Going on a birth control pill is a personal decision that many collegiettes™ face sooner or later. But once you decide to go on the pill, how do you pick the right one for you? And what about those pesky rumors? Do birth control pills really make you gain a ton of weight? Are there really pills that stop your period?? Read these real life collegiettes’™ stories about their experiences with different types of birth control.
Yaz:
“I went on Yaz (also called Beyaz) about three years ago, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. Around the time of my period each month, I got really bad migraines. I would have to stay home from school every time it happened. Eventually, I decided to go off birth control for good, and I never had any migraines after that.”??
–Ashley*, 19?
“When I was on Yaz, my skin was flawless, but if I ever missed a pill, I would have my period for two weeks straight! I decided Yaz wasn’t for me, but it was definitely nice not to have any pimples for a whole year.”
–Erin*, 18
Seasonique:
“I saw the Seasonique (generic name Seasonale) commercial on TV, so I decided to try it out. I gained about 5lbs, but my face cleared up, and I only get my period four times a year. I would recommend Seasonique.”??
–Kaitlyn*, 18?
I love only getting my period four times a year, but with Seasonique you really have to make sure to take your pill at the same time every day, or else you’ll get your period early and it will last for a long time. I also spot sometimes in the month leading up to my period. If you’re on Seasonique and you’re sexually active, it’s a good idea to keep a pregnancy test handy, since you only get your period every three months, and you might get nervous without that monthly “I’m not pregnant” memo.
–Elizabeth*, 19
FemCon Fe:
?I’m not very good at swallowing pills, so I decided to try FemCon Fe, because it’s chewable. I gained some weight, and I think my acne has gotten worse, but I barely have any cramps now, so I think I’ll stick with FemCon Fe.??
–Taylor*, 20
Loestrin 24:
I really wanted a pill that would make my periods easier to deal with and a pill that didn’t have a ton of really strong hormones, so my doctor recommended Loestrin 24. My periods were definitely easier to deal with, but I had a lot of nausea, around that time of the month. My doctor gave me some medicine for the nausea, so it’s not too bad. Every pill has side effects, you just have to know which ones you can deal with.
–Nicole*, 18
Loestrin 24 worked perfectly for me! I had drama-free periods, and I don’t remember having any bad side effects. I really like it.
–Candice*, 21
Consider these facts as you try to decide which pill is right for you:
1.) Every pill is different. All birth control pills contain estrogen and progesterone, two important female hormones, but many pills contain other hormones as well. Some of these hormones may not react well with your body, so it is important to know what kind you are taking, and if one doesn’t work well for you, don’t hesitate to try another!
2.) There are many forms of birth control for women. Have trouble swallowing pills, or a tough time remembering to take the pill at the same time every day? Don’t worry! There are plenty of options available to you. Check out the Patch, IUD (Inter-Uterine Device), implants, or the Shot (Depo-Provera).?
3.) Make an appointment with your doctor. He/She will help you make the right decision for your body.