Does BTB stop before period?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Does BTB stop before period?
22
Tue, 08-03-2004 - 11:06am
Well, I'm STILL struggling with BTB on Seasonale...it's been sort of on and off. Sometimes it will be heavy, then it stops, then its light, etc. Ugh, so frustrated. Has anyone had BTB that STOPS before the scheduled pill period? I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is subsiding .. This has been going on for atleast 2 weeks.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 5:10pm
I don't know about the btb stopping before your period, but I'm going throught the same thing as you are about the btb. How long have you been taking Seasonale? I have only been on it for 5 days but I had an extended period this month and that's why the dr wanted me to try this pill. I was really concerned about trying it because of all the bad experiences I have read about on this board. I'm still spotting light then heavy and light again. It's so frustrating for me and my husband. I don't want to think of 3 months of this. Not to mention worrying about becoming anemic. I have an appt next week to check my blood levels.

I know what you are going through.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 11:11am
I am on my second pack of Seasonale, on the 9th week. So basically I have 3 more weeks of actives before the placebos. The btb has gotten a LOT better--it started to taper off like it was the end of a period, and is almost gone. I'm just crossing my fingers that it doesn't come back before the inactive week! I am going to stick it out though, because last pack I got lighter spotting and I think this month's BTB can be partly blamed on my going low-carb, but who knows. I don't suppose there's any way to decrease/end it. One poster said taking ibuprofen helps? Let me know how you're doing.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 12:52pm
Erin,

I wanted to let you know how i'm doing now. I started Seasonale on Aug 1st so I'm almost done with my 4th week. The first week I spotted for a week. Then it stopped for 2 weeks and then last Saturday I started spotting again. I'm still spotting but it's kinda light. I know this is probably btb. I wish it would stop. It's so frustrating. I know I probably haven't given it enough time yet. I haven't been on bcp in a few years. Dr thought to try them again to regulate me so maybe in about 6 mos I can try to get pregnant. I'm not getting any younger (I'm 35). I'm getting worried that I will not be able to have any kids.

How many cycles of Seasonale have you been on? How are you doing with it now?

Heidi

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 1:43pm
Hi stoutheart33, welcome back!

Thanks for the update. Unfortunately, irregular bleeding is a very common side effect of Seasonale during the first 2 or 3 extended cycles, 6-9 months. I'm surprised that your doc suggested Seasonale if you were only going to be on hormones for 6 months before TTC.

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:03pm
Jill,

Doesn't sound right does it? I think he was thinking that I would be one of the very few that doesn't have btb. I guess I'm not. He did say that it could take 6 mos or so to get my hormones level. I just hope my blood level keeps up. It was at 9.5 last week. I take iron pills to help. Do know if herbal therapies work? Would they work with the pill or would I have to go off the pill? I guess I need to look up in the phonebook to find someone to talk to.

Heidi

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:24pm
Hi Heidi,

I'm actually just about at the end of my second pack, so it's been about 6 months total. The 2+ weeks of btb that I had is completely gone now. I'm actually thinking about taking an additional week of actives to delay my period till Labor Day weekend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that goes ok, but at this point, I don't think another week will make much difference.

Awhile back, I was looking through some posts about BTB and Seasonale and I saw a post (I think by klannert) who thought that eating soy products would help BTB since it contains phyto-estrogens. So I thought..hmmm, sounds logical and it can't hurt right? Well, I ate some endamame and soy milk (not a ton, but enough) and the next day the bleeding was gone. Now, I'm not saying the two are directly linked, as I was definitely having a light flow at the time, but why not try it? Now I make a conscious effort to include soy in my diet through soy milk, endamame and sometimes soy-protein bars (yummy!) and I haven't had any problems with BTB since. Again, not a guarantee at all...

Let me know if this helps and how you're doing...I wonder if a doctor would agree with my (and klannert's) little theory!

-Erin

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:36pm
I would be very careful about using herbals and hormonal contraceptives. You might ask your pharmacist for his or her recommendation. Most herbals haven't been tested for interaction with hormones and you wouldn't want to do anything that might reduce your pills effectiveness.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 4:37pm
The breakthrough bleeded went away before my period.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 5:01pm
Erin,

Thanks for your reply. It's nice to hear that someone is having success with Seasonale. I have heard horror stories about it. It can't hurt to try soy. How does soy milk taste? Are Endamame those green beans I have seen in the stores? How much soy to you eat/drink?

Sounds like you are about 5 months ahead of me. So you only had 2 weeks of btb for the 6 months? That's great! I hope my body starts to get used to it too. I'm getting tired of it. Do you have problems with anemia? I do. That's why I stress at the littlest btb. I take iron pills to help. I go to get it tested every 6 weeks to make sure my hemoglobin level stays up. I had a transfusion 3 months ago and don't want to have another one. I'm sure that me worring about it is not helping me. It's so hard for me to just let it go and not worry about it. I guess I will have to do it.

Heidi :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 5:18pm
Hi Heidi,

I definitely don't go overboard with the soy, but I try to have soy milk with my cereal and get an order of endamame when we get sushi and snack every now and then for a few days. Soy milk actually tastes pretty yummy, almost sweet, and comes in plain, vanilla and chocolate. I haven't seen a fat-free version, but I buy 8th Continent Light and it's sooo good. Never thought I would say that about soy milk! Awhile back, my doc mentioned that soy is good for women in general, so it's good for you regardless of the btb.

I've never had problems with anemia so there's not much I can say there. My first period on Seasonale wasn't even particularly heavier, like I thought it would be. Will let you know how the next one goes! Good luck!

-Erin

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