I'm a Canadian living in China, and the 'traditional' birth control pill is unavailable here. Because I haven't had any problems with my PCOS for 2 years, this was never a problem for me, but recently I didn't have a period for 3 months, so I went to the doctor who induced one (not sure how - injection in the bum for 3 days, 3 days later it came!!), and now I'm on a combination of what I'm pretty sure is estrogen and progesterone.
I take them as follows:
Day 1 - 5 Take nothing. This is when I'm having a period.
Day 5 - 11 Take 10mg (I think?) estrogen once daily.
Day 11 - 21 Take 10mg estrogen with 20 mg progesterone.
I THINK. I know it's horrible for me not to know what medication I'm on, but I trust that the Chinese doctors here won't do anything to kill me.
So, I've just started my first cycle on these meds. Nothing big aside from the mad mood swings I've been having - it seems I could cry at the drop of a hat. (It also doesn't help that it's Christmas and I'm on the other side of the world from my family!!)
What I'm wondering is this: From the research I've done, this combination of hormones is pretty close to the birth control that we use in Canada/US, am I wrong? As such, is it likely I could get pregnant while taking this mix?
Thanks in advance for your insight!!
__________________ "I exist as I am, and that is enough." -Walt Whitman
I'm not sure about this as far as b control. It seems to me to follow more of a hormone replacement program like one used in menapause. Is it possible he's giving you FSH days 5-10? I don't think estrogen alone will prevent pregnancy so use protestion if you don't want to get pregnant. Women whose FSH is still low and are not in menapause still can ovulate on hormone replacement therapy.
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You should not be taking that much estrogen! With pcos, most of us are estrogen dominant if our cycles are lacking. If you check out the pills in the US, they contain very small amounts of estrogen, but really you shouldn't take estrogen at all! This is probably the cause of your mood swings. Try TCM or see a natural chinese doctor, don't settle for synethics.
I doubt the estrogen will make you gain weight. It is usally only a fluid retention thing with estrogen. The progesterone however usually causes bloating and pms symptoms. I suppose you could always adjust the dose and type if you experience problems. Natural versus synthetic. Most women with pcos have ovaries that produce too much test. unless they have the version where the adrenal gland is actually the cause. If doubt this is birth control though so be careful. Some progestins (i.e.provera-are not good to take if you get pregnant) Hope this helps!!! Keep us posted on how you do on this combination.
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I think that is a form of estrogen used in the 70's that caused so much trouble also known as DES. Hopefully someone more knowledgable can help you out here. I don't think it is used much if at all in the U.S. anymore. I would avoid pregnancy on this at all costs since I think it greatly harms the fetus.
Also it is a synthetic form of estrogen. For your own benefits as well as the s/e I'd choose a natural estrogen med. Check out Dr. Vliet's book on hormones to get a drug name for your doctor to consider. Her website is:
No birth control pill for me!! 
