Wanting to start Birth control...

[amy_dub]

Ok, I know it''s been an extremely long time since I''ve posted, but i''ve been really busy with finishing up my BA and wedding stuff and work. It''s insane!

This might get a little personal so if you''re freaked out by "Aunt flow" talks, Please do not read anymore.
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So anyway, I''m wanting to start on birth control for 2 reasons.
1) the obvious, i''m getting married in September and FI and I are not wanting kids... at least not in the next 5 years.

2) to help regulate my cycle and make it more bareable. About a week before I start, I get insanely moody/crabby/grouchy/easily start crying/sad. then the day before I start I get this horrible migraine that absolutely will not go away. I can take as much tylenol as I want and it won''t even touch the pain. Sometimes it''s so bad I can hardly function normally. The first day of my cycle is miserable. Cramps, excessive fatigue, and a flow that I feel is heavier than normal. My flow is really heavy for about 2 days then it''s spotty for about 5-7 days. It''s obnoxious and annoying. My cycle is like 32-36 days instead of the more common 28 days. Sometimes half way through my normal cycle i get really bad cramps/pain in my right side in the area of my kidneys. I don''t know that this has anything to do with my menstrual cycle I''ve just come to realize it occurs about 14-16 days after my period is over.

So I''m looking for advice from others who are taking or have taken birth control in the past and any suggestions you have. My best friend is on Yaz and loves it. I really don''t want to do anything like the nuva ring. I''d prefer taking a pill or possibly the shots. There is a history of blood clots & anurysms on my mom''s side of the family (my grandfather). I am on daily Acid Reflux medication so taking a daily pill is not a problem.

I realize you all aren''t doctors, but I do value your experience and opinions.

 

[Octavia]

Amy, I just want to commiserate, before I started BC I had almost exactly the same issues as you. Five years ago, I could have written your post verbatim. It was horrible. I use the NuvaRing, so I'm not really of help to you, but I will say that it's awfully nice not to lose two or more days every month, doubled over in bed and wishing to be put out of my misery. I still get a little grouchy and weepy right before my period, but nothing like before, and my cramps are about 1/10 of what they used to be and only bother me on the first day. I actually dread the thought of TTC, only because I don't know how I'll handle the awfulness again. Good luck with whatever you choose, I hope it will help!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I used to take seasonale (where you have your period 4x a year) and LOVED it. I plan on going back on when I finish breast feeding. My periods were SO short (2-3 days) and really light. I had been on several others but really love that one. I really never had issues with BC (side effects) and really thought they benefited me.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I have been on ortho-trycylen lo for years and have no trouble with it. Of course, I didn''t have much trouble with my periods before so that may not mean much.

My periods have been a bit lighter but otherwise there has been little change in that.

You mention migraines. Do you get migraines with auras in your vision? Those kinds of migraines put you at a much higher risk of stroke so doctors won''t give you pills for that.

 

[ljmorgan]

I recently went off of BC because the husband and I want to TTC soon, but for the last two years I used Seasonale and really liked that. Before I had used Yasmin (I think the older version of Yaz) and that worked well too. I think with your family history you should be having this conversation with your gyno. Here you will probably hear lots of horror stories from gals about various forms of BC -- it''s all about what works for you. But talk to your gyno, they definitely know the ins and outs of the different types of BCs, and will let you try different ones until you find one that works for you. Good luck!

 

[Selkie]

Amy, [insert "not a doctor" disclaimer here] not to worry you more, but your symptoms sound a lot like mine before I was diagnosed with endometriosis. Esp. the heavy, long periods and the fatigue. You may want to ask your gyno about the possibility of that. Unfortunately, a definitive diagnosis and treatment involves laparoscopic surgery, which I had about 4 years ago. I''ve had very few symptoms since then.

I am also on Orthotricyclen lo, and have no problems with it (or with other Ortho BC I''ve taken in the past).

 

[kbarro1]

Just putting in my 2 cents from a medical background....since you have a family history of blood clots, talk to your doctor about Progesterone only BC (like theDepo shot) since it is Estrogn that contributes to the formation of blood clots. Just a thought. Good luck!

 

[oobiecoo]

I''ve taken like every birth control possible! I tried the patch which worked horribly because it wouldn''t stay on, I started off with ortho-tricyclen which worked really well, especially for my mild acne. I used seasonale but that didn''t help at all with the breakouts and once I stopped it TOTALLY messed up my cycles. I''m currently on yaz and really like it. I have the same issues as you... horrible migraines, super heavy flow followed by randomess, and cramps so bad that sometimes I just can''t get out of bed. Yaz seems to help with all of those things and it treats PMDD which my doctor says I probably have. You''ve probably heard of it, but just in case... its like extreme pms. If you are so moody then its possible that you have it also so you may want to ask. I''ve noticed a slight change in my moods but not anything drastic yet. And on the nuva ring, my old doctor used that and she told me one day that she couldn''t get hers out and it had been in an extra week so she had to put a patch on. I would be weirded out enough having to dig around down there... much less LOSING my ring!

 

[allycat0303]

Amy-dub,

Alright, I am going to suggest it, (I''m a 3 rd year medical student by the way), I have an IUD (mirena), honestly a lot of people are really afraid of it, but there is amuch higher rate of IUD utilization among physicans and especially gynecologists.

First of all, it''s a tiny, tiny amount of progesterone that is released per day (I had monstrous side effects with BC pills) and your periods decrease in heaviness and duration for the majority of people using it. Also, progesterone is realeased locally and therefore diminishes the side effects. AND progesterone doesn''t have nearly the same effect as estrogen on your blood coagulation, so less chance of thrombosis, etc.

Some gynecologists don''t recommend it for woman that haven''t had children, and others do. It all comes down to the fact that it can be more painful to install in woman who haven''t had children. It did hurt (but not nearly as much as I thought, and had some cramps after). And can''t tell it is there. It stays in place for 5 years, and is as effective as a tubal ligation.

I was really wary about it in the beginning, did tons of research, and went into it with the attitude that as soon as I have even the smallest, most miniscule side effect, it comes out. So glad I went for it.

But talk to your doctor, different methods work for different people. If you are set on the pill, it is nearly impossible to predict what will work for you. What works for one woman might be hideous for another.

 

[somethingshiny]

Amy~ I haven''t been on birth control in over 9 years, but I actually got an RX for YAZ yesterday. I have a history of endometriosis and cysts. DH and I TTC for 6 years before we had our son, now he''s 2 and we haven''t conceived yet. So, due to my irregular cycle, pain, and crazy endometriosis, the doc prescribed the pill. He specifically told me that since I want to get regulated and then TTC again, that he wouldn''t give me the shot. Apparently it can stop ovulation for up to a year after discontinuing.

Oh, and on the endo front, the definitive answer is thru laprascopy however, my doc can tell where mine is and approx how severe it is during palpation. I don''t know if that''s only because of how severe it is, or if any doc can figure it out.

Another treatment for endo is Lupron. I was on Lupron for a few months after a lapro in 04. But, the Lupron can be used as treatment on its own, too. It puts you into a menopause-like condition to starve off the endo. I didn''t do well with it emotionally (it made me a mean nasty girl), but after the treatment, I didn''t have heavy periods, severe cramps, or any other symptoms for several years. In fact, only in the past few months have I started noticing the symptoms again.

Anyway, Good Luck to you! Maybe we''ll see how this Yaz works together.

 

[LittleRock]

Date: 4/30/2008 10:42:54 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I used to take seasonale (where you have your period 4x a year) and LOVED it. I plan on going back on when I finish breast feeding. My periods were SO short (2-3 days) and really light. I had been on several others but really love that one. I really never had issues with BC (side effects) and really thought they benefited me.

Tacori - did you see that skit on SNL about the (I think) twice a year period? And when it was the gals time of the month they would be real monster-like! It was kinda funny and yet I was a little offended by it

OP - I''m in the same boat with ya. I''ve had my babies thou and honestly my periods and pms are sooo much worse since I''ve had kids. I thought periods were supposed to get better with kids, but mine are not! Also, I use to have "b***chen migranes, but those are better since I''ve had babies. I''m going back on the pill, I think I have the otho-lo pills too. I would like to try yaz if it really would even out my irritability thou. I''m going in for an us to make sure everything looks ok. You should see your doc and discuss things, they can steer ya in the right direction. I''m not sure if this is what your feeling to but I read this could be why you have some side discomfort. Some women can feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called mittelschmerz, which means "middle pain" in German. Good luck to you!

 

[angel_nieves]

I agree with Ally cat. I love my Mirena! Befor Mirena I was on the pills (the worst nausa ever), then on the Depo shot. I honestly liked Depo, the only thing after 2 years my gyno is having me take a 1 year off, something to due with calcium.
I wish the best of luck!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

I have been on the pill for two extended period in my life and was of different ones... I have no brand to recommend but I highly suggest that when you start any type of hormonal BC, you keep track of your moods and sex drive in addition to monitoring any changes in your physical symptoms. I recently went off the pill and noticed that my mood improved significantly, as did my sex drive. Two of my other friends noticed this too. There are many different pills/patches/shots with many different combinations of hormones, and different ones may have different effects on your body and emotions. Just something to consider when balancing the plusses and minuses of your options!

Good luck!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Littlerock, I haven''t watched SNL in years. I loved having it only a few times a year. W/O BC my periods are horrible.

 

[Pandora II]

I was on Yasmin for ages and loved it - but I did used to take 4 packets one after another to avoid the break.

The migraine you get is almost certainly hormonal - I get them exactly the same time, I think it''s to do with a drop in oestrogen levels.

I had to come off in the end because of my migraine with aura. It was a bit 50/50 if I really needed to or not, but I got conned into trying the progesterone only bcp - cerazette.

Cerazette Pros:

You can take it if you have migraine
Your periods may well just disappear completely. Mind did for the year I was on it - some people might not like this, but I am so not one of those people who feel that they''re less of a woman without!
Only POP with a 12 hour window

Cons:

Lets just say I have never had acne before in my life - it didn''t settle down over the year and disappeared within 2 weeks of stopping and never came back...

If you don''t have aura, go for Yasmin

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Starting BC was probably one of the best choices I ever made. My period was so rough I would miss school at least once a month.

BC made things a lot more calm and regular. Anyway, I take Yasmin and I really like it. I''ve been taking it for about 3 years and I haven''t had any issues.

Yasmin does have a chance of causing blood clots so be careful with that.

 

[anchor31]

I hated the BCP. Really made me depressed. If you want to use that, I strongly suggest a low-dosage one.

 

[LittleRock]

Tacori - I asked my doctor about the Seasonale today. Quite frankly, I might be a better person when I don''t have my periods except for every few months. My periods are just miserable, even more now than before. Thanks for mentioning it!