Zovia 1/35, Zovia 1/50, Yasmin questions

mutantfrog · 02-02-2009, 04:01 PM

Hello,

So a BCP quesion. Some background first:

Been taking Yasmin for the last 6 years. No problems. Went from horrible, painful yet infrequent periods to extremely light, painless AF's, and clear skin.

Before taking the Yasmin I had horrible cystic acne.

I tried ortho tricyclen, leveln, desogen, zovia 1/35, and allese before settling on Yasmin. All of them gave me horrible (usually cystic acne). No bad side effects on Yasmin, no break through bleeding, nothing.

About a 14mo ago, I started seing an Endocriniologist for the PCOS. She recommended that I add finesteride and metformin to the mix. I've had wonderful results--weight loss, reduced body hair, clearer skin, etc.

However the last 4 or 5 months I've been bleeding a LOT. In between packs, longer than normal AF's. For example, I start the new pack right after finishing the placebo week and it takes 3-4 days for the bleeding to stop which is unusual for me (usually it stops the same day). Twice now I've had to 'double up' or even tripple up for a day or two to get he bleeding to stop. I've also started having really intense pain again. Like the kind where I have to take vicodin to function because Advil and Aleve just don't cut it.

Initially it was thought to be excess lining that just had to come out. So they had me take Provera for a week. I bled intensely while on it, had a week of nothing and then restarted Yasmin. No problems the whole month, but when AF came again a month later as scheduled, it was the worst since I was 17.

No one seems to know what the problem is. But the GYN recommended switching to a different pill at least for a few months.

She recommended Zovia 1/50.

Now...my testosterone is actually in the normal range after taking propecia/finesteride for about a year. Does this have anything to do with Yasmin sunddenly not working? So I'm wondering if something like Zovia might actually help as oppsed to cause acne. However, 50 seems like a lot of estrogen to me.

Has anyone been on either Zovia 1/35 OR Zovia 1/50?? I would really appreciate any experiences, especially if you can compare/contrast to somethign like Yasmin.

I'm at the point where if I could go without a BCP, I would just do it--even though it would mean horribly painful AF's, I almost never have them when not on a BCP. However, I've been told that being on propecia as a woman means that I am REQUIRED to take a BCP

Ashleystar · 02-03-2009, 05:16 PM

Hello,

I just thought I would try and answer seeing as nobody has yet..

I don't know about the other pills. However, I totally agree that 50mcg of oestrogen is a hell of a lot, and the reason that people are on 30mcg or less these days is due to safety and side effects. I would imagine that 50mcg would cause awful breast tenderness and nausea, BUT I haven't taken it so I can't say for sure. Would you be able to get a second opinion?

I am sorry AF is giving you such trouble. You could, rather than switching pills since Yasmin has suited you, try askong for extra oestrogen supplements for the first part of the cycle, to help build the lining up and make it more stable. I have seen it recommended before for bleeding issues. xx

xx

mutantfrog · 02-05-2009, 05:42 PM

No, they won't let me take a small estrogen supplement. Damn HMO's.

I managed to get a hold of my end., and she is cautiously optimistic about the zovia but wants to start on 35 not 50. So we'll see with time, i suppose.

this all makes me so nervous.

Ashleystar · 02-05-2009, 06:47 PM

Ahh right well I would say the 35 is better than the 50. Good luck. Try not to worry about things, just take it a day at a time!

And congrats on the weight loss btw! xx

mutantfrog · 02-13-2009, 06:44 PM

ok, so after a little more than a week on the zovia 1/35
--skin is looking really good other than one initial cyst that came and went very quickly
--no bleeding issues
--no weight gain yet

*however*
I've been having headaches with somewhat blurry vision since starting the pill. I started sampling my blood sugar again (I have a machine and strips...long story). And weirdly, my blood sugar is really LOW. I mean like an hour after I eat (a piece of cheese and small piece of fruit) its already in the 60's, and 2.5 hrs after eating it's in the 40's. I used to have this problem when i wasn't on anything, but since taking metformin i have not had any significant blood sugar issues.

The label on the zovia does say that it can raise blood sugar (oddly, the Yasmin warning insert does not)...I wonder if it's causing me to secrete more insulin??

Ashleystar · 02-13-2009, 07:29 PM

Hmm I don't know, could you call your doc to ask? It's great you are so vigilent! I hope that things work out for you on zovia! xx

mutantfrog · 03-09-2009, 12:56 AM

To follow up for those interested in Zovia/demulen and/or yasmin:

So the GYN basically threw her hands up in the air and prescribed yasmin + estrogen (estrace) as needed to control btb. I did this for a little over a week and my acne flared up SO BAD. I had my 'period' week and then decided to give the zovia a 2nd try, starting as normal after a period (rather than switching mid cycle from yasmin to zovia--have heard this can increase side effects in new pills).

Headaches are much improved, and my skin cleared rapidly (other than an intial cyst, but it healed very quickly).

I have had 2 days of btb, which were the suddden, intense "thank god I'm at home and not sitting on a piece of furniture" kind of things (btb on Yasmin was typically lighter IMO).

However I've also gained about 6lbs in only 2 weeks on Zovia. I do try to regulate my calories (I count...) and I've been up slightly--like from 1500 to 1800, but still working out as normal. I do notice that I have INSANELY strong carb cravings. At random times. For example 2pm yesterday I could have killed someone for a doughnut. Typically I can resist these things...but it's tiring doing it all the time. I guess at only a 6lb gain, it could just be water weight. I do feel a little balloonish, especially around the midsection.

I think I will finish out the month on zovia and reevaluate--if my weight continues to balloon like this, I will have to try somethign else (again).

Ashleystar, have you heard of women using the extra estrogen only at the start of the cycle? My GYN had recommended using the estrogen 'as needed', like once I see btb. Were you talking about taking it (1mg Estrace is what I was prescribed) everyday for the first week or so, or more like every other day type of thing? I'm glad the GYN was finally willing to write the rx for the estra estrogen + yasmin, but it would be nice to prevent the btb as opposed to react to it.

Ashleystar · 03-09-2009, 03:31 PM

Hey, yes I believe Yasmin has a much stronger progestogen therefore btb should be less.

For the extra oestrogen, it must be taken for the first week starting with the first pill (Yasmin/Zovia etc) for that cycle. Think a week or week and a half should PREVENT btb. As you said, there's not much point being caught out by btb when you could have stopped it from happening in the first place!

I wish medical professionals were more helpful! Hope this works for you! xx