TAKE A SHOWER EVERY DAY. Hot water and orgasms will help expel blood faster and get things over with more quickly. Periods have definitely gotten easier after starting the pill. I know exactly when to prepare, cramps and bloating only lasts for a day, and the periods themselves are shorter, lighter, and less of a mess over all. That being said, I've never reacted badly to any of the different pills I've taken and not all women handle them well.
While we're on the subject of BC, my school did not properly explain how they work or how to avoid accidents because I went to an abstinence-only school. BC pills supply the body with estrogen and progesterone to fool the body into thinking it's pregnant. The body responds by skipping ovulation (not releasing an egg) and making the uterus less hospitable to an egg in case one DOES come out. The mucus thickens to help keep sperm out of the womb, as well. The pill does NOT cause abortions (some people believe this). It prevents an egg from getting fertilized in the first place.
The proper way to take the pill is to ingest it AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY, within a four hour period. I have an alarm on my phone for it. Take all the pills in order. If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you are able, even if you have two at once. If you miss two pills, throw out the pack and immediately start a new one. You will have a period that lasts a month. It sucks. If you are taking an antibiotic, it may interfere with the pill so either use alternate protection or hold off on sex until you are done with the antibiotic.
The pill often comes with a week's worth of placebos to help you remember to take it. Placebo week allows for you to have a period as a helpful confirmation that you are not pregnant. It is not medically necessary and you can choose to skip it. However, skipping it may complicate things later and the period might force itself when you aren't expecting it if you use this method too much. I recommend only doing this to avoid a period during a special event. Be warned, while it is not common, there are instances of women releasing an egg during their period. I would recommend using extra protection during placebo week just to be extra safe. Besides, it's messy anyway.
I was on the same pill for several years until one day I had mid-cycle bleeding, which can be a sign of ovulation. I don't know if my pill stopped working, but I immediately switched pills to be safe and have not had mid-cycle bleeding since.
In order to get a prescription, you will likely have to get a pap smear if you are above a certain age or are sexually active. If you go to an OBGYN, the doctor there will likely force you to go through this every year because that is how they make money. If you go to a general practitioner who happens to offer the service, they will go by the actual guidelines that state it's only necessary every 3 years. I have been to many doctors because I moved frequently for a while, and this is the pattern I noticed. If something feels wrong, if something is off about your periods, DO NOT HESITATE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ANYWAY, EVEN IF YOU HAD A NORMAL PAP SMEAR LAST YEAR. Generally though, as long as your blood pressure is normal, you do not smoke, and are under the age of 35, you should only need a pap smear every 3 years.
In California you are not legally required to have a prescription, but few pharmacies will honor the over-the-counter idea. Planned Parenthood has an app that will help you get a prescription without a doctor visit. For those who aren't in California, Lemonaid Health offers a similar service. You need to be able to take your blood pressure and answer a few questions.
Under the ACA, birth control should be fully covered by insurance. If you do not have access to insurance, ask about a pill called Tri-Sprintec. It is a $9 generic offered by both Walmart and Target.
Hope this helps!
