Birth contol pills - Menopause Message Board

captain14 · 06-15-2006, 04:57 AM

I have been having symptoms for about 3 years. At the time it started I was on bcp's for about 13 years. Not knowing what all the symptoms were that I was having I stopped the pills. My dr thought I was crazy and said the taking bcp would mask the symptoms and that I was too young for peri anyway. Thank goodnes my gp disagreed and said it was peri and that seemed to ease the terrible anxiety I was having. So I have been managing the symptoms the best I can and just went to a new dr due to a move. My one complaint to her was that I was all over the map with my period. She advised that I start up on bcp again to ease the symptoms and get me regular again. Well, I have only been taking them for a few days and I feel so much worse. The hot flashes are almost constant. Terrible insomnia. Has anyone had this happen? I know it hasn't been long enough for the pills to settle in my system but I can't take how I feel. Can anyone help with this? Thanks so much.

Titchou · 06-15-2006, 06:15 AM

You didn't give your age and that would help. However, my experience was that when I was first on bcp, after about 12 years I was having all sorts of PMS symptoms all the time. So I got off the pill. This was mid-30's. When I remarried at 44, I went back on them and had no problems. However, after a few years, peri stepped up and my doctor changed my bcp. In two weeks, every symptom was gone. Literally! About 4 years ago I decided that 56 was too old to be having periods (especially since I started them at age 10!). Talked with my gyno and she put me on HRT. Haven't had a period since. It's wonderful!.

Anyway, if it has only been a few days, I would try to keep on them a little longer for your system to adjust. If you keep having trouble, ask her to prescribe a different one. You just may need a different formulation. Good luck!

captain14 · 06-15-2006, 06:42 AM

Thanks for the response. I will be 42 next month. The pill I was on was ortho novum 7-7-7. I had no problems with it, just started to have a lot of symptoms after I turned 39. Now I started Yasmine. Like you said I need to give it some time. The symptoms I got used to but getting my period every 2 weeks I don't like. That is the purpose of starting the pill again. Thanks again.

deinee · 06-15-2006, 06:53 AM

I started on BCP last Feb. to control ovarian cysts and heavy periods. About the only thing I can tell the pill has helped is the periods. Finally I am regular again and they are not quite as heavy. As for the rest of the peri symptoms, ovary pain, palpatations, weight gain, acne, headaches, nausea to name a few they are all still there, some worse since starting the pill. I am on a low dose estrogen pill, so maybe that is why other problems remain. I really hate to up the pill to higher estrogen, everyone around me is being diagnosed with breast cancer lately. And those people have a connection to HRT or bio-identical hormones. I don't know the answer. It's no good to feel crumby all the time either, trying to go it alone without anything. I hope you start to feel better. Ann

marys62 · 06-15-2006, 07:48 AM

captain,

I have been on lo-ovral for over a year. It is the same formula for three weeks than placebo pills (no hormones) for 1 week. It took about 1 and /2 months for the pill to kick in and I felt fine. It really does take a while for it to work but it is well worth the wait.

mary