Best products from r/birthcontrol

Great!

When picking something with salicylic acid in it you'll want to start out gentle if you haven't really used it in the past. Don't go over something that claims to contain more than 2% salicylic acid.

These ones by Stridex are popular and easy to get: https://www.amazon.ca/Stridex-Salicylic-Maximum-Strength-Packaging/dp/B000NUN8BK/ref=pd_sim_121_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3WTHS1W2HEMFG7D9K8SR

I have also used these by First Aid Beauty: https://www.sephora.com/product/clear-complexion-pads-P411873?skuId=1856939&icid2=first_aid_beauty_lp_whatsnew_carousel_ca:p411873

And I've heard great things about these ones by COSRX, a Korean skincare brand: http://jolse.com/product/cosrx-one-step-original-clear-pad-70ea/4363/?cate_no=371&display_group=1

Use these products after cleansing, but before moisturizing (and you absolutely should moisturize every time you cleanse, and especially if you are using products like these!). Do not use any of these everyday. At first it might feel like you're not getting anything done by not using them often, but in the long run it is way better to respect your skins moisture barrier by being gentle with chemical exfoliation than to dry your skin out. Start out by using them just every two days and then maybe move on to every other day if your skin does not seem to be getting dry. Again, really focus it on your problem area if the rest of your face is happy and clear.


Moving on to spot treatments, here are the two I've found to work for me.
Clean & Clear (contains benzoyl peroxid): https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Clear-Persa-Gel-Treatment-Medication/dp/B00KZ22ED4/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1511920947&sr=8-3&keywords=clean+and+clear+benzoyl

LUSH Grease Lightning (contains tea tree oil): https://www.lush.ca/en/face/cleansers/grease-lightning/02896.html

Put a generous amount right the zit after moisturizing. Some people put a thin layer and leave it on during the day, but I've always found it ends up looking flaky and weird.

Pimple patches have also started to gain popularity recently. They started out mostly as an Asian Beauty thing I believe and now their making their way over to some western stores as well. They're basically these packages that contain some sort of something (science) that draws the gunk out of your skin. Put them on before bed and in the morning you wake up with a lumpy yuck-filled sticker! Here are some options for those as well.
COSRX: http://jolse.com/product/cosrx-acne-pimple-master-patch-24-patches-10-sheets/7765/?cate_no=371&display_group=1

Nexcare (I've started seeing these ones in North American pharmacies): https://www.amazon.ca/Nexcare-Absorbing-Covers-Sizes-Count/dp/B00ISN35OO/ref=pd_sim_194_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=J2TMQDKY2PFRHGETPNEQ

If you want more resources and ideas check out /r/SkincareAddiction and /r/AsianBeauty. I would also highly recommend the YouTuber Liah Yoo if you care to look more into skincare. She's all about taking a gentle approach to healing your skin.


WOW THIS GOT LONG.


Don't get discouraged if takes some trial and error, everyone's face reacts differently to different products. Above all else remember to start slow and gentle with new skincare products. Good luck!

I LOVE mine! I've had it for like 4 years now? Gosh I don't even know how long lol. Mine is an Eva cup and I love it, it's held up great for being an "off-brand"! I highly recommend cups to anyone I talk to about it. I never really used tampons before the cup, I was a pad girl and was always miserable every period. It's honestly been one of the best things I've spent my money on!

This is my cup:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MNQVA9E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fxXTCb75PZ3V5

Oh that's awesome, you should definitely be able to get it! It does not have that same effect of increasing likelihood of HIV transmission, although it obviously doesn't protect against STIs. It is not irritating at all, i only used it briefly with my caya diaphragm and i was much more comfortable with it than nonoxynol-9. The reviews on amazon are great, I'll put that link below so you can see what the packaging looks like along with an old blog post that gives some good info. I ended up getting a copper IUD eventually because I am in a long distance relationship and for over a year all our weekends together ended up being during my most fertile time and I worried about it and wanted to be more spontaneous. If my partner lived near me I would absolutely still be doing this.

https://www.amazon.com/Contragel-Green-Contraceptive-Gel-60ml/dp/B00GGMFPQ0

http://naturalspermicide.blogspot.com/2011/01/contragel-green-overview.html?m=1

thank you so, so much for your response — i'm also wondering why the hell i'm getting so slammed with anxiety and mood swings when it's been a month after i've taken it, same as you? i also get really nauseous when i'm anxious — super fun side effect, amirite. :/ hormones are no joke when it comes to how they affect mood.

if there's anything that will help ease your anxiety, take a pregnancy test. i have a giant pack of cheap ones i got on amazon that work well and are pretty highly rated.

thank you for your kind words and again, it's enormously reassuring that i'm not the only one going through this crap.

i hope you get your period soon! and i hope you ace your finals. you got this girl!

Sure, these are softcups. I generally buy them at Wegmans or CVS, as unlike the reusable hardcups you need a new one every period. (I think the box says a new one daily, but I just clean it daily through each period.) Still far cheaper than tampons or pads though. I hope they work for you if you try them :) Feel free to PM any questions.

The time from the beginning of your cycle to ovulation depends a lot on stress levels, your environment, and a lot of other things that can change from month to month. It's really not anything to be concerned about.

My periods are always pretty irregular, even though I'm on BC, and I used to worry about the same thing. It was really helpful to read this book about fertility and women's health. It explains in detail all the things that can make your cycles be different lengths, and ways that you can make sure you're not pregnant, like tracking your body temperature. Really helpful for understanding your feminine health in general. Highly recommend for any woman. (Plus just check the Amazon reviews.)

tl;dr: Nothing to worry about. Read awesome book to help you not worry about it in the future.

Breast tenderness, swelling, and growth are all side effects of BC.

If you don't get a period and still feel worried, testing a couple more times never hurts. These are great strip tests to have on hand. They're inexpensive and work just as well as the ones from the drug store. :)

FAM looks really awesome to me. Do you have any books you recommend to get me started? and do you recommend investing in a daysy or is a cheaper basal thermometer like this good?

No, you can only get pregnant from sex on ovulation day or the ~5 days before.

>So I guess my question is if I have sex about 5 days after I ovulate, we use a condom, and he doesn't come in me, what are the chances of pregnancy?

0%, whether you use a condom or withdraw or not. It's a biological impossibility because the egg only lives for 24 hours max once you ovulate (which is the moment your ovaries spit out your monthly egg), and then there is no egg until your next cycle.

The problem is that you can't know when you ovulate unless you are taking your temperature every morning and tracking your cervical fluid (which takes practice to interpret). Apps that just track your period do NOT know and are guessing based on averages, but when the average woman ovulates doesn't tell you when you ovulate any more than the average woman being 5'4" tells you your height.

I highly suggest reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's an awesome book that teaches you how your body and fertility works. It also teaches you a method for how to narrow down your fertile window. If you're just using condoms and are anxious, it's a great idea to combine it with method(s) in the book. Then you can either avoid vaginal sex or double up on methods (condom + sponge, condom + diaphragm, condom + withdrawal) during your fertile times. If you use a condom or other method in safe times then you're protected even if you miscalculate your fertile window, which is not unlikely in the first month or two. Regardless, whether or not you decide to use FAM along with condoms, I think understanding your fertility in this way will cut down on anxiety about sex and pregnancy a lot. I wish I had read it at your age.

Absolutely.

OP, here is a link to Clinical Guard test trips from amazon. 20 tests for $7.29 and 25 tests for $7.99. You'll be set for a while.

I use them as do my friends, never had an issue with them (apart from when I didn't follow the directions. almost had a heart attack that time) and they're great. Simple to use, easy to discard of, easy to read.

Natural Family Planning / fertility awareness are overarching terms that refer to a variety of fertiltity awareness methods. Unfortunately the medical community often does not teach even the basics of these methods in medical school. Many just consider it tea leaf reading even though there are plenty of studies illustrating the effectiveness. Usually those more informed understand that the method or perfect use effectiveness is in the 99% effective range. But the early studies found the user effectiveness to be around a 25% failure rate. More recent studies put the user failure rate between .5 and 3%, but these studies were dismissed in the book "contraceptive technology ". Instead that book decided there were no reliable studies for the user effectiveness and they gathered data form the survey of family growth. As such from that dat the user failure rate is said to be 25%.

this is the statistic that is thus used by most medical organizations but I believe it gives an incomplete picture.

I think a thing to consider is that the method requires consistent and regular observations and behavioral modification. Even if we are not talking failure rates the medical community knows that giving people a pill works better on a user level than getting them to change their diet. So on a logical level, they don't trust it.

Beyond that, I would say that those who use the method tend to have a more casual attitude toward pregnancy. the bulk of us are Catholic and are concerned about needing a just reason to avoid pregnancy. We are the primary users of the method and so our large families tell others it can't be trusted. and as such a good chunk of people who are not Catholic who use it only make the switch if they embrace a more casual attitude as well.

If you want to look further into it, here are some recommendations

http://woomb.org

http://www.fertilitycare.org

http://tcoyf.com

http://nfp.marquette.edu

https://www.lady-comp.com/en/

http://www.cyclebeads.com

http://natural-fertility-info.com/natural-menstrual-health.html

http://www.amazon.com/The-NaPro-Technology-Revolution-Unleashing/dp/0825306264

http://iusenfp.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Sweetening-Pill-Hooked-Hormonal-Control/dp/1780996071

http://www.amazon.com/The-Pill-Are-You-Sure/dp/1741750792/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=09F03AM1422NZZ4F477S

http://sweeteningthepill.com/resources.php

They usually start showing positive from 25mIU/ml which is pretty sensitive and about the same as First Response. The hCG levels grow exponentially as the days go by, so even if you test negative 21 days after the sex that got you pregnant, testing a week later should definitely be positive (if you ever do get pregnant on the pill, not saying this is an inevitable outcome lol). Sometimes the withdrawal bleed does stop during pregnancy on the pill, but it can stop just because your lining was thinned out quite a bit by the hormones. That's why you can't rely on the withdrawal bleed as an indicator either way.

I use the Clinical Guard tests. Always gotten a negative on them but they have a pretty good reputation for showing true positives.

Here is the link to the ClinicalGuard ones!

The only "issue" I've had with them is that, one time, it came back inconclusive. I just took another one when I was ready and all was well, so not really an issue at all! My friends use them as well, we haven't gotten any false negatives or false positives thus far.

Have you tried something like contragel green? It is a much more gentle alternative to traditional spermicide and was recommended to me by my pharmacist. I have extremely sensitive skin and haven't had any problems with it. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't before.

https://www.amazon.com/Contragel-Green-Contraceptive-Gel-60ml/dp/B00GGMFPQ0

I have really bad anxiety and while I'm pretty confident I won't get pregnant before I'm ready, sometimes I wonder if I am. Thanksgiving last year, I spent way too much time worrying. After that, I got a pack of 20 for $7.50ish and every so often if I start to wonder I take one to give myself peace of mind. I read reviews and whatnot and people had said they were struggling TTC and buying these were cheaper than one of the drugstore ones. Reviews said they can notice as early as seemingly 2-3 weeks (one review said they tested positive 8 days post-ovulation). That's decently early to get accurate results. I was a bit surprised they could be that good at that price, but yeah. They're definitely underrated.

I don't have a Mirena, but my birth control pills give me really light periods that aren't too reassuring. So I bought a ton of these and do one every month:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002YIQEQ/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
(sorry about the mobile link - look up wondfo pregnancy tests)

The peace of mind is worth the small price! :)

I have Mirena and so far I don't have periods anymore. I just trust that it is working and I never really worry that I might be l pregnant. If you can't bring yourself to trust that your birth control is working, why don't you buy pregnancy tests in bulk for cheap? Here is the link from the side bar: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ

If you're actually making yourself overly anxious about this, you might want to talk to your doctor about either switching to different birth control or finding ways to cope with no periods. Good luck!

Since getting Skyla, I've started getting a bit of nausea and bloating around my period that I hadn't previously. These are totally normal premenstrual symptoms. Check to make sure it's still in place, but you're almost certainly not pregnant. If you're going to feel paranoid on the regular, a good solution is to buy a bulk pack of pregnancy tests [from Amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SXCX1TO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
and take one every so often to calm your nerves.

no problem! i use the GNC brand for all of them. i almost forgot though, i also take a menstrual symptom-specific supplement from solaray. i've heard tons of good things about shepherd's purse tincture as well, it's used as an anti-bleeding agent, i believe. i figured i shouldn't use anything like that without consulting a doctor first because of my low blood pressure, so be sure to see your GP if you're interested in trying that out in conjunction with the other supplements!

also, what's your bleeding like? mine was SOOO light so it was so annoying whenever it continued, like a leaky faucet or something lol. i get that everyone's different but i'd still take into consideration what your breakthrough bleeding is like. if yours is just spotting, it may clear up faster than mine did.

If that's what your pamphlet said, then you're good. I know it can be a bit nerve-wracking, but you're fine. Just try to relax and enjoy. If you're a worrier though you can keep a stash of pregnancy tests [quite cheap on amazon] and a plan b pill or two, that way you have it and you don't have to worry about getting it when you really do need it.

Someone posted this in 2X and I wanted to share it with this community as I think it would be a cheap and easy way to distribute pregnancy tests to those who can't obtain them.

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1311182944&sr=8-4

Additionally, my boyfriend bought two boxes of 36 condoms on ebay just a few weeks ago for about $10 shipped so that may also be a cheap continuous source for donating supplies.


EDIT: Just did some digging and that link was actually submitted but the lovely creator of this subreddit!

I was told by my doctor that it could take up to 18 months for your cycle to return to normal after stopping Depo. I know the literature says up to a year, but my doctor suggested otherwise. I'm actually on Depo, but I missed 2 rounds and asked about this since I still never got my period.

I don't get my period on Depo and my mind still worries about pregnancy even though it is SUPER unlikely, like a .03% failure rate.

If you're being safe, I would suggest the same thing I do - invest in some cheap/bulk tests (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335488886&sr=8-1) and just take them whenever you feel nervous.

There really is nothing else you can do - the doctor can't make your period come back. So, just keep being protected and then keep testing if you really are worried. Just remember that it is a risk you take when you have sex and there is nothing much you can do except being as safe as you can in the way you trust most.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a great resource for learning more about fertility awareness. I've been reading my copy all week, not to use FAM but just to learn more about how my body works and it's fascinating even just for that purpose!

It's definitely trickier to chart if you're irregular, but it can be done. The book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" goes into how to chart when you're irregular (if I recall correctly, you just have to be more diligent about monitoring your fertility signs). So it's definitely possible, you'd just have to be more careful.

Because of your history of vaginal itching, I’d be super careful with spermicides. I never found one that truly worked for me. Nonoxynol-9 is a common irritant in most spermicides. Look for ones that say “natural”, like the Contragel Green Contraceptive Gel.

When in doubt take a test. I have the IUD so the chances of me getting pregnant are pretty slim but I still test occasionally if I am feeling paranoid. I buy internet cheapies in bulk for times like this. While it's unlikely that you're pregnant if it will soothe your mind then you should take a test.

The only thing that can rule out pregnancy is a pregnancy test. You can get them super cheap on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ

I've had irregular periods on and off for most of my life - I suggest getting a cheap pack of pregnancy tests off Amazon. Test whenever you feel it's necessary - every 30 days, every 2 weeks, whatever makes you happy.

Yeah, testing is the only surefire way to know whether you're pregnant or not. Not sure why testing once a month is so burdensome, but if you think it's a financial burden (since some tests can get pretty pricy), you can buy them in bulk from Amazon (like this one, it doesn't have to be digital, cheap strip ones do just as good).

Also, you might want to consider switching to another form of birth control in the near future, since Depo is known to cause bone density issues in long-term use.

http://www.amazon.com/babi-Urine-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count/dp/B005E90G4W

If you get something like this, it will just be like a strip of paper, not the whole plastic bit you pee on, so you'd pee into a small cup and dip the paper in. These work out to about 20 cents each, so definitely affordable.

These strips are super cheap and they're essentially what the doctor's office uses.

You don't pay full price for tests do you? I buy [50 at a time for like $20] (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367543997&sr=8-4&keywords=pregnancy+test) for whenever I'm feeling neurotic.
But yeah, you really don't have to worry so much. The fact that you don't have periods actually means the Mirena is working.

Morning after pill is most effective if it's taken as soon as possible, but it's not really a form of birth control, and some women have adverse reactions to it. If you're really concerned that condoms aren't enough, look into the pill or another form of contraception.

Also, if you (or she) are prone to anxiety about it and anticipate using a lot of pregnancy tests (I went through a really paranoid time and went through a lot) I would suggest looking into amazon for something like this to save money.

I'll make it easy and just link it for ya! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VT30C8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

If taking another test is a money issue, because honestly the drug store tests are wayyyyy overpriced, order the tests from amazon. They sell the simple strip tests that Dr. offices use 50 tests for $20.

I chart my cycle and know when it is and isn't safe to have unprotected sex. Condoms are over 99% effective and we use those when it isn't safe to go unprotected. You could also just abstain during those times if you don't trust condoms, or engage in alternative intimacy options (mutual masturbation, anal sex, etc.).

I use a Lady-Comp to assist me with the charting. I personally love it.

What about a diaphragm-cervical cap? I don't know much about them besides I think you have to get them specially fitted... might have to use them in conjunction with spermicide though; not sure.

I've also heard of fertility tracking devices on this sub (like the ladycomp--seems kind of expensive though and would also take a fair amount of self control/responsibility.

Otherwise, good on you for taking a stand against unprotected sex!

And make sure to read the Taking Charge of Your Fertility book. I learnt SO much!

No need to spend $1 per test. There are quite a few cheaper ones on Amazon. For example this is the kind I bought, 25 tests at $8. Pretty sure I won't use all of them before they expire, but even so they're cheaper on average.

There is a way to track irregular cycles. As a disclaimer, I've never done it, but many couples do it when they're trying to conceive, but there are couples that do it when they're trying not to get pregnant and they either use condoms or don't have sex during fertile times.

The more involved ways are that you need to do a few things.

1. Take your basal body temp daily, every morning at the same time. When your temp rises, it means you're ovulating.
   
   
2. Check the position of your cervix daily. Soft and low means ovulating.
   
   
3. Check your cervical mucus daily. Thick means not ovulating, thin means fertile.
   
   Many women recommend the book/website Taking Charge of your Fertility. Since the Copper IUD doesn't affect your cycle, you can track this while it's in place if you choose this route. While you begin to get the hang of it, use condoms.
   
   There's also a device that's around $500 called a LadyComp that has an alarm and a thermometer that will do the temp logging for you, and it will have green (non-fertile), yellow (danger zone) and red (use condoms FOR SURE) days. They're usually used for couples who want kids, but again, you can use it if you are scared of spending $800 on an IUD that may expel again.
   
   As far as Apps- I've heard of and used Eve by Glow and it allows you to track symptoms, if you've had sex (with or without a condom), and your discharge, but it doesn't really have support for logging your basal body temp, and I've heard some women say that the ovulation dates that the app predicts are off.
   
   It looks like Bedsider has a really good breakdown on how to combine apps with other tracking to optimize protection.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GGMFPQ0?pc_redir=1406541389&robot_redir=1

Nope

I try to remind myself that it is possible to bleed when pregnant, so a withdrawal bleed (the fake period the placebo pills are supposed to give) isn't even the most reliable way of knowing you're not pregnant. A test is way more accurate. I do understand that anxiety though, and I feel it too.

These are the tests that a lot of girls here on reddit are fond of, myself included.

I'll probably be crucified for even suggesting this, but--have you checked out the Fertility Awareness Method? (Trust me, it's not the Rhythm Method--it actually works, backed by science, and no religious ties attached to it.) You should check out the Fertility Awareness group on Facebook, and read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

I don't have any good suggestions for you based on what information you've given(I found hormonal birth control to be hit or miss for me, now I use a copper IUD) but I suggest keeping something like this in your medicine cabinet for the occasional "oh shit" moment you might get. They're very accurate and much much cheaper than going to the drug store and getting one of the boxed tests.

If you and your girlfriend are concerned about pregnancy, then she just needs to take a pregnancy test. Although we are knowledgeable here on /r/birthcontrol, we are not that knowledgeable.

Go to a drugstore or a dollar store and pick up the cheapest pregnancy test available. No one is going to look twice at it, so there's nothing to be ashamed of, and you can expect a valid result once her period is late.

If you're both generally anxious about the pill not preventing pregnancy, then you need to use a backup method every time (condoms, withdrawal, the sponge, spermicide, etc.), your girlfriend needs to take her pill at the same time every day, and you should invest in the even cheaper pregnancy test strips from Amazon.

If your girlfriend is not good at taking the pill on time every day, then she should look into birth control methods with a smaller chance of user error, such as the implant, the ring, the shot, or an IUD.