monophasic vs triphasic
Find a Conversation
monophasic vs triphasic
| Tue, 08-03-2004 - 10:25am |
Hi,
I know the difference between monophasic and triphsic pills - that the levels of hormones vary in triphasic pills, so as to more closely replicate your normal bodily functions while on BCPs. However, what difference does this actually play with your body? Will you have more/less of a withdrawal bleed with one kind of pill over the other?
I changed from OTC to Ovcon 35 recently, and I was just wondering what's going on inside my body.
Thanks!

I think you are less likely to have mood swings on a monophasic pill. The hormones in different pills may give you different pill-periods as far as consistency and duration go. Ovcon 35 and OTC have different progestins so you can’t make a direct comparison. I haven't heard of any comparison between monophasic and triphasic pill periods. Are there any members who have been on Ortho Cyclen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen (mono and tri pills with the same hormones) who can compare their periods on those pills for us?
Jill
I always had a BTB problem on OTC, but my last month on OTC, I had only a few hours of BTB and a 2-3 day very light withdrawal bleed. On Ovcon-35, I had 3 days of BTB tpwards the end of my active pills, and then no withdrawal bleed. I'm guessing it's b/c I didn't have enough time for my lining to build up between the BTB and the drop in hormones. This sort of makes sense to me, as there was no increase in progestin throughout the month on Ovcon-35, as my body had become accustomed to.
Does any of this sound right?
I think It is going to depend on the mix of hormones; the type and amount of progestin, the amount of estrogen and the woman's body chemistry as to how a particular pill will affect her. Unless you have been on Ovcon for 3 or 4 cycles your body is probably still adjusting to your new pill so what you are currently experiencing with Ovcon 35 may not be the way things finally end up.
Good luck,
Jill
However, I just want to make sure that you are aware that triphasic OC are more tricky. A triphasic pill attempts to mimic the natural fluctuations of hormones by using three distinct hormone combination for a 28-day cycle. You've probably noticed that your pills are different colors, an indication of what I mentioned earlier. It sounds like good idea, but actually triphasic pills are more likely to cause side effects, because of the ever-fluctuating hormone levels. Also, since most women do not take the pill as indicated, exactly at the same time, it can increase the risk of getting pregnant(than with monophasic)which is what we are trying to avoid, right?
When I first got on BC, I was going to try OTC, but when I came upon this info, I decided to go with a low-dose monophasic (a steady hormone combo). It has worked out great.
Good Luck!
As far as mono vs. triphasic periods, I have taken OTC and Ortho Cyclen, though years apart, and my periods were very similar. Theoretically, if you were to do this exact combination you may have slightly lighter periods on Ortho Cyclen due to the higher progestin dose through the whole cycle, but I doubt that it would be very noticeable. Any other comparison of a triphasic pill with a monophasic pill wouldn't really tell us anything because when you have different types of progestin in different combinations with estrogen, that's also going to change how your body reacts.
Since Ovcon 35 is technically a higher progestin pill than OTC, in theory you should not have heavier periods, but it's a larger dose of a weaker progestin compared to OTC. It's not a really high progestin pill, so I wouldn't worry about that, but it is my gyn's favorite pill (if he can't get patients on the ring ;) ). It's not unheard of to miss a period or two!
Good luck...
Co-cl for Birth Control