posted October 20, 2005 01:26 AM              

I went in for my annual OB/GYN exam last week and got some interesting information about birth control pills that I didn't know before. My doctor said there is scientific research indicating that if a woman takes birth control pills for a length of time (I don't know how long precisely), it cuts her risk of getting ovarian cancer. (The survival time horizon is not more than 5 years once diagnosed. )She also said it also prolongs the time a woman has to have children, which is a benefit as more and more people are having them later in life than in the past.

She also said she was pro birth control pills because it provides a good deal of peace of mind against pregnancy, as abortions cause a lot of complications and can affect fertility later in life.

I had been thinking about birth control pills for years and never got on them because I just didn't want synthetic hormones inside my body. But now that the doctor says they can increase the length of time for fertility, I am thinking more seriously about it. This is because I have never really been into becoming a young mother and don't want to have any children before I am 30 years old (I'm 26 now).

There is also a part of me that would be really hurt if I were to find out one day that I waited too long and it's too late.

What are your thoughts? What have been your experiences? I would appreciate input. Thanks.

posted October 20, 2005 08:05 AM              

1. It made my period heavier but over a shorter period of time. 3-4 days vs 5. This sounds ok but when you have to change every hour (when awake) or you pretty much burst, it's not good...
2. I gained a lot of weight (15 lbs) - I found this to be true in a percentage of women. As soon as I stopped the pills, I lost all the weight...

I am really sorry to say this but the best time for women to have children is when they are less than 30. Once you reach 30, the chances of things going wrong increases dramatically each year, and specially when you are over 35. This is not to say that you will not have healthy children but rather be careful of the complications... just voicing my concerns.

Good luck.

posted October 20, 2005 08:50 AM              

As regard having children....I think it depends on each woman....I gave birth at 40, the pregnancy was fab the birth traumatic but only cos little one had gotten twisted inside of me....and didnt wanna come out !!!

AND....for all you women who may be late mothers, I got pregnant the FIRST time we made love without contraception.....it was on valentines night, and I knew I was pregnant straight after....hahaha.....

It really does depend on your general health too,but I had been off the pill for ten years or so before I got pregnant.

OMG Aphrodite Ijust noticed you are only 26 girl.....no worries...you have heaps of time...I know lots of women whove given birth in their late 30s and 40s....

Good luck to all

love

posted October 20, 2005 08:53 AM              

I was on birth control pills for about 5 years. I never really had a problem with them except I did gain approx. 15 pounds during this time. (No matter how I tried, I couldn't lose that extra weight). Once I stopped taking them, the 15 pounds were gone in about 6 weeks.

Everyone is different though.

However, I did have to try a number of different types before I found one that reacted well with my body.

I remember mood swings from a couple of brands

As long as you remember to take them every day. (I took mine with my vitamins in the morning).

It actually helped me during my period. Almost no cramping, etc. However, my ob/gyn did say that they do affect everyone different.

I'm not on them any longer. I've had a few problems regarding my fertility. I'm now not able to conceive. I'm only 27 (will be in a few days).

Good luck to you... and remember that if your dr. puts you on a certain type that doesn't work, they make tons of others.

posted October 20, 2005 12:41 PM              

Plus my thighs got huge. I looked like a horse, then I got headaches. The thing is the pill lowers the immune system so it's a gamble.

Natasha

posted October 21, 2005 09:43 AM              

The reason for my problems, which I wasn't aware of then, was (and to an extent still is) that I have rampant candida and, because it produces oestrogen of its own, too much oestrogen in my system as it is. So feeding me more synthetic hormones was compounding the problem even more. For this reason I am really totally anti-synthetic hormones.

I'm not sure how much of an issue birth control is for me personally as, due to the candida, I don't actually think I'm very fertile - what the candida does is create acid conditions inside the vagina that actually zap the sperm before they have a chance to go anywhere - probably a good thing I don't want kids (although I have always done everything in my power NOT to have kids - in my opinion condoms are best; they protect against the widest range of diseases etc. - or, if you're unlucky, dilute lemon juice works well as a contraceptive - be warned, though - it burns.).

It's really very much a gamble as to how you will react - you could try it, for the sake of trying anything once and as a means of getting to know your body better - though I wouldn't recommend going on it long-term, it may protect against ovarian cancer, but it may increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer.

posted October 21, 2005 07:45 PM              

Pill Type 2: Combined pill with less estrogen
Medical sspecs: 20mcg of EE plus progestin
Brand-name examples: Alesse, Mircette, Levlite, Loestrin 1/20.
Delivery Method: The same amount of EE is contained in every pill (monophasic), except Mircette.
Usually works best for: Women who experience excessive nausea, breast tenderness, bloating, headaches, heavy menstrual flow, or a lowered sex drive on pills with more EE may find that some problems are alliviated by these pills.
Fine points: Mircette delivers just 10 mcg of EE on days 24-28 of the cycle to help prevent breakthrough bleeding that occurs after menstruation. Mircette also contains a lower dose of progestin - women who experience excess moodiness, fatigue, or acne may see some of their symptoms allieviated on this pill.

Pill Type 3: Combines multiphasic pill
Medical specs: Unique to each pill, but most remain within the range of 20-40 mcg of EE and .05 to 1 mg of progestin.
Brand-name examples: Triphasil, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Tri- Cyclen Lo, Estrostep FE.
Delivery method: Levels of EE or levels of progestin vary once or twice during the course of the cycle.
Usually works best for: Most multiphasic pills were introduced before oral contraceptives containing only 20 mcg of EE became available, with the intention of delivering the least amount of hormones necessary at each stage of a woman's cycle. Now that several brands of the Pill contain only 20 mcg of EE, the levels of synthetic estrogen in phasic pills are no longer significantly lower, nor are the levels of progestin.
Fine points: Estrostep FE can help prevent the breakthrough bleeding or spotting that occurs before menstruation.

Pill Type 4: Combined progestin-only pills
Medical specs: .075-.35 mg norethindrone or norgestrel.
Brand-name examples: Micronor, Nor-QD, Ovrette.
Delivery method: Each pill contains the same amount of progestin.
Usually works best for: POPs have to be taken at the same time every day, so they're only a wise choice for very responsible women. Because synthetic estrogen has been shown to lessen the quantity of breast milk, POPs are recommended for women who are breast-feeding.

Pill Type 5: Reduced-period pills
Medical specs: A combination pill that is taken for 84 days in a row followed by a 7 day break, allowing for 4 periods a year.
Brand-name examples: Seasonale.
Delivery method: Each pill contains 30 mcg of EE and .15 mg of levonorgestrel.
Usually works best for: Women who prefer to have fewer periods and who are very responsible about not skipping pills - without a monthly period, an accidental pregnancy might be harder to detect. Women should be willing to tolerate possible breakthrough bleeding, which can happen several times as often as it does on conventional pills for the 1st few cycles. A woman who takes the pill must not have health risks that might be worsened by increased long-term exposure to synthetic hormones.

posted October 22, 2005 04:44 PM              

Would doctors do consultation appointments? Sorry to sound naive but I don't quite know the etiquette to some things at times. I would like to have a meeting to see if it modern medicine has been able to relatively figure out, to a good degree, a woman's hormone cycles, as I am sure no one ever, ever wants to play roulette with something so sensitive.

Would you ladies mind if I printed this thread out (I would black out your screen names with a marker) and take it to the doctor? I am interested in what she would say.

Thanks so much. You all really helped me a lot.

Love

posted October 27, 2005 08:01 PM              

And I am also asking how long you have known each other to get some perspective.

Have you ever considered another method besides the Pill?

I am seriously considering the diaphragm or some other method later on, but I don't see the real issue with condoms for a while other than the fact men hate them.

I imagine you maybe just trying to even out your cycles.

posted October 27, 2005 08:43 PM              

So far, I like 'em much more than the IUD.
I was had the Paragaurd, but still had persistent cramping (and a few other scary things), and no matter how short they cut the string Jase could still feel it (I'm kinda *cough*, er, shallow) - and a little pokey thing during intercourse is a bit of a mood killer.

posted October 28, 2005 12:48 AM              

The big reason I went off of them is that I'm a smoker and since I'm getting older, I'm worried about what kinda risks that could pose. I'm back to condoms, but I've been thinking about checking out the NuvaRing since I've heard that can be safer. Quitting smoking just isn't in the cards for me right now.

posted October 28, 2005 02:40 AM              

Your post is thoughtful. A kindful curiousity.

No, I haven't got a special man in my life at the moment. I had met the perfect match a while back, but Ricardo lives in Cancun, Mexico and I won't pursue it as I am in California. He's an adventure expedition guide, a perfect match for an Aries girl wouldn't you say?

I date, and in some ways, one could say I had been playing the field at times. (Aries Sun + Unaspected Mars in Aries + Unaspected Uranus in Scorpio in the 5th House).

I always use condoms and won't ever stop until I am in a monogamous relationship that smells like marriage material.

I am considering birth control because I really am not ready to become a mother before 30. I just can't from the way I am feeling and seeing how my life is right now. I would feel more confident after 30.

I think about the possibility of pregnancy, but am not at the point of worry, yet. Birth control pills seem like an additional layer of security while still being able to . . . These thoughts circulate because I have been sexually active and not always monogamous. One of my closests friends (a Taurus Sun) has suggested birth control pills a number of times. Because she cares, knows me very well, and has always intuitively known what I ultimately would want out of life.

The other times when I was not being a playgirl, the guy (Scorpio) wanted to get married and start having children within a year or two. I feel apprehensive (not at him, of course) about this. I literally flinched.

Another man I was seeing (Gemini), wants 5 babies. In the here and now, I don't think I want that many . . .

So, in a strange way, I have had opportunities to be steady with a man, but Uranus in Scorpio's soulfully independent energy comes in and says I have to follow my own course (which I described above) and find a better match . . .

Better means so many things ~ chemistry, behavioral compatibility, history, relationship quality, opportunities ~ it's not easy to describe in words sometimes. So I apologize in advance if some of this sounds offending ~ I really don't mean to be.

I have considered the diaphragm. But I am prone to UTI and I don't want to do something that will cause more infections.

Sorry, this post is long-winded. Hope I didn't bore you . . . thanks for listening and asking. It helped me.

posted October 28, 2005 02:45 AM              

My friend cant be on the pill because it makes her so moody that she becomes suicidal.

posted October 28, 2005 11:30 AM              

I would advise anything to make you feel safe except that the pill's effects are not reversible as sometimes stated. Once you gain that weight or your hair changes, it doesn't go back once they are triggered. For example I got more hair on parts of my body I didn't want..the pill triggered a change earlier than expected. These effects don't get reversed once you go off.

So to go through all of that just in case, is a blanket solution for all future men, instead of taking them on one by one. In the end, they are better experienced that way I believe. Pregnancy isn't all that easy, in my experience, ovulation does occur at specific times and if you avoid those times it makes you more safe.

In my marriage we never used anything but good sense and condoms and I never had a pregnancy, and I am fertile.

UTI-yes I am prone but less so as I get older and more educated. Showering before, for both, and right afterwards, urinating, drinking lots of water , all these things really do help. Along with a dose of grapefruit seed extract, have eliminated my UTI problem. It's kind of a drag but seeing the man showering before can be sexy.

personally, hormone changes, are not good or bad-but they are changes in your body that affect your heart, nervous system, and cycle, if your body senses change it goes on the defense. hormone changes at menopause are responsible for triggering cancers, and UTIs because the body is not used the sudden change.

When my mother went on the pill, she had a blood clot that caused enormous varicose veings on one leg and she had no warning, plus she had a fight with cervical cancer. The Pill alone was not responsible, but the hormone changes triggered changes she did not need at that time and could not fight off.

Hormones are very little understood in my mind, and diet and exercise can help, but not reverse the effects.

On thing that fascinates me is estrogen, because I believe I need more. When I eat foods high in (natural) estrogen I am happy yet it's said estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer. (maybe they mean very high doses) Everything is a tradeoff but when you get into high doses of hormones from a pill, it gets really tricky.

Good Luck,
Natasha