I know ya'll aren't doctors, but I've found that there are times that people on a specific type of message board have more knowledge than my PCP does relating to their area of expertise.
Background- hypothyroid, overweight (last checked BMI of 40+), I am not trying to conceive, very long cycles (ran 45-60 days without BCP) with heavy flow, clotting and cramping, very moody without BCP, excess body hair, thinning head hair, and I'm a migrainer.
I've been on some form of BC for the last 16 years, at first various pills, and then I switched to Depo Provera after getting married, since it's more effective as a birth control (beginning to realize that the pill may have been more than effective enough, oh well)
With the obesity and the recent PCOS diagnosis, I'm thinking that I will probably need to switch my BC, however, I went to the injectable BC since the chances of a menstrual migraine lessen with the shots, since your level of hormone stays steadier and you don't have dips and peaks. I've been reading about an IUD, but I really had trouble with mood swings and am not sure if I want to go completely hormone free, as my cycle will be really long and painful again (at least this is what I'm assuming).
Thank you for even reading this far, and if you have any knowledge, I'd love to hear from you!!
Questions:
-With the migraines and all, should I just stick with Depo? It's working fine, and I havn't gained any weight with it in years.
-If you say no Depo, what would you recommend and why?
-If you've gone from depo to an IUD, was it the right choice for you? Pros/Cons are great to have if you're willing to share
-IUD's? Hormonal or not, again, Pros/Cons?
After I had my son, my provider stated that I would benefit from the IUD. I waited a full year after that before deciding to go with the IUD. I was petrified of it to be honest. I was bleeding very heavily for 3 months straight and was getting scared. I made an appt with my OB and she did my annual exam and then a week later did an endometrial BX. A week later she placed the IUD. I had to go back a month later to make sure it was still in place. I, with the help from OB, chose the Mirena IUD. It will be in for 5 years. During the first 4 months, I did have mood swings. I never had mood swings with BCP. I did have my first cyst with the IUD though. I did have slight headaches because my body was trying to adjust to the IUD. I have had my IUD for a full year now and I won't do anything else but IUD from here on out. It's better for me in the long run. I have had 5 periods since I've had my IUD placed. My periods are very light compared to bleeding all the time. My period only lasts for a max of 4 days if that. I would suggest you talk it over with your OB to make sure it's the right choice for you.
Thank you for your thoughts! I know I'll be talking to my OB/GYN before I do switch it all around BC wise, as not doing so would be really silly of me. If you don't mind sharing, did you have PMS/PMDD issues prior to going on BC? Mine were horrible, and that's got me really scared of going off all the hormonal BC. Hopefully I'm just being a scaredy cat.
1.With the migraines and all, should I just stick with Depo? It's working fine, and I havn't gained any weight with it in years.
2.If you say no Depo, what would you recommend and why?
3.If you've gone from depo to an IUD, was it the right choice for you? Pros/Cons are great to have if you're willing to share
4. IUD's? Hormonal or not, again, Pros/Cons
Ok, here's what I would advise from my
1. Depo is not the best for PCOS or for fertility afterwards. The main aim would be to lose weight through diet and exercise, and see if your hair improves etc.
2. If you didn't have Depo, I'd suggest the Mirena coil.
3. Had a non-hormonal IUD before, did nothing obviously for my PCOS. Just caused loads of bleeding and pain. Also have endometriosis so I think it aggravated more!
4. Hormonal IUD's can be better because:
- after the inital settling in time, they can lessen and even stop bleeds, reducing pain.
- cause less hormonal-mood problems than bc that you take into your blood-stream i.e. pills.
- be slightly more effective than the IUD - which is alread about 99% effective for contraception.
- lasts 5 years
Normal IUDs are good for contraception in women who've had kids, but otherwise they can cause more pain and very heavy bleeding.
For me, I prefer the pill form as it is more easily reversible and less painful! I went the the worst IUD insertion, so be sure you definitely want one!!!
I had the PMS issues. Three days prior to me having a period, I would cramp and get a headache and would have that bloating feeling. Nothing relieved the symptoms until the period actually started. It's a different experience for me anyway with the IUD. Like I said at the beginning, I would continue to have the same issues until my body adjusted to the IUD.
Thank you Ashleystar. I'm finding out that depo's a bad choice for PCOS, so that's why I'm starting to research. At this particular moment, and for the next few years, I won't be TTC, and I knew going into depo that TTC would be difficult/impossible for up to 2 years post final injection.
Twizzles- thanks for being willing to share more info. IUD's worry me, in part to stories like Ashleystars, but also since I do cycle, just not regularly at all. I'll have AF, seven plus full days, with a lot of cramping/clotting. Then I'll go into what feels like ovulation, around day 14-20, but day 28 will hit, and I'll have full blown PMS and no AF. I'll continue, bloated, gassy and beyond irritable until somewhere between day 45 and 60, where I'll finnally start AF. By this point, I'm so moody that everyone around me is in 'Duck and Cover' and praying for AF, right along with me. That's what worries me about an IUD, even mirena, since it won't regulate anything but conception, and won't have a lot of help with moodyness, or either force AF (like the pill would) or suppress the entire cycle altogether (like the depo). IDK, I'm really going to have to start doing some seroius research, as I don't want the oral BCP again (they can all cause menstrual migraines), and I shouldn't stay on depo, even though it's been good to me for the migrains and the PMS.
BCP Confusion 
