Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 3317

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BirthControl Pills for elevating libido

Posted by Ruth on March 1, 1999, at 11:58:39

I read in a magazine over the weekend that there are
two types of birth control pills--mono-phasic and
tri-phasic. One gives continuous estrogen and the
other gives estrogen sporadically. One, I can't
remember which, was found in studies to increase
sexual desire and enhanced pleasure. I was interested
in this as an antidote to the negative sexual side
effects that the SSRI's can cause. Has anyone else
heard of this, or better yet, have experience with
birth control pills enhancing sexual experience? I
have only had the experience that birth control pills
NEGATIVELY effect my experience, but perhaps I wasn't
taking the right type of pill. I alway took the very
low dose ones b/c I didn't want to gain weight or break
out. Feedback?

 

Re: BirthControl Pills for elevating libido

Posted by Terry on March 2, 1999, at 9:31:59

In reply to BirthControl Pills for elevating libido, posted by Ruth on March 1, 1999, at 11:58:39

Ruth -- I don't know about birth control pills increasing libido. The thing about monophasic vs. triphasic pills increasing libido sounds like a marketing ploy by one of the drug companies to me. The pills usually deliver the same total dose of hormone each month whether they're monophasic or triphasic. The triphasic pills are set up to deliver varying doses for three weeks of the cycle, but you're still getting the same (or very similar) amount of hormone for your whole cycle as you'd get with a monophasic pill. Supposedly that's to mimic a woman's own hormone cycle, but it's controversial as to whether that's necessary or beneficial. There are many very low-dose monophasic pills on the market now that are supposed to be very safe and have what are called "good" progestins -- artificial progesterone -- in them. Progestin in older, higher-dose pills was associated with more problems such as weight gain.

I have heard that some physicians are giving women testosterone in low doses to increase libido. I think it was only in pre- or menopausal women, though. You might want to check with your doctor about this. Also, you didn't say whether you're on an antidepressant or not, but most of the SSRIs like Prozac can decrease libido. You might want to try another class of antidepressant or ask for another drug such as BuSpar or Wellbutrin to "augment" the antidepressant to offset the lack of libido. Good luck!

> I read in a magazine over the weekend that there are
> two types of birth control pills--mono-phasic and
> tri-phasic. One gives continuous estrogen and the
> other gives estrogen sporadically. One, I can't
> remember which, was found in studies to increase
> sexual desire and enhanced pleasure. I was interested
> in this as an antidote to the negative sexual side
> effects that the SSRI's can cause. Has anyone else
> heard of this, or better yet, have experience with
> birth control pills enhancing sexual experience? I
> have only had the experience that birth control pills
> NEGATIVELY effect my experience, but perhaps I wasn't
> taking the right type of pill. I alway took the very
> low dose ones b/c I didn't want to gain weight or break
> out. Feedback?

 

Re: BirthControl Pills for elevating libido

Posted by saintjames on March 26, 1999, at 15:27:40

In reply to Re: BirthControl Pills for elevating libido, posted by Terry on March 2, 1999, at 9:31:59

> Ruth -- I don't know about birth control pills increasing libido. The thing about monophasic vs. triphasic pills increasing libido sounds like a marketing ploy by one of the drug companies to me.

James here....

There is another bcp being marketed as improving
acne....it is my understanding that most bcp's have this effect in some. The same goes for Zyban...it seems to be the only one studied for stoping smoking but from the reports I read it would seem any AD should work. There is nothing "special" about Zyban other than its AD effect in stoping smoking.

james

 

Re: BirthControl Pills for elevating libido

Posted by terry on March 31, 1999, at 14:20:11

In reply to Re: BirthControl Pills for elevating libido, posted by saintjames on March 26, 1999, at 15:27:40

James -- the only thing about Zyban (bupropion, Wellbutrin) is that it is in a class of its own. It's different than the SSRIs, so I'm not sure other ADs could be used interchangeably for quitting smoking. I wish someone would do a study, though, because everyone's complaining about the high cost of Zyban, and wouldn't it be nice if a cheaper AD would work? Terry

> > Ruth -- I don't know about birth control pills increasing libido. The thing about monophasic vs. triphasic pills increasing libido sounds like a marketing ploy by one of the drug companies to me.
>
> James here....
>
> There is another bcp being marketed as improving
> acne....it is my understanding that most bcp's have this effect in some. The same goes for Zyban...it seems to be the only one studied for stoping smoking but from the reports I read it would seem any AD should work. There is nothing "special" about Zyban other than its AD effect in stoping smoking.
>
> james


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