Any other pill suggestions?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2004
Any other pill suggestions?
2
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 2:30pm
I am currently on Yasmin 28. I have only 2 complaints. If I miss a 1 pill, I just bleed until I start the new pack. (Not to mention, I bled the whole first 2 months... but the doc said it was normal.) The other thing is, my sex drive went from a 100 to a 0.

Does anybody know of another pill that MAY help me out? I know everyone reacts differently to each pill. But GAH! It's not only driving me crazy, but my boyfriend as well!

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 08-17-2004 - 2:52pm
Hi fftlpunkchick, welcome!

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 has the lowest dose of estrogen (15mcg) of any combined method available in the U.S. And NuvaRing has the lowest maintenance of any combined method. If I was to go back on hormones (I use a cervical cap) NuvaRing would be what I would try first. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 8:30am
Libido is a super-tough thing to rescue if you're on the pill, no matter what pill! Because the pill suppresses the ovarian activity that results in ovulation, it also suppresses your own testosterone production, which is directly related to both acne and sex drive.

There's a quantity that is used by some folks that's called "androgenicity". There's some argument as to whether it's valid or not due to the amount of progestin required to produce different effects in a lab rat (no joke), but in case it is... a highly androgenic pill theoretically would increase libido and possibly also acne or oily skin. An antiandrogenic pill, theoretically, would decrease libido and clear up acne and oily skin. Guess which one Yasmin is. ;) I haven't had that experience, myself, I've been the opposite, so I guess it's not a perfect theory! Personally, I've been using Nuvaring for a year and a half with good results. My libido could be iffy, but there's a whole lot of things that could also be causing the problem.

But with the bleeding being so touchy, you might think about either a pill with a stronger/more progestin or less estrogen. Either one of these changes can reduce the amount of endometrium that is produced in each cycle, which may allow you more leeway. --In theory-- a pill that is supposed to be good for both bleeding and libido is LoOvral, but there could be a number of pills that might help too.

Check with your doctor, but don't be surprised if s/he tells you that the libido thing is all in your head. It happens! And somehow we make do... ;) Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control