Such an important subject to talk about. Happy you're feeling better! ✨ I personally have had a great experience with the pill - no noticeable side effects at all, safe sex and (blissfully): no period. I never comment normally but I just wanted to balance the discussion since this is very individual and the pill is not inherently bad for everyone! :)

Please please please film the video you mentioned about the changes you implemented in your life. That would be so so helpful!

so many other things I had in common with you that I didn’t even realize maybe a symptom !! thanks for sharing (and mentioning ❤️)

“I feel like the main character” lol that is a great way to describe a good cathartic cry.

I got my coil out 2 months ago and now I feel amazing. I was so tired, anxious, paranoid, depressed and felt very lethargic. I have been in and out of mental health services and after 4 years the psychiatrist told me to ‘get that thing out of your body’ and I did and within 2 weeks I felt more normal. My partner has to wear doms now but I never want synthetic hormones ever again. Glad you’re doing well Lucy xxx

Warning: dr Jolene Brightens is not a medical doctor, but a naturopath who finished the National University of Natural Medicine (a university that teaches ie. homeopathy; and in the naturopathy course that she’s finished it is one of the core subjects). She is trying to sell supplements for a variety condition but a. they are reaaaally expensive, 80 dollars for vitamin b, b. she tries to sell sets of these multivitamins (arguing that one helps you with problemX, whilst another with problem Y), however it is mostly the same - looots of vitamin C - obviously, for naturopaths it is some kind of a treat, other vitamins, and some herbs. I’d recommend not promoting her, especially now, during the global pandemic, when real science needs to be promoted, and not pseudoscience.

I’m so grateful that my experience with the pill has always been really positive, the first pill I was ever put on (microgynon) worked for me and I’ve been on it for nearly 8 years and I’ve never had any problems. But I know loads of people have issues with the pill so I’m glad there are so many options out there for people, and it’s always interesting to hear people’s stories

I've been on the combined pill for about three years now, ever since I started my relationship, and it really bugs me that I can't tell what is a result of it and what isn't, in regards to my body. I'm always fascinated when I see these kinds of videos and people can map out exactly how it has affected them.

I was on the pill for 12 years and came off it almost a year ago now. It has seriously changed my life. I would cry at least every other day when I was on the pill, and now maybe 2 or 3 times per month, my anxiety is way better (still have GAD, but it’s not limiting my life as much anymore) and I also have that feeling of being more present and more me. I haven’t been on anything else because for most of the year I wasn’t sexually active anyway, but that has recently changed and now I’m also thinking of getting the copper IUD.

I really appreciate videos with experiences with the pill! I’ve been on it for coming up to 6 years now, and I still feel absolutely none the wiser about it. If I ever question anything, my doctor will be incredibly dismissive about it being the pill’s fault, and it makes me feel like I’ve imagined things. These conversations are so valuable to have, because it’s scary how little we actually know about our own bodies, and how easily the pill is taken by so many with the majority of us barely knowing or understanding any of the repercussions!

This video couldn’t have come up in my recommend at a better time, I’ve been on regevidon since I was 16 (I’m now 21) and I’m thinking of coming off it soon so it’s so useful to hear other people’s experiences coming off the pill in general.

I’ve been off the pill for about 5 years now. I always thought my periods were weird cause they only lasted like 3 days, but was nice to hear yours are the same, even down to the way you described it as only getting pain for about 3 hours on the first day. Crazy. I’ve found though, that the more I rest and eat healthy leading up to my period the less painful my symptoms are

so glad to hear you're doing well! its soo strange how different pills can have such big effects and we don't really get taught in school. thanks for your vid!

thank you so much for sharing! I literally gasped when you talked about feeling swollen in certain areas, cause that's exactly how I felt. like certain areas of your face and body became bloated, but without any reason. so weird oh, and after coming off the pill I had painful acne as well

omg the upper arms thing!! have recently come off hormonal contraception and I had also noticed that and had no idea that could be a contraception thing

While taking yasmin, you need to take B6 vitamin as well. It is because, yasmin decreases the B6 in your body. My doctor adviced it :) so you will not have any depression and anxiety. I also recommend (personal experience) healthy diet rich in B6 food (avocado, chicken breast etc) thanks to this info, I controlled the depression side effect. Now I am super happy :)

Lucy, I am so happy I watched this video! I have been thinking that I’ve become bipolar since coming off the pill. I feel like a mess. But after watching this and then taking your advice of educating myself I do feel better. I’m so happy that people like yourself use these platforms to inform and help others 💛 can’t wait to follow the rest of your journey

Ahhh this video was a wake-up call. Cerelle is giving me BURNING sadness and rage, I’m pretty happy in my actual life but it feels like I’ve got to experience someone else’s horrendous mood swings alongside it. My period disappears and then comes for weeks at a time...other than that it’s great, lmao. I know I should switch but I’m terrified - thanks Lucy for sharing your experience!

I am someone who cannot come off the pill, I am on a combined pill, as I don't naturally produce estrogen due to a genetic condition as it is easiest/few ways to get it into your system. It is really bad to have low or no estrogen. I normally watch videos like this and am left feeling frustrated/angry as they tend to demonize the pill. You have managed to tell your story without doing that! I get what you mean about the trying different ones with your Doctor, it maybe the type you are given not agreeing with you but there might be a better fit to try before throwing the towel in. I also have a under active thyroid so am on medication for that! Hopefully your thyroid will be sorted soon too! Hope it continues to go well!

It made me so happy for you when you said you had like a moment with yourself for like the first time

when i switched between pills (because they all made my miserable in their unique ways ✨) i was like: i LOVE experimenting with my body like i'm a lab rat :)))))

Thanks for sharing! I'd be really careful about the copper coil. I got it a few years ago because I wanted to get off hormonal birth control and my periods had always been quite light. However, it was awful. Very heavy bleeding, long periods, insane cramps, lots of pain... I waited four months for it to 'subside' but it never did. I'm on the hormone coil now because it is more local low-dose hormones, it's lovely for me. You do you, but be aware that it can be really painful. To me it was absolutely not worth it. Sex is nice. Being myself in my body is nice. I don't recommend any woman put up with that kind of frequent pain.

I went off the pill around the same time as you (end of September) because it was causing my blood to clot! I was on it for 5 years and most of those were for my developmental years (17 and on) and it's just really nice to know I'm not alone in my endeavors. Thanks a ton 😊

currently on the pill (have been for 6 years now) and have been thinking of coming off!! but the fear of pregnancy is SO real and i'm in a long term relationship and yeah it just scares me a lot, especially after reading things like 'i got pregnant straight away after coming off the pill' n im like nooooo 😭 but i have

Great video & good luck Lucy! I would highly recommend tracking your cycle through charting cervical mucus/& or basal temperature, bleeding and also document acne, hair, mental health, libido & pain. I came off the pill February 2019 after being on it for 2 years. After 2 weeks my cervical mucus was already "back to normal." Nothing much happened for 6 months except 45 day cycles. THEN OH BOY. The worst cystic acne all over my jaw, cheeks & back. Panic attacks. Crazy high and low moods. Greasy roots & hair loss. However the headaches & water retention from the pill had disappeared and my libido was very active, so I persevered. Only August 2020 have I felt my normal self, my hair has gone back to my beautiful thick teenage curls, my anxiety has gone, clear skin (for the most part), and I feel so in tune with my body. Perhaps this helps somebody. I wish we were taught how to chart our cycles at school.

Please make the video about the changes you’ve made?! This video has come at the perfect time, just as I’m thinking about coming off the pill, I have the same weight issue, where I’m not overweight, but storing fat weirdly in ways I never used to. I’ve just always been too scared to come off the pill! xx

I've been off the pill for 2 weeks now. I took it for 1,5 years. So I'm very happy and excited to watch your videos on the topic to see and compare what's going with your body while mine's doing the same work :)

I came off a pill that made me crazy anxious and have depression symptoms and suicidal thoughts etc in the beginning of 2019. After that my before the pill irregular periods have been even more irregular and I've had 1,5 periods after... I know coming off the pill was the right decision as my mental health improved massively but still, bodies are damn weird. Thank you for talking about this so openly I think a lot of people will find this useful ! :) xx

I’ve had the same weight gain experience whilst on the pill. My stomach and legs store more weight than they did before I started the pill. But I don’t really want to go off the pill because my periods were originally so heavy and painful

thanks for sharing your experience, Lucy! ❤️a best friend of mine is coming off the pill rn too and she’s having a great experience! she also suffers from thyroid problems. i’m 28 and actually started the pill for the first time this summer due to my PCOS. it was the cheapest option (thankfully fully covered by my insurance). it’s insane how much better i feel. my womanly assets are enhanced, i’m losing weight, i have so much energy, and it’s drastically helping my sex drive and mental health. i have a long way to go with handling PCOS, but i’m glad i finally made the decision to start. it’s so specific to everyone and it’s comforting to see so many in the comments sharing their story.

This was super insightful ! I lost a bit of weight over lockdown but my arms and stomach have stayed roughly the same size and it’s so nice to have an explanation for this ! Hormones are crazy hahah, glad to see you’re doing well:)

I have pcos.. So I guess I have to stay with the pill until I have a baby (could change the hormones)... a women's life is just arghh sometimes

Unrelated but can you please do a hair routine? Your hair looks AMAZING

Omg I'm crying, it feels like you are talking about me, I started having similar problems ( weird fat on arms and lower body, terrible need to pee also during night, but also migraine, depression and eye sight got worse) all things I never had before. I have been to many doctors and NO ONE even mentioned or took into consideration the pill as reason why. I am now understanding that the pill could be the reason, so i have decided to quit. Thanks for this video, I felt finally understood

It would be so helpful to see a video 6 months down the line! I’m 10 months off the pill and still experiencing weird periods and horrible acne breakouts so it’s helpful for me to see other people’s experiences. 💖

Thanks for making a video like this! Also I love the dark hair! Not sure how new it is I'm a bit behind on your vids, but I love the super dark vibes

I also took the pill Microgynon for seven years and I came off in february. Without it I feel like myself again, no dry skin, no bad mood swings, no anger issues. Just pimples but I'm ok with that. Thank you for sharing your story, there can't be enough experiences shared about this topic! (Safe distant) hugs from Germany

After taking the pill for 10 years, I've decided to stop and it took me a year to get my first "natural" period. For a year, I had my period every 5/6 months and now I'm getting them every 52 days. My doctor is not preoccupied even though I am. Apart from that small detail, my anxiety is a looooooot better and I definitely feel more in sync with my body (more energy, not as bloated as before but yes....acne and pms are definetely real)! :)

Thank you for talking about this!! I've been on pills and currently the implant and it's so weird to think that my emotions may not be fully my own. I'd love to hear your experiences with the coil if you feel comfortable sharing as I think it's an option so many women are considering. So frustrating how much we still have to settle when it comes to contraception 🙃

Pleeease make the video about what you have done to support your body coming off the pill!!

Gonna be going off the Pill myself once I've finished this lot (~6 months) after being continuously on, without any noticeable issues for nearly 12 years. Nervous but intrigued to see how it goes.

I am not sure what is worse what is better. I wasn't on a pill but I have acne for 20 years already. from my 17 till now when I am 37. Had a few clear months when was doing face peel and around 1.5 years after isotretinoin (accutane). I did't have pill related issues you describe but 20 years is too much. mostly my skin was similar to what you showed from your old videos. but many times much worse. you look good and happy. hair colour is stunning

I really appreciate these types of videos. I’ve been on the pill for almost 10 yrs and have always been really happy with it. No bad side effects or feeling any type of drastic changes. I’m still curious about coming off it just to see but I’m terrified of getting pregnant 😅

I have had so many hormonal issues and every pill I have tried just made it worse, also having a lot of the symptoms you had on it - The problem is that it's a bit of a battle, since I'm not doing well off of hormones either and still have a lot of symptoms. Luckily I finally found a doctor who's willing to take me seriously and we're going to try and figure it out 🙏

I’ve been on microgynon for 7 years and honestly it’s been amazing in terms of my periods went super light and obviously never got pregnant 👍🏼& never really noticed anything majorly wrong. However until recently I started noticing how anxious I’ve been / worrying about everything / low moods and just feeling like that grey cloud. And this is why I’ve come off. I’ve been off the pill for a week now and still excited about coming off and already noticed a shift in how I feel and my mood.

what helped my skin loads when I came off the pill was getting a prescription for Differin (adapalene) from my gp, wearing sunscreen daily and using cerave lotion and a face wash, instead of all these overrated face creams.

i remember you saying you wanted to get the doctor to do some tests on your thyroid a few months ago!! i’m really glad you finally got a diagnosis

Would love those 6 and 12 month down the line videos! Thank you for Being so kind and honest ❤️

The way you felt coming off the Yasemin pill is how I felt on it, except no one had taken the time to explain the sideffects of it when I was younger. There wasn't that much info online then, so I just went off by myself and I think it messed up my thyroid.I gained a lot of weight and got super depressed. it wasn't until I was at uni that someone pointed out to me how problematic the Yasemine pill was and that it had a really high risk of becoming depressed and anxious. It's kinda sppoky to me that young girls are just given these intense hormone pills while still growing and developing their bodies.

I went off the pill during the first lockdown and my hair is falling out like crazy so it was really nice to hear that I’m not the only one 😬

You have just open my eyes on this, thank you lucy, that's why I love your videos ❤️

I was just gunna comment on another video asking why you came off the pill and if you could make a video and then this showed up in my subscription box! So excited!

Thank you for sharing this. You have such a lovely voice and a beautiful demeanor

Oh my god 45 seconds ago?!?!?! This is a great Saturday

Hey Lucy, I haven’t been on hormonal contraception but I do have the non-hormonal coil. I love it. It’s something I don’t need to think about, it’s long-term (and doesn’t affect fertility when you do want it removed!) and while it made my cycle really heavy for the first few months, your body does adjust and it continues to get better. 🥰 Good luck!!

Lucy your hair is looking lush!!!

i’m 17 and i’ve been on yazmin for nearly 2 years. i really want to come off it because it feels like there’s a weight on my brain and i feel so anxious (which i’ve never felt before) and it doesn’t help with cramps at all :( . this video was really informative thank u

Lucy, what you described about your time off the pill when you were 21 sounds exactly like what I experienced when I was 21 except it was whilst I was on the implant. I was on it for six months and I felt like I was losing my mind at times, very anxious and depressed. Eventually the all side effects just weighed out the pros of not having a period. I’m currently considering going on either the progesterone only pill or the Mirena coil after being suggested to after a gynaecologist appointment to help my painful periods so this videos came at the perfect time

It's crazy you say that about Yasmin, because that was the first pill I was prescribed by my doctor when I was 15!

I think it's really interesting to learn how your body and your hormones work just on your own and i love to hear how this feels for other women. And on top it's really nice to listen to you :)

I’ve been on yasmin since last year (age 20) and never took any other kind before so it’s hard to compare but I would almost think it’s a magic pill... my acne disappeared, I even lost weight, I have no cramps whatsoever anymore and I don’t pee more than usual so I am very lucky I guess. When it comes to mood, I do have some anxiety and low feelings but tbh, I have had those for over five years so it doesn’t have anything to do with yasmin. The only thing that bothers me is the higher risk of having a stroke 😟

These videos are so helpful, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helps in making people feel less weird or out of the ordinary.

Ily Lucy your one of my fave youtubers right now and have been for around a year I love your content

Oh my goodness, I've recently (couple months ago) came off hormonal contraception after 3 years on it and recently I've been dreaming/my brain takes me back to traumatic experiences in my late teens !! Never considered that it could have been because I came off hormones ♥️ feels amazing to know I'm not alone... love all your videos, keep doing what you're doing 🌞

Great video! On the breakouts on the chin point; particularly this year we are using face masks a lot (as we should!) so our chin areas are always rubbing on fabric, so breakouts do tend to happen. It is what it is I guess :P

Copper coil is non hormonal get ready for heavy periods and get ready acne at the beginning. I have had it 3 years in May, but i would say when you get it a good pain management . Thanks for recommending flo helped me with my periods for at least a year helped my relationshio knowing my emotions.

Your skin is just phenomenal! Great video, thanks Lucy :)

Yesss and an implant video to show your experience, I am currently on the pill and feel like a psycho so i am in need of a change i've been looking into natrual cycles or the coil because i'm a bit fed up..

Yasmin was the first pill i was prescribed (for heavy periods and acne) and it made my acne so much worse and sometimes I’d bleed all month. I went back to the doctors and was prescribed Cilest (now Cilique) and have been on it since. I don’t notice any particular side effects on it.

I've been on yasminfor years and I had NO idea it was a diuretic! All this time I've been wondering why I need to pee so much more than other people and I never connected it to my pill

Love to see an updated hair routine/styling video !

I am absolutely in love with this video! Such an honest, well researched and thorough account of your contraceptive journey. As someone who has struggled with their reproductive system since I started ovulating I can relate to a lot of the topics you have covered in this video. With the lack of funding (and decrease in funding) for women's sexual health, we need to look out for eachother and be as candid as possible when relaying our stories to one another. Love you Lucy, your content always makes me happy! Keep being you 🙂

Can you please do an update on coming off the pill please? ❤ I am passing through the same experience right now xx

8:58 ="I should probably bleep that, I want this to be a family friendly channel" Also Lucy: doesn't bleep it😂

Wow this the same as me, I am 30 this year and was on microgynon until 22 as I had severe headaches, came off went onto Yasmin and instantly lost 1.5 stone despite doing the same workouts, eating etc. Fast forward 7 years later and two attempts to come off Yasmin which were horrific, included night sweats, severe anxiety, disrupted sleep I’ve realised how important it is to balance your hormones and give yourself time. Nobody tells you how long it takes to get back to normal but it will eventually happen. Angus cactus, probiotics are a good place to start but tap into natural medicine for some of the side affects. I also agree with the weight side of things as my boobs were a c cup and I’m now a dd, my weight is all in my back hips and legs and I find it so hard to loose even just 1 pound!

Thank you for making this video. I'm actually considering getting of the pill and trying a new type of contraception. So this types of videos really help with making a decision

First off, great video! :) Second, honestly have such complex feelings about the pill... it can provide such liberation but also has so many side effects. I'm currently recovering from bilateral pulmonary emboli (blood clots in both my lungs) which was a scary/life-threatening thing, that typically has a slow recovery... especially during this pandemic. I'm going through a lot of tests right now but what most likely caused this was the fact I was on an estrogen-based version of the pill (not Yazmin). So glad you're doing well, Lucy!!

Why did this video have SEVEN ads?! Way too many, I kept having to rewind to remember what you were talking about. Kinda annoyed me, ngl

I’ve had a really good experience with the copper coil, but definitely agree that it’s good to wait to see what your periods are naturally like as it has definitely made mine slightly heavier and more painful. Not sure if this is true, but I’ve heard that spots on the chin area are linked to hormones so hopefully that symptom will improve! ☺️

Suggestion for anyone going off the pill who’s afraid of hormonal breakouts... I went to a dermatologist this year for the first time because wearing a mask had made my cheeks erupt in pustules and itchy, rash-like redness. The derm diagnosed me with rosacea (which I had always wondered about, I’ve always had pink, sensitive cheeks) and gave me some prescription-only topical treatments: a sulfur face wash, adapalene, and azelaic acid. They wiped out my rosacea flare-up in a matter of weeks but not only that, they’ve kept my hormonal acne in check. I’ve gotten deep, hormone-related cystic acne on my chin ever since I was a teen and nothing I ever tried worked to prevent it or even treat it. I always just had to wait it out. tl;dr Go to a dermatologist and tell them you’re going off hormonal contraception and want to see if you can get a topical prescription to keep hormonal acne in check. Sulfur face wash, adapalene, and azelaic acid have worked wonders for me. (You can get azelaic acid over the counter but the AA alone might not do the trick.)

a really interesting video, i love hearing about this haha! also the colours are so beautiful 🥰

I have combination skin and if you are looking for a gel moisturiser the REN Clarimatte™ T-Zone Balancing Gel Cream is the way to go- have used for 6+ years 💛

Thank you so much for posting this video!! So I think GPs in the UK are either all entirely badly educated, or they purposefully don't get into pros and cons when prescribing women's contraception. They give out those pills like candy and treat you like a mf guinea pig, in my case giving me combined hormone contraception, waiting for unbearable, excruciating migraines to start coming on twice a week, before moving me to a single hormone pill, which drove me progressively more anxious until driving me to a full blown mental health breakdown for a month. From your video I also realized that my feeing like a had constantly full bladder and constantly wanting to pee even though I had nothing there was due to the pill. I complained about this feeling multiple times with absolutely no interest in investigating by my GPs. They are ignorant about anything that has to do with women's health (hormonal contraception, and menopause - lots of content out there about how women are being essentially not treated and gaslighted about menopause) and that area needs to be firmly with specialists. We deserve better. When I came off my pill, within a week I had the tight knot of anxiety in my chest unfurl and feeling so much better.

I had huge mood swings, my psychiatrist told me about Agnus Castus, thats the berry of a plant that helps to reset your hormones. It helped me a lot. Would recommend to look that up :)

After 11 years on the pill (most of it on the mini pill due to hereditary risk factors) I came off in Jan, nearly 1 year on and things still haven’t fully settled, maybe they never will! And I also managed to find out about my post pill PCOS - which Id never heard of before - so fingers crossed it’s not permanent! Skin has been so up and down, and my moods! It really is fascinating to track xx

You need to try Clinique Moisture Surge moisturiser- so light and soaks I’m so fast and works!

I recently finished up the snow mushroom moisturiser from the Inkey List and it’s so good! It’s gel based and costs like €10. Apparently the mushrooms help soothe skin and reduce redness.

face theory's gel moisturiser has been so great! also have oily skin and it hydrates without making it greasy. but thanks for a great video, super informative :)

Hoping this will help someone: I had to be on the pill to get rid of an ovarian cyst, and Yasmin did make me feel like shit. But this other brand called Dronis helped me immensely and did not give me mood swings or irritability at all. So for those who have to be on the pill mandatorily, choose a good brand please, that could help you avoid many undesirable side effects

I’ve been ehming and ahhing about whether I should get off the birth control implant because I’m sick of having synthetic hormones in my body but I also have absolutely awful periods 😖 I’m getting it taken out this week I just gotta decide if I want to get it back in and so this video is coming at absolutely the perfect time

Your chatty videos are my favourite :)

Coming from you six months on video, i really relate to the weight thing. I just feel swollen! And around my stomach and hips definitely

why do i feel like we're connected?! i went gluten free due to intolerance and you released a video about going gluten free, i came off the pill 3 months ago and now this, and i swear everytime i dye my hair i watch your new video and you've dyed yours 😂😂 loved this though, such an important topic to talk about xx

I came off the pill after 7 years in July. I have been really struggling and this video was so helpful. I think I'll be ordering that book. I'd actually looked at the thyroid stuff on the internet because I just feel quite unwell at the moment in general.

I'm not on the pill and never have (As I don't have periods) but just was interested to watch! Also your eyebrows are incredible in this video!

This is sooo interesting, thanks so much! I've had the Mirena coil in for 5 years and it's due to be replaced...I was actually going to go on the Pill just due to how painful it was getting it in in the first place...but hearing the side effects you had to the pill, the Mirena hasn't been that bad! I'm just really conscious about the amount of hormones and chemicals we pump into our bodies and was hoping to find a less damaging alternative...I haven't had ANY issues with the Mirena, like the lack of periods has been such a bonus! Think I'll get it put back in! Thanks so much for your experience and thoughts! 😁💜 xx

In NZ during covid the pill I was on was not available due to shipment and demand delays so I had to change pill and it's been hell honestly 😅 being a woman is so rough but hearing other people's stories gives me some hope and healing haha thank you so much for sharing!

So interesting to listen to your story! I came off the pill I was on in April, mainly because of finishing my travels and coming home into lockdown, and also being (very) single, so I just didn’t rush back to the doctor to get prescribed more. I’ve stayed off it because I thought it would be good to see how my body works off it. I’ve also struggled more with acne, but I don’t know how much of that is from coming off the pill or wearing a mask or both 😂

I recently have been diagnosed with hyper thyroid. It would be great to hear your journey and how you’ve been able to manage it. Thank you 🙏

i loooooved this video and your kind of like "story time" content 💚💚