To seasonale or not to seasonale?

[roc441.livejournal.com]

Bit of background: I'm leaving to study abroad in Germany in a week, and although I'm not sexually active I remember hearing somewhere that the most common health condition of students coming back from study abroad is pregnancy. I asked my doctor to put me on Birth Control even though shagging some hot German Herr is not exactly on my "To-do in Germany" list, coming back with hot German Herr's baby is definitely not.

I started using Seasonale five days ago. In retrospect I probably should have started it earlier to let my body adjust to it but I didn't think of that until last night. I'm already getting moody. I generally consider myself calm and collected but last night I had a hissy fit and I'm not even all that sure why. Of course I'm still in the first week of pills so maybe it was just one of my regularly scheduled temper-tantrums and had nothing to do with the pill.

I'm somewhat concerned about spotting because I really don't want to spot the whole time I'm over there, but if I'm understanding this correctly most people spot on seasonale because their bodies just aren't used to not menstruating. I normally have a minimum of three months between periods (although I think my cycle is fairly regular)

I realize that it will take time for my body to adjust to the pill, and I'm willing to try it, but I'm wondering if now is the right time? I'm just worried that it will cause me nothing but three months of spotting and moodiness when I'm supposed to be having fun abroad, especially since I don't even need it for birth control right now. If I decide to ditch it I still have two months worth of pills that I could start taking in the event that I do need it.

So I guess what I'm asking for is for the opinions and experiences of other people who have used Seasonale. I know birth control and side effects is pretty much a case of hit and miss, but how long did it take for you to adjust to it? Do you think the aggravation of moodiness and spotting and other side-effects are easy enough to deal with or will they interfere with my trip?

Comments

[roc441.livejournal.com]

I love Catherine!

[dusty-jewel.livejournal.com]

Catherine Called Birdy is an awesome book!

[419.livejournal.com]

me too <3

[aechei.livejournal.com]

the only person i know who took it had a terrible time with breakthrough bleeding and mood issues, and acne. so i guess im not a hella lotta help.
give it a month or so, see if it gets better. if it is messing up your head, just stop taking it. if you find someone you want to shag, start again, and you are protected in 7 days tops. hows that?

[fyrefairy.livejournal.com]

If you're not planning on being sexually active, perhaps barrier methods would be better? They don't screw with your hormones at all, and they protect against all those STIs that pills don't. (Except herpes, they don't do shit for that...) My experience with European men is that they're less aware of STIs, etc, than their American counterparts, so it's probably a good idea to use condoms anyways. If a latex or N9 allergy is making that look like a bad option, check out Durex Avanti - made from polyurethane, super thin, and great for conducting body heat.

[roc441.livejournal.com]

Yes! I probably should have included that I plan on using condoms if I ever have sex over there. Coming back with an STI is also definetly not on my list.

[fyrefairy.livejournal.com]

If you're using condoms, and you don't like the way HBC makes you feel, don't use it - especially if you think it will make your trip less pleasant. Who wants to deal with three months of wretched side effects when she should be having three months of fun/educational travel? If you periods are as far apart as you say they are, you might find that charting is way less stress than taking a pill - you just take your temperature in the morning when you get up and mark it on a chart. (It's cheaper, too.) You'll also know exactly when to expect your period - a bonus in my book. Women who chart typically know they're pregnant sooner, too, and have better relationships with their body/doctor. Take a look at the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility - it even comes with software to chart with - making it a breeze and foolproof. For support with charting/etc, check out fam - those gals are great.

[aquae-gaia.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, I loved that book when I was little!!!!!!!! Catherine rules!

[neims16.livejournal.com]

I had a horrible experience with Seasonale. I took it for about 6 months and spotted pretty much the entire time I was on it. It was *really* annoying - I took it to avoid having to deal with a period for 3 months at a time, and instead I ended up having to deal with bleeding every day.

It's a great concept, but I think there are many better pills out there.

[xxxmattrockxxx.livejournal.com]

Hi this is paintedblue120 on my boyfriend's s/n. I'm a member of this community and I'm on his conmputer.

Anyway, this girl I know was on seasonale and she had a lot of problems with it. She had a lot of breakthrough bleeding and bad cramping and stuff even though she took it correctly and she ended up getting pregnant and not knowing about it because she wasn't supposed to have her period for a while, so when she started having other pregnancy symptoms she went to the doctor and told her that she had almost killed the baby because she was still taking the BC even though she was pregnant.

I'm not saying that's gonna happen to you, because she slutted around a lot and she was overweight and she didn't have a very healthy lifestyle, but that's all I really know of someone who was on it.

I reccomend the NuvaRing. I love it!

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that the doses of hormones that birth control uses are low enough that they would not KILL a fetus, although its possible they could cause some developmental/sexual abnormalaties. Strange.

Maintainer Note - Safe Space Warning

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Please pass this message on to paintedblue120.

We just want to let you know that the phrase "slutted around" in reference to another woman's experience is unnacceptable in this community. We choose not to apply sex-negative words to other women's experiences: only an individual woman can decide whether or not she identifies her actions with that word.

Secondly, while we appreciate you sharing an experience, it is important to know that what the doctor told your friend is misinformation. According to this site (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pill/WO00098) from the Mayo Clinic, there is no substansial evidence to suggest that the hormones used in today's HBC can cause fetal abnormalities or death.

Thanks
Melissa
-For the VP Team
contact_vp

[ladymissdiva.livejournal.com]

I'm on seasonale. I just finished my first pack (my period arrived today, in full force). I was moody the week I would've had my period if I were on a 'regular' hbc... but no other major mood stuff. I DID spot off and on for 2 weeks right about the middle of the pill pack- but I was also in Europe and my timing got screwed up.

[scien.livejournal.com]

Hmm, the first couple of weeks are usually the worst for side effects. Not sure I'd want that in a foreign country, although you're welcome to give it a go.

If you're not planning on sleeping with anyone, why not just take a packet of condoms just in case? you don't really want to be relying on the pill for sex with randomers anyway - pregnancy isn't the only thing to worry about.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

In general, doctors and medical literature usually say to continue a pill for three months, as the majority of side-effects go away by that time.

[elvenelentari.livejournal.com]

I would agree with some of the above comments and say that if you're not planning on having sex, you might not need to take it. It's up to you of course, but if you do have sex you'd need to use a condom anyway. Also when I was in England I was really moody and depressed a fair bit, and I can tell you it does not make for the best experience.