PCOS Messages for January, 2002: Re: BCPs and Glucophage

Re: BCPs and Glucophage

From: Celeste (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 9 Jan 2002 14:48:44 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"
Previous message: alvaro's: "Re: PCOS by any other name...."
In reply to: Emily: "BCPs and Glucophage"
Next in thread: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"
Reply: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"

At Wed, 9 Jan 2002, Emily wrote: >

BCPs alone do not address your metabolic problem at the root; all they do is make sure you get a period to cut back your endometrial cancer risk. You should make sure that whatever kind they give you is a monophasic, not a triphasic; PCOSers get worse symptoms on triphasics (like OrthoTriclen) because it doesn't suppress ovulation well enough to keep new cysts from forming. I had great luck with Ovcon 35, but there are lots of monophasics to pick from.

If you use Glucophage to correct your insulin imbalance (a great longterm health strategy, BTW) you are correct that you may be able to restore your fertility. If you are having regular periods you don't need to worry about your endometrial cancer risk. However if you don't want to conceive, then you should definitely use birth control! BCPs won't make Glucophage any less effective.

I don't understand what you mean about "honest birth control".

If the Glucophage helps your hormone level come down so you are having fewer problems with facial hair, then you may not want to continue the Spiro. Also, BCPs can sometimes help this problem. It's usually best to take the least amount of meds you can get away with so you don't just end up with fresh side effects and drug interactions. However if you are going to try to conceive when your fertility is restored, then you shouldn't be on Spiro.

BCPs and Spiro (and other things) were the old ways of dealing with our symptoms. Glucophage makes a lot of these types of meds unnecessary, since it is much simpler to take less medication that does more. As always, we have to go to the doctor's clear about what goals we want to achieve.

Hope this helps!!!

>Hi everyone,
>
>I've been reading some messages on this board (and others) and I've
>noticed that many of you feel that BCPs alone are not adequate treatment
>for (and may actually worsen) PCOS. I am on Ortho-Novum 777 currently
>and Spironolactone 25mg 2x a day (hoping to increase that dosage at next
>endo appt).
>
>My question is this: I am going to see an OB/GYN in a couple of weeks
>whose name I got off another message board as being familiar with PCOS.
>I'm hoping maybe he can help me more, as my endo hasn't been that great.
>If I were to start taking Glucophage to assist with insulin resistance
>problems, but stayed on the BCPs for the honest purpose of birth
>control, would the BCPs be counteracting the Gluco? And the Spiro...
>would all 3 of these meds lessen the effects of any one of them? I know
>many women are on this combo. Any thoughts? Oh, also... should I ask
>about perhaps a better BCP for PCOS? I really don't like Ortho-Novum 777
>and I've been on Demulen before. Any other suggestions?
>
>Sorry for all the questions! Thanks! :)
>Emily

--
Celeste

Next message: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"
Previous message: alvaro's: "Re: PCOS by any other name...."
In reply to: Emily: "BCPs and Glucophage"
Next in thread: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"
Reply: Emily: "Re: BCPs and Glucophage"

use when must restrict search to only the pcos forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: