 Advice on BC pills to control endometriosis please!
Hi there,
As some of you may know, I had a laparoscopy just over a month ago which confired I had endometriosis (stage II) and have so far continued using my Yasmin pill just as before. I noticed some relief after my operation but this past week I have been in so much pain. It's not my period either, but just the everyday pain I have had for years. It doesn't seem to be getting better and I am starting to wonder whether my pill (much as I otherwise feel ok on it) is to blame.
From what I have read, treatments for endo are androgenic rather than anti-androgenic, like Yasmin, so could this mean it isn't the best pill I could be on? I am only 23 and would like a family etc so I don't want to go on other meds really.
In the past I was on Marvelon/Desogen and from what I remember I had less pain. I know it is still not an androgenic pill, but it is more so than Yasmin, plus I know I have tolerated it well in the past. Also, there is the possibility of trying the lower-oestrogen version, Mercilon/Mircette, which may be better. I don't want to give up just yet on combined pills, as I tried a progestogen-only pill last year (pre-dx endo) and didn't like it so much.
My symptoms are very similar to before my laparsocopy! Lower back pain, leg pain, ovaries getting sharp pains in them, womb feels like it is cramping again...not pleasant on a daily basis - I can understand at AF time but give me a break! My stomach is totally bloated and sore, I look pregnant! I haven't even eaten anything yet today and I look like I've gorged myself all night!
I was on Yasmin a few years ago and had these problems too, I guess I had endo back then as well from my symptoms. I am sad because I do like this pill and would recommend it for PCOS, but I think my priority is getting the endo issues under control and preventing re-growth and pain as much as possible!
I'd like to know your thoughts and experiences. I use bc pill as contraception as well. My main questions are :
Is it better to be on a low-oestrogen pill with 20mg or stick to a standard strength 30mg?
Have any of you tried the pills I have mentioned? How did you get on?
Are there any pills you think I should enquire about?
Do you find bi-cycling or tri-cycling pills actually helps?
P.s I don't want the Mirena coil since I tried a normal IUD last year and it made everything worse!
I'm not so keen on going on a very androgenic pill since it makes my acne awful, my hair goes limp, greasy and tends to fall out etc.. Bit of a catch 22 situation!
Thanks for reading xx |