BC Not Working on Cramps Anymore

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
BC Not Working on Cramps Anymore
2
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 11:49am
I went on BC Ortho-Cept in 2001 for heavy periods and to help even out my horomones. I was experiencing excess facial hair etc..which could be genetics. Up until about 7-8 months ago, the pill really helped with my cramps. I might take one aleve during my heaviest two days and that was about it. But, about 7-8 months ago, my cramps and headaches that accompany my period have become progressively worse. This week I've spent two nights in bed with my heating pads. I haven't really changed what I'm doing beside getting married and having sex with my husband.

I went to my OB yesterday and her answer was to have me continue taking my pill for 3 months at a time or 90 days just like the Seasonale pill and she gave me a stronger pain pill. I don't like to be radically against modern medicine or anything, but it seems to me something must be going on with my body for it to change like it did. I have heard the belief that women didn't used to have so many cycles due to pregnancy and breast feeding so continuous BC is healthier, but then another Doctor pointed out that there's a difference between your body naturally stopping your cycle and stopping it chemically and that we don't know the risks of continuous BC yet..just like we didn't know the long-term effects of Hormone Replacement therapy and just found out it's dangerous. I'm not sure if I should seek a second opinion or what? Any advice and/or thoughts would be appreciated.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 12:40pm
If you want kids someday, I'd get a second opinion if you haven't been evaluated for endometriosis.
Avatar for tigergirl546
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Sat, 08-07-2004 - 12:31am
Have you been diagnosed as having endometriosis? My advice would be to check out some books at the library about balancing hormones naturally. I used to be majorly into only conventional medicine, until i started having a lot of hormone related problems over a 3 year time span and figured that something wasn't right and it was time to do my own research. Two books that i found most helpful were Balance Hormones Naturally by Kate Neil and Patrick Holford, and also Alternatives to Endometriosis by Ruth Carol.

I do not follow everything in the books but I do the best I can, and I learned alot from them. This last month I quit taking the pill myself because i felt deep down something just wasn't right with it for me anymore and that i needed to get off of it and quickly.

I hope you find relief soon, whatever avenue of therapy you choose.

:-)

Hugs and prayers,


Kim