Switching BCPs, again?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Switching BCPs, again?
3
Tue, 07-06-2004 - 3:31pm
In the past, I have been on Ortho Tri Cyclen, which made me very bloated. Yasmin, which made my hair fall out, and I am currently on Ortho Cept. Ortho Cept is working okay but I have been incredibly moody and have absolutely no desire to have sex. My face is also breaking out a little more than usual. Can anyone give me any suggestions of a better pill to try? I would really appreciate it. BTW, Ortho Tri made my face extremely clear and I would (of course) love to have that side effect back. :)


Thanks In Advance!

Brandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 1:42pm
If your only problem with OTC was bloating, what about OTC Lo? It's got less estrogen (what sometimes causes bloating) than OTC but is otherwise the same. Everybody is different, so it may be just as useful for you to try any of the other pills on the market too (for a list see the "what's in your pills" post in the FAQ folder). It can be a trial and error process at first, but hopefully you'll find something that works well for you soon!

Good luck!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 7:27am


I never thought about OTC Lo. I just assumed that the type of progestin in those pills didn't cut it for me no matter what the dosage. I actually went to my gyn yesterday and she suggested the Nuvaring. I was actually suprised that she suggested that. I just assumed they would put me on a different type of pill. I am little scared that going to a lower dose of estrogen will make my face break out again. God, I hope not. I really hope that I like this ring. I am just so tired of switching. Yasmin was a horrible experience for me. If this ring doesn't work out then I will probably suggest OTC Lo or maybe one of the pills with norethindrone since I haven't tried that type of progestin yet. I won't start the ring until Saturday. Wish me luck. I'll have to do a search on here about the ring.

Thanks for the advice!

Brandy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 7:57am
I've been using the ring for a year and a half and I'm a big fan. The key component as far as acne control seems to be in the progestin, as all the pills commonly prescribed (and the patch and the ring) use the same type of estrogen. All of the progestins should help with hormone-related acne, but there are some that can act differently in each woman's body than others. My face was probably the clearest when I was taking Loestrin, but on the ring it isn't bad at all. On the other hand, when I was taking Ortho Cyclen, I was having some issues with cystic (big deep painful pimples) acne, which I'd had with Triphasil as well--the progestins are related. It all depends on what your body does with the progestin. The progestin in the ring is related to the one in Ortho Cept, but it's in a smaller dose, so that might make things better too.

Good luck, if any other ring questions come up just holler!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control