Femcon Fe chewable birth control pill.
Femcon Fe is a spearmint-flavored birth control pill that can be swallowed or chewed. It combines 2 different hormones - progestin and estrogen. Together, these 2 hormones suppress ovulation and other related changes your body goes through. That means an egg is not released from your ovary and therefore cannot be fertilized by sperm. Birth control pills also thicken your cervical mucus (making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus) and change the lining of your uterus (making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant itself in the uterine wall).
Using Femcon Fe, or other oral contraceptives, is one of the most effective methods of birth control available. If taken correctly on a daily basis, birth control pills are as much as 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, meaning there is still a 1% chance that you could get pregnant.
What are some advantages to using Femcon Fe?
- Chewability - Femcon Fe is the only oral contraceptive to offer chewability. Perfect for women who have difficulty swallowing even the tiniest pill.
- Cycle control - There is low incidence of spotting or bleeding between periods.
- Low-dose - Most available birth control pills contain the same type of estrogen as Femcon Fe but in different amounts. Femcon Fe is considered a low-dose pill because it contains 35 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen.
- Menstrual relief - Femcon Fe can help reduce menstrual cramps, regulate irregular periods, and lighten menstrual flow.
Does Femcon Fe offer any health benefits?
- Your menstrual cycles may become more regular.
- Blood flow during your period may be lighter and less iron may be lost.
- Pain or other symptoms, like menstrual cramps, may decrease.
- Lesser chance of ovarian cysts occuring.
- Ectopic pregnancy may occur less frequently.
- Noncancerous cysts or lumps in the breast may occur less often.
- Lesser chance of acute pelvic inflammatory disease occuring.
- Using birth control pills may provide some protection against developing two forms of cancer: cancer of the ovaries and cancer of the lining of the uterus.
Does Femcon Fe have any side effects?
Birth control pill side effects are generally not serious. The most common side effects include breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and spotting or bleeding between periods. These side effects often go away within the first 3 months. While more serious side effects occur infrequently, some medical conditions have been associated with Pill use, including:
- Blood clots, blockage of blood vessels
- Gallbladder disease
- Liver tumors (extremely rare)
- High blood pressure, which returns to normal when you stop taking the Pill
Is there anything else I should know about Femcon Fe?
Cigarette smoking while using the Pill increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels. This risk increases if you are a heavy smoker (15 or more cigarettes a day) and with age (especially if you are over 35). Women who use birth control should not smoke.
You should not take the Pill if you have or have had blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, or are pregnant.
Femcon Fe does not protect against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases. Always use a nonhormonal backup contraceptive like a condom for extra protection.
Missing a pill or taking a pill a few hours later than normal can decrease the effectiveness. Certain medications like antibiotics are also known to increase the chance of your birth control pill failing.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Labels: birth control, birth control pills, birth control prices, birth control types, breast cancer, estrogen, femcon fe, hormones, pregnancy, pregnant, progestin
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 8:27 AM
121 Comments:
I have been on this for a week and a half. OMG I have had a headache the entire time I have been on it. I was initially on the Nuvaring which also gave me horrible headaches. I'm going to try the IUD, I cannot take hormones obviously.
I also had a few headaches. The worst was a few nights ago after I started bleeding two weeks into starting the pill. It was the most intense headache I've ever had, and I also vomited. Absolutely miserable.
Headaches, nausea, vomiting and spotting are quite common side effects when you first start taking the Pill - your body is trying to adapt to all the extra hormones you're giving it. When I first started taking Yasmin I thought I was going to die! Well not really, but the nausea was so intense I didn't want to leave my bed...The side effects did disappear after the first couple of months and now it's fine, except I do still experience some spotting in between periods. But according to my doctor that's quite normal.
If they don't go away then it would probably be a good idea to talk about other types of birth control with your doctor.
Do you take the brown pills only during your period? I started the Sunday after my period began a month and a half ago. So far my period doesn't coincide with the brown pills. Should I switch over to the brown ones when my period starts, or just leave it alone? I've been all over the internet trying to find this out...
is there a lot of weight gain with this pill? does it make you irritable?
I have been on this pill for going on 4 months. I have frequent migraines. My doctor perscribed me some esgic for migraines. I only suppose to take it every 6 hours, but the pain comes back after 2! This pill has given me nausea and migraines that made me unable to function. I am a single mother of 2 and I cant afford to be down like this. This pill had me thinking that I was seriously about to die. I also get a very big migraine during sexual intercourse and my vision is blurred. This pill should be taken off the market. ASAP!
I have been on Depo Provera since its been on the market [quite a while] It works great for me, and I've never experienced any problems with it, which is important to me as an ovarian cancer survivor. All of a sudden my gyn wants to change me to Femcon. I'm reading what everyone has to say about and frankly I don't want anything to do with it. Headaches? I already get terrible cluster migraines that knock me out for days.
Seems to me that there are no positive aspects to Femcon except that you can chew it...woo hoo. I haven't started it yet, is it wrong to straight up tell your Dr. that you wont take a certain type of BC?
She's made this decision without me.
I've been on the pill for over 4 months now and it's been great. I was on Ortho-Tricyclen Lo and I was miserable with mood swings and cramps. I haven't had any headaches on it but I've never experienced headaches on any pill. As for the weight gain, my doctor says it does not make you gain weight so we'll see!
I have been on Femcon for almost 2 weeks. I can't sleep at night because I am so nausea. I get bad headaches and my stomache hurts. The doctor said this should ago away in about a month, I don't know if I can wait that long, but I am going to try. Does anyone have any advice for me?
I was on femcon and am now off of it. It gave me terrible migraines and caused me to miss my period altogether. My cervix closed up, called cervical stenosis and my period backed up into my uterus. I am blaming this pill for this because nothing like this has ever happened to me. This pill should be taken off the market
I just recently started femcon,because I was getting really bad mood swings and headaches. I hope femcon works as well as 5:36 pm annonymous says it worked for her because that would be great. I was going crazy taking Ortho-tricylene lo. we'll see.
First off, you can always tell your OBGYN if you would like to try a different pill. I'm personally friends with a lot of DR's & even if their patients request a pill that the doctor knows isn't a good match for them the doctors will comply to avoid a confrentation and to save time so they can move on to the next patient.
Also, I've done some research on Femcon (My girlfriend just started on it)and there are a lot of benefits. 92% of patients expierence no breakthrough bleeding or spotting on femcon. It's still possible (thus the other 8%) but is rare and will definetly clear up the 2nd or 3rd month.
Also, the progestin in femcon, Norethindrone, is very low in progestional activity which means low incidences of side effects such as mood swings, bloating, etc.
Furthermore, is great for acne. All pills typically help acne but because the pill is so low in angrogenicity and due to the amount of estrogen Femcon should have a larger impact on clearing up womens faces. My girlfriend has seen considerable improvement in only 3 weeks.
As far as nausea and headaches, this is caused by the estrogen in Femcon (and all other pills). My girlfriends DR has her taking her pill immediately before bed time. That way she is asleep if those side effects occur. If they are so bad you can't wait until they subside after a month or so then switch to a pill that is a lower dose of estrogen but keep in mind that the amount of estrogen in low dose femcon (35mcg) is also a key reason why femcon has such a low percentage of bleeding problems, why is has a extra impact on acne and why there are such a low incidence of unintended pregnancies on femcon.
It seems that no pill is perfect and all have a risk of side effects and will often affect each women differently.
I have been taking Ovcon for several years without any problems. Last month my doctor gave me a sample of Femcon for which I have now taken for about 3 weeks. I do not expect my period for another week and a half, but am currently experiencing break through bleeding and cramping. It is my understanding that Ovcon and Femcon are exactly the same... Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms?
I started taking Femcon Fe 2 months ago and seemed to be tolerating well. However, in August, I started having some numbness/tingling in my hands and feet, difficulty walking, spastic "jerky" movements, etc. The docs have ran multiple tests (MRIs, vascular studies, lab work) and are "baffled" as to a diagnosis. The only thing that has changed in my normal routine is this pill. I have no idea if this is the cause, but I stopped taking the pill on Tuesday and symptoms are already improving. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
I just started using Femcon last month, and I started using it on a Monday (The day after I got my period.) Anyway about a week before I was expecting my period I started getting breakthrough bleeding. The bleeding lasted all week, stopped for a couple of days and then on the week I was suppose to get my period I started breakthrough bleeding all over again for about 4 more days. Now I am not sure if that was my period or not and the pregnancy test came out negative. Is this normal? Has anybody experienced this before? When they couldn't tell if they got their period or not? Please some feedback would be GREAT!
It sounds like you got your period when you were supposed to (during the "reminder" pill week right?). I often experience spotting the week before I get my period and have talked to my doctor and she said it's fine and there's nothing to worry about (she suggested I could start Depo-Provera but I wasn't interested).
Maybe you can talk to your doctor about using a higher dose birth control pill (sometimes the low level of estrogen in the Pill could be the culprit for breakthrough bleeding) or another option?
I have been on Femcon for only 3 days, after Loestrin 24 was not controlling my bleeding. I am 50 and starting that wonderful phase of life called menopause. Slight headache, but main complaint is that I have this exhausted feeling!I just took a nap and still feel like a truck has hit me! Anyone else feel like this?
Works good for me...
My last pill (Yaz) was so horrible that I took a month off from the pill and was extremly happy for that month. I have now been on Femcon for about a week now and already notice a difference. I have been very moody, no sex drive as with every pill I have been on and extremely exhausted. I am starting to get slight headaches (I do take my pill right b4 bed). If they get worse I might stop bc pills all together.
I just recently started taking Femcon a week ago and I have had nothing but problems with every birth control I have been on. I started taking it the Sunday during my period because that's what my doctor told me to do and once I finshed that period not 3 days afterwards I started a whole new "cycle" all over again. The pain in not unbearable but not comfortable either. I have been nauseated and have lost my appitite. The last 2 birth controls i were on were luestrin and yasmin. One made my hair fall out at a fast rate and the other made me moody just like this one recently did. Talk about serious probs with these pills. Not one good side effect has come out!
I have been taking Femcon FE for about 5 months now. It has regulated my periods and has made them much lighter. Usually during my period I have very intense cramps. I have even had to take off of work because of how severe they get. But since I've been on Femcon the pain has reduced drastically! I do have a question for anyone who is taking it; my period has been coming around 2-3 days before I am done with week 3's pills. Is that normal?
ok, first of all, not every type of birth control is right for every one. i've been on femcon for two months, and not only have i not gotten pregnant, but i feel fine. my period is starting to get regulated and i'm actually getting FEWER headaches. so everyone out there who says that "this pill should be taken off the market ASAP", shut up. no offense but that's really immature. just talk to your gyno about another form of an oral contraceptive.
[and no, its not bad to tell your gyno that you don't want to take a certain medication. it's your body, your choice. if they're making decisions on their own about you and, what should be, your choice, in my oppinion, its time to find a different doctor]
I'm not on Femcon I am on Alesse but I am shocked that your doctors have not told you all that you should take a vitamin B complex and magnesium while on the pill. These two vitamins help counteract most side effects. Trust me I have been on almost every birth control and had every issue known to man especially headaches and breast tenderness thats so bad at times I couldn't move my arms. So when I switched doctors (thank God) She let me in on this little tid bit and just so you know ladies Caffienne makes all symptoms worse, I rather have the side effects than not have my morning latte but these vitamins have helped me so I thought I would pass on the great info!!!
With the pill being so tiny why would they think that a chewable pill would be helpful? And to have to drink 8 oz of water after taking it? To me that would be more of a hassle then taking a tiny tiny little pill with a sip of water. Is it just me?
I just started the pill about 3 days ago and so far so good. One of the reasons I want on the pill was to help my acne, so has anyone seen any improvement with their acne? Also how long after starting this pill should i wait till i have sex without any other form of birth control?
My doctor suggested that I use a condom (or another barrier method) for the first 7-10 days of being on birth control pills. I agreed with her - better safe than sorry!
I have a friend who is using birth control pills for her acne and she's noticed a huge improvement.
I started Femcon about three weeks ago. At the beginning It made me exhausted and gave me headaches. And even before bed I felt sick... but it seems to be getting better except my boobs being sore. Anyone else getting that effect? Gotta remember that no matter what these side effects are, it means its helping us!! even though it sucks. I was iffy at first but I think it will get better. Although I don't drink a whole glass of water with it, is that bad?
well ive just started my second pack of femcon..and i have had my period for over a month now..i called the docter over a week ago and it they said it was normal. i've also had really horrible sharp pains in my breasts.the first week on the pill i had random cold sore in my mouth, headaches, my face broke out, and fatigue. i ve also had nausea, but i've had that with every oral contaceptive ive taken. i think im going to request a new pill..i was wondering if there is a safe bc patch to take?
There's a birth control patch available. It's called Ortho Evra. Once it's applied to your arm you can do anything - swimming, showering, exercising, etc. Your doctor should have some more information on it.
ive been on femcon FE for about 3 1/2 weeks so far. about a week into taking the pills i started getting bloated & what seemed like my period, it actually wasnt? To my surprise, there was cloudy/brownish discharge? comming out of me.
which scares me.because i dont know if its normal or not.
answer back ASAP please!!!!!!!
It sounds like you may be spotting which, as far as I know, is quite normal. However, it's probably best that you speak with your doctor and get more insight.
I'm at the end of my 2nd week with FemCon. So far, my symptoms are INCREASED Acne and bloating, gas cramps etc. Should I stick with it? I can't afford the acne, I'm getting married in two months!
My thought is what if you start taking another type of pill and experience the same symptoms? It takes your body a little while to adjust to the extra hormones you're giving it; that may explain the acne, bloating, gas, etc. I would wait it out and see if the symptoms go away on their own. But you can always talk to your doctor and see about other options :)
I just finished my 3rd week on Femcon Fe. In the beginning I did experience slight headaches for a couple minutes right after I would take the pill, but it wasn't anything too painful where it stopped me from what I was doing. One of the reasons why I am taking this pill is because I wanted my acne to improve. So far, it's actually worsened. I'm giving it another month to get my body adjusted. I havent experienced weight gain or decrease. Also my breasts are more tender. I know it's only my first month, so I'm waiting it out a little bit. But so far, I'm not complaining.
It gets better! I had bad headaches a few weeks after startin femcon and i'm not startin my second pack and doing much better. I felt sick and tired all the time, i feel like i'm still moody though. does anyone know when the pill becomes effective? I hear 1-3 months and then 7 days...?! ANYONE???
I have been on femcon for almost two weeks and I started the day I got my period, which was also a Sunday. Since I have been off my period I have had a really bad yeast infection. Has this happened to anyone else and if so, what did you do?
Over the past 20+ years I have tried many birth control options. My husband is a OBGYN and he has showed me most of the studies that his reps bring him. Yaz & Yasmin are basically a diuretic and you have to be very careful with taking other medicines if you are on it. Loestrin has very high bleeding & spotting but also can cause women to not have a period. That would scare me to death and make me sprint to my CVS for a pregnancy test. Femcon is just a chewable Ovcon. My husband said it is OK, but it is more estrogen than most of today's pills. He likes Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because it is the best when it comes to the bleeding issues. That is what I take now and it has been awesome with getting rid of the side effects I had on some old pills. No cramps, acne or headaches for me. I just wanted to pass this along.
I have been on this pill for almost three weeks now and have not had any major issues other than my breasts are a little sore. I was on Ortho-Lo but started having spotting so my OBGYN switced me to Femcon Fe and so far I haven't had any spotting. I have never really experienced any problems with birth control so maybe that is why it is not bothering me. I just thought I would write a positive comment since many of these comments might have a tendency to scare someone.
I am going into my fourth week(brown pills) of taking FEMCON so far I have not had any major issues...I took it on a sunday during my last period..I was already going on my 5th day of having a period and the pill basically stopped it the next day...I am going to let my body adapt to the pill...nothing scary as of yet...from what I have read about it light bleeding is normal...I will give an update once I finish the brown pills
i am takin femcon fe for 2 weeks now n its my 1st BC ever. i got the biggest headache n a yeast infection yesterday. im gonna use monistat for it since it helped me with my yeast infection when i was pregnant. why is a sunday so significant??
I am now in my second week of Femcon. I had to swtich from Triphasil due to chronic break through bleeding. I have had horrible pains across my abdomen today. I also have that feeling as if I am getting my period. Is this normal? Do people normally feel like this? Its been about 8 years since I have switched my pill so I do not remember the beginning effects of the pill.
I just started taking Femcon. I had to switch my pills due to chronic break through bleeding. Today I have had horrible stomach pains and feel as if I am getting my period. Is this normal? I have not switched my pill in 8 years so I do not remember the effects of beginning a pill.
Any help???
I have been on femcon for 2 weeks now. I have had horrible abdominal cramping today along with the feeling of having my period. Is this normal? I have not switched my pill in 8 years so I am not familiar with the effects. Can anyone help???
Sorry I can't give you an explanation, but with your symptoms persisting for the last couple of days your best bet would be to talk to your doctor.
Anonymous from Jan. 06/08 -- The only signifigance I could find to a Sunday Start is that periods are least likely to occur over a weekend.
Please check with your healthcare professional for more information.
:)
Thanks for the help from everyone! I actually had some break through bleeding so I am thinking it is the switching of the pill. I am going to the doctor on the 21st and will check with him!
Thanks for the help!
Did anyone else happen to have breakthrough bleeding when they first started Femcon?
i'm into my second week with femcon and i started spotting like three days ago but now i'm bleeding worse than when i get my period. i also feel lethargic and depressed. i'm like 97 pounds, i don't eat a lot and now i've lost apetite. are all these things normal and will they go away? especially the bleeding! that one is icky and way uncomfortable.
Spotting is normal and usually subsides, but I'm not sure about bleeding more than what you normally get with your period.
I think you should see your doctor, especially about the loss of appetite, and see what he or she can do for you.
Last month, my doctor recommended that I skip the placebos in my pack and go right into a new pack to lighten up and shorten my very heavy periods. So, I did, and it backfired...causing the heaviest, worst period of my life for 8 days. So, I had 4 straight weeks of active pills....then
the next month, the 4th month on Femcon, my boyfriend and I had a condom accident. We lost it. Inside of me. We eventually found it. This all happened during the end of week 2 on the pill.
During my 3rd week, I started spotting a teenie bit. That's normal. I have been spotting during week 3.
By Saturday, I started what seemed to be my period (which is weird -normally starts on Sunday, first day of the iron pills) But very light. Sunday - it's there, but light. More like spotting then a period. Tuesday - barely there. Wednesday - barely there.
This is unusual for me - even on the Femcon, my periods were much heavier.
Should I be concerned that I may be pregnant due to the, well, uh, condom accident? Or should I wait until I am done with my next pack to see if I get my period to be concerned? I always take my pills everyday, at the same time - none missed.
Or am I just overreacting. lol
i have been on this pill for 3 weeks. im suppose to start my period this sunday. i have light abdominal cramps and oh my god my breats hurt like hell!!!!!
is this normal???
Brooke
i have been on femcon fe for about 3 and a half weeks now, and i have no idea when it starts working against pregnancy! i've been using condoms the first two weeks now my bf is pulling out just in case, but i want to go back to condoms. when is it effective? it says a week but i hear from other bc takes a month or two to work. HELP
I've been on Femcon for two weeks. I've already noticed a decrease in my sex drive, and I'm pretty sure I have a yeast infection. I'm going to stick with it until I finish this 1-month pack. Maybe my body is simply adjusting to the new dosage of hormones since I was on Lo Estrin before (which caused heavy off-cyle bleeding).
Anonymous from Jan 09/08 - You've been on Femcon for four months now? If you've been taking it consistently and correctly (same time every day without missing a day) then you should have 99.9% protection from pregnancy. From what I can tell (and I'm not a doctor) your periods appear to be getting lighter which can happen with birth control pills.
I've been taking Yasmin for four years and my periods are pretty much non-exsitent now (they were terrible before I started taking the pill).
If you are concerned about being pregnant take a pregnancy test. Being on birth control pills will not affect the results of the test.
Brooke - Yes tender breasts and slight abdominal cramps are normal. As written in the Femcon Fe post: "The most common side effects include breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and spotting or bleeding between periods. "
You're getting your period soon, right? So PMS could be the culprit for your cramps. Cramps are most likely caused by prostaglandins, chemicals your body produces that make the muscles of the uterus contract. Exercise or an over-the-counter pain med like ibuprofen may help with them.
If the cramping persists or worsen I would contact your doctor.
:-)
beanie - You know what? I've heard both as well. Some doctors say one week and others say one month. The doctor I work for recommends using another contraceptive for the first month. So if you want to continue using a condom go right ahead - better to be safe than sorry!
I started this pill at 6pm one night and by 10pm i projectile vomited up everything i hate for hours. Id wake up and throw up.Ive had the worst headaches all day and cant keep anything down. Ive been throwing up for days. I refuse to take it anymore, i cant live like this.
I have been taking Femcon for a couple of months now and I feel that it has really decreased my sex drive. I began to feel this way after the first month but wanted to give it some time so my body could adjust to the new pill. I was first on Ortho Tri Cyclen which I suffered from horrible cramps and then Loestrin 24 which gave me break through bleeding. I have an appointment with my OBGyn in a couple weeks, but I was just curious if anyone else had experienced this same side effect???
Here's a link to a previous post that might help explain how the Pill affects sex drive.
Read more...
I just started Femcon 19 days ago, the first day of my period.. and I have had my period every day since. It's terrible :( I was wondering if this is normal to have a 19 day period (and counting) when normally before birth control they were about 6 days.
It's best that you contact your doctors office. Sorry I couldn't find an answer for you.
I just switched to Femcon FE this week after being on both Yasmine nad Yaz for 4 years. The only side effect I had from Yaz and Yasmine was break through bleeding, which I finally had enouugh of.( plus I swear it made me a bit crazy)
Although I was not at all excited about switching so far FemCon has been great. I feel more energetic and my sex drive has increased over night. The only thing I am really worried about is weight gain. I exercise daily and eat healthy, but without the diuretic in Yaz I am paranoid about bloating. Has anyone else switched from Yaz to Femcon with positive results?
I have been on this for about a month now. For the first week or so I experienced a little nausea after i took it but nothing too bad. I have never been on birth control but I think this is a very good one to start out on, Im having no problems now.
I have been on this pill for around 2 months now. I haven't had any problems with headaches or break through bleeding. For the last 3 years, doctors have had me on 6 different birth control pills trying to find one that worked with my PCOS condition & still regulated my periods. For the 1st time in 3 years, I can leave my house without a tampon and worry of break through bleeding. Also, I now have a normal period & less pain with my cyst condition. I am thankful that a random doctor suggested putting me on this pill.
This pill has helped my moodswings & hormone imbalance and has brought my estrogen levels back into their normal range. I have also noticed waking up in better moods.
With my PCOS condition, testerone was taking over my entire life as well as my woman hood. My breasts were getting so small, I didn't recognize myself in the mirror or in a bikini for that matter. However, my breasts have came back to normal size. They are a little bit tender, however I am thankful to have them back.
Who ever derived this Femcon Fe pill, thank you for bringing me back to normal!!!
I've been taking Femcon for about 5 months now. It HAS decreased my periods and made them lighter, but I have horrible nausea and vomiting after meals. The GI doctor put me on Reglan because my meals aren't getting properly digested. I am so gassy and bloated and I feel horrible! This has gotten worse in the past month and it seems that it started right around the time I started Femcon. Has anyone else experienced this severe cramping/vomiting after meals? So tired of being tired and cranky!!
Hi-- I wanted to post in response to someone's question about bloating..
I switched to Femcon about a month and a half ago from Yaz. I am reqd to take BC since I have ovarian cysts. Yaz was awesome bc I lost a few pounds BUT had AWFUL AWFUL mood swings. My dr suggested Femcon and I have consistently been nauseas, have headaches, my breasts GREW and are really sore, and feel extremely bloated all the time.
I definitely want off of this soon bc I don't feel like myself. I wouldn't suggest this pill to others.
I have been on Femco for 4 months now. Never had any side effects that is until about a month ago. I've been feeling nauseated, headaches, as per my husband he says I've been having some mood swings and my sex drive has taken a negative plunge. I'm thinking about stopping this pill. The doctor put me on this pill in order to regulate my period, but the side effects I've been feeling as of late are starting to become too much. I figured I would feel some side effects at the beginning, not months into the medication.
I think what everyone can learn from all these comments is simply that bc has different effects on everyone. I started femcon 3 months ago (about to finish 3rd pack) and it is the first birth control i've ever taken. I dont chew it, i dont see the point, but my dr. was very enthusiastic about putting me on it anyways.In the begining i did have a few headaches, however those went away about 2 weeks into it. I also have had spotting for all three months, normally in the third week of the active cycle. i'm going to give my body a month more to see if the spotting stops, but if it doesnt i think i will switch pills. The only reason i would hesitate to switch is because since i've been on it my breast have grown a whole cup size! (i always wanted bigger boobs) I also used to have a few pimples here and there but i never have pimples anymore. No weight gain either and i have pratically stopped excersing and eating healthy like i used to...
somehow I knew I shouldn't have looked in to reviews of this pill... some of this is frightening. I feel more prepared now and I hope I see the positive effects. I'd like clear skin & bigger boobs too! :)
FYI... You only have to drink 8oz of water if you chew your tab. You don't have to if you just swallow it.
So far I've felt mild nausea & a little tired but I was expecting that with the added hormones!
For those of you who have horrible luck with all BC try Progesterone Cream. It's not BC but it helps regulate periods, ease PMS symptoms, clear skin, prevent osteoperosis, even "cure" endometriosis. Arbonne sells a bioidentical progesterone cream and it is awesome!
Hi, so I just got on this pill this week and I actually read all of these comments before I got on it. They really freaked me out but I know that it would affect people differently and since I can't swallow even the tiniest pill, I thought this was the pill for me. I tried to take it at night so I could sleep through any side effects-a tip I got on here- but I wake up and I immediately vomit. And then I lose sleep over it. Are the positive side effects going to be worth it?? And how long do you think I will continue to vomit until my body gets used to the hormones??? Because I do not want to throw up every morning for months...
mmmm That's a tough question. Side effects are different for everyone. When I first started taking Yasmin they lasted about a month (vomiting, weight gain, tender breasts etc.) But my friend (who was taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen) only had tender breasts. Her side effects were peanuts compared to what I was going through.
I would say the positive effects of the pill (e.g. preventing pregnancy) are worth toughing it out for a bit longer. Give yourself a month (or two) to become adjusted to the new hormonal cycle of the pill. If the side effects are still happening see your doctor about trying another type of pill or method of birth control.
Long time Femcon user comments...
After 5+ years on ortho tricyclen I started having breakthrough bleeding, so my doctor put me on Femcon. I have been on Femcon for 9months and still have some spotting at various times during my cycle, but not nearly as bad as with Ortho Tricyclen. I've had no increase in the number of headaches. However, I have recently (last week) developed breast tenderness unrelated to PMS and the tenderness related to PMS has gotten worse...no lumps/bumps, but I do believe it might be the pill. I have never had any issue with breast tenderness at any time during my cycle in the past.
Has anyone started taking Femcon with no side effects and then months later developed them?
I just started femcon the sunday after my period. coming off of low ogestral because i was statining. After 4 days of my period it stopped. Now the sixth day and fourth day on the pill I see spotting. (less heavy than a period) and I am itchy. Is this normal? help will this stop
There have been so many things coming to the surface these days about the FDA and what they're failing to report about many different drugs. My question is, how long has Femcon Fe been on the market? I'm into my second month of taking it after having issues of not getting my period after having my second C-section baby. Like a lot of other comments I've read on here, I also suffer from headaches, body aches, and low to no sex drive. It really doesn't just affect me, but my husband and children as well. When I'm miserable, they're miserable. Most importantly though, I want to know that this drug is safe and well tested. Any ideas?
C - My breasts are tender sporadically. One month they're tender right before my period (or a couple of weeks before), the next the tenderness isn't there. I went to my doctor and she did a quick breast exam and found nothing wrong. If you are a little alarmed there is no harm in visiting your doctor to speak with him or her about your problem.
anonymous - Spotting is normal, especially with low-dose pills like Femcon Fe. It's only if the spotting persists or worsens that you need to start looking into other causes. As for the itchiness..? I'm not sure what that is. Sorry!
Sandra - You can try www.wcrx.com. This is the website for the manufacturer of Femcon Fe, Warner Chilcott. Hopefully this helps get you some more information.
:-)
so what are the brown pills for and when do i start them?
Femcon Fe is available in a 28-day cycle. You take three weeks of white pills, followed by one week of brown pills.
The brown pills, or "reminder" pills, are taken during the week you are supposed to get your period.
I have been using this for almost a week now and haven't been having problems. In fact I forget that I am even on it. The first couple of days I did have some stomach pains (which I have a touchy stomach so it's not anything new) but they turned out to be gas pains. They have since gone away and I don't know if they were caused by the pill or by something I ate those couple of days. I have gotten a few minor headaches but nothing horrible and I expect them to go away once my body gets used to the hormones.
I'm really only using this pill to help with my minor acne and so far no difference, but then again it's only been 6 days.
I have been on Femcon for over a year and I cannot believe the difference in my body. Loss of sex drive, weight gain of 25 lbs, feel tired all the time, moody, stomach pains and I always spot before hand. It has been a rough year and I know this has happened because of this pill
I just started my Femcon pills the last sunday of my period. It only lasted 5 days. On the 6th day me and my boyfriend didn't use protection and he forgot to pull out. Now i am on my brown inactive pills and my period is extremely light.Any Answers ? This is my 1st time on birthcontrol
I just started my Femcon pills the last sunday of my period. It only lasted 5 days. On the 6th day me and my boyfriend didn't use protection and he forgot to pull out. Now i am on my brown inactive pills and my period is extremely light.Any Answers ? This is my 1st time on birthcontrol
Lighter periods on the Pill are normal - in fact that's one of the benefits of taking birth control pills.
I'm not sure what your question is but I think it may be that you're wondering what your chances are of being pregnant. It sounds like you're not pregnant (and here I stress, I'm not a doctor) because you're having your period....Is this correct?
If for any reason you think you may be pregnant there is nothing wrong with taking a pregnancy test. You can buy them at your local drugstore.
I was on Loestrin24FE for the past three months until I had breakthrough bleeding. So, my dr. started me on Femcon Fe and I have been on it now for 3 weeks and have noticed a major increase in my weight. I have been working out 5-7 times per week and lowered my food intake and I'm still gaining weight. Has anyone else noticed this? I have never been prone to weight gain and I'm getting very upset about this. I was put on the pill because I have had 2 surgeries within the past two years to remove uterine polyps-my doctor thought this would solve the problem-any thoughts?
I am on femcon for a month now, this would be my first period on it. I was staining on low ogestral which i started six month after having my baby. since after i had the baby I havent had a regular period. My periods are light the first couple of hours than heavy for two days, sounds good right, but than the last two days they just get less and less blood, but the color never turns brown so it looks like it will never stop eventhoug there is no more flow. Is this normal. I think its not because I am used to the last two days being a brown color (old blood) from before I had my son. Any ideas? i didnt have any of these issues after I had my daughter. Is it different with a boy? is it normal for the ending of a period not to be brown?
thanks
My dr gave me a free sample pack of femcon and i will never recommend it. I take my first pill of a new pack tonight and thank god it is not femcon, its my usual pill. I never even got my period this month and i have never missed a period in my life. i also never got headaches until i started this pill.
I have been taking Femcon for a while now and its treating me quite fine! I have an important question! I MISSED A PILL AND DIDNT NOTICE! I WAS STILL TAKING THEM BUT I NOTICE I WAS A DAY BEHIND, AND I HAD UNPROTECTED SEX W/ MY BOYFRIEND SEVERAL TIMES AND I JUST NOTICE, CAN I BE PREGNANT?
"I have been taking Femcon for a while now and its treating me quite fine! I have an important question! I MISSED A PILL AND DIDNT NOTICE! I WAS STILL TAKING THEM BUT I NOTICE I WAS A DAY BEHIND, AND I HAD UNPROTECTED SEX W/ MY BOYFRIEND SEVERAL TIMES AND I JUST NOTICE, CAN I BE PREGNANT?"
I am not a doctor (and nothing should replace actually speaking with your own doctor) but I think if you have only missed one day - and you have been taking Femcon for awhile - your chances of being pregnant are pretty slim.
But, and there's always a but, the Pill is 99% effective if taken correctly and consistently. There is still that 1% chance. This isn't meant to scare you! Maybe you should look into taking a pregnancy test just to be sure?
Aw come on. No one should be leaving negative comments, or telling people to avoid this pill. Every TYPE of pill is different, and so is every person. If you get serious side effects, don't be on the pill then. Some people adjust to the hormones really well, and other people just aren't meant to be on them. I don't very much like taking pills (because of the risks) but I'm taking Femcon Fe now to help regulate my period. Haven't had any problems so far with it, or with Seasonique (4 periods a year), which I was on last year. If you have issues, either talk to your doctor and switch, or consider another method of birth control. There are always plenty of options.
Regarding what a few of you have said, when you're just starting the pill,