ortho tri cyclen help!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2004
ortho tri cyclen help!!
7
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 11:08am
Hi. I'm 20 and I just started taking the pill (ortho tri cyclen) for the very first time 7 days ago. Since I've started taking it, i've been either feeling bloated or lazy and have spotting after I pee every once in awhile; but the past few days i've been over that I think. What really concerns me is i've been having to pee a lot lately; and when I do, it hurts when i'm about to finish. Now i'm not sure if that is a normal side effect and my body has to get used to the pill for a little while or if something is really wrong with me. Also,I've been more depressed than usual and not wanting to get physical with my boyfriend the past few days but that's probably caused by me not feeling well. Now my question is, have any of you experienced any problems like this? I'm really concerned. Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 1:23pm
Hi kittycigi, welcome!

You may experience side effects for the first 3 or 4 cycles when starting BCPs. Bloating, spotting and on some pills (Yasmin comes to mind) more frequent urination. Depression and lowered libido can also be side effects of BCPs. However, pain during urination isn’t usually a side effect. It sounds to me as though you might have a urinary tract infection. If I were you I’d see my doc and be tested for a UTI. Sometimes sexual intercourse can bring on a UTI by forcing bacteria into your urethra. A good way to reduce the possibility of a UTI due to intercourse is to urinate immediately afterward. That will flush out any bacteria. If you do have a UTI and are given antibiotics for it remember to use back-up while taking your medicine and for an additional 7 days after taking the last dose. I hope you are feeling better soon. Thanks for stopping by.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-20-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 6:29pm
I had symptoms like you said with urinating..I had to go often, it was uncomfortable cause I always felt the urge to go and it hurt when I finally did. It happened a few times, but just went away. Last time it happened, it was very bad; I had a fever and was in real pain. I went to my doctor and she put me on some antibiotic for a few days and it cleared it up instantly. She told me the same thing, urinate right after sex. I have done that ever since and have never gotten another bladder infection. Also, it's proven if you drink cranberry juice, that helps symptoms as well.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-26-2004 - 2:53pm
Cranberry --juice-- is only helpful if it's not loaded with sugar. Cranberry juice cocktail isn't worth much as far as preventing UTI's goes, but cranberry extract or crushed cranberry in capsules (the capsules are available in most health food stores and pharmacy areas) has been proven in at least one study to reduce the frequency of bladder infections. I can't remember the dosage, but I take 2 capsules immediately after intercourse and every 12 hours or so later for the next day or two and super-hydrate after sex (urinating about every hour for the next couple of hours) and that works well for me.

It's very important to have bladder infections treated promptly--if left untreated, the infection can pass up the ureters into the kidneys and that is a very serious problem (hospital stay and IV antibiotics may be involved). Urgency, frequency, that tell-tale burning, and ESPECIALLY abdominal pain, fever, and blood in the urine are signs that you shouldn't wait to see a physician.

Good luck!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2004
Mon, 04-26-2004 - 5:50pm
I started it like 3 weeks ago, and i did notice mood swings at first but no bleeding or pain. I suggest call ur doctor.

Did you doc mention anything to you about skipping the green pills so u just don't get a peroid? because i would like to do that for my anniversery, but i don't know if its healthy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Tue, 04-27-2004 - 9:24pm
Actually, triphasic pills (which ortho tri cyclen is one of) don't really work so well for the skipping a period thing. the change from high dose of hormones to lowest dose of hormones doesn't sit well. i'm not 100% that it's bad for you, i've just heard that it doesn't really work, as your body just produces a period anyway. you might want to call your doctor/nurse about doing that with OTC.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 10:56am
I skipped the green pills once and started a new package right away b/c i was going to Aruba.. It worked fine for me. Sometimes i felt like i was going to start, but I never actuallly did. I would try it..can't hurt!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 1:35pm

Some women can get away with skipping the placebos on a triphasic pill to skip a period, but what tends to work better is taking an additional week 3 from a spare pack, so with OTC this would be an extra week of dark blue pills.

Judie Cl for Birth Control