Birth Control and Bipolar...

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2006
Birth Control and Bipolar...
2
Tue, 07-11-2006 - 2:21pm

When I get my period I get these terrible cramps, I mean it's way more than cramps, I seriously feel like I'm going to die and my insides are dissolving or something. I've been going to the doctor for it for some time now, they put me on all these different meds and none helped. Once they put me on the birth control pill called Yasmin. Well, after taking it for like 3 weeks I was in this terrible depression so I stopped taking it, it just wasn't worth it you know? Well I went to the doctor last month for it and he put me on a birth control pill that is made by the same people as the last one, it's called Yaz and it has lower estrogen levels, it's supposed to be gentler. He said it shouldn't make my mood bad or anything. I hope he's right, but I don't know.

I take Trileptal to balance my mood, my pdoc and my physician said that it makes the effectiveness of BC go down. I haven't had sex because I wasn't on the pill, and now that I am, my boyfriend and I still aren't comfortable with having sex because the pill is less reliable.

I was wondering if anyone else has had BC effect their moods, and I was also wondering if anyone else has the same problem with their meds making BC less effective, and if so, what you do about it. Thanks =]

Amy

**Amy**

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2006
Tue, 07-11-2006 - 3:19pm
Hi there! I hated the pill. I found an alternative that really worked for me with minimal hormone interference and it was an IUD. It all but erased heavy periods and my cramps (after the first month). They use very little hormones so I didn't have any side effects like I did with the pill. There are so many choices now - I would see the GYN!
Take Care, Kelli





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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
Tue, 07-11-2006 - 4:19pm

Hmmm...I had a different experience with Yasmin. I found it controlled my moods better. The only time I worried about a med affecting effectiveness was when I was put on antibiotics. I just abstained until the antibiotics ended, so I guess that's not much help.

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"