FOR LADIES ONLY !!!!!!!!!

[Cassie 8]

But the pill's been studied like crazy and has been on the market for what, 40 years? It doesn't work for every woman but it's safe and it's been studied like crazy.

There are warnings about the possibility of strokes for good reason......

[Caladan 19]

It's still safe. Not that there aren't side effects, but safe as determined by the FDA and numerous studies. The risk of stroke is very low. According to my gyn, the risk of blood clots leading to stroke -- the one that everyone worries about -- is less than the risk of blood clots a woman would have were she to become pregnant. If you're not scared of being pregnant, you really shouldn't be scared of the pill.

[Sinergy 3]

Becareful with that, your period is a natural cycle and it happens for reasons. If you stop it without like a hysterectomy or another procedure by your dr you can really mess your body up.

But again, when you're on the pill, you don't HAVE any periods, and it is anything but a natural cycle!

Or do you mean 'be careful with that' as in 'be careful with taking the pill'?

i mean lots of ppl try to stop their periods with pills bc they dont want them anymore, there are pills out there to stop your period but its not a forever stoping. im saying its not safe IMHO bc woman have periods for a reason and you dont want to stop it in that way.

But if you're taking the pill... you're ALREADY stopping your periods - all of them!

Gaaahhh... this thread is just reminding me that my supply of pills from the UK will be running out pretty soon (well, I think I have 2 or 3 packs left)... I still have absolutely no idea about this stuff in the US, and will no doubt have to change to a totally different pill. Not looking forward to that!

i know LOL thats my point its not safe or healthy

Who or what has told you that it isn't safe or healthy? It is one of the longest studied types of drugs.

to stop your period is not healthy, what part of "your period is a natural cycle" am i not getting clear? if you dont need to stop your period (IE hysterectomy) then dont. The pills do stop it to some point, im not saying "stay away from the pill bc you wont have a period". thats something you cant help when on the pill, all i did was make a simple statement about IN GENERAL pills and stopping your period. If your reading something else in my statements thats not my fault

I'm sorry - I am not understanding. You seem to me to be saying two contradictory things. One, that not having a real period is unhealthy. Two, that it's not unhealthy to take the pill even though it stops real periods. Or are you saying that women shouldn't attempt to permanently stop their period by taking pills all their life until menopause?

I stated the bolded part a few posts back

in simple statement,

not healthy to purposly stop your period with pills

Edited July 26, 2007 by Ionescu

[Bill and Hayley 0]

I cant take the pill, so have to get the depo injection, that stops my periods completely, which is fine by me.

[Cassie 8]

It's still safe. Not that there aren't side effects, but safe as determined by the FDA and numerous studies. The risk of stroke is very low. According to my gyn, the risk of blood clots leading to stroke -- the one that everyone worries about -- is less than the risk of blood clots a woman would have were she to become pregnant. If you're not scared of being pregnant, you really shouldn't be scared of the pill.

I love being a statistical anomaly!

Seriously though, just be aware of what the symptoms of stroke are, just in case.

[ya falaha! 0]

I didn't take Ortho Triclen but I was on Mercette and "messed" with my pills. The first month I messed with it I had a 10 day period. The second month I didn't have a period at all. The third month I got my period early. I wouldn't do it again because I felt it messed my cycle up. I wouldn't recommend it but if you're set on doing it ask your doctor first. Have you tried Depo Provera? I used to be on it and would only have a period every 3 months (around the time I had to get my next dosage).

Talk to your doctor. I've seen way too many woman completly mess themselves up.

I have an appt with my gyn in september

I called and have her office renew my prescription since I haven t been taking them for the past 11 months (no need since hubby is in the overseas)

the funny thing is the day my husband is schedule to fly to here will be the day when my period start and I HATE THAT,

I am trying to see if I can avoid it for a while

I am willing to gamble with this one I think it will be worth it

[Yaads 0]

I didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if it was already mentioned. If it was, I'm sorry Anyhow, I've heard of a new pill called Seasonale (?) that you take for 3 months straight without a period. Anyone tried this?

I have been taking Seasonale for a few years now and I LOVE it. I haven't had any side effects and no messed up periods. You take pills for 12 weeks (84 days) and then "filler" pills for a week to get the equivalent of your period. They now have a generic version but I can't remember the name, Qsomething, that helps keep the cost down. I have insurance and I have to pay $80 for a 3 months supply.

I just saw my gyno last week and she says they have even come up with a pill that you take and don't have a period for a full year. She says they are as safe as any other BC pill out there. I don't know if I could not have a period the full year...seems kinda creepy.

Oh and I agree with what someone else wrote...the reason for the hormone induced period after taking the BC for 3 weeks is for assurance that you aren't pregnant and the pills are working. At least that is my understanding.

[Mononoke28 135]

I was on Ortho Tricyclen and it dried up my skin like an old prune. Then I went on Mircette as well and it completely changed my moods, I had no emotions, I felt no joy, no sadness, nothing. I was like a total robot. So I just got off it and threw it all away. Feel 100 times better now.

[Mephys 2]

But the pill's been studied like crazy and has been on the market for what, 40 years? It doesn't work for every woman but it's safe and it's been studied like crazy.

There are warnings about the possibility of strokes for good reason......

Everything has carcinogenic or toxic warning these days, the sun, the food, the water, the air....specially for the state of California IM not too bothered by one more thing.

I didn't take Ortho Triclen but I was on Mercette and "messed" with my pills. The first month I messed with it I had a 10 day period. The second month I didn't have a period at all. The third month I got my period early. I wouldn't do it again because I felt it messed my cycle up. I wouldn't recommend it but if you're set on doing it ask your doctor first. Have you tried Depo Provera? I used to be on it and would only have a period every 3 months (around the time I had to get my next dosage).

Talk to your doctor. I've seen way too many woman completly mess themselves up.

I have an appt with my gyn in september

I called and have her office renew my prescription since I haven t been taking them for the past 11 months (no need since hubby is in the overseas)

the funny thing is the day my husband is schedule to fly to here will be the day when my period start and I HATE THAT,

I am trying to see if I can avoid it for a while

I am willing to gamble with this one I think it will be worth it

That's why you should never mess up with pills unless you talk to a doctor. I skipped my periods after suggestions from my doctor and how to do it. Don't play the doctor if you're not one, ask first.

[Cassie 8]

But the pill's been studied like crazy and has been on the market for what, 40 years? It doesn't work for every woman but it's safe and it's been studied like crazy.

There are warnings about the possibility of strokes for good reason......

Everything has carcinogenic or toxic warning these days, the sun, the food, the water, the air....specially for the state of California IM not too bothered by one more thing.

That's fine. As a stroke survivor whose stroke more than likely was caused by Ortho-Tricyclen, I'm just doing my part to spread the word to get educated.

[Mephys 2]

But the pill's been studied like crazy and has been on the market for what, 40 years? It doesn't work for every woman but it's safe and it's been studied like crazy.

There are warnings about the possibility of strokes for good reason......

Everything has carcinogenic or toxic warning these days, the sun, the food, the water, the air....specially for the state of California IM not too bothered by one more thing.

That's fine. As a stroke survivor whose stroke more than likely was caused by Ortho-Tricyclen, I'm just doing my part to spread the word to get educated.

Oh well, I'm sorry to hear it happend to you But also glad you are Ok Then I totally understand your concerns on the question and I respect that. I think we people tend to stay away once we get burned, and Im sure I would stop taking pills as well if it happened to me. Since I find some other contraception methods not suitable for me and I have no problem so far with the pill, I feel ok about taking it yet, but I've always said I would stop anything treatment that doesnt do good to me, no matter what medication it is

[Jenn! 918]

Kinda coincidental, I just got this email forward. I checked snopes and it hasn't been ruled a fake yet: http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/dishuk.asp

In the past week,  Nicole Dishuk, aged 31 newly graduated  student with
a doctoral degree about to start her new career as a Doctor, was flown
into a nearby hospital, because she had passed out.

They found a blood clot in her neck, and immediately took her by
helicopter to the ER to operate. By the time they removed the right half
of her skull  to relieve the pressure on her brain, the clot had spread
to her brain causing severe damage.

From last Wednesday night, she had been battling.  They induced her into
a coma to stop the blood flow, operated 3 times and ... finally, they
said there was nothing left that they could do.  They found multiple
clots in the left side of her brain. The swelling would not stop, and
she was on life support.

She died at 4:30 yesterday.  She leaves behind a husband, 2 year old
Brandon and 4 year old Justin.  The CAUSE of DEATH - A  birth control
injection she was getting that allows you to only have your period three
times a year.  It interrupts your menstrual cycle, and although it is
FDA approved, it shouldn't be!

So to the women in my address book   - I ask you to boycott this product
& deal with your cycle once a month  so that you  can live the rest of
your life in a healthier manner.
Please send this to every woman you know - you may save someone's
Life...
Remember, you have a CYCLE for a reason!





NET CARE 911
Netcare 911 House, 49 New Road, Halfway House,
Midrand, South Africa 1685

ETA: The Snopes article does say though that while this story might be true, clotting is a risk of any birth control, and confirms what was said before that the idea that getting a period while on the pill being "natural" is a myth.

Edited July 26, 2007 by jenn3539

[sereia 0]

i didn't read all replies, so sorry if this was mentioned... but i saw a commercial the other day for a new pill that you only get your period 4 times in a year. maybe you can switch to this?

new birth control pill

i recently switched to the nuva ring and am NOT pleased. i might try this pill too....

[comanda 4]

As a pharmacist, I can't help but add my two cents to this thread... The pill was developed by a Catholic doctor who was trying to reconcile the idea of a birth control pill with the Catholic church's beliefs. He thought that by making the cycles monthly this would be more "natural" and mimic the average woman's cycles (note he didn't end up gaining the support of the Church on this) - this is the reason that birth control pills are taken in monthly cycles. There is no reason you need to have a period every month (besides peace of mind), and taking your pills continuously as long as you are on a monophasic type of birth control (and have first checked in with your doctor on the matter) is not harming your body in any way. Going back to the "natural" state of things, in the old days women were pregnant or breast feeding for much of their adult lives and had very few menstrual periods throughout their lives. Coincidentally, women who live this way nowadays have been found to have a lower risk of some cancers.

You should not try to continously cycle with a triphasic birth control like ortho-tri-cyclen lo. Call your doctor and be honest with your reasons for wanting to switch birth control pills - they are human and understand when those of us who see our significant others so rarely don't want it to be during a time when we have a period!

Seasonale is a very good marketing ploy, as you have a nice pretty compact of 3 months worth of pills, but it's the exact same thing as skipping the placebo weeks of other pills. Jolessa is one generic version of Seasonale, but it's generally cheaper just to buy the monthly packs.

For those of you coming to the US from other countries, a local pharmacy will have the resources to help you find a birth control pill in the US that is the most similar, in terms of hormones used and doses used, to your old pills. This would give you an idea of what to ask for from your doctor. Also, you should look for local Planned Parenthoods in your area - they are not just for teenage girls. They provide very reasonable care to women and often offer birth control at a reduced rate.

Edited July 27, 2007 by comanda

[dejima 1]

You may just ask your gyne to give you a pill to delay your period at least up to 10 days while your hubby is around.

Ten days might be enough,!?

Talk to your doctor. I've seen way too many woman completly mess themselves up.

I have an appt with my gyn in september

I called and have her office renew my prescription since I haven t been taking them for the past 11 months (no need since hubby is in the overseas)

the funny thing is the day my husband is schedule to fly to here will be the day when my period start and I HATE THAT,

I am trying to see if I can avoid it for a while

I am willing to gamble with this one I think it will be worth it