I went off the pill more than 10 years ago after being initially prescribed it for my skin when I was a teen. It was the best decision I ever made. I have not been on any other form of birth control since, which means I have to be very careful in sex. I now have two kids, and it’s my partner who has to get the snip if we want to continue having any form of a sex life.
My journey with the pill is pretty fucked. Started on levlin to deal with debilitating period pain, this gave me huge boobs that would "go away when I went off the pill" - they never did, Im planning reduction surgery for next year. Then onto Yasmine that did what Yaz did for you and made me suicidal 2 x a month. When I finally realised it was the pill doing that, my saviour was Yaz. I was on it for 10 years and was mostly ok. It's crazy that one pill can have such opposite effects in different people.
When I went off Yaz, I realised it had been helping me mask PMDD symptoms and the recommended solution was to go back on it but I opted for SSRIs instead.
Now I have an IUD and it seems fine, but not great. I just don't feel like there are a lot of options - or the many options given are like "try it and we'll see what happens!" I've seriously thought about a hysterectomy given that I dont want more kids and this would solve my PMDD but it would also mean going through menopause (side note: if anyone is in need of a healthy uterus, happy to donate mine... not even kidding).
This is insane how similar this is to my experience!! Levlin when I was 14 the Yasmin now YAZ, which is treating my PMDD and Sertraline SSRI’s. I want so badly to go off contraceptive but am so scared of experiencing the monthly suicidal feelings again.
I also want to get a hysterectomy but have heard menopause is worse the younger it happens to you and is also worse for people with PMDD sooo seems like there is no winning here!!
Anyway it’s validating to hear someone else has had a similar experience. I hope you find a helpful solution soon!!
Just a thought after reading a lot of these comments, especially from the younger folk: please still use condoms even if you're on the pill!
All the methods discussed here (pill, iud, nuva ring, Implanon) do not protect against STIs. So if you're young and sleeping with lots of people or new people (as you should be!) and worried about putting hormones in your body, you should def be using condoms anyway <3
Thank you for writing about this - I have suffered from extremely painful periods for most of my adult life and have been given contraception for this multiple times (actually, I was prescribed Yaz when I went in for an ear infection...). Each time within six or so months I have suicidal ideations almost entirely unprompted. Although my pain symptoms diminish, the ramifications on my mental health are enough to get me off the pill again - rock/ hard place. I have a propensity for depression as it is, it's in my genes, in my constitution, and on my health records in accessing psychologist rebates. Yet none of my doctors considered this risk when prescribing me contraception. And we wonder how non-males become disillusioned with healthcare and start seeking advice from quasi health-practitioners. Dr Ian Hickie did a great bit on depression and touches on the importance of oestrogen for womens moods and I've since gone down many rabbit holes ofc, will link below if anyone wants a listen.
I've had similar experiences with the pill and also gut issues. I did well on Zoely for unbearable Endometriosis pain before surgery a few years ago. It is a private script and has a natural version of progesterone, however, it numbed my emotions.
I know women who cycle manage and do not fall pregnant. I am one of these women however I am rarely sexually active due to Endometriosis and other illness. I stick to the first week of my period. We can technically only have a high risk of falling pregnant 2 weeks of every month, this information is controversial and I recommend doing your own research and speaking to a good GP.
This is a great article Hannah. It's a topic that I've been reading a lot about lately, my husband and I decided we were ready to get pregnant last year so I went off the pill - and no pregnancy yet. Turns out there is evidence that your fertility is diminished in the 6+ months coming off the pill, not to mention your nutrient levels. It's absolutely shocking that this isn't discussed when it's prescribed!
After being on the pill for the better part of 20 years … I cannot recommend a Mirena enough! No notes. It’s been amazing for me, I recommend it to everyone who’ll listen. I know everyone has their own experiences and it’s not for everyone but for me, so periods, no side effects… it’s a dream!
This is such important information! I'd highly recommend "Inferior" by Angela Saini regarding scientific research biases around hormones and contraception trials, and "Period Queen" by Lucy Peach which feels like your favourite big sister giving you the best sex-ed and period health chat you needed as a pubescent kid and didn't get till your twenties.
After 15 years of trying almost every pill and mini-pill on the market, the Nuva ring and the Mirena IUD, I went off all hormonal contraceptives. It was like my life snapped into Technicolor. It was incredibly validating and really sad to realise how gaslit I'd been. Anxiety and depression are no longer permanent travelling companions. My body feels stable. My gut instincts are better. My choices about relationships are more empowered.
For anyone who's doubting themselves: you're not crazy, it doesn't have to be this way, you are entitled to holistic healthcare that doesn't make you want to hurt/kill/lose yourself. Be a problem, be loud and demand better from your GP. Xoxoxo
As a Mum of teens and tweens and someone who used the pill I feel this is such an important read. So I shared this link to all of my socials and Facebook removed it for violating community guidelines!!! What the actual F*CK?!
I was put on the pill as a 14 year old to deal with painful periods. Went through five different kinds in four years and after being sent to hospital multiple times for excessive bleeding and debilitating pain got put on an iud. The mental and physical side effects of different types, doses and duration of hormones caused bad moods, throwing up and nausea, potentially fainting and weight fluctuations. All through my final years of high school. If I had been addressed properly I might not have a chronic pain condition now. The iud is better, but I'm now in year 12 and it's still not good. Thanks Hannah!
I was like most girls put on the pill for my cystic acne at 15. After a few years of failing to take it consistently I took myself off. My skin might be worse but gp’s need to be sending girls to dermatologists instead of putting them on contraception. Hormone regulation has fairly poor data for controlling acne anyway.
I was on the pill from 16 for my skin. I never really loved it and played around with other things like the nuva (?) ring. I eventually got a Mirena IUD and the first one worked amazingly. As a woman in the military having zero period was a lifesaver and I felt like everything was great. However I had constant issues with thrush which I only ever got while I had the IUD. After having my first child I had the Mirena inserted again and the DR put it into my cesarian scar instead of my uterus- this led to 4 attempts to remove it under a GA and an eventual miscarriage. I’m now completely sworn off birth control that I have to ingest or implant. I’ve done my bit. It’s my husband’s turn. Whatever that actually looks like…
Mate. I'm so glad we're talking about this. The first pill I ever went on was Yasmin, and I had the same experience as you. Very bad, very depressed, lost all interest in life, stopped seeing friends, couldn't get out of bed. I switched pills and it was like a heavy weight lifted.
My cousin was on Yaz, and had a stroke a few years ago. She suspects it was the pill.
I'm on contraceptive now, and I fully believe that it is ruining my life. I think it fucks with my stomach and causes gastro problems, I am unwell a lot, and very unhappy. But how can I prove that it's the pill?
There have been 2 times that I've been off the pill - before I became sexually active, and a short period of 2 years between partners. And they were the two times in my life when I've been the happiest and healthiest I've ever been.
What to do? I don't trust IUDs. I am seriously considering a tubal ligation, because I have absolutely no desire to have kids. But the fact that I have to resort to major surgery seems really shit.
Also, I heard recently that apparently being on the pill lessens the effects of menopause. I'm almost 40 so that's something I'm thinking about now.
Summing up, it just sucks to be a woman. We get the short end of everything. I'm so tired of being sick and unhappy but I don't see any solution.
I went on the pill when I was 15 because I played water sports and wanted to be able to predict when my period was. It was probably a good thing that it killed my libio a bit since it was pretty high in highschool but once I got into my 20s, something felt wrong. I followed Cyndie O'Meara and Nat K (https://linktr.ee/natkringoudis?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaf2q_i9Yx3LeVhnYrsXLqrnN0vZJYXYQJo0N4RIHHa54m4JvWIvgVoeLE_aem_9zl4Xztg2LomyUHHcMiE4A) and realised it was probably the pill so I got off it. I still didn't feel great once I was off and after using progesterone cream for a couple of weeks to help my hormones balance, I felt amazing. I hadn't realised the brain fog that I had been in! I read the book, Take Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and that made me understand my cycles. I've only used condoms since I was 23 and have never fallen pregnant except when I wanted to (2 kids now). My husband doesn't like the idea of me taking the pill so he will get the snip at some stage.
Firstly, ask your local bookshop or library if they can get the book in for you. I’m a librarian and bought it for our collection, so it is definitely available from suppliers in Australia.
Secondly, I was on Yaz when I first met my now husband and I honestly do not know how we stayed together back then, but 13 years ago it affected me so badly I was the angriest I’ve ever been. All the time, every day. Thankfully I was aware of it enough to work out wrist that wasn’t me, and stopped taking it. I’ve now been on Levlen for about 10 years and thinking about how that might have changed my life, but absolutely don’t want kids and am terrified of other options being painful or not working that I’m just kind stuck here.
I was put on the pill for my irregular periods as the only option by every doctor i spoke to when i was 14. Fast forward to the pandemic and i decided to stop taking it and then went a year without a period. I think i went to every doctor within the 20km radius of me and got no answers but now know i have PCOS and am learning so much about hormones. So interesting when i bring it up with other people and they are so confused what PCOS is and how it impacts periods!!
I went off the pill more than 10 years ago after being initially prescribed it for my skin when I was a teen. It was the best decision I ever made. I have not been on any other form of birth control since, which means I have to be very careful in sex. I now have two kids, and it’s my partner who has to get the snip if we want to continue having any form of a sex life.
This is such an eye-opener, Hannah.
My journey with the pill is pretty fucked. Started on levlin to deal with debilitating period pain, this gave me huge boobs that would "go away when I went off the pill" - they never did, Im planning reduction surgery for next year. Then onto Yasmine that did what Yaz did for you and made me suicidal 2 x a month. When I finally realised it was the pill doing that, my saviour was Yaz. I was on it for 10 years and was mostly ok. It's crazy that one pill can have such opposite effects in different people.
When I went off Yaz, I realised it had been helping me mask PMDD symptoms and the recommended solution was to go back on it but I opted for SSRIs instead.
Now I have an IUD and it seems fine, but not great. I just don't feel like there are a lot of options - or the many options given are like "try it and we'll see what happens!" I've seriously thought about a hysterectomy given that I dont want more kids and this would solve my PMDD but it would also mean going through menopause (side note: if anyone is in need of a healthy uterus, happy to donate mine... not even kidding).
Anyway, off to buy this book and you should take a listen to this jam: https://open.spotify.com/track/5eoG7w6MkZFf9NLLQpUzpy?si=d5473fd724254d5e
This is insane how similar this is to my experience!! Levlin when I was 14 the Yasmin now YAZ, which is treating my PMDD and Sertraline SSRI’s. I want so badly to go off contraceptive but am so scared of experiencing the monthly suicidal feelings again.
I also want to get a hysterectomy but have heard menopause is worse the younger it happens to you and is also worse for people with PMDD sooo seems like there is no winning here!!
Anyway it’s validating to hear someone else has had a similar experience. I hope you find a helpful solution soon!!
Just a thought after reading a lot of these comments, especially from the younger folk: please still use condoms even if you're on the pill!
All the methods discussed here (pill, iud, nuva ring, Implanon) do not protect against STIs. So if you're young and sleeping with lots of people or new people (as you should be!) and worried about putting hormones in your body, you should def be using condoms anyway <3
Thank you for writing about this - I have suffered from extremely painful periods for most of my adult life and have been given contraception for this multiple times (actually, I was prescribed Yaz when I went in for an ear infection...). Each time within six or so months I have suicidal ideations almost entirely unprompted. Although my pain symptoms diminish, the ramifications on my mental health are enough to get me off the pill again - rock/ hard place. I have a propensity for depression as it is, it's in my genes, in my constitution, and on my health records in accessing psychologist rebates. Yet none of my doctors considered this risk when prescribing me contraception. And we wonder how non-males become disillusioned with healthcare and start seeking advice from quasi health-practitioners. Dr Ian Hickie did a great bit on depression and touches on the importance of oestrogen for womens moods and I've since gone down many rabbit holes ofc, will link below if anyone wants a listen.
https://youtu.be/5MeT59i_5rE?si=NdXRpSx2BUm0Cyhc
I've had similar experiences with the pill and also gut issues. I did well on Zoely for unbearable Endometriosis pain before surgery a few years ago. It is a private script and has a natural version of progesterone, however, it numbed my emotions.
I know women who cycle manage and do not fall pregnant. I am one of these women however I am rarely sexually active due to Endometriosis and other illness. I stick to the first week of my period. We can technically only have a high risk of falling pregnant 2 weeks of every month, this information is controversial and I recommend doing your own research and speaking to a good GP.
This is a great article Hannah. It's a topic that I've been reading a lot about lately, my husband and I decided we were ready to get pregnant last year so I went off the pill - and no pregnancy yet. Turns out there is evidence that your fertility is diminished in the 6+ months coming off the pill, not to mention your nutrient levels. It's absolutely shocking that this isn't discussed when it's prescribed!
Also, anyone who wants to connect on Stardust to hit that free pro subscription hit me up!
After being on the pill for the better part of 20 years … I cannot recommend a Mirena enough! No notes. It’s been amazing for me, I recommend it to everyone who’ll listen. I know everyone has their own experiences and it’s not for everyone but for me, so periods, no side effects… it’s a dream!
This is such important information! I'd highly recommend "Inferior" by Angela Saini regarding scientific research biases around hormones and contraception trials, and "Period Queen" by Lucy Peach which feels like your favourite big sister giving you the best sex-ed and period health chat you needed as a pubescent kid and didn't get till your twenties.
After 15 years of trying almost every pill and mini-pill on the market, the Nuva ring and the Mirena IUD, I went off all hormonal contraceptives. It was like my life snapped into Technicolor. It was incredibly validating and really sad to realise how gaslit I'd been. Anxiety and depression are no longer permanent travelling companions. My body feels stable. My gut instincts are better. My choices about relationships are more empowered.
For anyone who's doubting themselves: you're not crazy, it doesn't have to be this way, you are entitled to holistic healthcare that doesn't make you want to hurt/kill/lose yourself. Be a problem, be loud and demand better from your GP. Xoxoxo
As a Mum of teens and tweens and someone who used the pill I feel this is such an important read. So I shared this link to all of my socials and Facebook removed it for violating community guidelines!!! What the actual F*CK?!
I was put on the pill as a 14 year old to deal with painful periods. Went through five different kinds in four years and after being sent to hospital multiple times for excessive bleeding and debilitating pain got put on an iud. The mental and physical side effects of different types, doses and duration of hormones caused bad moods, throwing up and nausea, potentially fainting and weight fluctuations. All through my final years of high school. If I had been addressed properly I might not have a chronic pain condition now. The iud is better, but I'm now in year 12 and it's still not good. Thanks Hannah!
I was like most girls put on the pill for my cystic acne at 15. After a few years of failing to take it consistently I took myself off. My skin might be worse but gp’s need to be sending girls to dermatologists instead of putting them on contraception. Hormone regulation has fairly poor data for controlling acne anyway.
I was on the pill from 16 for my skin. I never really loved it and played around with other things like the nuva (?) ring. I eventually got a Mirena IUD and the first one worked amazingly. As a woman in the military having zero period was a lifesaver and I felt like everything was great. However I had constant issues with thrush which I only ever got while I had the IUD. After having my first child I had the Mirena inserted again and the DR put it into my cesarian scar instead of my uterus- this led to 4 attempts to remove it under a GA and an eventual miscarriage. I’m now completely sworn off birth control that I have to ingest or implant. I’ve done my bit. It’s my husband’s turn. Whatever that actually looks like…
What do you mean they put it in your C section scar??? That sounds absolutely traumatic
Mate. I'm so glad we're talking about this. The first pill I ever went on was Yasmin, and I had the same experience as you. Very bad, very depressed, lost all interest in life, stopped seeing friends, couldn't get out of bed. I switched pills and it was like a heavy weight lifted.
My cousin was on Yaz, and had a stroke a few years ago. She suspects it was the pill.
I'm on contraceptive now, and I fully believe that it is ruining my life. I think it fucks with my stomach and causes gastro problems, I am unwell a lot, and very unhappy. But how can I prove that it's the pill?
There have been 2 times that I've been off the pill - before I became sexually active, and a short period of 2 years between partners. And they were the two times in my life when I've been the happiest and healthiest I've ever been.
What to do? I don't trust IUDs. I am seriously considering a tubal ligation, because I have absolutely no desire to have kids. But the fact that I have to resort to major surgery seems really shit.
Also, I heard recently that apparently being on the pill lessens the effects of menopause. I'm almost 40 so that's something I'm thinking about now.
Summing up, it just sucks to be a woman. We get the short end of everything. I'm so tired of being sick and unhappy but I don't see any solution.
I went on the pill when I was 15 because I played water sports and wanted to be able to predict when my period was. It was probably a good thing that it killed my libio a bit since it was pretty high in highschool but once I got into my 20s, something felt wrong. I followed Cyndie O'Meara and Nat K (https://linktr.ee/natkringoudis?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaf2q_i9Yx3LeVhnYrsXLqrnN0vZJYXYQJo0N4RIHHa54m4JvWIvgVoeLE_aem_9zl4Xztg2LomyUHHcMiE4A) and realised it was probably the pill so I got off it. I still didn't feel great once I was off and after using progesterone cream for a couple of weeks to help my hormones balance, I felt amazing. I hadn't realised the brain fog that I had been in! I read the book, Take Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and that made me understand my cycles. I've only used condoms since I was 23 and have never fallen pregnant except when I wanted to (2 kids now). My husband doesn't like the idea of me taking the pill so he will get the snip at some stage.
Firstly, ask your local bookshop or library if they can get the book in for you. I’m a librarian and bought it for our collection, so it is definitely available from suppliers in Australia.
Secondly, I was on Yaz when I first met my now husband and I honestly do not know how we stayed together back then, but 13 years ago it affected me so badly I was the angriest I’ve ever been. All the time, every day. Thankfully I was aware of it enough to work out wrist that wasn’t me, and stopped taking it. I’ve now been on Levlen for about 10 years and thinking about how that might have changed my life, but absolutely don’t want kids and am terrified of other options being painful or not working that I’m just kind stuck here.
I was put on the pill for my irregular periods as the only option by every doctor i spoke to when i was 14. Fast forward to the pandemic and i decided to stop taking it and then went a year without a period. I think i went to every doctor within the 20km radius of me and got no answers but now know i have PCOS and am learning so much about hormones. So interesting when i bring it up with other people and they are so confused what PCOS is and how it impacts periods!!