(no subject)

[le-stutter.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty stressed out over birth control. I recently got of the patch suddenly because it was making me throw up even though I had been on it for oer 6 months! I took a month off to see how I felt. In that month, I had my period twice and now when my period was supposed to be due...it didn't come. I took 3 preg. tests which came out negative. I resumed taking birth control but instead I went to Ortho Low the Sunday after my period was supposed to be here. This is my 3rd day on it....do you think it's at all dangerous to be taking the pill without having my period? Or they say to wait for your period just because you could be preg? I feel like I just don't know enough about birth control to satisfy me. Do any of you feel that you just arent recieving the information you want from doctors??? I feel like they only tell me so much. Sigh, I'm pretty scared.

Comments

[bheansidhe.livejournal.com]

Look in the memories in menstrualhut and birthcontrol. There are lots of women who skip their periods by taking continual birth control. In fact, one drug company is developing a three-month pill (you bleed only at the end of three months). So no, it's not inherently dangerous to your body. Here's some more reading:

Which oral contraceptive is best for me? (http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm) (third chart down is most helpful)

Online contraception resources. (http://www.contraceptiononline.org/index.cfm)

The history of birth control (http://health.discovery.com/convergence/yourperiod/gladwell.html) -- gets really interesting around page 4

When you change birthcontrol, you should give your body *at least* two months to adjust to the changed hormones. Don't be worried or scared in that time if you don't bleed normally, because if you took your pills regularly, there's less than a 1% chance that you ovulated.

It's hard to get doctors to tell you everything you need to know. I've found that the BEST thing is to educate myself first -- then in the doctor's office I know exactly what to ask. Doctors appreciate an intelligent, informed patient and will often stop "talking down" to you if you demonstrate basic knowledge. :-/

Re:

[le-stutter.livejournal.com]

Thankyou so much!! This has been very helpful!!!!
xoxo
Ella
P.S. I have in fact researched birth control a lot....and am pretty educated on the subject....it's just that I didn't seem to fully understand the dangers of getting back on it even if I had missed my period! I hope you don't think I'm a total moron!

thx again!

[bheansidhe.livejournal.com]

You're not a moron! And I think the package inserts say not to take birth control if you've missed a period *in case you are pregnant.* It's more a question of reducing their liability if you take it and you ARE pregnant and you DO carry to term and there ARE some effects on the fetus, yaddayadda.

[katlynel.livejournal.com]

actually, taking BC doesn't harm the fetus in early stages, and I've never seen a Pill insert say not to take it if you've missed a period. In fact, they say if you're already on the Pill and miss a period, not to worry if you've been taking it consistently because you're probably not pregnant and it wouldn't harm the fetus if you were.

[bheansidhe.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's been a while since I read one of those things. :) Possibly the language has changed in the last few years, because I remember some kind of warning.

[nonsynthetic.livejournal.com]

I was on the patch for 8 months and recently just stopped using it because my boyfriend and I broke up. It was helpful with keeping my period regulated (always the 4th week as it should be) but now I havent had my period in at least two months. I'm assuming my body is still adjusting to the change, but if it doesn't come back soon I'm going to go to the doctor.

As far as doctors not giving enough info, most of the ones I have seen are very open to questions & explain things thoroughly. Maybe you should just find a new doctor or ask more questions?

[katlynel.livejournal.com]

The only reason they say to wait on starting it is so that your preexisting hormone levels are as low as possible, since a plummet in hormone levels is what brings on your period. That insures immediate effectiveness and reduces the odds of nausea from excess hormones. I think you're fine. When I went off Loestrin 1/20, similar in dosage to the patch, I didn't bleed for two months. I think it's because the patch hormone dose is low enough you don't build up much of a lining, so it takes a while to resume bleeding.