(no subject)

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

I hope this isn't too close to being a FAQ, please forgive me if it is.

I suspect that I have some wacky hormone imbalance. I have frequent yeast infections (well, like 4 in the past 13 months, and my current one is really tough), an occasionally fluttery heart beat, horrible periods, and hot flashes (they usually appear during PMS). I have terrible mood swings and insomnia during PMS as well. If I look up each individual symptom, many of them list having too much estrogen as a possible cause.

I plan on seeing a doctor in a couple weeks, when my school insurance kicks in. In the meantime though, I'd like to ask you ladies - most hormonal birth control methods give you extra estrogen, right? So if I understand that correctly, most hormonal methods would make me worse, not better, if I am correct in guessing that I have too much estrogen already. However, I really don't want to use condoms all my life, because I don't trust them to keep me from getting pregnant. I'm not terribly comfortable with the idea of the IUD either. I'm frustrated by my lack of choices. I'm afraid of the side effects of the hormone drugs too, but I would feel safer pregnancy-wise on them than I do with just condoms or a diaphragm. I know that estrogen raises your risk of cancer, and so adding it to my system kind of scares me.

Any ideas, comments, or suggestions would be great. Mostly I'm just looking for company in this - sometimes I feel like the only person who worries about this sort of thing.

Comments

[geminigirl]

There are progestin only "mini-pills" that don't contain estrogen. They have a slightly higher failure rate, and it's much much more important to take them at the same time every day. There's also Depo-Provera, the shot, which is only progestin.

But, before you go diagnosing yourself, make a list of all your symptoms, how long they've been going on, and when/if they seem to flare. Take that with you when you see the doctor and ask him/her what he/she thinks.

Your doctor will take all of that stuff into account when figuring out what kind of birth control is good for you.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

Thank you - making the list is a really good idea. I feel like I have so much weirdness I can't keep it all straight sometimes. :) I wasn't seriously diagnosing myself, but I am somewhat suspicious that at least *something* is up, hence the trip to the doctor's.

But I wasn't aware of the "mini-pills", so it's good to know that they exist, just in case. Thank you!

[geminigirl]

Having a collection of unidentified symptoms is scary...I've been going through all kinds of that for the last few months. Most of which, is chronicled in my journal.

When I was looking for information about the actual formulation of the pill I'm currently on (Levlen) vs. the pill I was formerly on (lo-ovral) I found this site which is slightly technical but very helpful. It goes through some of the scientific history of the pill and some stuff about things that might be considered by a patient and a doctor when choosing a pill. It links to this page which actually compares different pill formulations that are available in the US.

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

wow, thanks! that looks like it could be a useful resource. :)

[torena.livejournal.com]

I guess something to consider is what KIND of pill you're on. When I was on Orthocept, I got VERY frequent yeast infections. I went on Demulen and OrthoTricyclen for the next few years deciding which was best (and making a mistake by getting Depo done) and my yeast infections went away. There are also two doses of birth control, from what I understand, and I'm on the lower dose. Hope that helps. :)

[mangofandango.livejournal.com]

It does help some, thank you. :) I guess I'll just have to talk with my doctor and start trying things until I find something I'm comfortable with...I just got a bit overwhelmed thinking about dealing with it. I'm feeling more hopeful now though. :)

[a-typical.livejournal.com]

It might be related to your thyroid (I'm not a doctor, so don't take my word on that. Look up hypo-thyroidism and hyper-thyroidism and see if you fit the symptoms. This doesn't necessarily mean anyhting, though, as I fit alot of the symptoms and I've had my thyroid function checked often)

There's also Depo-Provera, and the mini pill (progesterone only). They don't contribute any eostogen. The mini pill you have to take exactly the same time every day, and depo is one injection every 12 weeks.