I am 17 and I have been on Ortho Tricylen for 10 months. I have gained 20 pounds (and worked very hard to lose it, with no success), and overall I feel more emotional. There are a lot of advantages of this pill though. My acne is completely gone and my periods are perfectly regular and light. I would definitely recommend this pill, but for me, however, the few disadvantages outweigh the advantages. I am in a long-term, committed relationship and we have discussed our options. I'm thinking about a non-hormonal IUD (Paragard, perhaps) and I wanted to know if anyone had any advice! I'm looking for a form of BC that will allow me to lose the weight I have gained and help my emotions calm down. I have very sensitive skin, so I'm a bit worried about being allergic to the copper in Paragard... I'm also scared about the whole concept of an IUD. I also am wondering how the IUD will affect my menstrual cycle. Thank you!