doctor about it. At the very least, he/she needs to know that you've been having side effects.
Yeah, I'm late for my physical anyways, I suppose I'll add that to my list of people to call for tomorrow. I already have to book appointments with a career councellor and driving school (if I don't get my full lisence this summer I have to start all over again... Ontario has a stupid graduated lisence system)

Are you saying your period has been late since you stopped taking the pill? I don't think you should worry about this. Since the pill was the one regulating your cycle, now that is gone your whole body is a little "confused" about it. It must be back soon, but you still should see a doctor if it stays gone for too long, also to ask them about the problem with your circulation. Pills can cause circulation and heart problems and these are well know side effects, it can be solved by changing the type of pill they are giving to you though. I don't recomend you to keep having sex relying only in the condom, if you're leaving the pill definitively, you should look for another contraconception method.
Well, before going on the pill I was on a 30 day (more or less) cycle... perhaps being bound to a 28 day cycle has thrown it off.

And I can't afford other pills, these ones were made affordable by my school, other brands aren't. I was thinking about trying that VCF stuff in addition to a condom... that stuff seems relatively easy to use and well, with the addition of a condom, rather safe.

Yea, the pill supresses ovulation by inhibiting the part of the brain that controls the whole cycle, so, after a whole year of being inhibited, it needs some time to go back to work properly. You having a longer cycle may have to do with this, but I don't think it's something you should worry about.

Should I maybe wait a week and then if it still hasn't come check with my doctor?

yes, check in a week if you still havent had your period. after you get off the pill your cycle goes back to whatever it was before you started on the pill. irregular before=irregular after. if you were regular before it can take a couple months to get back to normal after stopping the pill. Also, as quoted before, condoms are 85% effective in preventing a pregnancy.

The ones with spermicide (i.e. the ones I use) are 97%. I don't know about the non-spermicide ones.

The theoretical effectiveness of a condom with spermacide is 98%. In actuall usage a condom with spermacide is 85% effective.

Here is the information straight out of mdconsult.com along with some common reasons for condoms failing.

Failure rate: about 2% in couples who use them consistently and correctly during the first year of use
True failure rate: about 15% during the first year of typical use

Errors

Failure to use condoms with every act of intercourse and throughout intercourse
Improper lubricant use with latex condoms (such as oil-based lubricants)
Incorrect placement of the condom on the penis
Poor withdrawal technique: withdrawing after sex without securing the condom can allow semen to spill
Opening a condom packet carelessly with fingernails, teeth, or sharp objects can tear the condom
Not checking the expiration date may result in using an old, deteriorating condom
Unrolling the condom before putting it on can increase the chance of it tearing
Using a condom that is too small could cause it to break, and using one that is too large could cause it slip off
Using too little lubricant can cause the condom to break during sex and using too much lubricant can cause it to slip off
Complications

The theoretical effectiveness of a condom with spermacide is 98%. In actuall usage a condom with spermacide is 85% effective.

Here is the information straight out of mdconsult.com along with some common reasons for condoms failing.

Failure rate: about 2% in couples who use them consistently and correctly during the first year of use
True failure rate: about 15% during the first year of typical use

Errors

Failure to use condoms with every act of intercourse and throughout intercourse
Improper lubricant use with latex condoms (such as oil-based lubricants)
Incorrect placement of the condom on the penis
Poor withdrawal technique: withdrawing after sex without securing the condom can allow semen to spill
Opening a condom packet carelessly with fingernails, teeth, or sharp objects can tear the condom
Not checking the expiration date may result in using an old, deteriorating condom
Unrolling the condom before putting it on can increase the chance of it tearing
Using a condom that is too small could cause it to break, and using one that is too large could cause it slip off
Using too little lubricant can cause the condom to break during sex and using too much lubricant can cause it to slip off
Complications
And we look after that kind of thing. No oil based lubricants, just natural ones, properly put on, carefully opened and used every single time etc. Also, generally we don't have them around long enough for them to expire.