Stephanie2004
04-21-2005, 05:37 PM
I am finally at a point where my IC mostly flares during my period. Problem is, that seems to be almost all the time lately. I think my body is confused. I'm forty-five, so I could be getting close to menopause. For the past year or so, I've had mild spotting a week or two before my period. No big deal. But for the past three or four months, I've have basically two periods a month -- one longer, lighter one first, then a week or so later a shorter, heavier one. IC flares like crazy for both.
If my hormones are out of whack, would my gyno (who treats my IC) be able to even them out with medication? I've read about some people using birth control (which I'm not using now) to eliminate cycles and the flares that go with them. But I think I also read that it would be dangerous for those close to menopause. Is this right?
(I plan to talk to my gyno about all this, but I don't want to make an expensive self-pay appointment before I (hopefully) get insurance in the fall, unless there's a good chance adjusting hormones would work.)
If my hormones are out of whack, would my gyno (who treats my IC) be able to even them out with medication? I've read about some people using birth control (which I'm not using now) to eliminate cycles and the flares that go with them. But I think I also read that it would be dangerous for those close to menopause. Is this right?
(I plan to talk to my gyno about all this, but I don't want to make an expensive self-pay appointment before I (hopefully) get insurance in the fall, unless there's a good chance adjusting hormones would work.)