11 Sep 2012

This is so far the only form of hormonal birth control I have ever used. I have been taking Apri since I was 17 (going on 18) in January 2011. The first year was alright. I've heard really bad birth control stories but Apri didn't affect me that badly. I didn't gain any noticeable amount of weight throughout that first year. Then, and now, I have not changed my eating or exercise habits. I love tasty, not so healthy foods, and I don't really exercise. I don't eat junk food that regularly, only as a treat. And I don't overeat either. I stopped growing pretty much when I was like 16 ish. So there was no reason for me to expect any changes in weight... I was in a relationship for 6 months and that's why I got Apri in the first place. But before I was even able to pick up Apri from the pharmacy, my boyfriend broke up with me. I decided to still keep using Apri.. didn't really have any reason to cause I'm not the promiscuous type, but I figured, at least I could be ready for whenever I enter another relationship. I found a new someone fairly soon after that breakup. We were long distance for over a year and visited each other maybe every 3 months. So throughout my first year of using Apri, I did not notice any change in sexual function. I guess I didn't have much of an opportunity to discover any physical changes within me, in that aspect cause how is your libido supposed to decrease when you only have sex every few months? My boyfriend moved in with me. Everything's going great. We're enjoying each other's company and everything. And I still love him, our feelings for each other have not changed. But Apri was starting to change me.. Not THAT much, not like in a mental way.. but still.. I haven't changed my eating/exercise habits like I said, but within the past few months I've noticed weight gain. I mean, I saw when the numbers were starting to rise on the scale.. I didn't think much of it because it slow and gradual. I am 5'2, was between 110-115 lbs before taking Apri. I never thought I'd go over the 120 mark but I did. It bothered me but I quickly pushed it out of my mind, since I could still fit into my clothes the same way and I didn't really see a significantly different body in the mirror. Again, at first it was a small weight gain (and overall, it's not THAT huge but still, bothersome and noticeable) I probably should have started being more healthy but I didn't want to change. I mean, the only thing different about my life was that I was taking Apri. I guess it's given me more cravings, but it's not like I eat all the time because I usually don't have the time to. I've been doing the same things as before. But now the weight gain is much more noticeable, in fact today, one of my grandma's friends told me I was looking fatter. And a couple days ago when I stepped on the scale, it read 135. That's insane to me. Also, it's really hard for me to fit in my jeans. I've been wearing the same jeans since high school because like I said, I stopped growing when I was young. Before Apri, there was still some clothes from elementary school I could fit into. Not anymore. My hips and thighs are a lot bigger, along with my tubby stomach and love handles. All my jeans are skinny jeans but it hurts to put them on now, and I don't have any money (or desire) to buy a new wardrobe due to a weight gain that should have never happened. In regards to sexual function. Well, when my boyfriend first came to live with me, I was ecstatic. I felt very sad during our long distance and I always missed him so to have him with me was a joy and we used to have sex every single day, no problems. I mean on some days we wouldn't but that was because he was tired from work. But then we both started noticing I couldn't lubricate as well.. I felt like a menopausal woman, being so dry like that. It just made me frustrated and I was sort of losing my desire to even try having sex anymore, only because I couldn't enjoy it as well. I felt like I was, in a way, dying down there. And I know it hurt my boyfriend's feelings cause he thought I didn't care.. I don't fully understand the side effects of birth control, and I know he doesn't either.. I don't think he even considers birth control to be the culprit.. but me, after reading about so many other people's experiences with various types of birth control, I see it's no coincidence. A lot of people blame people who gain weight on birth control to have no self-control. And while that may be true, it doesn't mean birth control is fault-free. I know I had bad health habits, but it wasn't that bad before Apri. Apri just magnified an insignificant problem and created new ones. I really want to get sterilized as soon as I can. I don't believe any hormonal contraceptive can be without faults. some are worse than others but they're all gonna give people problems in some form or another.

—Posted by Beanie baby

06 Feb 2012

I have been on Apri for 12 days it has controlled my cramps but l feel it has me bleeding to much and constantlygping to the bathroom to urinate. Im.trying to deal with the bleeding for this first month because my dr says its normal.

—Posted by Rona

08 Dec 2011

I am having a few side effects, but I am also feeling as if my birth control has failed and my symptoms may be early signs of pregnancy. I am hoping, however, that is not the case.

—Posted by E