I am on flutamide, for hair loss and I am wondering if the anti-androgen effects/anti testesterone effects are enough to compensate for the lack of birth control.
Does anyone know anything about this?
I know that simply being on metformin was never enough for me.
The lower the level of hormones the better however, new generation birth control pills, which use 3rd generation progestins have a higher level risk of DVT.
Does anyone know specifically why the third-generation progestins carry a higher risk of DVT than any of the other progestins?
You are welcome Yes, it always important to learn as much information as possible before taking a drug (and even vitamin/supplements). I feel the same way--- that is why I am still on BCP- it was the only thing that took away my oily skin/hair and stopped my hormonal acne. However, adding Metformin in the mix has made me feel much better!
I will however, stop taking BCP before I turn 30 since the side effects profile increases with age.
Good luck
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Brbangle let me see if I can answer your question.....
Venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the most common serious adverse event among women using OCs. The risk depends on the type of OC, but is also strongly influenced by other risk factors such as increased body weight, recent surgery, history of DVT and thrombophilia. In this last case, DVT occurring at the beginning of the use of OCs appears to be a frequent diagnosis. In fact, first year prescription is associated with a higher risk of this unwanted event.
The initial case reports regarding DVT and PE in women using OCs were published shortly after their first prescription. The main cause of these problems was the strong dose of estrogens. The development of OCs with lower estrogen doses dramatically reduced the risk. However, when third-generation pills were developed, different initial studies suggested that those preparations increased DVT risk. In 1995, publications of the WHO cardiovascular disease group of experts, followed by various other studies,suggested that third-generation pills induced a two- to fourfold relative risk of DVT compared with levonorgestrel-containing OCs. This increased risk of DVT observed with third-generation OCs, containing lower doses of estradiol and progestins designed to have a minor impact on metabolic and vascular risk factors, was rather unexpected and has been investigated. Middeldorp et al. have reviewed published data on the impact of progestins on DVT risk. OCs increase prothrombin, Factors VII, VIII and X, fibrinogen and prothrombin fragment 1+2 levels and decrease Factor V levels. Those changes seem to be more important with third- than second-generation OCs and are associated with an increased risk of DVT. In addition, OCs induce a resistance to activated protein C, also observed in Factor V Leiden mutation carriers, resulting in a decreased sensitivity to the anticoagulant action of activated protein C. Rosing et al. demonstrated that third-generation OCs caused a more pronounced resistance. The molecular basis of this acquired resistance is unknown, but it can be in part explained by the decreased level of cofactors of the activated protein C. Additionally, different fibrinolytic variables are altered by OCs (plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type I and plasmin-antiplasmin complexes), which theoretically result in increased fibrinoloytic activity. The clinical implications of these changes are unknown. Finally, prothombotic effects of third-generation pills could be explained on the one hand by the increase in procoagulant effect, and on the other hand by the decrease in anticoagulant effects. These effects appear to be more important with third-generation pills than with second-generation ones. This is probably an example of the complexity of the pharmacological effects of steroids. Although estrogen doses are lower, third-generation progestagens may potentiate the estrogenic effects on clotting factors, thus resulting in a procoagulant effect. However the precise mechanism of those supposed effects remains to be elucidated.
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Although estrogen doses are lower, third-generation progestagens may potentiate the estrogenic effects on clotting factors, thus resulting in a procoagulant effect.
This makes sense to me. It is scary to be reminded that the risks which were associated with higher doses of estrogen in older OCs still exist with even the newest, low-dose OCs. But, I'm glad the information is out there. Thanks for the article, Govtprof!
All this talk of DVT and PE, combined with my recent switch to Yasmin, has me seeking newer studies on drospirenone. I found this one on PubMed Central yesterday, and thought it may be of interest to some of you:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...tool=pmcentrez
This study from July 2005 evaluated 13 cases of DVT and PE reported in a study of Yasmin. It's interesting to see that although none of the women had previous histories of DVT or PE, most of them had known risk factors for DVT/PE.
wow! I took BCPS for about 4years..and felt great on them!
when I was PG w/ my dd my OB ran a million blood tests to see why I had previous M/C..
ends up I am homozygous (double positive) with a form of Thrombophilia - a blood clotting mutation-(MTHFR)..
can't tell you how many times I have freaked over 'what could have been!"..and thank God that I was lucky for those 4 years!
so glad to hear you gals are ok!!
I have MTHFR as well and was taking birth control for years. I developed a blood clot in my ankle a few years ago that was minor and not actually labeled as a DVT but compresses and crutches for my swollen ankle saw it disappear. I am terrified now of DVT's/PE's and always worry if I have leg pain or pain when I breathe.
My OBGYN has me on 81 mg of Aspirin in my pregnancy to thin my blood, "just in case". However, my OBGYN said my homocystine levels are normal and I should be okay. But I am scared about BCP when I am done with this pregnancy...not sure what I will do.
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Melissa (26) Roman-DH (28) Together 10 years
Married 12-05-08
Proud Mother of 10 year old FurBaby ~ Sisko (B. Collie)
Samuel Ethan was born May 15th, 2009
8lbs 4oz, 20.5 inches
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What about combining birth control with st.johns wart? It is a blood thinner, would that lessen the chances.
I am on a flutamide and thought that might take care of all my hormonal issues, but i am currently in the middle of a massive shed and I dont know whats wrong. If its because i am off bcp, then I will go back on them.
Does anyone know about Diane 35, I heard risks for blood clots on it were high...
Please be careful if you combine St.John's wort with birth control pills (and in addition St. John's wort interacts badily with many types of other medications such as thyroid, anti-depressents, prilosec etc.) It changes how your liver metabolizes drugs/ other vitamins and herbs.
Use St. John's wort cautiously if you are taking birth control pills, because of reports of altered menstrual flow, bleeding and unwanted pregnancies. Studies have recently found that St. John's Wort can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills by more than 50%. (WebMD)
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I wsnt intending on using the birth control for birth control, I wanted it to regulate my hormones, therefore, having the st.johns wart interfere with the effectiveness of it preventing pregnancy is not a big issues..
I take it but am on a lot of other meds too, so maybe I should knock it off, it does wonders for my mood though.
What about a baby aspirin instead? or some type of blood thinner in general?
I think i need to go back on bc to control my hormones but dvt really is a risk. Especially considering I am overweight, fly very frequently and have had several surgeries in the past year.
You can certainly take a baby aspirin a day (make sure it is enteric coated so you don't get an ulcer!). I would however ask your doctor for their advice. It sounds like you are in the highest risk category for possibly having a blood clot and birth control really is probably not the best answer. As far as the St. John's if you are already taking it along with all your other medications then maybe that is OK but make sure that is doesn't interact with those medications you are already on. Are you on Metformin? You can take Metformin/ Aldactone (Spiro) to also regulate things......if you are not already.
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
PhD Student in Social, Ethical, Political, and Cultural Thought at Virginia Tech. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
It is scary how much DR's prescribe BCPs...my husband and I had experienced infertility for 9 years before having my son so I never took them. Then when we got pregnant I felt like I should be more careful so I started taking Yasmin. After approximately 8 months of taking the medication I nearly died from a pulmonary embolism/pulmonary infarction. It was the scariest experience of my life...I stopped breathing and was very fortunate to live through it. Since that time I have been diagnosed with PCOS and every DR wants me to take BCP's, however most DR's don't realize that women with PCOS hypercoagulate which exaserbates the risks of BCPs. It is difficult to treat PCOS without BCPs but it can be done with some diligence.
After my PE I did some research and found many young women who died from BCPs after taking them for short periods of time. When I bring it up to DRs I often hear that the benefits outweigh the risks...my family and I are inclined to disagree. Since when does the risk of death outweigh symptoms of PCOS?
Be careful ladies ALL drugs have side effects, talk to your pharmacist not just your DR's.
I'm currently recovering from a PE at the end of August. I had gallbladder surgery in July, had a post-op bleed, and while I was off all meds until my liver enzymes got back to normal, I started Seasonale again 3 weeks later. 3 weeks after that, kabam!
I had a doppler scan on my legs - NO sign of having had any blood clots in my legs. I very much suspect it was from surgery, and adding the Seasonale back again probably didn't help. (I'm off it and metformin now, I just never went back on the met since it seems to only give me side effects and no benefits)
I still am afraid I'm going to drop dead. lol. I am on warfarin after giving myself heparin shots at home for 2 weeks. It's just scary. I can breathe way better now, but I'm still pretty gun shy.
__________________ -29 year old female, dx 2005, symptoms ~10 years
-High testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione, free androgen index, no apparent insulin resistance however
-off all hormone meds since having pulmonary embolism in August 2009
-Main symptoms: weight gain (especially annoying in mid-section/abdomen), high androgens, very low progesterone, no periods unless on OC
-fortunate to have very good bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc., no hirsutism.
I'm sorry that you experienced this while taking Yaz/Yasmin. I stopped taking Yaz today, after 1 year of using, b/c of sudden daily migraines, nausea, and ear pain. I'm lucky that I haven't experienced a stroke,PE, or heart attack while taking this medicine, I had NO idea about all of the issues women are having while on these 2 BCP's. I'll be switching to a different BCP immediately, as I have a phone consult with my Dr today. Thank goodness.
Yeah I'm concerned about this too, since I have a family history of strokes. I've been on yaz since june, and have sudden, really painful cramps in my feet, which seem to get better when I eat something salty. My endo dismisses it as a side effect from spiro, since I'm in my 20s, non-smoker. Can it still be DVT, given that the cramps are not in my calves and never cause shortness of breath?
Yes, it always important to learn as much information as possible before taking a drug (and even vitamin/supplements). I feel the same way--- that is why I am still on BCP- it was the only thing that took away my oily skin/hair and stopped my hormonal acne. However, adding Metformin in the mix has made me feel much better!
