Birth Control/Moodiness---HELP! Need Advice!?

Question

Has anyone had any problems while taking ortho tricyclen lo, or any other birth control, with moodiness/mood swings? I had my 3-month pill check a couple weeks ago and told the doctor I was adjusting to it, so she wrote me a prescription for a year. But then I started the fourth month, and it has been the worst yet for nausea and mood swings. I have been SO EMOTIONAL the past week and a half and today is a high point ... my boyfriend snapped at me over something stupid on the phone, and it wasnt a big deal, but I have been crying for the past two hours and cant stop. I was never like this before being on the pill. I have an appt on the 11th for the first Gardasil shot, but I want to see or talk to the doctor before then to hopefully switch to something that won't make me so crazy. I'm just afraid of switching to something else and having breakthrough bleeding, because that is the only good thing about OTC Lo, I havent had ANY, and that was my biggest concern.

Answer 1

The hormone level in your BC pills may be too strong. I have been on the BC pill for a couple of years now and I tried switcing to another brand (without realizing that the hormone level was stronger than the previous ones I was on) and I suffered bad side effects because of it. I was very sore for that first month. It was so bad that I had to switch back.

Speak to your gyno and let her/him know about your symptoms so your BC pills can be changed to ones with a lower hormone dosage.

Good luck! I hope I helped!

Answer 2

It's the hormones s******g you up and yes that's normal. Most birth control with hormones in it can drive a woman nuts.

Maybe you should switch to a non-hormonal IUD. Not many women get them because they feel weird about having a metal object shoved into their cervix but it is proven to be even more effective than birth control pills. It will not hinder your ability to have kids in the future (unless the doc totally screws up putting it in, but this RARELY happens. Make CERTAIN you only have it done by a competent and educated doctor). It can stay inside you for TEN years. It hurts no more than period cramps. Some people complain of having longer, heavier periods, but me myself I have had no difference in my periods.

Answer 3

I switched to an IUD because I thought the hormones in the other forms of birth control (I'd tried oral contraceptives and the NuvaRing) were making me depressed.  You should absolutely look into changing your birth control.  There are so many different formulations now that it's often possible to find one that doesn't cause these problems with you (or doesn't cause them as strongly).  I would consider depression FAR more important than possible breakthrough bleeding; I know breakthrough bleeding can be upsetting, but I rate my sanity far higher than the stainlessness of my panties.

Definitely talk to your doctor about switching to something else.  Also, if it helps; you mention the Gardasil shot, and if I recall correctly that's still only generally available for people in their teens and early 20's.  I think those years are still pretty volatile ones for hormones, so things should start getting better/you should start feeling more stable at some point (but still talk to your doctor).