Updates on Birth Control
#175536 - 05/01/05 02:27 PM
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marija
Reged: 07/02/03
Posts: 18
Loc: Highland Park, IL
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Hello-
I was reading some old posts (searched) on different types of bc and different people were in different phases. I'm assuming some of you have more/new info that you wouldn't mind sharing. My *disclaimer* is that I'm seeing my doc next week about this, so don't feel like you're giving medical advice, just want to hear experiences. I guess what I'd like to hear is:
-What you are on
-How long you've been on it
-What was PMS (indicate if there was none) and IBS like before this one.
-What these are like now, and if you feel the bc had any effect on it
-Other general comments, including previous bc you were on and why you switched
I am 34 and thinking about going on bc for the first time. Not for avoiding preg, although that's a nice side-effect, but mostly to try to manage my hormones, which are all crazy. I have terrible PMS with bloating and huge breasts, emotional, cravings, cramps. I don't get acne too bad but I'm on a very strict skin care regime which keeps it in check.
The two biggest things I'm concerned about is gaining weight and lowering sex drive (increase it, if possible).
I'm thinking about: Ortho Evro (the patch), Yasmin or Alesse.
Your replies would be most helpful! 
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Hello!
Birth control is my friend!
ok.. so I've been on it since I was 18.. so five almost six years.
Anyways.. my ibs has been the same.. and as for my pms.. I honestly can't tell because I've been on birthcontrol for so long, I don't remember what it was like without it.
my cramps have lessened though.. which is a plus.
I started out on triphasil and was fine, but my doctor took me off of it because they thought it was stupid for me to be taking so much estrogen at 18, 19 years old.
So then I switched to Aleese, and I actually lost 10 pounds miraculously going on that.. I think it was the drop in the estrogen levels. I ended up going of aleese in less than a year because if you miss a pill by even one hour you get annoying breakthru bleeding, because it is so low estrogen. Anyways... I couldn't stick to such a strict schedule..
so for the last few years i've been on Mircette and I love it. I think my pms has lessened since starting mircette in comparison to the other two pills.. and no breakthru bleeding at all.
good luck.
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I was on the patch for a little while ago about 2 years ago, pre-IBS diagnosis. I didn't like it because it did the same thing to me as DepoProvera (the shot). Both of them made me depressed. All of my emotions - the bad ones and the good ones - were deadened. It also made me very dry down there. And oh yeah, it worked great as birth control...because both the patch and the shot made me feel like I'd never be interested in sex again. But I know for other women, the patch is great and they have none of these side effects.
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I have been on Lo/Ovral for eight years now to reduce the problems I was having from ovarian cysts that were extremely excruciating at the time, but my IBS can cause worse cramping and pain. I LOVE THIS PILL!!!! I actually lost weight when I started taking it, but then after about 3 months, I started gaining weight-unfortunately all in the breasts (went from a D to and F/G cup). I haven't really had any problems with PMS from taking the pill until my period this month. Course, I am trying to get stablized and everything didn't go well. After talking with my doctor we are going to have me take the pill straight for two months and not take the placebo pill and see how things go for then after six weeks. If things are miserable then, I will be taking the pill straight for four months, have a period and then repeat.
Right now I feel my pill does a great job for me, and hopefully after I am stablized and my period happens things will be easier. At least that is what I am hoping for.
Hope that helps.
-Michelle
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I can't take estrogen because I bleed every day of the month and get migraines. So all estrogen pills are out for me.  I've been on every orthos available in the US, plus others and the minipill to boot, but all contain too much estrogen for me to have any real quality of life.
BUT! I've been on the depo shot (one shot every 3 months) for 6 years. Costs less than the pill (about $160 a year) and my last period as a result was August 1999! I went on it not as birth control, but to control the pain from endometriosis. It's worked 100% for both (no period=no pain and also no pms, yeaaa!!), and I highly recommend it!!
~nelly~ 
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I went on Loestrin (now the generic Lo-estrin) for terrible PMS. I actually have PMDD pre-menstrual disphoric disorder. I was totally unable to function. Terrible cramps, bloating, moods and 3 out 4 weeks I was miserable. I don't get a period at all on Lo-estrin and my weight stayed stable. As far as IBS-there was really no change.
Mary
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It only takes a few committed people to change the world!
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Hello,
I've been on a few different bc pills. I started on triphasil which I had some bad side-effects with (mood swings, nauseau etc) which my doc attributed to the fact that there are 3 different hormone levels in the pills on a "tri" pack. So, I switched to the monophasic Demulen, which didn't cause any bad side-effects but didn't really help me either (I have endometriosis so I was lookign for something to help me with those symptoms).
Now I'm on Min-Ovral which works really well, I'm able to take it consecutively for up to 7 months without a period or breakthrough bleeding which really helps my endometriosis and IBS symptoms. I think it's pretty high in estrogen though (compared to others) so it may not be what you're looking for if you're not planning on skipping periods. I didn't gain any weight on it or have any bad side-effects.
Good luck!
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I've been on DepoProvera for a year and three months, I'm like Nelly, I can't do estrogen stuff, or else I'm practically incapacitated for at least 2 days a month. It helps my IBS tremendously, since mine are affected by hormones. I've never really had PMS (I know I'm incredibly lucky in that respect). And a plus is no periods for the past year!
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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Hi marjia
I'm on ortho-evra and so far I really like it. I've been on it since September. Before that I was on Allesse for about a year. I didn't have any problems with the Allesse except that I initially gained about 10 pounds and for the first month or so my mood swings were insane, but that all evened out after about a month.
My doctor switched me to the patch to see if it would help my IBS (because there is actually lactose in most pills and because the patch bypasses the digestive system) - but I can't say there's much difference with my IBS. However, I do like better simply for the convenience, since you don't have to take a pill every night! The only side effects I got was a little bit of nausea right after I started it but that subsided right away. No weight gain on this one, no affect on sex drive on either of them. I do get some breakthrough bleeding on the patch though (much more lately actually...hmmm). I know some people who have got rashes and such from it though, so that's a possibility.
I had really easy periods and no PMS before the pill/patch and same after so I can't be of much help there. I do get cramps sometimes, but definitely manageable, pretty much the same as before. Guess I'm pretty lucky there.
As for effects of bc on IBS, this is something I'm very curious about. My IBS started about 2 years ago in conjunction with a) going on the pill, b) following a round of antibiotics, and c) moving in with someone/moving to a new city/starting university. Who knows where the cause is there. I haven't been off bc since but I'd like to try it sometime to see if it helps my IBS...
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My answers
#175596 - 05/01/05 09:32 PM
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_Willow
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 2090
Loc: Canada.
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-What you are on? ***I'm on Marvelon, also called OrthoCept. How long you've been on it*** Ihave been basically for 10 years, it's great.
-What was PMS (indicate if there was none) and IBS like before this one.*** PMS, I don't know, was never too emotional. My periods were utter hell, 8-12 days of heavy bleeding, and I pooped like a goose.
-What these are like now, and if you feel the bc had any effect on it***My periods are now reduced to heck, they last 5-7 days instead, and are lighter but still heavy, and my IBS goes from C to D still every month.
-Other general comments, including previous bc you were on and why you switched I had tried a BCP that reduced acne right after k was born, and it was expensive...I think it was Diane...and it was horrid, it made me gain and I felt gross. I'd never do it again.
HTH!!
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Keep on keepin' on...
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* I'm on Loette
* I've been on it for three and a half years, came off recently for two months and am now back on it as of last week.
* I get really snappy and irritable - when I came off for those two months I was a premenstrual monster for both of the periods I had. I get a little pain and such, the pain is actually worse on the pills... but frankly it's better that I'm hurting than everyone else in a two mile radius is hurting!
* I've also been on depo provera, which may have made me depressed... or it may have been the lifestyle I had at the time, which involved a bad boyfriend, a horrible leaky house with MICE and a crappy job. I find Loette reduces my libido somewhat, so I tried Norimin for three months and I went up to a D-cup! Only trouble with that was my enomous breasts were really tender, so while the man loved it.. he wasn't allowed to touch!
Also when I came off Loette recently for those couple of months my skin went really really bad. I had heaps of these little hard ball things, like one on the outside of every pore on my face, decolletage and upper back. I'd get these sort of gritty bits every time I scratched - sort of like blakheads but you could scratch the solid plug of gunk out. Five days into taking Loette again, it's rapidly returning to normal, if a little oily. I'm finding my IBS symptoms are a little worse, but my hormones aren't as wild.
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*Emma*
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Emma, sounds like your life situation certainly could have caused those feelings while on the depo.
Everyone, I appreciate hearing your stories!! I'm now leaning toward trying the patch first. But the big message I've gotten in all my research is if the one you're on doesn't make you happy, keep trying with a different one. But you also have to give the one you're on enough time (but not too much time!).
One thing I definitely don't want to increase is breast size  In fact, it'd be a nice effect if they got smaller!
Thanks again
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I have been on the patch since about it hit the market, can't remember how long ago that was, but it has been a few years. The only thing I don't like is that around the edge of the patch you will start to get a dirt ring by the end of the week. I still prefer it to the pill, though. It aslo makes my periods ultra predictable. To the day! I get no breakthrough bleeding whatsoever. On the Depo shot, I never STOPPED getting my period, had it off and on for six + months until I switched off of it. I was also depressed on Depo, but htat may have had to do with my abusive BF at the time.
I am a big advocate of the patch, but I know thatit varies on what is good for one person, and what is good for another!
Good luck
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-Sheri
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Oh yeah I hate that gunky dirt ring by the end of the week... just like if you left a bandaid on for a week. I still prefer it to the pill though too!
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Hmmm...now on Implanon, was on Depo until a month or so ago. Pre-depo I had mild to moderate PMS and that was before I developed IBS. With Depo I gradually got no periods at all  and zero PMS stuff. Haven't noticed any change since switching to Implanon.
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I take Micrette it's a very low dose of estogen. I been on them for about 3 yrs now. I haven't noticed if they help my IBS or not.. Knock on wood, I've been pretty stable lately..
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-What you are on
cilest
-How long you've been on it 7 years no break
-What was PMS (indicate if there was none) and IBS like before this one. no IBS til last year, PMS never really a problem
-What these are like now, and if you feel the bc had any effect on it no change
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S.
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