Birth Control pill: which one are you on? good vs. bad - Page 2

reubenthetadpole · 06-01-2008, 01:36 AM

I'll have to disagree with funkydiva here. I never had a problem starting on BCPs, and that was even when I had gone a couple years without a period. But again, each person is different.

I've been on desogen, primarily, with intermittent use of yasmin. They both work well, but desogen is available in generic, which is why I use it more, though I prefer yasmin as it seems to help me a bit more with PMS stuff--esp. cravings and cramps.

Mschin · 06-09-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tukeetukee

OOH!! WAIT!!! i have a book on this.. it tells which is best for what situation (aka weight gain, moodiness, PCOS, hyperandrogenism, etc).

The author, a doctor, says by all means, AVOID DEPO PROVERA as it causes SO many side effects that the pill doesn't cause.

His list of "the best pills" is:
Yasmin- its progesterone is similar to spironolactone, so it's good for hyperandrogenism, spotting is infrequent, it has a tendancy to soothe pms symptoms

Ortho tri-cyclen and ortho cyclen- its nonandrogenic, cycle control is good. He says he likes ortho tri-cyclen Lo, but not for people taking it for therapeutic reasons such as acne or PCOS because of the lack of estrogen.

Desogen- nonandrogenic and a good overall pill.. the differences between desogen and cyclen and tri-cyclen are small.

Mircette- has active estrogen for 26 out of 28 days, instead of only 21. However, the progesterone is only in 21 pills, so you only have 2 days of pills that have NOTHING in them.. they still allow you to have a pill period because of the lack of estrogen in the last 7 pills, but reduce hormone fluctuations and migraines. Bleeding problems are low on this pill.

His list of "middle pills" is:

Ovcon 35- For women with mood problems on other pills, this may be the only pill tolerable. He says to maybe try yaz first, as it is just a bit better for mood swings.

Ortho-novum 1/35, ortho 7-7-7--- Have served many women well in the past, but have no real advantages.

Nordette- It is among the most androgenic of the low dose BCP's, so BAD FOR WOMEN WITH PCOS, but good for other women with bleeding problems on all the other pills.

Diane-35 ---The progestin in this is a testosterone blocker (It's Androcur). This isn't available in the US but many women get it from canada. The risk of blood clots may be slightly higher than with other BCP's.

His list of the "worst pills" is:
(He notes that these work fine for women who are just seeking contraception, but for women like us who are "hormonally vulnerable" there are definately better options)

Loestrin 1/20--spotting is frequent on this pill, and the lower estrogen level has no real safety advantages.

Alesse-has an androgenic progestin in it. Spotting is common.

the best pills for specific conditions:

Contraception: they all work.

weight gain: yasmin and ortho tri-cyclen.

Mood swings: Yasmin, Mircette, Ovcon 35.

Spotting on the pill: Nordette.

PCOS: Any of the nonandrogenic pills, such as yasmin, ortho-cyclen, desogen.

Migraine-mircette.

Breast tenderness: Mircette, yasmin.

Age 40 or older: mircette, yaz, yasmin, orthocyclen, desogen.

This is from the book "It's Your Hormones" by Geoffrey Redmons, MD.

Very interesting!!
Marvelon is not even mentioned....hmmmm

Meringoo · 06-09-2008, 06:58 PM

Just so you know, Marvelon is called Desogen in the US and other countries. It's the same.

xx

mloverstreet · 06-10-2008, 08:15 PM

I'm on Apri, the generic form of Desogen, and I absolutely love it!!! I tried Ortho-Tri in the past, and it was a nightmare for me.

Aliya · 06-12-2008, 01:33 AM

I tried Othro-tri and I was always sick to my stomach. I took it for 6 months and hated it. I did like Othro-tri lo. I am now taking Yaz. It has only been a month but I have noticed that my facial hair is much better. I have not gained any weight so far

ZED81 · 06-12-2008, 12:49 PM

I have been on and off the Diane 35 for the last 3 years and have found it actually caused me to lose weight!! It cleared my acne which I get very badly around my chin area. The only problem I have found with the Diane 35 (I'm not sure if any of you guys have experienced it) Is that after being on it for longer than a 3 month period I become very sensitive to alcohol where by even after 2 or 3 beers I suffer from really bad vomiting attacks. I have learned I can not mix the 2 (alcohol and diane). I have recently come off (TTC) but my acne is becoming worse. I am using a roacitain based cream called differin which helps but not as well as being on the diane pill. I was put on the roacitain tablets from my dermatologist 10yrs ago but only took them for a 2mnth period as it gave me terrible nose bleeds and I felt the medication was just too strong and dangerous. It cured my acne completely for about 6yrs and only just got it back in the last 4yrs but it only affects my chin area and not my back and chest as it did in the past.

cdncrazygirl · 06-13-2008, 04:05 AM

Ive had it where birth controls work for a couple years and then just stop to list a few here they are
Alesse 21
Demulen 30
Depo provera
Lo ovral
Minovral
Ortho cyclen
Ovral
Triphasil 21
Marvelon

and i loved them all at one point or another my favorite was the patch till it quit working. I was skinniest on Marvelon I think I was also on it the longest with about 3 years but ya Im hoping to go on Diane 35. I just am getting the Mirena IUD out and god am i ever glad I got the biggest cyst in my ovary I have ever had a month after it was in and had to be put on menopause to get it to go away. Also hated depo I had my period for 6 months straight so I guess the girls that don't get them might like it for awhile lol.

Meringoo · 06-14-2008, 07:09 AM

Out of all the bcps I've tried, Marvelon/Desogen was the best. Though it stopped being helpful after a year of use, both times i was on it.

I was on Dianette for about 6 months pre-diagnosis, and it made my weight go up and i got depression. Tried it again after i was diagnosed and same thing happened.

Yasmin made me sick and in loads of pain, plus i got bad acne and cystic acne due to this pill.

Microgynon (NOT GOOD FOR PCOS!!!!) i tried for 3 months after complaining about dianette the first time, and it is high in androgens so obviously made me ill.

I'm now due to try Cerazette POP (Desogestrel - not sure if available yet in US), as i get migraines on bcp....but it contains the same progestogen as Marvelon, and i was happy on that. I was also the slimmest i've ever been on marvelon a few years ago, then pcos flared up. I seem to lose weight steadily on pills with desogestrel. Fingers crossed!! xx

plastic stars · 06-25-2008, 01:14 AM

I've been on Estrostep Fe and Reclipsen. I haven't gained weight with either

kristin36 · 06-25-2008, 03:11 PM

Before I was TTC I was on Ortho 7-7-7 and I never had any problems with it. I went on BCP's at age 18 and was put on many different ones because of the side effects I had from some of them. The Ortho 7-7-7 was the best one I was on. Hope this helps.

cshrwd · 07-01-2008, 10:12 PM

This isn't a "pill" per se, but I was on Nuva Ring and liked it pretty well. I got tended to get horrible acid reflux while on Ortho Novum and, overall, it was harsh on my stomach. With the ring it's super easy b/c you don't have to think about it but once a month. The only drawback is that it's kind of expensive and there is no generic. I still think my sex drive was harmed by the bc, no matter what type I was on.

februarystar · 07-03-2008, 01:35 AM

I did Monofeme and it was okay. Then Diane/Estelle 35 when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Definately reduced my facial hair which was great but my periods were really really heavy so I switched to Norimin and its been great. I just did a month on Diane because I ran out of Norimin and couldn't get to the doctor and my acne was the worst ever which I was surprised about - but which ever pill i've been on I've given it at least 3 months to 'settle down' before I judged it. I don't think I've ever put on a huge amount of weight with any of the pills i've tried.

Rozlynn · 07-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Thank you guys so much for starting and contributing to this thread. I have litterally been on them all.

Loestrin - acne, facial hair, wieght got worse
Allesse - mood swings like no other, some spotting,
Nuvaring - fell out frequently, mood swings and horrible depression
Yasmine- the worst out of them all... mood swings, acne, facial hair, depression, anxiety.. you name it it happend
Ortho's - were ok for a while but then stopped working. Still moody
Lo Ovral - acne & wieght gain.
Seasonal -Break out bleeding became too much to handle, didn't help with acne

The doc's wanted me to go on YAZ but I am a bit skeptical. My son was born 6 months ago and I think the hormones leveled out so by me starting the pill ... I am very nervous about it knocking everything out. I did look into the Mirena and Perigaurd, read tons of reviews and decided against it. My OB told me it would be not a great idea for PCOSers esp for the break through bleeding that can happen.

IF any of you have more info on YAZ I would LOVE LOVE to hear it. Thanks so much again.

CarrieBerry · 07-08-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshrwd

This isn't a "pill" per se, but I was on Nuva Ring and liked it pretty well. I got tended to get horrible acid reflux while on Ortho Novum and, overall, it was harsh on my stomach. With the ring it's super easy b/c you don't have to think about it but once a month. The only drawback is that it's kind of expensive and there is no generic. I still think my sex drive was harmed by the bc, no matter what type I was on.

I LOVE the Nuva Ring. I was on it for a year and then got off because I couldn't afford it, and then about three months ago I got back on it. You don't have to think about it at all, which I really like. I also agree on the lower sex drive. I've had the problem on Ortho tri cyclen, and Yaz as well.

TomTom · 07-08-2008, 08:35 AM

I'm on Cerezette. AF was normal - ish (heavy and painful) when I started at 12, I was put on BCP at 13 and all of the different ones I tried (names escape me!) caused my BP to raise very high. Eventually I was put on Cerezette and AF stopped all together, I was a bit unnerved to begin with but eventually got used to it (I couldn't complain!)

I came off it for a break after 2 years and AF never came back so i was advised to go back on it and then recently got diagnosed with PCOS. Cerezette is very low dosage so its not the best pill to use as a contraception though. MY GP says I should continue with it now, even with the met.