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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
I'm just on 30 mgs of lexapro and a benzo when needed. I have a question though. What do you think the effects of Birthcontrol would be on me?
My gyn wants to try to regulate me. It's Yasmin.
I'm doing well now I don't want to mess things up.
anyone with experience with birth control and depression , mood swing..ect...
Posted by Alara on April 21, 2003, at 7:49:23
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
Rainee, I get depressed on the pill so for the last couple of months I have thrown caution to the wind..I have tried both monophasal brands (such as Nordette/Monofeme) and triphasal brands (which give me severe PMS in the 10 days before my period).
Since August last year, my on-off again boyfriend and I have mainly timed our meetings to coincide with less fertile parts of my cycle, using the withdrawal method as a backup..The rest of the time we are blessed with those nasty little rubber things. :-( I wouldn't recommend it; am very lucky to be pregnancy-free today.
Let's all hope that the days of the male pill aren't too far away...
Posted by wendy b. on April 21, 2003, at 9:58:53
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
I'm on Mircette, have been for many years, it's bi-phasic. I take it for "flood control," if you know what I mean, because the amount of blood I was losing was worrying my OB/GYN, he said I could get anemia.
I think the hormones actually regulate me enough, they don't add to the mood swings, they actually help by keeping me on a schedule, and if I didn't take them, I feel my own hormone swings would put me in worse shape. Also, the fact that I know when my period is coming is good for me and the depression and my ADD; if I know what's coming in advance, it's just better for me... something about schedules...Maybe you can try it out, but you'd have to give it several months (3 I think) to get an idea if it's helping or not, so patience is key. Also, as with the anti-depressants, you may have to switch to another, based on any side-effects you may be feeling. I hope your GYN will work with you to get it right, should you decide to go ahead with it. I am a real fan of oral contraceptives (if you hadn't noticed by now...)
Best wishes,
Wendy
ps: Alara - I wouldn't depend on your methods for toooo long, cuz you're playing with fire, IMO. Just an observation... everybody's different, I know.
> I'm just on 30 mgs of lexapro and a benzo when needed. I have a question though. What do you think the effects of Birthcontrol would be on me?
> My gyn wants to try to regulate me. It's Yasmin.
> I'm doing well now I don't want to mess things up.
> anyone with experience with birth control and depression , mood swing..ect...
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on April 21, 2003, at 13:21:00
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
> I'm just on 30 mgs of lexapro and a benzo when needed. I have a question though. What do you think the effects of Birthcontrol would be on me?
> My gyn wants to try to regulate me. It's Yasmin.
> I'm doing well now I don't want to mess things up.
> anyone with experience with birth control and depression , mood swing..ect...Yasmin has been in use for several years now and is accepted as being a modern combined contraceptive pill.However depression is a recognised feature of the pill.Most women are happy with it but some will not be.The only way to find out if it suits you is to try it.Recently I read a piece in Drugs and Therapeutics which suggested that its advertising in Britain may have promised more than it delivered.
Posted by fairnymph on April 21, 2003, at 18:54:15
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
I have OCD/depression and I am really sensitive to hormonal birth control (which sucks becaue I have a very strong libido so I need to be on birth control!).
Loestrin and Ortho-tricyclen made me PSYCHO...I was extremely irritable and bithcy, would cry all the time for no reason, etc...I was very horny too, TOO horny, and these pills also made my menstrual cramps worse! Ortho made me break out badly as well.
I've had the most luck with desogen, which doesn't affect my mood other than making me slightly absentminded (but that is only occasionally). Unfortunately I have very little libido on desogen. Same thing for the NuvaRing -- good but no libido.
What is the point of being on the pill if I have no libido??!?!?!
As of yet I have not been able to find a form of hormonal birth control that doesn't make me psycho or asexual. I will try the new 'patch' next month.
I've heard good things about yasmin but I haven't tried it yet. The newer forms of progesterone are definitely better, so newer birth control pills are likely to have less effect on mood.
Good luck!
fn
Posted by noa on April 22, 2003, at 7:52:30
In reply to Re: About birth control » rainee, posted by fairnymph on April 21, 2003, at 18:54:15
I take a generic form of Alesse 28. It definitely helps in that I don't get PMS depression. Also, my gyno showed me research that found that it helps regulate hormones in women with signs of Polycystic Ovary Syndrom (PCOS) which has not been conclusively diagnosed in me but I have several signs. It supposedly helps with hormone regulation and can help control insulin resistance which often goes along with PCOS. It helps me as I said with eliminating monthly PMS moods and also because before I was having long cycles with no period and then very heavy bleeding, etc. and now I have regular 28-day cycles with light bleeding. Although, I just started a new pack after the week of dummy pills and did not get my period this time. I had just switched to the generic recently, so I guess I should ask the doc about that. I hope it isn't because I'm entering menopause--not ready for that!
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on April 22, 2003, at 15:14:48
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
If you do not find a pill that suits you consider having a Mirena intra-uterine contraceptive device fitted.After the initial unpleasant fitting it lasts for up to 5 years and is widely used especially in Europe.
Posted by fairnymph on April 22, 2003, at 22:33:20
In reply to Re: About birth control, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on April 22, 2003, at 15:14:48
> If you do not find a pill that suits you consider having a Mirena intra-uterine contraceptive device fitted.After the initial unpleasant fitting it lasts for up to 5 years and is widely used especially in Europe.
Wouldn't this be a BAD idea considering that the Mirena releases hormones, and that if she didn't find a pill that worked for her, she'd probably be sensitive to the Mirena's hormones as well? The hormone-free copper T IUD would be a much better option.
Oh, but if you haven't had kids...beware...your uterus could be too small! (mine was)
Posted by nmk on April 23, 2003, at 16:42:38
In reply to About birth control, posted by rainee on April 21, 2003, at 7:22:03
Yasmin sent me into the worst depression ever but after discontinuing, I felt relief after a few days. You may want to give the transdermal options a try such as Nuva Ring and OrthoEvra. I am very sensitive to hormonal changes throughout the month, and get weepy in the luteal phase of my cycle. Since I have started on Trileptal, I have noticed an that the ups and downs are not as severe.
Take Care,
Nicole
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