Hashing through my pill options - LONG

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2004
Hashing through my pill options - LONG
3
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 7:46pm

Well here I am back again with more Birth Control dilemas! :)

A little catching up:

I went off the pill in April because of recurring yeast infections, moodiness and breast size gain.

Now I'm thinking about going back on again, because we're just not having sex much because of the inconvenience of condoms. Also, as soon as I went off the pill, my skin broke out horribly and it has not calmed down for 5 months! My breasts have also not gone down to pre-pill size.

The pro of being off hormones is that I have not had a single yeast infection. I'm still a little moody, but I do feel calmer.

Sorry this is getting long, but I just need some help figuring out what to do next!

- Do you think that a Progestin Only Pill might be an option for me? I'm thinking that if I eliminate the estrogen, I might not have the yeast issues? I don't know anything about POP's though! I used to take my combined pills continuously to avoid periods. Would that work with a POP? (I never really had many periods before going on the pill, and true to my old self, I haven't had a single period since being off hormones.)

Why don't more people take POPs? (I'm aware of the stricter dosing schedule)

The pills I took before were Desogen (Yeast, mood), NuvaRing (Yeast, mood, breast gain) and Yasmin, (Yeast, breast gain, mood better, skin better).

Before I went off the pill my gyn was thinking that perhaps I had never truly knocked out the yeast from when I first started the pill. (Even though I switched pills several times). So she had me take a series of Diflucan and I didn't have any yeast for a couple months and then I went off the pill. So I never really got to see if that would have worked.

Any ideas or advice would be appreciated!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 8:07pm

POPs are normally prescribed to breastfeeding women, and I think they are most effective that way. You take POPs continuously anyway (no off period), I think, because there is less hormone... I think they tend to make your period irregular, but light. I have never been on them, but I think they effect your mood, if you are susceptible to that. Also, I think that all of the pills you mentioned have a fairly high estrogen content... I know that NuvaRing has the lowest estrogen content available... but as far as the yeast infections go, you are putting something down there, that may be irritating.

Since you seem to have had the most positive reaction to the Yasmin, and you are looking for less estrogen I might suggest you go on Yaz, which is the same as Yasmin, just less estrogen... I went on that because I was concerned with moods (had bad mood changes on Alesse and Ortho-Lo), and it has been totally fine for that! I've never had a yeast infection, and this doesn't really seem to have changed the environment down there at all. Another plus is a day-long period (at least for me... my periods were not very long to begin with, though). Also, my breasts were a little bit sore in the beginning but I have had no noticable growth. I am battling two bad zits right now... and I think it is due to the Yaz... I am hoping it's still my body getting used to the pill (just started month 3).

Good luck!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Thu, 09-21-2006 - 8:21pm

I took POPs for about a year. My main problem with combination pills was moodiness and depression, and that all went away on POPs. The problem I did have though was irregular bleeding. For a while, I was getting a period every other week, and it was heavy bleeding, not light at all. After a few months, I guess I adjusted and I'd have a period around every five weeks, which is what's normal for me. I was still ovulating regularly.

I'd imagine the strict schedule and the fact that they're not quite as effective as regular pills is probably why they're uncommon to be prescribed. The doctor and pharmacist both suggested using a backup method around the time I ovulated to make extra sure I didn't get pregnant.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2004
Sat, 09-23-2006 - 5:37pm

Thanks for the info, both of you!

Yeah, I probably couldn't deal with the irregular period that a POP would bring on.

Maybe I will try Yaz. I did like that my moods were more stable on Yasmin. Maybe I'll have less of the yeast and breast issues with a decrease in estrogen. The only problem I had before with less estrogen was breakthrough bleeding, and since I was taking my pills continuously...that was a real problem. But I may not need to take continuously if its only a one day period! :)

At this point I think I may just try and go back on. Especially since my breakouts are not subsiding, even after 6 months! Hopefully the yeast will not return!

Thanks...