Ortho, Cyclessa, or ?
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Ortho, Cyclessa, or ?
| Thu, 05-27-2004 - 11:03am |
Hi all. I posted here a year or so ago while deciding whether or not to try bcp to help control heavy cycles. I ended up trying ortho cyclen 28 for about 8 months with no side effects and slightly lighter periods, although they are still long and heavy (down to about 6-7 days from 10-11). When I went to pick up my refills last month (at PP) I was told they no longer carry the ortho so they could give me a script for those or I could try Mircette. Both times they have tried to give me those they have warned of break through bleeding which would defeat the whole purpose! lol Instead they gave me one month of Cyclessa and I have to go back. Obviously I haven't seen what bleeding will be like on Cyclessa, but I have seemed to have more headaches this month and some bloating/cramping.
So can someone really telling me the difference between my options here (Ortho Cyclen 28, Mircette, Cyclessa) and offer opinions on what I might be looking for? My main goal is to shorten/ lighten my cycle with minimal side effects. TIA!
Heather
So can someone really telling me the difference between my options here (Ortho Cyclen 28, Mircette, Cyclessa) and offer opinions on what I might be looking for? My main goal is to shorten/ lighten my cycle with minimal side effects. TIA!
Heather

“can someone really telling me the difference between my options here (Ortho Cyclen 28, Mircette, Cyclessa) and offer opinions on what I might be looking for?”
I wish Judie was here to answer your question. She is away and will be back on Tuesday, 6/1. I’ll give you my thoughts and then we will see what she says when she returns.
Since everyone is different no one can say for sure how you will react on a particular pill before you try it. When switching pills you may experience side effects as your body adjusts to the new hormones. The types and amounts for the three pills you asked about are :
Ortho-Cyclen: 0.250 mg norgestimate and 35 mcgm of ethinyl estradiol
Mircette: 0.150 mg of desogestrel and 20 mcgm ethinyl estradiol
Cyclessa ® (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) Tablets are a triphasic oral contraceptive containing two active components, desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. Each 28-day treatment cycle pack consists of three active dosing phases:
7 light yellow tablets containing 0.100 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estra-diol ;
7 orange tablets containing 0.125 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol, and
7 red tablets containing 0.150 mg deso-gestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol.
Cyclessa ® also contains 7 green tablets with inert ingredients.
Progestational Activity (relative to 1 mg of norethindrone)
norgestimate 1 mg 1.3
desogestrel 1 mg 9.0
You have a different and much stronger progestin in both Mircette and Cyclessa than you had in Ortho-Cyclen and both have less estrogen than you had in Ortho-Cyclen. Cyclessa is a triphasic (each of the 3 active weeks with a different amount of progestin) while Ortho-Cyclen and Mircette are monophasic pills with 21 days of the same strength hormones. If you have any interest in skipping periods it might be best to try Mircette (it’s more difficult to skip on a triphasic) and Mircette has less estrogen which might lessen your flow. The balance between the estrogen and the type and amount of progestin and how that mix of hormones interacts with your body chemistry will determine how you will react to a pill. If I had a choice between Mircette and Cyclessa I think I would try Mircette first. Just my thoughts. Let us know how you are doing, ok?
Good luck
Jill
I had already come to the conclusion that it should be either Mircette or Ortho over the Cyclessa, thanks for clarifying that for me.
So let me sort this out here.........the lower estrogen may help with my cycles? Why can't the dr./ nurse practitioner explain that? (sorry, little vent there! lol) And what about the progestin? What are some possible side effects/ benefits associate with that (since the Mircettes is stronger). I guess now I need to sort out which would be best, the ortho or the Mircette for the next 4 months, when I plan on visiting a doctor who will actually listen and answer questions @@
Heather
My rationale for thinking lower estrogen could help with your long periods is that less estrogen means less endometrium, therefore less to shed and therefore shorter periods. However, a lot has to do with the type and amount of progestin that the estrogen is paired with. Cl-Judie Rae will be back on Tuesday. She is very knowledgeable about combined contraceptives and will be able to offer far more insight into pill choices than I can.
Best,
Jill
Side effects do differ from pill to pill and woman to woman--while the list is the same for each pill, some women are more sensitive to certain progestins than others and will feel differently. You're on your own there! ;) But a good rule of thumb is to give a new pill 2-4 months before deciding whether you like it or not, it can take your body a little while to get things worked out. If, after a few months, you're still unhappy with headaches and bloating, then you might try something else.
Why all this is some "big secret" that our healthcare providers don't share with us, I'll never know! That's part of my mission, I guess...we're not incapable of understanding, at least with the internet the information is more accessible.
Good luck!
Co-cl for Birth Control