I'll be honest, I was prescribed Claira for two reasons: to regulate the heavy and unexplained bleeding I'd been experiencing, and to preserve my ovarian reserve. My doctor at the gynecology clinic assured me that the medication would help with the bleeding, and it did. But when I visited a reproductive clinic, they set the record straight - Claira can't save your egg cells, and I wish I'd known that sooner.
During Claira use, follicles don't reach the size where ovulation occurs, but their growth and subsequent atresia don't stop. As a result, my ovarian reserve gradually decreased.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed - my plans for the future were ruined. If a doctor prescribes you Claira with the phrase 'to prevent egg cell waste,' that's a major red flag, and you should run for the hills! If I'd had my wits about me at the time, I would have tried to freeze my eggs for better days, insisted on it (I was talked out of it). I trusted my doctors, but it turns out you can't always.
This experience with Claira taught me a few things:
Even the experts can be clueless;
Read the instructions before taking anything;
Stand up for your own interests.
And to this day, I still wonder: what's the point of experts if they can sometimes be wrong and completely mess things up?
I took Claira for 5 years, from age 33 to 38. They stopped it after I visited the reproductive clinic. After that, the bleeding didn't come back, but for objective reasons, I soon started experiencing early menopause (not because of Claira). I'll share how the medication affected my body over 5 years.
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Skin ConditionI'll admit, I used to be a victim of adult acne. Those pesky breakouts would pop up right before my period, and I was over it. But after turning 30, I started noticing fine lines and wrinkles. It was like my skin was aging before my eyes.
But with Claira, my skin has been a whole new story. My friends even noticed the difference! My skin looks smoother, and the excess oiliness has decreased significantly. Breakouts are a rare occurrence now, and when they do happen, they're not as severe. I was blown away by how well Claira worked for me.
Period Cramps, Bleeding, and PMSI've been dealing with heavy bleeding for years. It got to the point where I'd need to take time off work because of it. The pain was debilitating, and I'd often have to rush to the hospital. Even after addressing the underlying cause, the bleeding wouldn't stop. It was like my body was out of control.
Claira changed everything for me. It completely eliminated my heavy bleeding, and my periods became much more manageable. I couldn't be happier about it, as I no longer have to live in fear of my next period. The freedom is incredible!
Before Claira, I'd experience severe cramps during my period, but they disappeared after taking the medication. However, my PMS symptoms actually got worse on Claira. I became irritable and short-tempered, which was a total surprise to me. But overall, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.
Weight GainLet's face it, many women are terrified of birth control because they're worried about gaining weight. I'm probably a little odd, but I didn't exactly gain weight from it. I was a bit disappointed, to be honest, because at 5'8" and 110 lbs, I would have loved to put on a few pounds, but it just didn't happen. Claira didn't affect my appetite or my relationship with food.
I had a crazy work schedule, which meant I often didn't have time to eat, and when I did, it was usually a sandwich and a cup of tea - not exactly a recipe for weight gain, if you know what I mean.
It wasn't until I was stuck at home on lockdown for several months that I actually gained weight - and it wasn't because of Claira! I was working less, eating more, and generally just being a lot more sedentary. I put on around 22 lbs, which was a bit of a shock, but I think it was just a combination of the two.
Leg HeavinessI've never had diagnosed varicose veins, and neither have any of my family members. But from around the age of 30, I've noticed that my legs get a bit heavy after standing for a while - it's nothing too serious, but it's definitely noticeable. Claira made this leg heaviness a lot worse, especially before and during my period. I'd be standing in the kitchen cooking dinner, and after an hour or so, my legs would start to ache and swell up. I just put it down to getting older, to be honest, and I definitely didn't enjoy cooking as much as I used to.
But after I stopped taking Claira, I realized that the leg heaviness had pretty much disappeared. My legs still get a bit tired after standing for a long time, but it's nothing like it was when I was on the pill. I was amazed at the difference - it's like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders (or should I say, my legs!). It's been around 5 years since I stopped taking Claira, and my legs still don't ache like they used to when I was on the pill.
TAKEAWAYSI've got to admit, Claira helped me with the heavy bleeding, but it gave me false hope - and that's only because my doctor was involved. If I'd known it wouldn't preserve my egg cells, I'd have looked for other solutions. If your doc prescribes it with a 'save ovarian reserve' label, run to another doctor!
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The good stuff about Claira:
✅ Reduced bleeding and cramps during my period;
✅ Improved my skin, and my acne almost disappeared;
✅ Didn't cause me to gain weight.
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The not-so-good stuff about Claira:
❌ Exacerbated PMS symptoms, which were almost non-existent before;
❌ Kicked my libido into the ground;
❌ Left me with heavy legs (which went away after I stopped taking it).
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We're all unique, and these side effects might manifest differently in others. Be kind to yourself if you think something's off - it probably is. Don't buy this without a prescription; it's a hormonal medication, and hormones can either help or harm. And when docs prescribe it with weird recommendations, forget about regular users.
I think Claira really helped me with the heavy bleeding - it might've even saved my life. Unfortunately, it didn't meet all my expectations - and it shouldn't have, since it's not designed to preserve egg cells. It's a shame that docs recommend it with that label, to say the least.
I'd give Claira 4 stars (it did what it could) and recommend it, but only if prescribed by a normal, competent doc. Hormonal birth control might not cause as much harm as uncontrolled bleeding that could leave you stranded in an emergency.