Birth Control

[kjones1]

Im not really sure where I should post this but I was noticing that I tend to flare half way through my cycle and then again when I get my period. I also have a couple of days inbetween that are my "good days". Those good days are more itchy than painful and I have an itch in the same place on my right side of the vulva. So weird. Im taking orthotricylclin and know that birth control pills sometimes are helpful (create a false sense of pregnancy) but I spoke with my doc and I was going to try a different pill. Ortho someting but its a monic pill meaning all three weeks before my period are on the same dose of the hormone. Im suppose to do that for two weeks and see if it gets better and if my period still flares me she may let me skip.

Has anyone ever delt with this?

What do people think about birth control and/or skipping periods if you flare?

Thanks for the help in advance and let me know if this would be better posted somewhere else.

[crysann]

I had a GYN put me on continuous BC so that I wouldn't have a period. He said that it was perfectly fine not to have aperiod every month. I have just started noticing that my IC flares just like your does. In th middle of the month and then right before. I am on the Nuva Ring. I love it. I couldn't remember my head if it weren't screwed on. I could never remember a pill!!

[sbelle474]

I just got put on Yasmin continuously, I love it! I would recommend taking it continuously. Good luck!!!

[kjones1]

Thanks Guys.

Do you know if yasmin is a monocyclic pill (meaning all pills for the three weeks have the same amount of hormone)?

Are there other pills people found helpful?

Also do you just skip your placebo pills each month thus missing your period? How helpful did you feel it was for your IC?

I dont know if I could do the ring thing. Im sure hormone wise its better but Im having too much pain and burning in that area to play around with it. You never know though. Most people say they dont really feel it.

--KJ

[frisbyra]

Hi,

I had the same problem. About 2 months ago I was put on Ovcon 35 which has more estrogen then progestrone and is also mono (all the pills are the same). The doctor told me I could do three months without going off and wrote the prescription for no placebo (sugar pills) so I can get refilled without waiting. I had been on quite a few of bcp and this is the best one so far.

Good luck,
Robin

[rosesitty]

I was on the patch for two years but stopped due to the media warnings that there was a higher incidence of blood clots etc. with the patch (also the ring). I've been in a two month medication flare and was wondering if going off the patch made this flare continue longer than if I was on it.
Rose

[kjones1]

Hi Everyone, I spoke with my doctor and I am going to try and switch from my orthotricyclic to the ortho (which is a mono). Im not sure if Im going to skip my periods yet. She wants me to do it for two months and then see.

When people switched to a mono birth control did you feel immediate changes, symptom reduction or increase until it settled down?

Im a bit nervous about switching. I like my pill because it helps my skin (I went off it a couple of months ago and switched to a cheaper brand which destroyed my skin) and Ive been taking it for almost seven years so Im nervous about switching. But if its going to help and keep my hormones from making me flare it might be worth it. Just figured Id ask and see what I should expect when I switch.

Thank you guys for help with this one--KJ

[frisbyra]

I switched to Ovcon 35 and I love it. It is now 3rd month and no periods. I love not having them nor do I miss them :)

It took about a week or two and then I started feeling better. Hope it works for you. Oh also I had no side effects (no gaining weight, well gained weight but not from the pill, the holidays :).

[kjones1]

frisbyra,

Im still waiting :rolleyes: for my doctor to send over the new prescription but Im hoping it will help me like it did you. Do you know if Ovcon 35 has both estrogen and progesterone and whether it has more estrogen? I know the same amounts of the hormones are given throughtout all the pills but I heard being on an estrogen dominant pill could be helpful. That might be why you are having such success with Ovocon 35? Either way that is great- no flares and no periods. :woohoo:
Are you pretty much symtom free now?


Also does anyone know if ortho cyclen is an estrogen dominant pill. Im going to try and look it up online but I figured Id ask in case someone knows.

I'll keep you posted on the big switch ;) ---Kelly

[kadi]

I take Necon 1/35 continuously. I do schedule periods about 4 times a year - that way I can choose the week least inconvenient for them. I've been doing this about 2 years & schedule the periods because I found that if I didn't, I'd start spotting & cramping about every 3-4 months anyhow & it wouldn't stop til I quit the pills for a few days. So, instead of waiting for my body to spontaneously demand the period, I decide when it will be.

That said, they've helped a lot with reducing bladder pain & urethral burning.

[frisbyra]

Kelly,

The ovocon 35 def has more estrogen then progrestone. I now am on for the 3rd month and this pill is great. I think it takes a little while to work but it is doing good. I am not sure if I am feeling good (well this week :) because of this but I also started on 10mg of Hydroxinne (sp) for the allergies. But not having a period is great. My doc says I can go every three or so months. I am going to go another month I think before I miss a week. I had a pill that had more progestrone and I could def feel the pain. Also I have experienced no side effects from this pill. Let me know when you get on it. I am sure you are going to love this one. Another note sometimes the doctors have alot of samples I got 4 months free from their samples so that is one less drug I have to pay for for awhile :)

[kjones1]

I used to love when I would get free samples of my pill. Saved so much money but then they ran out. :(

I actually did a little research and ortho-tri-cyclen, ortho-cyclen, and ortho-novum 35 are all manufactured by the same company (Ortho-McNeil). They are pretty similar with the main differences being the amount and type of progesterone in each row of pills. Interestingly this is the same company that produces Elmiron :hmm:

All three pills have more estrogen (.035 mg) than progesterone. Ortho-tri-cyclen has three increasing doses (.018mg, .0215mg, and .025mg.) of the type of progesterone (i.e. norgestimate) while estrogen is kept at a constant dose.

Ortho-cyclen has the same amount of estrogen (.035 mg) and type of progesterone but it is kept at a constant amount of .250 throughout the 21 pills.

Ortho-Novum 35, again, has the same .035mg of estrogen but a different type of progesterone (i.e. norethindrone). It also has a constant hormone level of this progesterone of 1mg (which is 1000 micro grams-so its actually higher than the other pills). You do the math :confused: !

For more info on these products here is the website:

http://www.ortho-mcneilpharmaceutical.com/products/index.html

I think for now I am going to switch first from ortho-tri to ortho cyclen because they have the same type of progesterone and also have been clinically validated to treat acne (can't hurt a girl to have good skin).

It seems that all of these pills could help someone's IC. If the ortho-cyclen doesn't work out Im definitely going to try the ortho-novum 35 next. Ill let you know as soon as I start in about a week or so.

I am going to work up to skipping my periods and might need to ask you guys how to do that when the time comes.

Anyways Im glad BC is giving you relief and hopeful that it will help me out a bit

Thanks again for the help--KJ

[sami4]

The two hormone gurus recommend for UT problems and IC: Dr. Larrian Gillespie a gynecologist and urologist and author of, "You Dont Have to Live with Cystitis" recommends either Yasmin, Ovcon-35 (least progestins).
Elizabeth Vliett likes Ovcon-35, Modicon, Brevicon.
The progestin type also is different in different pills and you may do better on some than others. The main idea is more estrogen, less progestin. Both women prefer steady state dosing rather than pills that mimic a rise and fall of hormones. If the pill contains norethindrone Dr. Vliett prefers it be no higher than 0.5.
Patch and transdermal delivery of hormones is least likely to have clotting side effects in normal women. The oral route is what stimulates the liver to produce more clotting factors. Studies are currently being conducted on bio identical trans dermal hormones vs oral.
Hope this helps.
Sammie

[sami4]

Also medicated IUD with progestin is also a birth control device that if used for a while stops heavy bleeding, may shrink fibroids, and stops the periods in many women. When it is removed fertility is not altered. It works by putting the uterine lining into a calm, sleepy state and reducing the lining. I have one for menopausal use, not BC, but the down side is spotting for a few months off and on.
Sammie

[kjones1]

So Sammie, does that mean I got it wrong. The lady I spoke with about Ovcon-35 said it was more progesterone than other pills. Was that wrong? She wasn't exactly sure. Also did they mention ortho cyclen if that would be better or worse? And Sammie where did you get that info. Could you direct me to the study or link. Thanks your the best--KJ

[frisbyra]

Ovcon 35 has more estrogen to progestine. I researched it before I used it. This one is def good for people for IC. You might want to try this one first :)

[sami4]

Kay:
The info on Dr. Vlietts preference for type of BC pills is discussed at length in her book, Screaming to Be Heard. Dr. Gillespie recomendations were in a private email to me regarding the subject when I was spotting heavily and had to do something.
The composition of BC pills is in every package insert or you can find them in a book such as The Pill Book which lists many medications. You could also just ask a pharmacist.
Sammie