New birth control, same risks?

[sereni-t.livejournal.com]

Hi! 
I have been on HBC since January. I started off on Loestrin 24 but it made me a little emotional/crazy so my doctor recommended Yaz (even though I am not a sufferer of PMDD)  I've been on Yaz for about 5 months and am starting to notice some really unpleasant side effects. The first being, I have severe anxiety. I have never before had tendencies of a hypochondriac but since I've started Yaz I am incredibly anxious about EVERYTHING. I hear about a certain disease on the news and feel obligated to google the hell out of it until I'm convinced I have it. It's RIDICULOUS! The second thing I have noticed is changes in my heartbeat. I have never once in my 20 years of life even noticed my heartbeat but since i've been on yaz I notice that sometimes I am short of breath very easily, which is weird because physically I am in great shape, sometimes I can't feel my hearbeat at all and sometimes it pounds like crazy, even if I am resting
. I did some research and saw a lot of instances in which women were experiencing increased risks of heart palpitations and blood clots in their cases of using Yaz. I never experienced any of this on Loestrin, but now that I have read all about how serious side effects can result from ANY HBC, I want to stop using Yaz but I am terrified to switch to another! My doctor recommended putting me back on Loestrin. I can't get a non hormonal form of BC (such as an IUD) because I have not had a child yet, and am only 20 years old. My boyfriend and I both do not like condoms and I am verrryy sensitive to spermicides and foams. So help me Vag Pag! Is Loestrin less of a risk than Yaz? I want to be pregnancy free but not at the risk of my health!

Comments

[luxxlife.livejournal.com]

Check around about the IUD. I had Mirena inserted in June and I am 20/no children. I went to Planned Parenthood when they were doing a promotion to get it put in for free (I went there because I thought I had no insurance, come to find out I did, also my sister had it put in with insurance and still had to pay $200). They do these promotions a lot where you can get Mirena, Implanon, or Paraguard (which I believe is NHB) free. Check around!

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Hormonal birth control isn't risky. It's actually an extremely safe medication. Over 12 million women in the United States alone use the pill for contraception every year, and when you take that huge number, the rate of serious side-effects is extremely rare.

The important facts? The risk of experiencing a blood clot due to HBC use is less than the risk of getting a blood clot due to pregnancy -- but we never describe pregnancy as a super-risky thing! Only 1 in 10,000 women (http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/downloads/oc.pdf) will get a blood clot while taking most hormonal contraceptives.

Additionally, all kinds of combined hormonal birth control pose a very, very teensy-tiny risk of blood clots. Some pills may have a slightly higher risk than others, but to my knowledge that's all still under review.

So right now, LoEstrin isn't "safer," but neither pill is dangerous in the slightest.

That said, if you're having a lot of anxiety because of your pill use, it might be better just for your stress levels to stop taking combined HBC. Progestin-only methods -- like progestin-only pills, the Implanon implant, or Depo Provera -- are not linked with an increase in blood clots. You can ask your doctor about any of those options.

If you're interested in an IUD, you can actually get them if you have not had a child. It's long and kinda complicated why some still don't recommend them for women who have not had a child, but more and more doctors are doing insertions for nulliparous women, and I know tons of VPers who have not had kids who do have an IUD. You can also ask over at iud_divas.

[sereni-t.livejournal.com]

Even if I would like to have children in the future they would allow me to get an IUD?

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Absolutely yes. Future desire to have children has nothing to do with getting an IUD. IUDs can be removed at any time and you will return to fertility.

The issue with nulliparous women and IUDs is that there may be a slightly higher expulsion rate in women who haven't been pregnant. But more and more doctors are getting on-board with giving an IUD for women who have not given birth; the clinic where I volunteer at downright encourages it.

[bibliophile0614.livejournal.com]

I think it's interesting that there are VPers who haven't had kids who have an IUD. All the IUD websites say you need to already have had kids. So confusing.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

It's starting to be very common -- awhile ago there was a more concern about expulsion in women who have not had children, and I get the impression that the IUD manufacturers got pressed into adding those disclaimers.

But those kinds of barriers are going by the wayside now -- as I mentioned to the OP, the feminist health clinic where I volunteer positively encourages IUD use, regardless of pregnancy.

[svexsal.livejournal.com]

I agree and I'm one of them (paragarded without a kid!). There are so many here and over at iud_divas who never had kids either :).

The IUD can even be used as emergency contraception! The doctor at my local planned parenthood didn't know that.

[paraxeni.livejournal.com]

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/assets/c/html/DisplayDoc.asp?DocumentID=2796

That's the info leaflet included with the Mirena. Nowhere does it mention that the recipient needs to have given birth or been pregnant prior to insertion.

The 'not unless you've had kids' approach seems to only happen in America. In Europe, and especially here in the UK, they're happy to fit them in anyone. My local medical practice offers them to everyone over 16.

I'm nulliparous and the successful owner of a Mirena since since January 2006.

[bibliophile0614.livejournal.com]

Yeah. From the us Mirena site, it has this "how to know if Mirena is right for you" thing, and this is what it states (emphasis mine):

Is Mirena® Right for Me?

Mirena® intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is appropriate for women who:

* Have at least one child
* Are looking for a hassle-free and reversible form of birth control for up to 5 years (or less, if you choose)1
* Are in a stable, mutually monogamous sexual relationship

It's important for you and your healthcare professional to discuss which birth control method is right for you. Mirena® offers effective birth control for busy women who want to keep life simple with a hassle-free contraceptive option

[svexsal.livejournal.com]

You sound a lot like me. I was unable to use many types of HBC because it brought about my depression and anxiety the first time I went on it (Ortho Tri) and made it worse the second time I went on it (Loestrin Fe). I also tried the diaphragm but my vag got mad at the spermicides and gave me yeast infections every other month. Plus, my migraines were definitely affected by the pill both times. This was something I wanted to avoid when I was considering a birth control method.
I then chose to get the Paragard IUD (the hormone free one). I'm 25, never had kids and they gave me one. I don't see a reason why you wouldn't be able to get one if you tried out Planned Parenthood. Check out iud_divas. Many many many of the women there do not have kids and were able to get the IUD of their choice.
I really hope you find the solution! Good luck! If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask!