birth control

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #1 02-02-2009, 08:38 PM

I don't like the tri-cyclic pills (I've tried a lot of them.) The three cycles seem kind of forced and awkward - I had side effects from the constantly changing levels of hormones. Plus tri-cyclic pills are no good if you tend to have spotting - you need a consistent level of hormones.

Joliebelle, I'm glad you love Ortho tri-cyclen! Every girl's got to find what works for her. And the Ortho cases are a lot cuter than the case my pills come in.

PhoenixAzul · #2 02-02-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I don't like the tri-cyclic pills (I've tried a lot of them.) The three cycles seem kind of forced and awkward - I had side effects from the constantly changing levels of hormones. Plus tri-cyclic pills are no good if you tend to have spotting - you need a consistent level of hormones.

Joliebelle, I'm glad you love Ortho tri-cyclen! Every girl's got to find what works for her. And the Ortho cases are a lot cuter than the case my pills come in.

I have to chuckle at this. I was on ortho as my first pill ever. It worked great!

And then I moved to Scotland, and my prescription ran out. I took my pack to the GP and said, "this is what I have now, it works great!". And she said..."what the heck? I've never seen this. You mean Americans STILL use tri-cyclic pills? We haven't prescribed them in YEARS!" They didn't want to switch to something that would make me nuts, so she looked through her desk reference, and got nothing. So she gave me a script for single cycle pills...which worked even better than the tricyclen (skin, shorter lighter periods). And then I decided I couldn't be arsed with remembering and so I opted for the IUD.

Man, you guys know a lot about my uterus now. All in the name of open dialog!

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #3 02-02-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

I took my pack to the GP and said, "this is what I have now, it works great!". And she said..."what the heck? I've never seen this. You mean Americans STILL use tri-cyclic pills? We haven't prescribed them in YEARS!"

Are we behind the curve in reproductive medicine?

VandalSquirrel · #4 02-02-2009, 11:06 PM

I like the Nuvaring, a lot. I'd never be able to do any of the field work I do without it. I was down to very few options that didn't involve endometrial ablation, which would have left me unable to have children, and I want to try and do someday.

WCsweet<3 · #5 02-03-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

I like the Nuvaring, a lot. I'd never be able to do any of the field work I do without it. I was down to very few options that didn't involve endometrial ablation, which would have left me unable to have children, and I want to try and do someday.

My friend just got pregnant on the Nuvaring.

I was on ortho tri-cyclin, but it still gave me cramps and I still had those cramps at the two week mark like I had when I was ovulating. It freaked me out. Now I'm on Yaz and I like it so far. I have almost no cramps (I use to throw up from the pain) and I just feel better all over.

VandalSquirrel · #6 02-03-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

My friend just got pregnant on the Nuvaring.

I was on ortho tri-cyclin, but it still gave me cramps and I still had those cramps at the two week mark like I had when I was ovulating. It freaked me out. Now I'm on Yaz and I like it so far. I have almost no cramps (I use to throw up from the pain) and I just feel better all over.

I'm not currently in a committed relationship, so I'm not taking Nuvaring for birth control. I take it so I can leave my house and have a normal life. I was planing to go off of it this year to have kids, but that is not going to happen. I kind of don't know what I'll do when I plan to get pregnant because I will likely have some miserable months.

PhoenixAzul · #7 02-02-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Are we behind the curve in reproductive medicine?

No, not really. It is a difference of perspective, I think. The review process for drugs is quite different in Britain because of the NHS. (Greatest good for the greatest number with the lowest cost). The doctor explained it as they found fewer side effects and better coverage with single cycle pills. Fewer complications= fewer hospital admissions= lesser costs. Also, on the whole, the British smoke more than Americans so that is yet another layer of concern (not that monocyclic pills are exempt from that). Plus, birth control in all forms is exempt from the standard prescription fee (in Scotland, that is 5.25 british pounds, about 6 dollars or less with current exchange, in Northern Ireland, all scripts are free).

There's also less of a stigma attached to birth control and family planning in Britain (in the ROI, this is changing). Again, because of the NHS, there is a vested (monetary and social) interest in keeping the population under control. Not in a creepy way, but in a "hey we've got limited resources!" way.

AGDee · #8 02-02-2009, 11:46 PM

I got pregnant on a trycyclic and miscarried. Turns out I ovulate twice a month and the fluctuation of hormones in the trycyclic didn't cover me for both times effectively.

I have a co-worker who is 38 and having huge issues with fibroids and hemorrhaging and they won't do a hysterectomy on her even though she's a grandma three times over and a two time breast cancer survivor (the type that is exacerbated by hormones). She keeps begging them to just take everything since she's already had early menopause from the breast cancer chemo and drugs. She's going through a miserable time

PM_Mama00 · #9 02-03-2009, 12:21 AM

I knew someone going through early menopause around that age and she was having a HORRIBLE time. They wouldn't do anything for her till 39 or 40. I can't believe they can dictate that. My sister in law had her tubes tied at 34ish after their second child. I don't get it.

nikki1920 · #10 02-03-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

I got pregnant on a trycyclic and miscarried. Turns out I ovulate twice a month and the fluctuation of hormones in the trycyclic didn't cover me for both times effectively.

I have a co-worker who is 38 and having huge issues with fibroids and hemorrhaging and they won't do a hysterectomy on her even though she's a grandma three times over and a two time breast cancer survivor (the type that is exacerbated by hormones). She keeps begging them to just take everything since she's already had early menopause from the breast cancer chemo and drugs. She's going through a miserable time

She needs to find another doctor, then.

AGDee · #11 02-04-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

She needs to find another doctor, then.

She has decided to go to her oncologist to get a referral for the surgery. Given her breast cancer history, she thinks he will be more progressive.