Help me, my lovelies!

[eroticpuppy.livejournal.com]

I need some advice from my lovely VagPag women and men. So, here goes.

I've been on the pill since I was 14 - I had 9 ovarian cysts, and that's what we used to rectify that situation. Now that I'm 22, the added birth control benefit has come into play. Previously, I've used condoms for safe sex, but now I'm with a partner where we have been tested. But, yes, I'm still on the pill for medical reasons beyond birth control.

I went to the doctor today, and was found to have high blood pressure. I'm going to get some blood work done tomorrow to see what the cause is. The doctor says that if he can find and treat the cause of the problem, that he will. But, high blood pressure does run in my family.

Which leads me to my question.

If I have to go on a high enough dosage of blood pressure medication, I will have to go off of the birth control pill. I'm looking online, and I'm starting to think that an IUD will be my only medical birth control choice. I'm reading about it now, and I must admit, it doesn't sound nearly as pleasant as the pill.

I'm not thinking about leaping into herbal medications, due to it possibly interfering with my blood pressure medication (if any).

Are there any options I'm missing? Any help will be hugely appreciated by myself,and my fiancee.

Comments

kind of off topic, but...

[jaclyn.livejournal.com]

how does BC get rid of/prevent ovarian cysts?

I'm curious as hell with all the PCOs talk lately...

Re: kind of off topic, but...

[eroticpuppy.livejournal.com]

I wasn't 100% sure of the answer myself, but this site was helpful (http://http://www.womens-health.com/health_center/gynecology/gyn_cyst_interact_q-a.html#cyst25).

Re: kind of off topic, but...

[eroticpuppy.livejournal.com]

Whoops, wrong lik in the last entry.

http://www.womens-health.com/health_center/gynecology/gyn_cyst_interact_q-a.html#cyst25

Re: kind of off topic, but...

[jaclyn.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[faeryguinevere.livejournal.com]

I had high blood pressure do to job-related stress and they put me on the mini-pill (no estrogen). I guess that the combo pills can possibly increase your blood pressure more than the mini-pills and cause more health risks in that area, especially if you are already prone to high blood pressure. The mini-pill (I am on micronor)has been ok for me, although I am not nearly as regulated in my cycle as I was with the other pills, in my experience. And I quit that job almost a year a ago, so my blood pressure is much better now :)

Maybe this will help?

[beruthiel.livejournal.com]

i don't know how much good this is since you already have high blood pressure, but mini-pills aren't supposed to affect your blood pressure like combined pills so maybe it's possible blood pressure medicine and mini-pills can go together? might be something to ask a doctor about or maybe someone else here can help :)

[eroticpuppy.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm going to do some online research about the minipill, and take it to the doctor when I go for my re-evaluation.

[geminigirl]

Reducing or eliminating your caffeine intake can do wonders for blood pressure. If you're a caffeine drinking person, try to cut it down or eliminate it.

[brindle.livejournal.com]

I had an IUD for about a year, 2 years ago & it never stopped hurting. I finally had it removed after getting several PIDs & taking anti-biotics for it. Sucked. I don't recommend it at all, especially if you haven't had babies - like me. Supposedly they don't cause as much discomfort if your womb has been all reamed out by having children. Whatever, I don't plan on having kids or another IUD so I guess it doesn't matter.

[racing-turtle.livejournal.com]

The IUD can be a great option and have a lot of benefits over the pill in that it allows the body to regulate its own cycle and maintain its natural levels of hormones. There used to be a lot of concern that the IUD was unsafe for women who hadn't already had children but there have been several great studies that have shown that that isn't the case though it is not at all recommended if you aren't in a committed relationship(s) with your partner(s) because of the increased risk of Pelvic Inflamatory Disease if you contract an STD. PID is a problem because it can lead to infertility. Don't let the bad name that the IUD got in this country a few decades ago prevent you from taking a serious look at it. Effective birthcontrol without taking a pill every day or messing with your hormones and it has been around for centuries at least making the pill seem newfangled.

[juniperesque.livejournal.com]

Are you also not able to take Depo-Provera, or the once a month alternative, Lunelle?

IUDs suck. My mother had one and was miserable. I was getting "don't get an IUD" talk before the birds and thebees.