Need advice...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2003
Need advice...
11
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 12:21pm
I'm in need of some advice & some reassurance.

About a month ago, I went to my annual appointment & discussed B.C. with my doc. Since it was going to be my first time going on B.C., I wanted to think about it & do all my homework. So, after about two weeks thinking about it, I decided on a P.O.P. My doctor agreed and prescribed it for me. So after I read the packet instructions, it recommended that I take the first pill on the first day of my period. So I waited about a week and a half and then took my first pill on the 8th (about a week ago). I took it at the same time every day and I took it with food. I felt fine the first day or two but then I noticed I was starting to get moody, edgy & frustrated. I kept taking the pills hoping it would go away in time. I was also getting slight nausea. Then, on Saturday, my S.O and I were out & about & I took my pill on an empty stomach. I didn't like doing that but didn't think one time would hurt. I felt fine for a few hours but then later that evening, I started to feel a little dizzy. That was one of the listed side effects of the P.O.P. so I thought it would just go away. Then I came home, thinking I'll wake up in the morning & feel better... boy was I wrong! I felt worse! So I ate thinking it was b/c I was pretty hungry.. that didn't help much either. As an end result, I didn't take my P.O.P on Sunday or Monday. I've decided that I'm going to stop with the P.O.P. I still feel a little dizzy today but it's much better than it was. Now, since I stopped the P.O.P, it appears that my period is starting. Is this normal? Should I be concerned about this? Will it last long?

Also, when I was taking the P.O.P, I felt nervous & panicy. I do suffer from panic/anxeity attacks. I was waking up in the middle of the night thinking I was having chest pains (like after you wake up from having a bad dream), when really, I was panicing & nervous about taking the pill. Could the pill have brought out my panic/anxeity attacks?

I would like to continue using a B.C.P but now I'm scared. Any suggestions???

Thanks!

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 1:44pm
Birth control pills can cause problems like you describe. POP pills are extremely low dose and unlikely to cause side effects, but it sounds like you might be very sensitive. If you can't handle those, then maybe you should look into non-hormonal methods.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 2:42pm
Hi ika81, welcome back!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your POP. It usually takes at least 2 or 3 cycles on a method for your body to adjust to the hormones. You didn’t give yourself time to adjust. Perhaps you could have, perhaps not. But if the side effects were unbearable then bailing is totally understandable.

When you posted last month Judie mentioned other low dose alternatives. If you’re still interested in a hormonal contraceptive, you might want to consider trying NuvaRing. http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp It’s a 2 inch flexible plastic ring worn in the vagina for 3 weeks and removed for 1 for your period. It uses a different progestin so it might not give you the side effects you experienced with Micronor and it has the lowest dose of estrogen (15mcg) of any combined method available in the U.S. And, of course NuvaRing has the lowest maintenance of any combined method. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 3:01pm
Thanks! You're right on the nose when you say I'm very sensitive.

This may sound like a dumb question, but what are some of the non-hormonal methods? I know there's the condom and spermicides, but beside that I don't know. Any advice?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 3:32pm
Hi Jill!

I tried to stick it out but the dizziness was just not flying with me. :( I can handle anything else expect dizziness & lightheadedness.

I remember the post from Judie last month and looked into those as well, but I'm a little worried/afraid now to go back to them. This may sound silly but I didn't know there were different types of progestin's. Do all combined BCP use the same progetin as in POPs or are they all different? My friend also mentioned that I could have had the side effects because the pharmacy gave me the generic Errin, even though I specifically asked for brand. It just seemed too much of a hassel to go back & ask for brand. Could that also be a reason though?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 3:36pm
The most effective reversible non-hormonal method is a copper IUD, but it's only appropriate if you're in a monogamous relationship and not in risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms and spermicide are best if used together, since neither is that great used alone.

Under Frequently Asked Questions, there's a post called Deciding Which Method Is Right For You:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhcontracept&msg=12786.1&ctx=0

And then here's a link that gives the typical and perfect failure rates of all the various methods:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/bcfacts2.html

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 3:53pm
To learn about what non-hormonal methods of birth control are available read the posts in the FAQs at the top of the board. Specifically: Deciding which method is right for you, Information about the IUD and Diaphragms and Cervical caps. I wear a cervical cap as my primary method and a diaphragm for flow control and contraception during my period and love how well that combination works for me, but vaginal barriers aren't for everyone. Let us know if you have questions about specific methods, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 3:55pm
Hmmm... I'll have to look into the IUD. I am in a monogamous relationship & there's no risk of STD's. I'm sure of that. For as often as my S.O & I have sex, we should probably try condomns & spermicide.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it! I'll let you know what I decide.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: ika81
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 4:38pm
There are at least 6 different progestins, some of which are related (Judie can tell you which they are) but the same progestin is in most POPs so I don't think it's likely that any difference between a brand and generic POP would be caused by the progestin. To see which progestins are in various hormonal methods look at the post "Your pills and what's in them" in the FAQs.

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: ika81
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 8:19am
The generic pills contain the same type and dose of progestin as the name-brand version. Errin should be very close to exactly the same as Micronor. There are only two formulations of POP's, one contains norethindrone, the other contains levonorgestrel. There are lots of names for them, but unless somebody is doing something new, only two formulas.

It's not unusual to start bleeding when you change the amount of hormones in your body, for those of us using combined methods with an off-week, that happens once each pack. For progestin-only pills, the same can happen if you stop, but irregular bleeding can also happen any time because of either ovulation or insufficient estrogen.

Some women do better with the estrogen in a combined pill, the POP's can get away without it because the progestin dose is so low. It's up to you as to whether you want to try something else hormonal or if you want to start looking into other means.

Progestins available in the US, in no particular order:

Desogestrel (Desogen, Ortho Cept, Mircette, Cyclessa)

Levonorgestrel (Alesse, Nordette, Seasonale, Triphasil)

Norgestrel (LoOvral)

Drospirenone (Yasmin)

Norethindrone (Ovcon, Modicon, Ortho Novum)

Norethindrone acetate (Loestrin, Estrostep)

Norgestimate (Ortho Cyclen, Tri Cyclen, Tri Cyclen Lo)

Etonorgestrel (Nuvaring)

Norelgestromin (Ortho Evra)

Ethynodrel diacetate (Demulen)

Did I forget any girls?

Outside the US, gestodene and cytoproterone acetate and some others are available, but I'm much less familiar with those.

Progestins all serve the same function to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucous, but can have different side effect profiles for different women. I've found that some progestins are okay for me, and others definitely aren't, and I'd imagine there are a lot of us here in the same boat!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-15-2003
In reply to: ika81
Fri, 09-03-2004 - 2:06pm
I just wanted to let you know that I"m still deciding on what method to go with. After doing some reading, IUD's caught my interest. I"ll let you know more as I research more.

Thanks for all your advice everyone!

Pages