Birth control options

Lyttle1 · 12-29-2002, 04:43 PM

i have currently using the birth control method of Mirena (IUD) ever since i had my son, now it seems like the cysts are worst i am experiencing more pain than i have ever dealt with before i had my son, is it safe to use the pill or the patch with the IUD?

Lyttle 1

forwillow · 12-29-2002, 06:48 PM

so you are currently using an IUD? I have heard that IUD's can be painful regardless of whether or not you have cysts....
Maybe you should get the IUD taken out and go on the pill or patch? Either way, I would suggest contacting your Dr ASAP as a sign of more pain could be an infection. Maybe?

Diane In Colorado · 12-29-2002, 08:43 PM

I had an IUD inserted after the birth of my daughter. I had awful cramps, but put up with it for a year. Then I had it taken out and got on the pill. Now my periods are consistant and regular, it is so wonderful!
Getting that thing taken out was a great choice for me. But I wouldn't take the pill with it, I don't think a doctor would let you.

CysterChrista · 12-31-2002, 01:02 AM

If you're experiencing pain, I'd definitely talk to your doc about getting the IUD out. Forwillow's right about pain being a sign of infection. Does anyone know if PID is common with IUDs? I thought one of my health teachers in high school mentioned that once.

As for birth control, I can't recommend staying off the pill (and patches and implants) enough if you have PCOS. I know...it's great to have regular periods, but what the doc doesn't tell you is that it's really just putting a bandage on the problem. BCPs don't resolve the issues (hormone imbalances) that cause your periods to be irregular in the first place. Take insulin resistance for example. The pill does nothing to resolve this problem, and most of the time it's the root cause of PCOS. Balance your hormones and you'll start getting a regular period.

That doesn't take care of you if you have honest to goodness birth control concerns however. I still recommend staying off the pill to stay healthy and monitor your progress controlling you PCOS, but there are other bith control options. Messy as it is, the condom/spermicide combo is just as effective as BCPs.

I hated it at first but I'm starting to prefer it actually. First of all I don't have side effects using condoms like I did on BCPs. I just condoms more...hygienic now.

Hope this helps,
Christa

MyJourney · 12-31-2002, 03:52 AM

Hi,

If you use Natural Family Planning/Fertility Awareness Method you can gain two benefits.
1) Not go on the pill as Christa suggested, and I wholly agree.
2) You will be charting your cycle and will be very aware of what is going on in your body, hormone-wise, thus allowing you to get better control of PCOS.

Just my $0.02.

I hope you find a method you will be comfortable with.

Diane In Colorado · 01-01-2003, 07:22 PM

OK, now I'm really confused. I know using nothing is better for your body, but I thought because of the PCOS, that BCP were actually good for you, the hormones.
Could someone please explain why they aren't good? I was under a whole different impression, and I'm curious.
Any info is appreciated!

Lyttle1 · 01-01-2003, 07:43 PM

thanks so much for the input, however now i am more confused than ever, I would love not to be on bcp or any other type of bc, however, i really don't want any more children right now.

Mazlynn · 01-06-2003, 02:16 PM

From what I've read, some BCPs are definitely bad for PCOS - avoid anything with high androgens. There seems to be some disagreement with the low andgrogen BCPs - they don't help the underlying issue, they do address some of the symptoms, but if you go off them the symptoms come right back unless you take care of the underlying problems. I've read lots of different opinions about whether the low androgens are actually "bad" for PCOS or not, I guess the main thing to be aware of is that they're just a temporary fix for symptoms and don't do anything about the long term health concerns.

BettyBoop · 01-06-2003, 07:53 PM

Some BCP's are flat out BAD for PCOS. Many make insulin resistance worse, thus making pcos worse (although many dont realize it until the are off the pill). That being said, my choice to go on Yasmin BCP has been the best for me. It is a BCP recommended specifically for PCOS. I have heard that, for many, it helps with the hairloss, and excess hair because it has a similar ingrediant as Spiro. For me, it has helped decrease my acne by about 75%, and has shrunk the cysts on my ovaries. I know exactly which day my period is coming, and I just flat out feel good on it. However, many people seem to feel like crap on it, so its a trial and error thing. Good Luck!