the pill destroys sex drive? causes depression?

As I stated in another thread, I've just recently been put on the pill (today was my third day taking it), and I've been looking up information on the pill and its side effects. I'm getting kind of nervous because I've read so many horror stories of women on the pill who's sex drive has completely diminished or who have fallen into major depressions and boughts of anxiety. I just wanted to ask those women on here who are on or who were on the pill what their experiences have been and what, if any, negative (or positive, whatever) side effects they've had while on it. Has anyone here lost their libido or sucken into a depression because of it? Thanks for any responses...

 

oh, yes. low libido, weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, depression... there's more too. an increase in facial and body hair, migraines, acne, and how after coming off the pill, my periods were never regular like they had been before, not years later. The pill caused me to have ovarian cysts (more painful than unmedicated childbirth), when the typical treatment for such cysts is to be put on the pill. Whatever you do, no matter what the medication is, read the package inserts and patient info sheets, it's required by law to be available to you. You can't make an informed decision if you aren't informed. Estrogen, in particular, has many horrible side effects. It may make symptoms of endometriosis go away for a while, but at the same time feeds the growth of more endo. It can contribute to certain reproductive cancers. The list is long, and quite scary, indeed.


some women have none of those side effects, but many do. Only you can decide for yourself if it's worth the risks.

 

I've never had any problems with mine.

 

no major problems here with the pill
a little pms from time to time (never had it without the pill), lighter more predictable periods

 

I had nothing but problems with the pill when I was on it. First, I developed a rare form of cervical cancer from the synthedic hormones. I had absolutely no sex drive. The only positive things that I got from it were no cramps and no babies.

 

No negative side effects for me in the 3+ years I've been on the pill.

 

right now I'm on a high estrogen pill and have NO sex drive what so ever...the only time i do have even a remotely sexual thought, it's when I'm on my week break. I have HOBBIBLE mood swings just as I'm coming off it, and I think that I have worse cramps now. Funny enough, before I got pregnant, I was taking the same one and never had a problem....now I have every problem.
I'm starting a lower dosage pill in 3 days, hopefully things subside.
If you do get really bad side effects, I'd keep switching unitl you find one that is suited to you.

 

hmm, maybe that's the difference... the pill I'm on is a fairly low dose one (the lowest dose without being specifically labelled low dose)... maybe it's the higher dose ones that tend to cause problems

 

no... it's how each individual woman reacts differently to certain medications. I had just as bad reaction to the mini-pill, which is low dose progestin only without the estrogen, and has the least risk of certain side effects.

 

I've been taking diane35 for 4 months now, and my sex drive has decreased noticeably. I however, enjoy this. I can focus more, and I don't miss being horny all the time. I'm young, so my hormones are on overdrive anyway. It's completely normal to have this side effect.

 

i have seen many times where women react harshley to a higher dosage pill and when they switch to a lower dosage, it all goes away. Then there's some who react very sensitivley to it, like you did I'm guessing. Infact, on the info sheet they provide with the pack I'm currently on, it says that if this pill causes harsh side effects, to switch to a lower dosage pill to lessen them.

 

I tried ortho-tricyclen when I was like 18 -- made me psychotic 29 days out of every cycle! Then, we I started dating my fiance, I decided to try the pill again, but told my doc of the previous bad experience. She put me on a moderately low dose monocyclic pill... For the next year, I had to go back every 3-4 months to switch to a lower dose... Finally, I found one that worked without the nasty side effects except for lowered sex drive. So, at my last exam, I switched to the nuva ring, which seems to be good so far (and not affecting sex drive).

It depends on what works well with your body chemistry, one pill will not affect two women exactly the same. If you're having unpleasant side effects after about 3 months (allow some time for your body to adjust to the new inputs), go back to your doc and talk about it. If your doc is decently trained in reproductive health, s/he should know which direction to go to try to alleviate those side effects.

 

i wasn't saying it was a hard and fast rule, but that people who react to the pill will probably have reduced symptoms with a lower dose pills. Probably, not definitely, not a scale or absolutes

 

Ugh, I hate all these side effects that come along with things that are supposed to HELP you. So far, I'm ok, but I've only been taking it for 4 days. The most I can notice is that my eyes are drier. I hate that something that's supposed to allow you to have sex more freely makes most women lose their sex drive. What the fuck is that about? I have a really high sex drive and really enjoy it, so without it, I'd lose a huge chunk of who I am. I'm on LoEstrin now. Supposedly it's just some generic brand, but I guess since the name is "Lo Estrin" I'm guessing the Estrogen level is well...low. So maybe this brand will work well for me. *Crosses fingers*...I really hope so. It's a relief to hear some women on here say they are/were ok on the pill, but the ones who tell the horror stories scare the shit outta me. Oh well...thanks for all your responses, ladies...

 

If you have problems with it, go talk to your doc. I was fine on the last pill I used, but it did lower my sex drive... So I'm now on the nuvaring, which you insert into your vagina and leave it in place for 3 weeks. It has the lowest level of system hormones of any hormonal bc, so it should have the least effect on your sex drive...

 

I was on the pill for years with no problems...and lots of benefits. I've had friends that have had to switch dosages a couple times before they found one that was in sync with their bodies.

After a couple kids, I went on the low dose pill and had more bleeding than I was used to.

Now I'm on depo provera and love it but don't encourage anyone who might want kids someday to use it.

 

My god a lower sex drive!!! I've been on the pill since I was 17 (I was on depo before that and you want to talk about low sex drive) anyway, it has not lowered my sex drive at all. And if it has, they better lock me up when I go off of it because I'll be screwing everything in town. My boyfriend and I used to fight about how much I wanted sex.

Definitely not a problem here.

As far as other side effects, just like everyone else said, it all depends on the person. Never had any negative side effects from the pill.

 

I got off that crap. It made me gain weight, and messed with my emotions. Obviously that shit is unhealthy because read the the pages of warnings and side effects that come with each pack. Not to mention its messing with your natural hormone balance, and tricking your body into a false pregnancy....

I personally will never go on the pill again. I have to many people that come into the clinic having trouble with conceiving after being on the BC for years.

 

funny enough, if you read any label of any pill for anything, the side effects almost seem worse than the thing you may be "treating" in the first place. It really quite sucks.
Actually, it's funny that you mention women having trouble getting pregnant after being on the pill....I'm *trying* to remember which news show I saw it on, but it was saying how missing periods is actually GOOD for women, and the more contraception, the better. I'm looking for the link right now, I'll post it if i can finally find it....it was on one of those Dateline, 2020, W5 or Primetime type shows....just can't remember which one.

 

Women are having far more periods today than nature intended. We were meant to be pregnant or breast-feeding (both of which stop periods) for a lot of our reproductive life. We also are starting our periods a few years younger than in centuries past.

I think a lot of side effects can be a mind over matter thing. I remember in college I blamed the pill for a 15 lb. weight gain. My doctor looked at me and said, 2 or 3 pounds MIGHT be caused by the pill. The rest was caused by me eating and partying too much and exercising too little.

And nothing will kill your sex drive like a bad relationship.

I think the real dangers of the pill are well documented. For instance, it can raise your blood pressure a bit (usually only a problem if you already have high blood pressure).

If you smoke, take something else since that seems to exacerbate many side effects.

If you are over 35 more of a chance of blood clots.