HELP~new user of the patch

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
HELP~new user of the patch
4
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 12:29am
I am new at using the patch. I have been using it for about a week now and I don't know if I am going to be able to use this form of birthcontrol. I also have the IUD inserted and was supposed to go to my gyn to have it removed during the 1st week of being on the patch but I got sick with a cold and flu and didn't feel like going to the doctor. My concerns are this: I had the IUD inserted after the birth of my second child and had it in for a little over 3 years now and I loved it my but my husband hated it. It would cut him during intercourse. so we decided I would try another form of B.C.. I liked the idea of the patchs' ease of use(was never good at taking the pill). The first week I used it I placed it on my lower abdomen and started it during my 1st day of my period. I cramped like normal (or so I thought) for the first couple of days of my period. Now it is the 7th day on the patch and I am still cramping horriablly and am also still bleeding. I tend to wake up in the morning with heavy bleeding and then the cramping starts and goes on all afternoon untill about 3:00 pm when all the Ibuprophen I've taken starts to take affect. Is this from me not being on any hormornal birth control in a while and my body is getting used to it or I even thought maybe it was cramping from the IUD. Will the cramping and bleeding go away? I took it off earlier today because it was driving me crazy and I am supposed to put a new one on tomarrow anyway. I just felt like my body needed a rest. It's funny though when I went to the ob-gyn to have my annual pap smear and I told her I wanted to have the IUD removed she asked me if I had heavy bleeding and cramping and I said sort of, she said it was probably due to the IUD but it was nothing compared to what I am feeling like now with the patch.

Has anyone else or do you know of anyone with these same side affects, and what happened. Did you endure it? Did the Bleeding/Cramping go away?

Please Help I don't know what I should do.

Avatar for kissmedeadly
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 10:54am
Just out of curiousity, I never heard of anyone being cut from an IUD, how did that happen?

I just got off the patch, not b/c of the side effects, but becuase my skin is way too sensetive it was becoming very irritated and scared.

I had no breakthrough bleededing on the patch (I was on it for 6 months). I did have more normal periods then on the pill. I also had the clearest skin I ever had on it, so that was nice. However, one side effect that was really bothersome was yeast infections, I for got every 3rd week I was on it, it was awful!!!!

however, I did have a good reaction to it other then the side effects I mentioned. It seemed to be the easiet BC I was on. However, I am considering an IUD due to lack of sex drive (which is from any BC I have tried in the last 4 years) That is why I asked about the cutting from the IUD?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 10:57am
Hi meleighleigh, welcome!

From posts to this board from other new patch users, heavy cramping and bleeding seem to be common side effects when starting the patch. It will take your body about 3 cycles to become accustomed to the new hormones. The side effects should diminish over time. If you were already having cramps and bleeding from your IUD then your symptoms may well be cumulative. We don’t often hear of an IUD hurting the users partner unless it is out of position and/or being expelled. Normally the only thing he should feel is the strings which soften and wrap around the cervix out of the way.

If you removed your patch and did not apply another immediately (assuming it wasn’t your patch-free week) you compromised the efficiency of your protection from the patch. I know, you still have an IUD inserted so you should still be well protected, but immediately after the IUD is removed you will have no more protection from it. I know you feel rotten but from the standpoint of having your body become accustomed to the hormones in the patch removing it for a break isn’t helping. Only you can decide if it’s worth putting up with the side effects while you body gets used to the patch. Just be sure you’re using it, or what ever other method of BC you choose, correctly.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 12:01pm
I just have a quick question for Jill, you said it should take aprox 3 cycles what exactly did you mean? 3 Period cycles or 3 cycles of the patch(meaning 3 weeks of being on it) I hope you mean the latter! Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 12:15pm
3 cycles means 3 complete (period) cycles. That would be three months, unless you're talking Saeasonale! It can take a while for our bodies to become accustomed to different levels of hormones, so we have to give things time to settle down.