question re- stopping bcp...for now
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question re- stopping bcp...for now
| Sun, 12-17-2006 - 10:01am |
Ok, I hope I can make my questions make sense:
First of all, I have decided after major vaginal issues to toake a break from bcp's/ I have been on them for 6 years and been on too many brands to count (ok, about 7). I am having major dryness, burning and itching and think I just want to give my body a chance to bring itself back to normal.
However, I am not thrilled about it. I have horrible cramps and long heavy periods while not on the pill. Plus, I absolutely do not want to get pregnant. The pill made me feel very safe in that regard. SO...If I can get my body back to normal, I will consider restarting the pill. I do not want to put myself back in the position I am now with the vaginal pain. The consensus seems to be(except with my dr who thinks it's in my head) that it's a lack of estrogen causing this since it began when i switched to low dose pills.
What's important regarding estrogen- the amount or the progestin/estrogen ratio? Loestrin 24 is the only pill on which I truly felt like myself. No moodswings, headaches or bloating, but the vaginal dryness was too awful. It's the same as loestrin 1/20. So would Loestrin 1.5/30 work better to combat that? It has more estrogen, but the estrogen/progestin ratio is the same, and I didn't know which made the difference.
Ok, I'm sorry if that's too long, and I hope it all makes sense. I appreciate any input anyone has.
First of all, I have decided after major vaginal issues to toake a break from bcp's/ I have been on them for 6 years and been on too many brands to count (ok, about 7). I am having major dryness, burning and itching and think I just want to give my body a chance to bring itself back to normal.
However, I am not thrilled about it. I have horrible cramps and long heavy periods while not on the pill. Plus, I absolutely do not want to get pregnant. The pill made me feel very safe in that regard. SO...If I can get my body back to normal, I will consider restarting the pill. I do not want to put myself back in the position I am now with the vaginal pain. The consensus seems to be(except with my dr who thinks it's in my head) that it's a lack of estrogen causing this since it began when i switched to low dose pills.
What's important regarding estrogen- the amount or the progestin/estrogen ratio? Loestrin 24 is the only pill on which I truly felt like myself. No moodswings, headaches or bloating, but the vaginal dryness was too awful. It's the same as loestrin 1/20. So would Loestrin 1.5/30 work better to combat that? It has more estrogen, but the estrogen/progestin ratio is the same, and I didn't know which made the difference.
Ok, I'm sorry if that's too long, and I hope it all makes sense. I appreciate any input anyone has.

Hi buttercup347, welcome back!
Jill
Thanks for your reassurance. While I'm nervous, I am also looking forward to being synthetic hormone-free. I forget what I was like before I started. At least 3 cycles sounds like a good plan. So here's what I remember about what I've tried and what went wrong:
1. Ortho tri-cyclen and otc lo: about a two and a half years total for both- stopped due to moodiness and suddena nd frequent BTB
2. Nordette- I don't rememebr much about this pill. I can't remember how long I was on this or why I went off it to be honest. I think iot was a few months. 4 or so.I remember it didn't help with my period problems and that's probably why I switched to...
3. Yasmin- (toal before and after lo ovral about a year. Extreme breast tenderness. i had trouble sleeping certain ways and if my arms even brushed them, it was excruciating. Also killed sex drive.
4. Lo-ovral- honestly only a month. My face was an oil slick. my cramps were wprse then ever, and I bled like crazy. Couldn't take a chance on another month since I had only one month till my wedding. Couldn't let my face be broken out, so I went back to the Yasmin till I could get an appt and switch to...
5. Estrostep- 4 months. Wow. I was beyond miserable. I was always angry or upset at everyone and didn't even care. I was a horrible person and almost lost some close friends because I didn't know how to act.
6. This is where the loestrin (and vaginal issues) comes in. 5 months. I felt so good metally. i was in a good mood. No anxiety, no bloating, it was great. Except all of a sudden I couldn't have sex. for the last week or so, my breasts became very sore. not sure what that was all about. Short. light periods. nice.
7. Yaz- One month. I hate this pill. I cry like crazy, my breasts are killing me. I feel bloated, even though this pill is supposed to help that. Still major vaginal problems
So there it is, there's my summary. The pill I felt best on was the loestrin, so I'd like something along those lines. But the vaginal issues were terrible. It defeats the purpose to take a contraceptive that makes you never able to or want to have sex anyway...Any suggestions are much appreciated.
I'll keep you posted on how things are going on my "break".
Yhanks for your help.
If you already have problems with vaginal dryness with Loestrin 1/20, do NOT try Loestrin 1.5/30!!!
I've never heard of Modicon. I will look into that.
Here's a question- since this whole mess is making me crazy- my cousin is on ovcon 35. She has exactly the same symptoms and problems I am having. Our stories are identical. She didn't decrease her estrogen. Is it possible that it's not the decrease in estroegn that caused my problem? maybe loestrin 24 would work for me once I'm back to normal?
Yeah, i'm pushing it, I know. It's just so tough dealing with all this and I'm sl sad to pass up a pill that made me feel normal-in most regards, anyway.
Ok, I'll look into modicon (and possibly the ring. That I;m afraid of forgetting since it's only once a month or so. I can remember daily better than once monthly) while I'm getting back to normal. I haven't discussed an estrogen cream with my dr. I haven't even told him yet that I'm taking a break. He doens't think it's my pill to begin with, but has no ideas or suggestions of what it could be and nothing to help, so I made the choice on my own- and with a good deal of advice from a few ivillage message boards. Don't know what I'd do without you guys!
Thanks!
Thank you for being so patient with me. i am very thankful for all the advice everyone on this board has to offer. It helps ease the anxiety of the whole birth control quest to know there are helpful and knowledgeable people out there.
Thanks again
Hi again hon,
Jill
Thanks again!