Actual reason we need BCP's??????

jenpalmer71 · 02-14-2006, 09:27 PM

OK, this is bugging me. What is the actual reason that "they" say women with PCOS need to take BCP's for? I know the obvious reasons like not getting pregnant and all that BUT here is why I'm asking. My periods were always regular, like clockwork. Always. When I was diagnosed with PCOS, the doc put me on Seasonale which worked great for me for a year or so. Then I started bleeding like crazy and she switched me to Ortho Tricyclen now. I have been spotting almost all month now. Why am I doing this to myself when I am completely normal without the BCP's? Would I be stupid to stop taking them? Another thing I noticed when I was off of them for a month in between switching brands was that I FEEL better. No more mood swings when I'm not on them, head feels clearer. And when I am taking them I am SO DAMN hungry I can't stand it. I know common sense tells me not to take them but am I harming myself in the long run????? Anyone have any input I would appreciate it. All the doctor says is that I need them. Period. But what am I taking them for?

Please note: I do not have nor have I ever had excess hair growth or anything like that. Does the BCP's have ANYTHING to do with insulin?

sarahlr · 02-14-2006, 09:39 PM

Well I am not in the medical field and could be completely off but I could give you my guess. I was told that PCOS is caused by insulin resistance which causes elevated testosterone which causes lack of ovulation and periods. Insulin resistance can be triggered by heredity and also weight gain or poor eating. Maybe the Dr has you on BCP's because he wants to prevent the PCOS symptoms from beginning. I had totally normal periods that came every 28 days like clockwork. And then one day nothing...no period for 6 months. Thats when I started BCP's. I was on them for 7 years and they really helped me. After a few months of being on them my cysts went away. Hope this helped a little!

jenpalmer71 · 02-14-2006, 10:07 PM

Yes, that helped...thank you. My main concern though is this annoying bleeding all the time. I really don't want to deal with it and I don't know what choice is right. I know alot of people say that BCP's aren't necessary for women with PCOS.....

sarahlr · 02-14-2006, 10:48 PM

Have you considered trying a lower dose BCP? I had a lot of sucess with the Nuva Ring. It is a very low dose hormone because it isn't taken orally but inserted. I loved it cause I didn't have to think about it for 3 weeks at a time. For me it probably was a little too low of a dose but for someone like you who already gets a period it might be great.

jenpalmer71 · 02-14-2006, 11:27 PM

I will check into it....I never really understood the difference in dosages in different BCP's....so I guess ortho-tricyclen is a high dose? how is seasonale? i was ok on that for a year and then bled like crazy for a month.

sarahlr · 02-15-2006, 03:12 AM

I really don't know how those two meds measure up to each other. I do know that I was on Ortho Cyclen (not 3 different doses like tri cyclen but one steady dose) and the Dr told me that the Nuva Ring was definitely lower than the pills. Because you insert it, the hormones are realeased right where they need to go. The warmth of your body makes the hormones come out of the ring.

While we are talking drugs...How did the Met make you feel? I just took my first dose of 500mg and in one week I will be increasing to 1000mg. I already have a sensitive stomach and am nervous about the terrible stomach problems I heard it causes.

bonnieboo · 02-15-2006, 03:18 AM

We don't need bcp's, and I personally think most of the time synthetic hormones so more harm than good. Many people report there symptoms spiraling out of control after synthetics were introduced into their regimin. Most people have the greatest success with using metformin alone. Before I took anything, I regulated my cycles with natural progesterone cream I bought at the local health food store. I wouldn't touch bcp's with a ten foot pole. If you post a q on "do you have this problem" you'll find many bcp horror stories.

For some, though, I guess they have success with them.

Just my 2 cents...

skyler · 02-15-2006, 03:30 AM

I also see NO reson to be on BCP. They made me gain weight, made my hair fall out. I think it is just a quick fix for doctors who dont give a c*** enuf to try to accualy HELP us.

jenpalmer71 · 02-15-2006, 05:17 AM

thanks for all the input ladies.

Sarah.....with the Met...I had mild stomach upset for about a week when I started on 500 mg. After that, I was fine, even after upping to 1000mg. I was scared cuz I heard that it reacted bad with certain foods but I haven't had a problem at all. Met has been a wonder drug for me.

Leikela · 02-16-2006, 02:05 AM

BCP's I don't believe are necessary either. In theory, you're not supposed to ovulate while on them (but on the low dose ones, you can and some people do). If you don't ovulate, you won't produce cysts, hence reducing the amount of pain some people are in. If you don't have painful cysts anyway or cysts at all, then you really don't need the BCP.

I hated being on the pill because I was hungry all the time, gained weight and felt overall crappy. I've been off it for 8 months and feel great!!

elsewhere · 02-25-2006, 04:41 AM

Hi

I suppose everyone is different. If I were you, I probably wouldn't take the BCP. However, for myself I like to take my BCP (Diane 35). I feel so much better while taking it. I have better skin, less hair loss and a period every 28 days!

Allison. · 02-25-2006, 08:25 AM

I didn't have regular monthly cycles until I began taking 2,000mgs of Metformin a day.
I had taken BCP, or Provera for years. Doctors said that I had to have a period at least once every three months, to avoid cancer. The BCP's caused a lot of side effects for me, so I never took them consistently. 5mgs of provera worked for me. I took it the first 10 days of each month. This was before being diagnosed with PCOS.
Metformin has helped all of my symptoms. I am not insulin resistant or Diabetic, but I hope to avoid it.

longing4abab · 02-25-2006, 09:16 AM

I asked my dr that question. if i dont O why am i on it.... i hate it, i hate taking it every day. im always tempted to just go off of it and what happends happends. however, my dr tells me every time i see her how wonderful it is for me. i dont get it though, i dont even know if i have cysts or not. so how is it bennifiting me, i truely belive that bc of BC this syndrome is way worse then it really is. i might just go off of it to see what happends. if i do ill let you guys know!!!

Alliance · 02-28-2006, 06:35 PM

I used to take BCP as of almost 3 weeks ago. I was diagnosed with too much estrogen and the BCP will causing me to have fibrocystic breasts, fibroids, bad backaches and hip pains, mood swings and bloating.

Every pain I had is gone now..thank GOD! But I still have endometriosis, fibroids and now my cysts are coming back from being off the pill.
Now considering a hysterectomy..I'll be 43 in August and I don't want tanymore children. I have a 20 year old son.