Why do BCPs poop out sometimes?, And what can you do about it to help? Options

[shar14]

I had been on the BCPs in my 20s (LoOvral specifically..a 'medium low dose pill') when I was having similar fluctuations even then like I have been having now...weight gain, depression, anxiety, heavy to fluctuating periods, fatigue etc. and they stabilized my mood, weight, fatigue everything relatively well for about 4-5 years then I started feeling symptoms creeping up again and the pill just didn't seem to be able to suppress the symptoms. I didn't try any other pills and just came off of them since they were no longer helping.

Now I'm in Peri and going to try the pills again to see if they'll help suppress symptoms enough to keep me on atleast a bearable even keel and I'm wanting to figure out the reason if anyone understands about why they poop out on you sometimes. Looking back I'm wondering if I would have tried a different pill and combination if it would have helped but I wonder which would have helped...a bit higher or lower E pill? Just not sure how much a higher E would have helped bc the LoOvral has 30 E in it and the higher ones only 35. IDK just wondering if anyone has an explanation for this and if it's happened to them what helped if you tried anything different to get the pill to work/suppress symptoms again?

[Sariah]

Shar,
I don't know much about BCP's but I did read in Vliet's book that although she prefers not to use BCPs in peri or menopause, if she does Rx them, she finds the women do better on the ones with the higher estrogen. Not sure which ones have it, but hopefully someone who knows will join in and tell you which ones those would be.

[leanne0721]

I don't think they poop out... I think WE do LOL If your feeling poorly because you're lacking one or more hormones that the BCP will provide, then I think you may benefit. The thing with peri is we fluctuate. The pills don't. So if you are running high on estrogen one day, and the BCP gives you MORE, it may have an adverse effect. They have a better result when we're younger (mood and symptom wise) because we're not up and down on the hormone grid like we are later in life.

[shar14]

Thanks Sariah...I read in Vliet's books too that she likes the higher E pills too and seems partial especially to Ovcon 35 but I'm confused now because from what I gathered she actually prefers using BCP in Peri stating that the BHRT can be helpful but a time during such fluctuations with Peri you will still have the ups and downs whereas the BCP will help stop the fluctuations so much through suppressing. She then mentions BCP pills to take continuously without a sugar pill break and also sometimes gives an E patch if you do take the break so you don't feel such a crash during your period week.

[shar14]

That does make sense too LeAnne ! Again confusing though because I thought the whole point of the pill in Peri recommended is to stop and suppress those severe fluctuations in Peri by keeping a stable level of the hormones in you. So our hormones can still surge dramatically like this without the pills? I'm thinking what's the point taking them then!?

[leanne0721]

That does make sense too LeAnne ! Again confusing though because I thought the whole point of the pill in Peri recommended is to stop and suppress those severe fluctuations in Peri by keeping a stable level of the hormones in you. So our hormones can still surge dramatically like this without the pills? I'm thinking what's the point taking them then!?

Well... it depends on the Dr. Personally.. and this might not be popular, but I think they give them to us to shut us up. I'm sure it relieves some symptoms at times, but I think we feel so badly at times that even SOME symptoms SOME time is better than nothing. I went to 4 different doctors at my worst. 2 suggested BCP's, 2 did not. So?? Back to square one...

Have you talked to your doctor about Bio's?? If you're looking into BCP's then obviously you don't have any medical or personal objection to hormone replacement, because that is what the BCP's are. PERSONALLY (and don't blast me for this ) I think BCP's should be used for a short time to prevent pregnancy. If you're looking for peri relief than I would have all my blood work done, and chose a BHRT regiment that fit my needs.

But what do I know??? LOL

[Lady E]

I have been on bcp for around 3 years now.I started on yasmin,it made me worse.Then I tried zovia-it worked well,but made my migraines worse.I did a little research and decided to try sprintec-it had a bit less progesterone,which has worked wonderfully for me.I still have occasions of not feeling great,but I now function normally-I am not crying all the time,and even started substitute teaching.I do not give all the credit to the pill.GOD has helped me so much.The pill has made a difference though,and I believe you should give it a try.You can always switch like I did if after three months you do not feel better.GOD-bless

[enough]

I have been using seasonique a tri-cycle pill. My doctor (both gyn and gp) said our bodies soooo much during this time that nothing can keep up. The bcp;s will help, but not completely take away the symptoms. There is no magic bullet. I would like to try bioidenticals, but I dont' have a prescription plan and my doc gives me sample of seasonique most of the time ,so the cost is manageable. I take xanax every now and then to combat the anxiety and nuttiness. During the off week, and a few weeks after, my anxiety is pretty bad so I supplement with the xanax when needed.

I hope this helped a little.

[softball girl]

I take Ortho Novum 1/35 a monophasic bcp. However, this is my last pack. I have been on them for 4 years for birth control. About 2 1/2 years in, is when all the anxiety, GERD, feeling off-balance and sometimes just feeling "off" started. So I don't know if my body just started to change while on them, that is what I assume happened. Anyway I am going to try stopping them and see what happens. I was VERY regular before starting them, every 28-30 days. I spot in week 3 and then have a 3 day mini period.
I just had my annual exam, my doctor said if I want to go back to them I can with no problem. He recommends them for women my age who I are having some symptoms of peri.
I agree with everyone here, sometimes we "poop" out but I also agree that the bcp can't keep up with all the fluctuations we have, it can quiet them down, but not totally erase them. Work with your doctor to find one that works for you, most people from my knowledge usually have to try a couple to find the one for them.
Good Luck to you!!!!!!

[moonlight]

It's my understanding that when a woman takes bcps,her own production of estrogen and progesterone is halted and she only gets what's in the pills.....am i wrong in thinking this?

[softball girl]

It's my understanding that when a woman takes bcps,her own production of estrogen and progesterone is halted and she only gets what's in the pills.....am i wrong in thinking this?

That is what the doctors tell us, and that may be true for younger women, BUT having been on them for 4 years now, I am not convinved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I truely was fine UNTIL I started taking them, then I was all over the map with moods, spotting, etc. Plus I tried 3 different pills until I got on my current one that has helped even me out the most, but not completely!!

This is just my opinion, my doc thinks the pill mutes the whole thing, but I don't agree, all I have to go on is how I've felt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't NOT like taking them, I am just trying to see if I return to NORMAL after I stop, whatever that is anymore...LOL

[skiergirl]

I used to think that bcp's suppressed our own hormone production too--until I started taking them during peri and I found out different! I tried two different pills (YAZ and Ortho-Novum 1/35) and both worked for a few months, but then my symptoms returned. My gyn then handed me a prescription for Ortho-Novum 1/50, which I never filled. I now think that when I was younger and took bcp's with no problem that my own estrogen was supplementing the pill. I know the pill works fine for a lot of women in peri though, so it's probably worth trying if you don't want to try the bioidenticals.

[JZZ]

Hi, I agree with SkierGirl. But, the real problem is that the new ulta low dose bcp's don't contain enough E to fully suppress our ovarian generated "fluctuation" that give us symptoms. Yes, they do provide enough hormones for effective birth contol. These ultra low dose bcp's came out in the 90's (geared towards the boomers and peri) (Before that they didn't want you on the old high bose bcp's after the age of 35). Unfortunately, these low dose bcp's just don't work as well for symptom relief. However, the good news with the newer bcp's is that there is a wider variety of e to p ratios and types of progestins to try. If one doesn't work then try a different one. I do not agree with most docs that you need a full 3 months inorder to see how you feel on a particular bcp before swithcing to another. Best wishes, Jzz