My Dr. recently prescribed me Loestrin and wants me to start it this weekend. His reasoning is that I should take it until I want to start TTC, and hopefully it will shrink the cysts I have.
But everything I read says that there is "disagreement among professionals" as to whether taking BCPs even does help to shrink cysts. So the only reason to take it is to prevent new cysts from developing right?
eta: My cycle has been 18 days long the past 3 months now. I think this also played a role in why he wants me on the pill, but I still feel SOOOO hesitant to do it. I hate being on the pill. Whenever I stop taking it, things get even more screwy than they were before I took it. I didn't used to have ANY problem at all with my cycle until the last time I came off BCP.
I can't say what it will do for you, but for me, all of my ovarian cysts went away while on BCP's and I did not develop new ones. I know this because I had laparoscopic surgery with pics of my ovaries (with the cysts) as well as a u/s just before starting BCP's, and then had a u/s this past spring which showed none. For me, anytime I have been on BCP's my cysts showed clean in u/s.
I am not familiar with the pill he prescribed, but I took Ortho TriCyclen LO and loved it. No side effects from the pill and I have now been off of it for about six months without noticing a worsening of my symptoms compares to how they were before the pill.
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It worked for me I think, and this was proved by an ultrasound scan after being on Dianette, then after some Chinese Herbals, Yasmin, then Marvelon. My ovaries were clear.
I was still suffering from PCOS symptoms though, but when I was on my pill, my cycles were more regular, which was a first.
I don't know what else can really help shrink cysts. I do support the use of natural medicines and supplements, but I've found that it is very difficult to find a GP to get on board with that as a line of treatment, because they can't "measure" or "test" them. Plus I've found natural meds are good at enhancing treatment with bcp.
Hope this helps. I would try a bcp unless you have any major health concerns to contraindict you. xx
Oral contraceptives in polycystic ovary syndrome: risk-benefit assessment.
Yildiz BO.
Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Hacettepe, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. yildizbo@yahoo.com
Combined oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have been a key component of the chronic treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by improving androgen excess and regulating menstrual cycles.
Earlier epidemiologic studies with second- and third-generation OCPs in the general population have raised important questions regarding long-term cardiometabolic effects of these agents.
In PCOS, there are only a few short-term studies with contradictory results evaluating potential adverse effects of OCPs on cardiovascular risk factors and glucose homeostasis. These studies included a small number of participants and did not take into account several confounding factors that might influence the outcome. Nevertheless, limited available data support the benefits of long-term OCP use in PCOS.
By contrast, solid evidence for cardiometabolic adverse outcome with the use of these agents, especially with newer OCPs containing antiandrogenic progestins, is lacking. More studies are needed to resolve controversies regarding the safety of long-term OCP use in PCOS.
Meanwhile, assessment of each PCOS patient's personal cardiometabolic risk profile should be an essential component of the evaluation before prescribing OCPs and also during follow-up.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I had a cyst last cycle, and went on bcps. The cyst went away. Now I ovulated on my own this month.
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Angela (31) DH (30) Married May 24, 2008
O'd on September 21st. POAS'd 14dpo....BFP. This was after negative tests since 10dpo.
RNY 2/2005 (lost 200lbs+)
Baby Prediction: September/Girl (Cheri) My new blog: To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I had a cyst last cycle, and went on bcps. The cyst went away. Now I ovulated on my own this month.
That's what my doctor told me might very well happen with me. I just screened for a PCOS study that would mean I couldn't start the BCPs yet. If I'm accepted, I'll start after the tests, if not, then this Sunday....
Does it or doesn't it??? 
