Should I stop taking my BCP or not?

Avatar for guanaka
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2005
Should I stop taking my BCP or not?
4
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 11:34am

Ladies,

I've been debating whether or not to get off my BCP's (been on them for a year and a half now). I just started my new pack yesterday. The one thing I'm not looking forward to is getting my periods on the mark every month which are hell. Painfull cramps, and so bad I throw up, get cold and hot chills, head aches, etc....you name it, I mean really bad. All of these symptoms have gone away w/ the pill I'm on. I'm gaining too much weight and have too much water retention around my waist line. I'm on one of the lowest dose pills in the market, fyi. Maybe too much info. but my hubby and I don't have sex everyday so I hate to take them when I feel I shouldn't, kind of. I don't want any accidents because I'm not ready for a baby. Anyway, I just need some reasurance...I've got 2 big choices and too many consequences both cons and pros on both choices.

TIA

T-

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 12:23pm

Hi Hon, welcome back!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2005
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 12:37pm

You might want to discuss your weight gain with your doctor. Some women do gain weight on the pill, but other factors can cause weight gain as well, and it would be a good idea to rule them out. As far as the water retention, you might try reducing your salt intake and increasing your water intake. Sometimes when the body doesn't get enough water, it jealously holds onto the water it has...and TA-DA, water retention!

I'm a bit puzzled by this statement:

"I hate to take them when I feel I shouldn't, kind of."

Would you be comfortable telling us the nature of your concerns? We might be able to offer some additional insights and information. Frankly, there is a lot of scary and medically inaccurate misinformation out there about the pill from groups with other agendas.

Avatar for guanaka
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2005
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 2:43pm

Thank you for replying!!!

I will certainly give both of the responses a try.

What I meant by, "I hate to take them when I feel I shouldn't, kind of," would be in the sense that you could use a condom when you need it and throw it away when done and not have anything else to worry about. Well, with the pill you have to take them everyday whether you are active every day or not. SO my days and my husbands days are SO hectic and crazy and busy like everybody's is that sometimes we pretty much are too worn out during the week to do anything intimate. So we're looking at pretty much the weekends only, sorry tmi... and so forth. ;-P

THANKS a bunch for your time.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2005
Mon, 11-13-2006 - 3:10pm
Ah, I see! I know what you mean...we're so busy we actually have to think about when we can, LOL, so I can sympathise! Well, if you could find a pill that you could control your weight on that would still control your symptoms, it might be worth it to take it every day. I've been on the pill for 14 years now, and taking it is almost automatic now.