questions about continuous birth contro

[dmarie]

I have my IC pretty well under control. However, ovulation and the week prior to my period still cause my IC to flare. Then I bleed for 10 to 14 days with my period. My urogynelcologist had me try several birth control pills but I experienced a lot of breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle. She said I may benefit from stopping my periods all together. This makes me incredibly nervous! It seems so unnatural and I worry about all of the chemicals I'm dumping into my body. Also, I fear it will make my IC worse. Can anyone share experiences with being on continuous birth control and the impact it had on your IC? thanks so much!

Dawn

[Kara29]

I did it back when it wasn't the norm. I ended up with infertility after doing it for 3 years, however, they are made differently now and are much safer to use. They have several different brands that stop the period. Good Question. I would discuss the pros and cons with your Doctors and write everything down in a journal or notebook. Like what brand you took and how it affected your IC, worse, better, or the same.....this will help you and your Doctor in finding another choice. It's all trial and error. I just hope you find something that works for you and tames down the IC too!

Well Wishes,

Kara

[stef000]

Well there are some scientists out there who say that if women stopped their period they could prolong their life...
it is a misconception that we have to have our periods...
well there are some scientists out there that say that we do have to have our periods....
but i would like to believe the scientists that say we don't have to and that we are healthier than if we did have our periods...
it isn't unnatural to not have our periods since we can become anemic with them and can have a lot of problems like that....
but of course there are risks with having estrogen....
but i just thought to put some thoughts down to let ya know that if you feel better without your period or withdrawal bleeding then i say go for it...
i really look at things as if its the question for quality of life....
if you have less flaring and/or less pain and iron loss when you don't have your period then how could that be bad??
of course make sure you go and check with your doc if you have any weird side effects....and make sure you go right away instead of waiting....then i say go for it.....
those are my thoughts on it....
i am definitely no doctor but i always make medication decisions not on the side effects anymore but on if it improves my quality of life....
well i hope this sorta helped....
i hope you find relief soon no matter what you decide on this...
take it easy and take care

[crkshnks79]

I have been on continous birth control for about 3 years now . I first started taking Seasonal and now Im on Seasonique . The difference between the 2 is that Seasonique has some estrogen even in the sugar pills at the end of the pack . My docs started me on it because of all the pelvic pain I had , they thought it was Endo , it wasnt , it was my IC . As for if it makes me flare , I dont think that it does . I was on it prior to my diagnosis , so I wasnt really paying attention , but I think I would have noticed an increase . As for if its unnatural the doctors I talked to said no . But it really depends on if YOU feel comfortable w it . You can always give it a try and see how it works for you , but I suggest that you at least try it for 2 cycles , which would be 6 months , unless like Stef said you have any crazy side effects . You may have some break through bleeding at first , thats why the docs will tell you to try it for at least 2 to 3 cycles , to see if that stops . I want to warn you tho if you try it and you do have some bleeding that it can change the way you bleed . I clot alot on it and also I have tar like stuff that comes out, like its stringy dark red or black stuff . Im not trying to scare you or gross you out !!! I just wanted you to know because they didnt warn me about that and I freaked out !!! I also like you bled for long periods of time and really heavy at that ! To the point where I became anemic and would wind up in the hospital for blood loss , fainting and pain . It hasnt helped w my pelvic pain but it has stopped me for the most part from getting my period , which makes my IC unbearable ! I would talk to your doctors in depth about it and tell them how you feel . Ask them all the questions you want to know answers too . I wish you luck in your decision !!! If you have any questions feel free to PM me . Take care

[judy45]

I was on continuous BC with Yazmin and thought, like you did, that I should probably take a year off and get my period. BIG MISTAKE. I have had my period for 3 months now and each month my IC gets worse I start to flare days before my period and it doesn't end until days after my period is done. Needless to say this month I am going back on continuous birth control. Remember, you can give it a try for a few months and if you feel it is not helping or making things worse you can stop. I am so happy that this month I wont get my period. Since we ICers have so many other problems we don't need our "friend" adding to our problems! Good luck to you. LEt us know what you decide.

[Claredale]

I get the Depo Provera shot, which I started 3 years ago last April. The depo shot doesn't have estrogen, just progesterone. I was in my late 30s and hadn't been on birth control in 15 years plus because the pill caused my Eczema to flare, so hubby took care of things after our 2nd son was born. I really didn't have IC issues related to my period until my mid 30s, but again my pain was 24/7, so I didn't have very many "good" days to even tell.

I keep a journal and realized that during my ovulation time, my pain was increased. By then, I had my pain managed pretty well after I had my interstim and was doing well on my meds. I guess that is when I came to realized the connection since my pain level had decreased tremendously so when I started having that week of pain, I started researching what my options were. I had already talked to a couple of co-workers and friends that I knew were using it. All were past having their children, so I don't know anything about if you plan on having children later, so that would definitely be something to discuss with your doctor.

My NP at my gyno office told me that I may have some breakthrough bleeding at first, but I never did. It ended my ovulation flares, plus no longer deal with PMS. I never had issues with PMS until I was getting older as well. That was a nice extra benefit. I love not having my period and my gyno and my uro/gyno don't feel that it's not good to stop having periods.

T83