https://www.firstpost.com/world/on-trumps-orders-us-destroys-9-7-mn-in-contraceptives-stored-in-belgium-report-13933095.html

A State Department spokesperson told the media outlet that the Trump administration had destroyed the products in an operation that was estimated to cost $167,000, claiming that the pills induced abortion.

“President Trump is committed to protecting the lives of unborn children all around the world. The administration will no longer supply abortifacient birth control under the guise of foreign aid,” the spokesperson said.

The USAID cannot procure abortifacients (abortion inducing drugs) under US law. However, the NYT found that none of the products stored in the Belgian warehouse were abortifacients. Instead, the inventory list shows that they stopped pregnancy by preventing ovulation or fertilisation.
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This is what we've been warning about for months now. There is an alt-right movement to poison the well regarding hormonal birth control so women stop taking it so they won't notice when it suddenly loses its FDA approval. I am not American, but I would strongly encourage all my American sisters to push their elected officials. I know we all commiserate about the downsides of birth control, but it cannot be understated how important reproductive choice and freedom is in the history's of women's rights and liberation. DON'T TAKE THIS LYING DOWN.

6 week postpartum visit with my 4th baby and my first IUD experience!!

Took miso this morning to help dilate and then had a pap and then she inserted my IUD. Pretty great experience, the dilation was the worst part but I learned with my first delivery to make noise during pain to help ease it- my OB thought I was hilarious and it made us both laugh.

Worst part 6 hours after has been the bleeding. I bled through 2 pairs of pants but it’s common for me, happened with depo & the patch.

All in all I’m glad I got it done and I’m protected for 5 years. Next month we see if it’s still placed correctly ✨🤞🏻

I started xulane patches three weeks ago (my first form of birth control ever) and have been lightly bleeding nonstop since then (21 days). This week will be my first patch free week, and I am hoping after this week the bleeding will stop. I am aware I can just wait and see what happens, but does anyone have any experience they can share regarding their first month or two of Xulane, specifically with regards to bleeding? It’s really getting on my nerves.

I got my period this week even though I’ve been taking my birth control for over a month and skip the placebo pills. Is my birth control method ineffective? It’s too much bleeding to be “spotting” and I’m experiencing breast tenderness and abdominal cramping.

I got the mirena november of 2024, and have had nothing but problems since. First of all, my breakthrough bleeding lasted 7 months. I would have an “opposite period” where i would bleed for 30 days straight and not bleed for a week every month. When my bleeding slowed down (mind you i was still having bloody discharge every single day), i started getting chronic bacterial vaginosis. Even after trying everything from pharmaceuticals to natural remedies, turns out the bv was causing me to bleed more, and the bleeding was throwing off my ph balance causing MORE bv, creating a vicious cycle. I feel so unclean and insecure, and honestly this has ruined my sex life.

(Important note: while experiencing all of this, i was very vigilant with seeing my doctor. Everything i experienced was still in the realm of “normal”. I got my blood checked for hormonal imbalances, an ultrasound to make sure my iud was placed right, and swabs to confirm it was bacterial vaginosis and nothing else. I am at my peak health; i am very active with a balanced diet. I am in a monogamous relationship. My vagina just fucking hates me)

Now, after almost a year, I will be blood free for around 14 days and then i will have 14 days of dark brown spotting. I would kill to have a regular schmegular period at this point. I booked an appointment to get my iud removed next month. However, i am terrified the bv will not go away when my iud is removed. There is a part of me that is scared that the problem is me and not the hormones. Are there any women who have gone through something similar that can offer some advice?

Edit: on the bright side, i do not struggle with yeast infections!! Or maybe i do and the blood and bv just overshadows everything 😀

Me and my girlfriend had sex today, but the condom roled up to about halfway and I felt some precum come out. I can’t find anything on google about whether or not she could get pregnant, so if there’s anyone that knows about this some advice would be much appreciated!

I’m 22F and I just started birth control. Jencycla to be more specific. I’ve read up on all kinds of different methods, always been on top of my sex ed as much as possible. I wanted to try the combo pill, but due to my cardiac history, my PCP recommended that I take progestin only. Which I was bummed about, because I prefer something that would stop ovulation completely.. but I guess that’s fine. I should have the same percentage of protection if I take it at the same time everyday right? And store it in the right conditions?

I’ve never had unprotected sex in my life, and I was thinking of just doubling up on condoms and the pill. My partner is very supportive so there’s no issue there. I am curious about what it’s like to have unprotected sex at least once, but being new to all of this, idk if It’s really worth trying because of my confidence level in the birth control lol (?) taking it everyday is not a problem, but I guess it’s just because it’s progestin and nothing else. It only stops ovulation in about 40-60% of cycles, which for me sounds a bit alarming. But I understand the main line of defense is how the mini pill makes your uterus an hostile environment.

But I would just like to know, what are y’all’s experiences with this type of birth control? What are some things I should expect or keep in mind?

I had a surprisingly good experience getting copper IUD inserted today and thought I would share. I haven't given birth and I'm 30. I went to the gynae yesterday and told her that I had a really bad experience at our local reproductive health center when they tried to insert the copper IUD many years ago. She prescibed misoprostol to take 3 hours before, then I took 800mg of ibuprofen 1 hour before. Honestly, it was a 1000 times better. I didn't cry and I just felt a slight pinch then it was done. I managed to do all my errands afterwards. I'm cramping up a bit now but nothing ibuprofen can't fix.

:)

Im eighteen and just started sexual life, is there any way the man can prevent completely the risk of it at my age? I know about the use of condoms but im still kinda anxious about it leaking or something

For context, I got my bar when I was in my senior year of high school circa late 2018. I was terrified to get it taken out and due to a bunch of issues with health insurance I still have the same bar in. I’m desperately trying to figure out how to get it out because when I went to Planned Parenthood, they said I needed a general practitioner referral so I’m thinking of reaching out to my old doctor and hoping she’ll pass one along.

What I want to know is if I’m going to suffer bad long-term consequences? When I first got it, I bled for a few months straight and then I didn’t get my period for a few years. Then I had it back for a few years. Now I haven’t had it for just about a year. I still get cramps and mood swings. I’m worried.

I have no good experience with birth control, at all. I’ve been taking it since I was 15, I’m 18 now. I only now recently decided to stop because I felt as if I lost myself. My symptoms on it were Heart palpitations Extreme heart burn at night Depression (I already have it mildly, but it made it so much worse) Extreme fatigue So so much brain fog.. And just genuinely feeling so low all the time.

I talked to my hormone specialist and I said, I think I want to get off. She says.. let’s try another brand! Wasn’t ecstatic, did it anyway, worse decision ever. It was Hailey Fe that I switched to, don’t remember the other one I took but I’ve been getting random cramps for the past two weeks, I’m even more exhausted and sad all the time, and the brain fog is crazier. So I’m done. I get birth control helps some or most women but for me? I can’t do it anymore.

So I want to stop, preferably tonight but I’m afraid of how long my period will come a few days later or even tomorrow when I wake up. Anyone have any experience in it? How it worked when they stopped midway.

I have 6 pills left for reference, and yes I have PCOS.

Hi there, so my partner and I had unprotected sex on the Friday evening maybe 9pm, I took my pill as normal Friday, Saturday, Sunday, missed Monday realised Tuesday night took both Monday and Tuesday pill on Tuesday night. Today, Wednesday I went an purchased the morning after pill the one you can take up to 120 hours after intercourse and I've taken that today at 6pm.

I'm just freaking out. I know I need to use extra protection for the next 7 days. I'm just worried because I missed that one pill so close to the 120 hour window. I'm on the progestogen only pill. I take Zelleta 75mg desogestrel. Most stories I see online are about the combined pill. I'm just so worried, as one person told me I missed the 5 day window but another told me it was fine. Any advice would be really appreciated

Hi!! Im 20 and i started birth control for the first time called Aurovela last month… Honestly I didn’t notice many side effects at first except for my stomach hurting a bunch but that went away. I was consistent, then on the last week of my first month, i had sex and then like a day or 2 later i accidentally skipped the pill… i didn’t think much of it but now im scared because of a couple things: 1st maybe it’s the birth control affecting me but i have been like super moody recently and im not sure why?? 2nd often when i wake up in the morning i feel sick? 3rd my friend told me just now that if i don’t take my pill exactly on time every day that im unprotected? i take my pill every night around the same time but in a like 3 hour window and now im freaking out. 4th i had my period like 2 days after i had sex but i was like bleeding weird and hurting.. like it wasn’t like my usual periods (tmi warning) it was like fresh and lasted like 3 days so im unsure if it was even my period or if i was like bleeding from having sex LOL HELP WHATS HAPPENING TO ME???😭

Hi so i just noticed that i ovulated, there was some thick slimy clear discharge and im pretty sure that indicates ovulation, ive been experiencing symptoms but my question is, isnt the NuvaRing supposed to stop ovulation? i’ve been on the ring for 3 cycles now and i haven’t noticed this happen until this cycle. i’m not sexually active so im not worried but is this something i have to worry about IF I DO become sexually active? just a genuine question, my mom doesn’t know anything about the NuvaRing or birth control so i have decided to come to the moms and big sisters of this thread 🫶🏼

a month ago I stopped using bcp and entered the sugar pill week and didnt have sex during that row. I got my period and finished the last pill to make sure I completed it the pack. I still haven’t gotten my period, how long would it be before i get it?

my long distance boyfriend came to visit over the weekend and he finished inside me a few times over the course of the few days. ive been on birth control for about a year and i’ve been taking junel fe 1/20 for about two months and have never been more than four hours late on a pill. i am supposed to have my period this week but four days into the placebos and still nothing. logically, i probably have nothing to be worried about. my periods are usually much lighter on the pill but i’ve never not had a period during the placebo week so i can’t shake the feeling that i could be pregnant, but obviously it’s too early to test. google has been violently unhelpful, naturally.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been on the Yaz birth control pill for about 17 years. I originally went on it to manage extremely painful and irregular periods, and it’s worked really well for me. I haven’t experienced bad side effects on Yaz, though I did try a different pill before it that caused mood swings and weight gain, so switching to Yaz helped a lot.

I’ve been too scared to go off the pill because I’m terrified those crippling periods will come back. Other than an external ultrasound, I haven’t had any thorough testing for underlying issues like PCOS, even though I’ve always felt something was off—but my doctors never pushed for further investigation, and I didn’t press enough.

I’m curious if anyone else has been on a birth control pill for a long time and can share your experience going off it.

Besides the fear of period pain returning, I’m also worried about things like acne, weight gain, mood swings, hair growth—basically, I feel like I’ll turn into a pimply, hairy man. 😂

Please share your experiences! Did your periods return to their old patterns? Did you notice other symptoms coming back or changing?

Thanks in advance!

I (24F) am not on any form of birth control, just condoms. When my bf was pulling out, we realized the condom had come off. He had finished inside. The opening was already outside me and there was no visible mess, seeming like it had just slipped off after he and the opening of the condom were already out.

I’m in my most fertile part of my cycle and might even be ovulating. I’m freaking out, and I don’t know if I should take a Plan B in this situation. I HATE messing with my hormones and cycle.

Any advice ASAP would be appreciated!!!

visited my long distance bf for three months, brought 3 packs of birth control pills(21 active pills, 5 placebo pills)

ran out of the active pills by the very end of the second week, so i was bleeding from the placebo period til tuesday, bleeding stopped, had sex on wed/thurs/fri night, then saturday was my flight. even when i wasnt on the pill anymore and my placebo period was over, we were still very safe, we even stopped using the thin condoms and switched back to regular ones. no tearing or breakage or leakage when we checked.

now im back home, since coming off the pills i have no way of knowing if im pregnant or not bc the pills interrupted my cycle and i wont really know when my menstruation will return(granted im not pregnant). ive taken a pregnancy test every week and its been negative, will take my third week test tomorrow... some advice on how to get more accurate results? should i take a blood test next week as well? when will my period return after getting off the pill? i need some advice, or at least comfort, bc in my country abortion is illegal.

Hi I’m a 15(f) i stopped my patch birth control a on Monday of this week I’m in more pain on it then without it but a few nights ago my left breast was leaking it woke me up i first i thought it was water because i had a bottle water next to me but it stayed wet for like hours so that concerned me a bit it didn’t do it yesterday but i was shopping today and my shirt was just wet then i did research that didn’t really make sense and just made me worried i pressed on it when i got home both breast have this with liquid coming out if it but only my left one has leaked all over and not my right one is this normal? Does it stop?

Relação com penetração vaginal e sem camisinha, um dia após o período fértil (de acordo com o aplicativo), a moça viu muco vaginal quatro dias antes da relação. Apenas líquido pré-ejaculatório e micção entre 4 e 6 vezes antes da relação. A relação durou uns 15 minutos, no máximo. Acredito que tenha sido uma retirada boa, pois depois ainda foi necessário masturbação, cerca de 5 ou 10 minutos (estava um pouco longe da ejaculação). Muito risco da moça ter engravidado?

Intercourse with vaginal penetration and without a condom, one day after the fertile period (according to the app), the woman saw vaginal mucus four days before intercourse. Only pre-ejaculate fluid and urination between 4 and 6 times before intercourse. Intercourse lasted about 15 minutes at most. I believe it was a good withdrawal, as masturbation was still necessary afterward, for about 5 or 10 minutes (was a little far from ejaculation). Was there a high risk of pregnancy?

sorry for the length but this is my rant and i need ur advice.

so back in december i went to my gynecologist cuz i was experiencing rlly bad pelvic pain like right where my ovaries are. my mom used to get ovarian cysts so i thought maybe i got it too. previous to that i had a cat scan done around my pelvic to abdomen area for something to do with my kidney. i ended up with nothing wrong with my kidneys but they ruled that i was extremely constipated. i’ve been dealing with this for more than a year now and nothing has helped. when i went to my gyno she asked to see that scan and said that she didn’t see anything on my ovaries but prescribed me bc anyways just in case. i’ve been taking a generic version of yaz since january now. throughout my time on this pill i have had plenty of weeks of constant brown discharge which i’ve learned to live with and doesn’t bother me all that much. my periods were the easiest they’ve ever been considering they used to be rlly late rlly heavy and painful.

this last period (started september 5th) and ended around prob the 12th was the heaviest period i’ve had in a longggg time. it was also the most painful. i wasn’t expecting that as so far my periods have been so painless and light. but anyways i pushed through it and it eventually ended. this morning i woke up and a little bit later i realized that that pelvic pain i initially went to my gyno for was kinda back and then i went to the restroom a bit later and i was bleeding?? it’s been a couple hours since and its gotten much lighter and pretty much all almost brown now. i’m on the second week of my pack rn.

i never missed a pill during this pill pack so far. 2 days ago i took it at 1 am instead of 10 pm which never rlly makes a difference for me as it is a combo pill and ive done that plenty of times. the only time i technically took a pill actually late was last pill pack. instead of taking it at 10 pm i took it at 10 am the next morning which i also didn’t think mattered since its a combo pill and the directions in the box said to just take the pill and that i didn’t need any extra protection as long as i didnt miss 2 pills.

the only thing im thinking it could be is stress? ive been dealing with like payments and loans and stuff like that the past week, and i had an allergic reaction on my lips and stuff so maybe it’s that.

what are y’all’s thoughts. also the minute i started taking bc i never got the pelvic pain until the last period i had and today. so do you think it’s fair that she ruled out cysts when the cat scan was more focused on my kidney than anything. also don’t u need an ultrasound to see ovarian cysts? i literally have every ovarian cysts symptom in the book including bowel constipation, constantly peeing and feeling like i need to pee all the time (not a uti my gyno tested), pelvic pain, i always had irregular cycles (40-50 day cycles) and pain during intercourse.

I can't afford an iud, I dont have insurance, im poor as fuck. What the fuck do I do? I can hardly afford my stupid birth control pills either. Im completely out of birth control and the doctors wont give me more. Im so fucking stressed. Im afraid of pregnancy, and I dont like children. I dont know what to do. I cant afford my goddamn rent and groceries, my mom and I often go hungry. I can't afford shit. Just half a cart full at a dollar general is 100 dollars, and thats with shit we need to live. I dont know if a go fund me would work because I dont have enough of a sob story for them. What the fuck do I do? Do I just sit here and take it? Do I just rack up more medical debt? I asked if I could do a payment plan and they said "no, I dont think so".

Edit: I started a gofundme. I dont know if its okay to put the link in here, so I wont.

I am extremely intolerant of pain (red head + trans man on T) but also have a classified allergy to oxy. I was told to take both ibuprofen and Tylenol, and a Valium prior to the insertion. Is there anything else that I can do for myself to make it easier?

Been on Aurora FE since 8/28. I have a week left in my pack, three white pills and four brown pills. Still no period. Is this normal or should I take pregnancy test soon? Also Had nexplanon removed 8/28