Just wondering what made you decide to give bcp's a try. Was it strictly based on what your doc suggested? I have not been to my gyn yet, am 41 and have quite a few peri symptoms. My period symptoms are 21-28 day cycle with spotting in between (oh, lots of other terrible peri stuff too!). Am wondering if gyn will suggest bcp's and if I should consider. When I'm having a bad symptom day I think YES I'll try anything. I'd swallow rocks if someone said it would help! If I'm having a good day I think, I'll just wait it out, go natural, take vitamins, eat soy, cool, I can do it! Sounds like with the bcp's may still get bad PMS stuff when it's period time. What's the upside? Just being more even the rest of the time? Any input is HUGELY appreciated.

I took them at my Dr's suggestion and because I was tired of feeling like total poop! They worked wonders for me personally and I know others not so much. There is an old thread around here somewhere with lots of peoples experiences using bcp's. You may try looking up my post and find it that way. Because of some other health issues I will be going natural soon. Best of luck whatever you decide!

I tried the vitamin way first and it helped but not completely. the worst for me were the hot flashes/dizziness and major anxiety. It could have been a combo of a rough stage of life too, but regardless, I needed help. the bcp's made a huge difference for me. I feel much more like myself again. Some days are still rough, but for the most part, I am so much better. Good luck and keep getting opinions befroe making the choice. That's what we're all here for.

I went to my doctor and asked for them.I am so young(32) and have three children.I could not deal with the avalanche of symptoms and be a good mom.I have tried three different brands and am most happy with the one I am on now,which is Sprintec-it is only 9.00 at walmart or sams club pharmacy,they have really helped me feel able to make it through my day.GOD-bless

I started on them strictly for birth control. I used ortho-tricyclin at first, but my gyno felt like it was attributing to my anxiety with the different levels of hormone every week, Switched to a monophasic, feel much better.

The 2 gyno's I saw both felt that bcp was the way to treat peri symptoms for someone my age, 42. Not to many other options were discussed. I am going to dig further when I have my next appointment. The info is definitely mixed and tough to figure out. Loads of options, you just have to find what works for you and stick with it.

I agree with some others, I still have rough days on the pill. I want to get off of them, but I am afraid just the same. Seems I started GETTING peri symptoms while ON the pill. So I don't know if going off will hurt or help.

I went on the pill at 42, strictly for peri symptoms, hot flashes, short cycles.......
I am now 53, and my doctor wants me OFF them...she does not want to put me on HRT, unless absolutely necessary.
I did try HRT for a year, and hated it ( FemHrt) as I gained weight.

So, in just a few weeks, I will go off the pill, and am scared.
I am usually very health conscious, all natural.....I was a breast feeding mom, always avoided meds

However, I have to say that the pill really helped me through a tough ten years, the end of my marriage, becoming a single mom....
I think that the pill can be really helpful during peri.

my only real fear ( aside from hot flashes!) is that I will gain weight once I stop the pill.....

Hi Ex-Urbanite:

why does your doctor want you off them - is your pressure going up?

Nearly all doctors want women off the BCP's by 55 at the very latest....
my pressure is totally normal.... I have done a lot of research, and cannot find any doctors or writings that advocate women being on the pill past mid 50's...
they do give you a higher dose of hormones than the HRT, that I know.
Hope you are doing well, Lara!

Hi there again:

I am doing very well, thank you. regarding getting off the pill - I know the cut of date is 55, so why don't you coast along for another 1 1/2 yr - on a lower estrogen pill - Yaz is too strong for older women - I take Alesse (generic Avaine) myself which has 20 mcgs of estrogen - I'm sure Yaz has more - maybe your doctor will let you take this lower dose pill for a year or so - but do you know if you are meno yet? its hard to tell because FSH levels are all over the place during peri - and it could be high one month and low the next - if you do take HRT, why don't you take the bio-identicals that everyone is raving about - I don't think they cause weight gain as much - I do think that the pill is wonderful for women though - I feel sorry for women who can't take it - it really helped with my peri - Take care and I hope your doctor listens to you LOL

Lara

Thanks Lara-
Yaz only has 20 mcg's of estradriol just like Alesse...
I cannot afford blood tests or bioidenticals, but figure that at some point all of us will have to go off meds.

I appreciate your suggestion, though, as it prompted me to look up levels of several BCP's...I was on LoEstrin for a year, and gained weight, and now see that it is much higher than most in progestin....which may have been my problem.

I will ask my doctor if my symptoms ( off the pill ) get bad enough if she might let me back on a pill like Alesse ( cheaper than Yaz!) or I guess I could try HRT again.
My doctor did say something about taking HRT on an every other day basis...so may try that in the future....

Glad to hear that Alesse is working well for you!

I went on Orthocylcen (Sprintec is the generic) when I was 33 for insomnia and adult acne based on a book I read by Elizabeth Vliet, It's my Ovaries Stupid. I've been on it 4 years and thought it was a god send. Now I'm waking up intermittenly at night, usually after 3-4 am, have a little hair loss (it corrected that at first), and think my skin looks pasty despite being very careful and informed about what I put on it as well as my diet. I would have stayed on it indefinitely for the sleep benefits if it weren't for the recent problems. I am going to look in to transitioning to bioidentical hormones by age 40. (I'm 38) The pill is synthetic estrogen, it has few health benefits in my opinion other than helping get rid of ovarian cysts and preventing ovarian cancer, etc. My opinions are based on what's happened to me recently though as well as what I've read on other boards from women who've had terrible experiences with the pill. Dr. Vliet seems to think it's all about going on a pill that has a good estrogen/progestin ratio. Orthocyclen is certainly one of the better ones but I regret going on it.