another birth control question...

[mimzy]

hi ladies,

I know birth control options are discussed a lot here, but i couldn''t find any posts/topics that asked this exactly, so bear with me.....

I''m getting married in december and am not currently on birth control and I won''t need to be until the wedding. I''m unsure of when i should start start experimenting with them. Should i...

A: start asap so that i have enough time to find one that works with my body. this should be enough time get any weight gain side effects, etc worked out. Is this worth being on the pills for 10 extra months?

B: start a few months (4-6) out and hope that i find one sorta quick and don''t have too many bad side effects

C: start at the last possible second and just suck it up regarding any side effects. I can work out the kinks after the wedding.

I''m only concerned because i REALLY don''t want to gain any more weight because of it (i''m trying to lose at least 12 lbs for the wedding anyways....which is going to be REALLY hard to begin with) and my moods/hormones have always been a little bit off, and it makes me nervous to toy with them too much, especially during what will already be an emotional time. i was on yasmin for a few months a few years ago for cramping issues, but stopped taking it because it was just too much with my other medications (which i''m not on anymore). other than that i really don''t have any experience with BC at all...

also, i know that it is really too individual of a thing to give recommendations on, but does anyone have any basic guidelines or suggestions for going about this? any input at all would be appreciated...

help a clueless girl out! thanks

 

[firebirdgold]

Well, I think you need to start at least a month before you need it. I don''t remember having any weight gain issues. Not everyone does. I''ve heard online about people having trouble adjusting to specific pill, but no one I personally know has ever had any trouble with bc pills. If you try one of the more standard ones like orth-trycl...I can''t remember the brand name but the generic is trinessa, you should be ok but just leave a little lee-way for changing over to something else. After all, having to use ... alternates on your honeymoon wouldn''t be much fun.

So I''m voting a few months out.

 

[icekid]

Birth control pills do not cause weight gain, other than a couple pounds of water. Sorry ladies, can't place the blame there

It's just that women start taking OCPs around the same time where they might typically pack on some pounds (freshman 15? haha). So I would not worry about the weight issue.

Have you taken birth control pills before? If not, I would probably try it out sooner than later just in case. I cannot personally do the hormones, as they make my skin break out and my hair fall out

No fun! You might want to know soon if you will not tolerate them.

 

[Pandora II]

I found Yasmin great - didn''t put on weight, made my skin look amazing and generally felt great on it. They made me come off as I have bad migraine with aura, and so BCP''s are contraindicated.

I have to disagree on the weight gain issue. My sister has had terrible problems with certain brands, but lost the weight quickly when she came off them.

Also, I always found that my bust increased sizeably on the Pill. Which was rather good to be honest!

I would start taking them 3-4 months before so you can see how you get on with them. Remember that different brands can suit different people. I couldn''t tolerate Cerazette at all for example.

 

[appletini]

I would start sooner rather than later so you have time to find one that works best for you, and you might get lucky your first try. When I got on the pill my boobies grew a cup size, but thats it.

 

[cdt1101]

I also have to disagree on the weight gain issue. I''ve tried at least 5 different BC pills, 4 out of the 5 caused me to gain. I gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks on one of them

As soon as I stopped it, the weight came off. Now maybe it was just water weight, but it weight nonetheless...and it made me feel really crappy about myself.

Mimzy - You sound kind of like me in the sense that my hormones are always ''off''. I''m EXTREMELY moody person the week leading up to my period. And I mean like a monster...it''s horrible. And the pill has always made that worse for me. I just feel depressed. So I decided 3 years ago that I would just take other precautions. No BC pill for me.

I will say though that the BC PATCH worked the best of all that I tried. No weight gain, and only mild hormonal issues. Unfortunately though, 6 months in and I started getting terrible migraines. So I had to stop that too. That''s when I gave up.

 

[Julianna]

You may as well start now.

Take a low-estrogen one if you can, they are less side-effecty (or so sayeth my GYN). Loestrin, Yasmin, something like that or their generics. I had NO changes to my body or moods when I started, and I''ve been on BCP for quiiiiite a long time (UNFORTUNATELY nothing grew. Fortunately nothing shrank?

)

 

[Sha]

I'm on Yasmin (which I believe is considered to be a low-dose pill) and I DEFINITELY gained about 5 pounds within 2 months of starting it. Plus, my breasts got a LOT bigger. It was especially noticeable because I had just come back from a shopping trip, and couldn't fit into any of my nice new shirts after starting Yasmin. I had to give all my new shirts away... (that really hurt

). I used to wear medium size shirts and now I have to buy large. And I had to change all my bras too.

I know it was the pill because my exercise and eating habits hadn't changed any.

The weight gain doesn't happen with everyone, I know, but it is a common side-effect of the pill. I would be cautious... especially if you already have your dress. You don't want to gain a few pounds and have to alter your dress again.

I vote for Option C. The pill is effective the same week that you start it - so I think you can afford to wait.

 

[mimzy]

thanks you all soooo much for your input! i''m definitely going to do some research (despite the low probability that it will be applicable....). I think i will make an appt with my gyno next month and go from there. I have a feeling that it is going to take some tweaking because i can be really moody as it is (pms wise...and other times haha) and i get bad headaches, and i really couldn''t tolerate them getting worse. thanks again

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 2/15/2008 9:07:32 AM
Author: Sha

I vote for Option C. The pill is effective the same week that you start it - so I think you can afford to wait.

Maybe this is one of those things that different gyno''s give differing opinions on, but every gyno I have ever seen told me to be on whatever pill for a month before not using a back-up method.

Also, you can count me into the ''did not gain weight'' camp -- I have been on a number of different pills over the past 12 years, and I didn''t have a problem with weight gain. "The girls" did get bigger, though

. Note that I did say I have been on a number of different pills -- it seems after X amount of time, my body decides to have some negative side effects of different pills, so then I have to switch.

I am currently on Loestrin 24, which is by far the best pill for me so far (of course, everything is individual). However, many women on Loestrin 24 no longer get a period after being on it for a few months which, obivously, could be disconcerting for some. For me, though, no period means practically no "bad things" like cramps or sore "girls" ... so I''m happy.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I was on the generic of Mircette for about 5 years and didn''t have any troubles with it. My periods become lighter and I had less cramps and PMS than before. Before Mircette I tried Ortho Tri Cyclen and it made me very ill - nausea, cramps, bloating, etc. and so I talked to my gyno and she suggested Mircette since it''s a lower dose than Ortho.

If you''re not into pills, then you could try the Depo Provera shot which you only have to get ever 3 months. I''ve known several people who have taken that and their biggest complaint is weight gain and moodiness. The best "side effect" would be no periods - what a relief for them!

I would start looking at your bc options now in case it takes a few tries to find what works for you - and you''ll know that you will be protected for your wedding.

 

[ladypirate]

I'm on the Depo Provera shot and I LOVE it. I originally went on the pill in high school because I used to have such horrible periods--excruciatingly painful cramps, migraine headaches, etc. I tried several different forms, and had some serious mood issues with them (read: depressed, which is seriously out of character for me) and while they made the cramps a little better, they didn't go away and I still got the migraines. Plus, I hated having to take it every day and then freak out if I ever forgot. I finally just went off it completely in college.

After another couple of years of feeling like hell 4-8 days out of the months, my doctor suggested going on the shot. I was a bit wary of it, but I agreed to try and it has been GREAT. I have had no negative side effects (actually lost weight), and I love only having to worry about it once every three months and not having to stress about taking the pill at exactly the same time every day. Plus, except for occasional light spotting, I don't have to worry about my period.

They also came out with a lower dose version of the shot--when you talk to your physician, you should ask her about it. It's definitely not for everyone (I've heard a few horror stories), and they recommend you take calcium while you're on it, but I've been on it just shy of 2 years now and I love it.

 

[icekid]

Sorry ladies, studies have shown that OCPs do not cause weight gain. Water? Yes. Which is not to say that they may not cause FAT gain in a few, but unlikely.

Re: depo provera. I do not personally recommend it unless you will have serious problems remembering your pills. MANY people gain serious weight on depo. Many people have a lot of bleeding (especially when they start). Also, we don''t really allow people to use depo for more than two years, because it decreases your bone mass significantly.

Man, I feel like I really missed out on the bust increase when I was on the pill though! I am really small and could have used the help, but it surely didn''t come

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I am on ortho-trycyclen low. I gained no weight from it and had no changes to my body. (My breasts magically grew two ups sizes two months before I started taking it, go figure).
Low dose or progestoren (Sp) are probably your best bets. For me, it made me a little less moody and I break out less, but it also lowers my sex drive. A lot of the moody side effects can be caused by either testaterone or estrogen. If they are caused by testosterone, the pill will help, if estrogen, it may be a problem.
I would start at least a few months before for a few reasons.
It takes a bit to kick in
you want to know about changes before the wedding
a lot of women get break through bleeding for their first two months on the pill. I am guessing the last thing you want is to be bleeding on your white dress or during your honeymoon.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I don''t remember gaining weight either (I have been on 3 different brands not counting the "mini" pill I am on now). It does take weeks before it is effective so keep that in mind.

 

[mimzy]

i''ll ask my dr. about the shot, but i''m a little weary....i think my sister was on it for awhile, so i guess i can ask her too. come to think of it, she just finished her ob/gyn rotation, so i could probably ask her all these questions, haha.

anyways, the more i think about it and the more i research it, the more terrified i am. i know it is irrational but i can''t help but be scared about messing with my body that much. i used to take a lot of different prescriptions and i just always felt so out of it, always so unbalanced. i know that BC is nothing like those other medications, but the thought of putting something else into my body that has the potential to affect my moods, my skin, my weight, my headache, my libido, anything, just really scares me.

but then again, it is the beginning of that time of the month where i am emotional about everything......


thanks again ladies.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

mimzy, I was on the pill for 13 years before I stopped to conceive. I actually LOVE the pill and there are many benefits. I was put on it at the tender age of 13 b/c of cysts on my ovaries. The pill helps (doesn''t pervent all of them). When I was on seasonale for a little over a year I never got one. That was the longest stretch of time I went w/o one before. Also many HELP your skin (if that is an issue for you). Also I LOVE knowing exactly WHEN I was getting my period and you can manipulate it so you won''t have it while on vacation (which is always a nice thing!) My point is look at the positives b/c trust me, there are some.

 

[Fancy605]

Date: 2/15/2008 1:05:48 PM
Author: icekid
Sorry ladies, studies have shown that OCPs do not cause weight gain. Water? Yes. Which is not to say that they may not cause FAT gain in a few, but unlikely.


Man, I feel like I really missed out on the bust increase when I was on the pill though! I am really small and could have used the help, but it surely didn''t come

You''re right. In fact, the research shows that the reason women associate wight gain with the pill is because many of them begin taking it when they would naturally be gaining weight/encountering body changes anyway: i.e. right before entering college. It''s just easier to blame the pill than anything else. I actually lost a weight while on the pill. I certainly never gained any. Any weight gain I have experienced in the 4ish years I''ve been on it has been due to my own poor choices.

I sure missed out on the bust increase too. Drats for us.

 

[scarlet16]

Date: 2/15/2008 12:08:40 PM
Author: ladypirate
I''m on the Depo Provera shot and I LOVE it. I originally went on the pill in high school because I used to have such horrible periods--excruciatingly painful cramps, migraine headaches, etc. I tried several different forms, and had some serious mood issues with them (read: depressed, which is seriously out of character for me) and while they made the cramps a little better, they didn''t go away and I still got the migraines. Plus, I hated having to take it every day and then freak out if I ever forgot. I finally just went off it completely in college.


After another couple of years of feeling like hell 4-8 days out of the months, my doctor suggested going on the shot. I was a bit wary of it, but I agreed to try and it has been GREAT. I have had no negative side effects (actually lost weight), and I love only having to worry about it once every three months and not having to stress about taking the pill at exactly the same time every day. Plus, except for occasional light spotting, I don''t have to worry about my period.


They also came out with a lower dose version of the shot--when you talk to your physician, you should ask her about it. It''s definitely not for everyone (I''ve heard a few horror stories), and they recommend you take calcium while you''re on it, but I''ve been on it just shy of 2 years now and I love it.

I''m a HUGE fan of depo as well. I''ve been on it for many years, with bone density tests in year 3 and 6 to make sure my bones were fine (they are, and I take calcium). Pills never worked for me. I was just bad at taking them, and the side effects were horrible. There was some spotting in the beginnning but now I have nothing at all (which makes like so much easier)!

 

[ephemery1]

Date: 2/15/2008 9:38:44 PM
Author: Fancy605

Date: 2/15/2008 1:05:48 PM
Author: icekid
Sorry ladies, studies have shown that OCPs do not cause weight gain. Water? Yes. Which is not to say that they may not cause FAT gain in a few, but unlikely.


Man, I feel like I really missed out on the bust increase when I was on the pill though! I am really small and could have used the help, but it surely didn't come

You're right. In fact, the research shows that the reason women associate wight gain with the pill is because many of them begin taking it when they would naturally be gaining weight/encountering body changes anyway: i.e. right before entering college. It's just easier to blame the pill than anything else. I actually lost a weight while on the pill. I certainly never gained any. Any weight gain I have experienced in the 4ish years I've been on it has been due to my own poor choices.

I sure missed out on the bust increase too. Drats for us.

Yep... I've read the same studies. Certainly some women may notice some personal weight fluctuation, but it's important for people to remember that correlation in this case does not indicate causation.

Personally, I was on the pill for 8 years and gained and lost weight at various points during that time (college, moving, new relationship, etc)... never any trouble. I loved that my periods were more regular and WAY less painful. When I went off in October, I noticed only the slightest "deflation" of boobs... no other significant side effects (other than wacky periods again!). I took ortho tri-cyclen then switched to the Nuvaring a few years ago... much more convenient for me since you only had to think about it once a month!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 2/15/2008 5:31:40 PM
Author: mimzy
i''ll ask my dr. about the shot, but i''m a little weary....i think my sister was on it for awhile, so i guess i can ask her too. come to think of it, she just finished her ob/gyn rotation, so i could probably ask her all these questions, haha.

anyways, the more i think about it and the more i research it, the more terrified i am. i know it is irrational but i can''t help but be scared about messing with my body that much. i used to take a lot of different prescriptions and i just always felt so out of it, always so unbalanced. i know that BC is nothing like those other medications, but the thought of putting something else into my body that has the potential to affect my moods, my skin, my weight, my headache, my libido, anything, just really scares me.

but then again, it is the beginning of that time of the month where i am emotional about everything......


thanks again ladies.

You need to watch it with the headaches - if they are full blown migraine with aura you shouldn''t really take the BCP as it increases your chance of stroke.

My migraines are very hormone related - the moment my oestrogen levels drop, the migraine kicks in. The BCP was useful as I just took 6 months straight with no gap and that avoided a lot of the headaches.

My GP wasn''t happy though and moved me onto the mini-pill. I had Cerazette which has a bigger window for taking the tablets than most mini-pills. On the plus side I had no periods for the year I was on it. On the downside, it didn''t get rid of my migraines and I developed acne at 34 for the first time in my life. I got so miserable about it that I came off - my skin was back to normal within 3 weeks.

I''d also be careful with Depo, if you have mood problems it can make them worse, and if it does you are stuck until it wears off, whereas the pill you can just stop.

 

[Elmorton]

In regard to starting early - YES. Especially with dramatic stress levels (that might have an effect on regular periods) before the wedding, I would start something about 6 months or so before I need it, honestly, to get my body used to the cycle. Also, that gives you plenty of time if you don''t like something. I''ve been on EVERYTHING - started with ortho tri-cyclen, then depo for about 4 years (bulked up on calcium and my doctor didn''t see a problem with it), the patch, and finally settled on the nuva ring. I bigtime heart nuva ring. But, all of these have been pretty gradual - the pill worked great in high school (I had very irregular/heavy periods), but then in college I always forgot to take it and really messed up my cycle, so I went to depo for the rest of undergrad. I stopped smoking in grad school, and my doctor suggested I try a different BC method, so I tried the patch. Turns out, I''m allergic to the adhesive (and there was something about wearing a sticker for BC that was strange to me) AND the darned thing would get lint and gross stuff in it and fall off. Then I tried the nuva ring - took a couple cycles before I didn''t have a minor freak-out trying to get it in or out, but now it''s completely normal. So, that''s why I say give yourself LOTS of extra time to get used to something and for your body to get used to it, too.

 

[flutterby]

I would wait till a month or so before the wedding. If you dont need it before then, dont waste the $ on the pill or the chance it wont agree with you. I would definitely start with the pill. THe yasmine was great for me. I was also on orthtri for several years. I tried the ring and the shot as well. The shot was aweful for me! The first few months were great, but then I bled for almost 6 months straight!!! The ring wasnt bad, but my insurance didnt cover it so I went back to the pill. I was only off the pill for a month (after 6 years on it) before I got pregnant. Now I have an IUD and its great but not reccomended till after you have a baby.

 

[bee*]

I''m on yasmin and find it great. I haven''t put on any weight on it and no moodswings or anything like that.

 

[luckystar112]

Date: 2/15/2008 8:54:22 AM
Author: cdt1101


I will say though that the BC PATCH worked the best of all that I tried. No weight gain, and only mild hormonal issues. Unfortunately though, 6 months in and I started getting terrible migraines. So I had to stop that too. That''s when I gave up.

Me too. SUCH bad headaches. I got off of it right away and haven''t been on any type of BC since then.
And the shot and IUD just terrify me. There are people way more "in the know" than me who swear by their safety, but I''m so paranoid that it seriously wouldn''t surprise me if 10 years from now women start having reproductive issues or other scarier issues. Yup, I''m that girl.

I think that if I were to ever use a form of BC again it would be a good ole diaphram. Not the most effective, but it seems the least threatening to me.

 

[~*Alexis*~]

I was on Ortho Tri Lo and then Ortho tri cyclen, then modicon....I was on many of them. One of then did make me gain weight. One made me tired and depressed. The last one was on but actually made me break out. So now I dont take anything but I am seriously considering getting an IUD. I am not sure about the patch because it heard it causes strokes and I already have spider veins and I am only 22. Its bad, I don''t even wear shorts.

 

[mimzy]

soo........basically anything i take is going to make me miserable for one reason or another.

just kidding.....sort of. thanks again for all your input. i think i am going to take another look at the fertility awareness method. if i do end up taking an oral contraceptive, i''m thinking i am going to go with the lowest dose possible, which i think my sister said is yaz or seasonique. but that''s looking like a big ''if''.

Pandora, my headaches aren''t migraines, but more like really intense waves of pain in one isolated area of my head (behind my ear, above my temple, etc). they don''t know what causes them, and nothing really help them, and i have NO idea if they would be affected by BC, but it makes me nervous to think that they might.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Date: 2/17/2008 10:41:57 PM
Author: mimzy
soo........basically anything i take is going to make me miserable for one reason or another.

just kidding.....sort of. thanks again for all your input. i think i am going to take another look at the fertility awareness method. if i do end up taking an oral contraceptive, i''m thinking i am going to go with the lowest dose possible, which i think my sister said is yaz or seasonique. but that''s looking like a big ''if''.

Pandora, my headaches aren''t migraines, but more like really intense waves of pain in one isolated area of my head (behind my ear, above my temple, etc). they don''t know what causes them, and nothing really help them, and i have NO idea if they would be affected by BC, but it makes me nervous to think that they might.

What you describe might actually be migraines, however, you can take BC with most kinds of migraines. I get them and am ok to take BC pills, the only kind of migraine where it is a real problem is aura migraines. Those are where you get wierd lights and blurring and other optical problems with the migraines.
Talk to your GP about migraines since what you describe sounds quite a bit like that. I get them and regular meds don''t help, but some of the migraine specific stuff really does.

 

[firebirdgold]

Oh, I''m sure we didn''t mean to scare you off bc pills! I generally think they''re wonderful. My skin is clearer, it''s totally predictable, the cramps are less painful, it''s not as heavy, pms is greatly reduced and also totally predictable, and it''s one of the most reliable forms of bc.

 

[mimzy]

Date: 2/17/2008 11:58:46 PM
Author: IndieJones
Oh, I''m sure we didn''t mean to scare you off bc pills! I generally think they''re wonderful. My skin is clearer, it''s totally predictable, the cramps are less painful, it''s not as heavy, pms is greatly reduced and also totally predictable, and it''s one of the most reliable forms of bc.

haha oh i know that no one was trying to scare me off! and i really truly do appreciate all the input. i''m just thinking that i''m not sure if it is going to be worth it...