Hello all,

I am a 22 year old who has recently been diagnosed with some form of arthritis that has caused softening of bones in my hands and feet. I eat well and exercise but my doctor determined that this was a side effect of birth control pills. Apparently, my ortho-tri cyclin (regular and lo - I have been on both) has caused a manifestation of lupus - like - arthritis symptoms.

Has anyone had a similar side effect?

Thanks!

Yes. Synthetic estrogen, whether in BCP or HRT, is quite notorious for "unmasking" a predisposition to collagen vascular disease. Whether you indeed have long term lupus, or a drug-induced form that disappears after a while of being off the med, only time will tell.

I had a significant flare of "lupus" or "MCTD" (the diagnostic evidence was equivocal) as a young woman, when I was on BCP. Things really settled down about a yr. after going off the pill.

HTH.