To take BCP or not...

[freyabecca]

Hi all,

I am trying to decide if I should continue with birth control. I am currently taking Nora-B (Mini Pill). I have heard several times that BCP masks symptoms of PCOS and I would like to address these issues. I am ready to start with my exercise/diet plan. So what would you recommend in my situation? I do not know where to get started with this. I am giving metformin another try. Any input is very much appreciated. Thank you Ladies!

[Nyxks]

BC isn't for everyone and for some its all the stands between them and complications from various medical issues, thus going off of it might well cause issues that where held in check to hit you like a tone of bricks.

Where each different, thus talking to your doc about going off BC is the best idea in general to understand what side effects you might experience going off and what you might expect - I was on depo provera for 5 years I didn't notice a single difference going off it then I had going on to it (but I hadn't been put on to it for BC reasons but to address uncontrolled bleeding issues - which stopped once I had an emergency hysterectomy). For me going off the depo meant back to trying harder then anything to get the weight off (combined with hitting instant menopause) its slow to come off now more so then it was while on the depo (while on it I lost over 100 pounds with ease) since going off of it I've only managed to louse another 30 pounds in 4 years - which is blasted annoying to say the least despite healthy eating and everything.

Luck with finding what is going to be right for you!

[bri]

I personally love my BCP and regret not taking it sooner. The first month when my body was adjusting to it wasn't that great. I had mood swings, my breasts were constantly swollen and sore, and my first "period" on it was horrendous. However... now that I'm almost done my 3rd pack, I'm hooked. My skin is finally improving and my breakouts are occurring less frequently. I LOVE being able to control when I have my period and knowing exactly when it will arrive, which I have never experienced before the pill. Not to mention the actual birth control aspect makes for a more relaxed sexual relationship with my boyfriend. I know it works or doesn't work differently for different people, and the views on how it affects PCOS are all over the place. I'd say if you decide to try it out - give it at least 3 months. That's what all doctors advise because before then your body is adjusting to the new hormones.

[sanja8888]

I have been on two BCP, i started with ALEESE which resulted in a lot of weight gain and headaches every day! Once I stopped it i started having panic attacks, and mild depression. About a year later my specialist recommended i go on Cysetra/Diane-35. It worked great, my mustache hair grew slower, and i didnt get any side effects. My doctore said that i shount be on it for more than a year, so after a year and a half i stopped. After I stopped i started getting panci attacks again where they were really serious *i was afraid to eat because i felt like i coudlnt swallow*, i got mild deperession again where id cry every single day from hearing or reading sad stories, and my facial hair now grows at a speed i cant compete with, and on top of them having barelly any pimples in my teen years, i now have a lot of acne! After my experience, i have to say it was good while i was on it especially because it kept me safe knowing i wasnt pregnant as it regulated my period, but after having such bad reactions after stopping i will not recommend it to anybody! From what I experienced, i will not be going back on any sort of BC anytime soon but this is just my case. I am sure there is a way to control our symptomes withouth birth control!

[MargieA]

I was one bcp for about 13 including a few months on depovera. I decided to stop taking it (hopefully for good) a few months ago. Since then my skin has been way better. I used to always breakout during PMS, now I may just get one or two small pimples. But, my weight has been going up.

I want my body to learn to deal with it naturally. I'm focusing on diet and exercise and considering taking vitex. If my periods don't normalize themselves in few months I'll try provera.

[sfawns]

For me, BC masked everything. When I went to the doc's 10 years ago because of sparse peroids they did an ultrasound and put me on the pill. They never revealed if I had cysts or anything. I went off the pill in July because I had a feeling that something was wrong and we may try to conceive in a few years...
Sure enough still no cycle! I also started to gain weight again, to the point where I was the exact same weight now as before I went on the pill, and had been a lower weight consistently while on the pill. I also noticed that once off the pill I started to get facial hair, which reminded me that when I was younger (before the pill) I always had a hairy neck!

I think BC can be good for resolving symptoms but I now regret all the years I was on the pill since I wasn't aware enough to actually know that I had PCOS. I'd rather deal with the symptoms and try to find solutions than just hide the symptoms and live without catering to the underlying issue.

[Future Doc Cyster]

I think that treatment choice depends on a number of variables including your symptoms and what you are trying to accomplish.

Personally, I have tried Met, Spiro, and BC and various combinations of the three. I have chosen to be on BC because of problems with cysts when taking Met alone (not PCOS cysts).

At this point, I am not IR, so the Endo didn't feel the need to put me on Met if I were on BC. If I wanted to take Met rather than BC, I could, but I'm afraid of becoming resistant to Met. Since I'm not married and don't intend to have children for a while, I'd rather be on BC until I am ready to TTC. Since I'm not IR, neither the GYN or Endo had issues with me only being on BC.

Being on BC has helped my ovaries to remain a normal size, has kept me free of cysts, and hasn't caused any problems for me. I know other cysters who have had great experiences with Met or other treatments, so I think it really depends on the person.

[KaraMac]

At this time I am regretting going off of my birth control. As soon as I stopped all of my symptoms came back. I now have acne, rough and drier skin, and a lot more hair everywhere. I am also experiencing mild depression and some muscle tone loss. I am not quite as active as I usually am, but that's temporary because i'm taking 18 credits in my last term at university and volunteering like crazy.

Anyway, I regret it. Think about your goals, I would start an exercise/ diet plan before going off of birth control. Once your body starts to even itself out, then possibly ditch the bc. In my opinion.

[Hopeandglory]

I am currently trying to decide whether to go back on bcp or other meds or find a diet that helps. I just wish there was a miracle pill with 'no' side effects or dangers.......

[dancergirl13]

I have been on seasonique for a few years now (the pill the only gives you 4 PDs a year) because my OB suggested that the less I had a pd the less chance I would have of getting cysts. I love this bcp. I didn't gain any weight with it at all, I'm cyst free right now and it keeps my hormones from being wacky.