Re: Andrea Re: Qusestion for Andrea
From: andrea (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Oct 11 16:23:43 2007
Melissa,
I hate to say, but yes it can cause problems. Although not as dangerous
as estrogen, any synthetic hormone is not good for us. My doctor told
me he no longer wants me taking anything synthetic, but I don't need to
at this point, because I know I can't conceive. It's been 5 years since
I've used BC and nothing has ever happened. But if I had to choose a
birth control pill again, i would go with the all progestin pill. The
risk of cancer is not as high as it is with estrogen pills. Did your
doctor check your levels to see if you actually NEED more progesterone?
You shouldn't take any hormones until you know how your hormones are
now, then you can balance them out correctly.
I copied these side effects from a page about synthetic progestin. In
taking the natural progesterone, I do not have any of these side
effects, but do get migraines with my period for a couple days. I
always have, though. Would your doctor be willing to write you a script
for the natural stuff or are you taking it for actual birth control? We
are all different and you may not get any of these side effects, but you
never know....
Side Effects
Most side effects of the progestin-only birth control methods go away
after the first few months of use. Side effects include:
Irregular menstrual cycles.
Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods.
Sore breasts.
Headache.
Nausea.
Dizziness.
Bloating or weight gain, especially with the Depo-Provera shot (to
manage this, increase your activity level).4, 1
No menstrual periods. Although mini-pill use can stop periods, the shot
is most likely to do so. After 1 year of taking Depo-Provera shots, 25%
of women stop having monthly periods. After 5 years of shots, 80% of
women do not have periods.4 This does not cause medical problems.
Less common progestin side effects include depression and darkening of
the skin on the upper lip, under the eyes, or on the forehead
(chloasma).
HOPE THIS HELPS..... :)
At Thu, 11 Oct 2007, M wrote:
>
>Hey Andrea
>I saw a new gyn yesterday and she agreed that I should not take BCPs due
>to my visual/regular migranes. She said that it would put me at greater
>risk for a stroke. She recommended Implanon insert in my arm. SHe said
>this would do better because it was prgesterone. Does progesterone also
>cause problems?
>Thanks Again
>Melissa
>At Wed, 10 Oct 2007, M wrote:
>>
>>Thanks Andrea!
>>I ended up not going to the drug store to pick up the BCP. That's just
>>a route I really don't want to take, unless that's it. My doc had
>>mentioned something about progesterone once, but didn't say nothing else
>>about it and I didn't know what to do.
>>I do have an appt with another GYN this afternoon so Ill see what
>>options she gives me. I believe from my one previous visit with her
>>that she is more knowledgable about endo.
>>Thanks Again!
>>At Tue, 9 Oct 2007, andrea wrote:
>>>
>>>I agree that your bleeding needs to be stopped, but the pill may not
>>>work. The pill is actually what made me bleed non-stop, after taking it
>>>for so long. I just take natural progesterone now and I get a period
>>>every 28 days and if I stop taking it, I will bleed non-stop again. It's
>>>weird. I guess I just have a natural hormone imbalance and too much
>>>estrogen makes me bleed if I don't balance things out.
>>>
>>>The pill may work for you, though. I am really hesitant to tell anyone
>>>to take anything synthetic, because they have so many risks. You can
>>>always try what I take, but so many doctors are not willing to prescribe
>>>it, because they don't get a cut of the cost of it and think natural
>>>meds are hoaky anyway. If you get your levels checked and your progest
>>>is low, fixing that will definately stop or slow your bleeding, but you
>>>have to find a doc who will prescribe it and find a compounding
>>>pharmacy. I don't know....I have literally been on about 8 different
>>>BCP's and they all gave me headaches and irregular bleeding, & seemed to
>>>make my hormone imbalance even worse. If all she is willing to give you
>>>is BC right now to stop the bleeding, I would ask for an all progestin
>>>pill, without estrogen or try prometrium (a patented natural
>>>progesterone) until you get your test results back.
>>>
>>>I hope you get this in time, sorry so late!
>>>
>>>--
>>>Andrea :)
>>>
>>>At Tue, 9 Oct 2007, M wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Hey Andrea
>>>>You seem to be very knowledgable when it comes to BCPs, so I have a
>>>>question.
>>>>I am anemic and my hemoglobin had been 9.7 for the last two months. I
>>>>just had a period that ended at the end of Sept and last night I started
>>>>bleeding again. This makes me nervous because of the anemia.
>>>>I'm having horrible bloating and left side pelvic pain.
>>>>My doc just called me back about thirty mins ago and says that she's
>>>>worried about the heavy bleeding. That she would call me in an
>>>>emergency presriptio for a mid level birth control pill to stop the
>>>>bleeding. I'm unsure of this because I get bad visual and regular
>>>>migranes and have other health issues. She has acted for a while now
>>>>like this is my only option. At least she too agrees no Lupron. She
>>>>said I could also try taking 600mg of Ibprofen tonight to slow the
>>>>bleeding.
>>>>She said the pain was probally endometriosis(duh) and she wanted me to
>>>>follow up shorty for an ultrasound.
>>>>I'm nervous about taking the BCP. I'm seeing a new GYN tomm afternoon.
>>>>Do you have any suggestions for me now or anything I should ask my doc
>>>>tomm? I will ask to get my hormones tested.
>>>>Sorry I've wrote a novel. It has been a rough day.
>>>>Thanks
>>>>Melissa
>>>
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