The Pill....

Hi Tylz25
I was on the pill before I was diagnosed with PCOS and had my daughter and have only just gone back on it scince sugrery. I am lucky as it dose not really affect me other then stop me falling preggers. Scince my weight loss I have had to change to a different pill as I had spotting but that is all fixed now.
All you can do is get the info make a decision and go for it. If you find it dose not work for you then try another type.
You may find whatever you go for may need changing as you lose weight as your hormone levels level back out

I have been warned that with the weight loss I could now go from not ovulating at all to being very fertile so back on the pill it is till we decide to have another bub.

Good luck

Hayley

SloJo wrote:

Hi

After our son was born I was over the oral pill (because I am too disorganised to remember to take it daily) and wanted to go back to using Depo - neither GPs would agree to this as apparently they suspect use of depo can cause bone deterioration in women years later.

interesting, I'm going to look into that, thanks. Nexium and Somac *are* known to be associated with bone density loss and I bet we are all on those- interesting hey.

edited to add:
found this- I'm not going to personally worry too much as I intend to add Ca supplement due to the Somac anyway- and resistance training helps increase bone density. I can pull the whole article if anyone is interested.

Obstetrics & Gynecology:
January 2010 - Volume 115 - Issue 1 - pp 35-40
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181c4e864
Original Research
Predictors of Higher Bone Mineral Density Loss and Use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Rahman, Mahbubur MD, PhD, MPH; Berenson, Abbey B. MD, MMS
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify possible predictive factors of higher bone loss, defined as at least 5%, at the spine or femoral neck, over time in depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users.

METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck every 6 months in 240 white, African-American, and Hispanic women using DMPA. For the purpose of analysis, an arbitrary value of at least 5% BMD loss from the baseline value after 24 months of DMPA use at either the lumbar spine or the femoral neck was considered as higher BMD loss. Logistic regression analysis was then used to examine factors predictive of at least 5% BMD loss at either site.

RESULTS: Of the initial 240 DMPA users, 95 completed 24 months of follow-up. Forty-five of the 95 DMPA users (47.4%) had at least 5% BMD loss at the lumbar spine or femoral neck by 24 months. Multivariable logistic regression model showed that at least 5% BMD loss was associated with current smoking (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–11.96), calcium intake (in 100 mg) (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.65–0.99), and parity (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29–0.82). Age, race or ethnicity, previous contraceptive use, and body mass index were not associated with higher BMD loss.

CONCLUSION: The risk of higher BMD loss associated with DMPA use may be reduced by quitting smoking and increasing calcium intake. Having had a child is also protective.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Hi

Like previously said there are soooo many options for birth control and the effects differ with every woman. I blamed the pill for making me cranky so went off it for a while - my moods didn't change and it turned out all I needed was to move workplaces!!!

I have tried the most common - contraceptive pill, depo provera and implanon. After having my first child my GP recommended I have the mirena. After doing some research, it was my personal choice not to have it.

After our son was born I was over the oral pill (because I am too disorganised to remember to take it daily) and wanted to go back to using Depo - neither GPs would agree to this as apparently they suspect use of depo can cause bone deterioration in women years later.
I haven't looked into this Tauret, so it's probably just their personal opinion. If it was that bad, would they have taken in off the shelf!!! I loved the depo injections - I just wish my GP would agree to give it to me.

Now I have implanon - second time around. I had irregular bleeding the first time I had it 6 years ago and had it taken out before the 3 years was up. Now my GP informs me if I get annoying bleeding I can take the oral pill as well for a week and it will 'clear up'. If i had have known that I would have kept the first one in. It takes so little time to have it inserted. Local anaesthetic, a bit tender for a day or two then you completely forget you have a little rod in your arm.

If your interested in the effectiveness of various options, my GP showed me the pearl index which is a table showing the comparisons of all contraceptives and their effectiveness. Just google it - I know it's on wikipedia (lol if you want to put your trust in wikipedia in relation to this topic).

I guess your PCOS would change your options too? But definitely a great suggestion to find someone you like and can trust they're going to make the right recommendations.
Good luck!!!!

There are loads of options, and different women find different things good and bad for them. I personally like depo-pro (the injection). It lasts for three months, has about the lowest failure rate of all. Hormonally it is the same as the mini-pills (progesterone only). Drawbacks for some women: spotting among other things. For me it's great as I do not menstruate when I'm on it. The big drawback for me (and it isn't anymore because I am not having any more kids) is that it took me a full 18 months to return to cycling and fertility after stopping depo each time! That loooong wait when I desperately wanted to be pregnant was a downer (I was a LOT older than you are and the clock was ticking).

I think you're really smart to be thinking about this now as you could find that the opti months are enough to see you peeing on a stick otherwise.

Good luck- find a Ob Gyn you like, or a nurse practitioner who specialises in fertility issues and you will find a solution that works for you :-).

Hi Tyllz,
Contraception is a very important issue, eh? I think with me it has been a matter of trial and error. There are a lot of options out there!

[Here are my personal experiences, they may not be accurate for your situation:] I personally had to try a couple of different types of the contraceptive pill to find one that did not cause me troubles like spotting and mood disturbances (crying...) and then I found one that suited me and was happy for a long time (even though lots of people say it caused them problems - guess we are all different!).
I did not find that being on the pill mucked up my hormones - a bit the opposite for me, as I had more regular and manageable periods with the pill.
I also liked the peace of mind of being on the pill.

Years later I eventually got referred to a gynecologist to have a Mirena fitted instead, as being obese, being on the pill and having a varicose leg vein meant an increased risk of thrombosis. A Mirena is an intra uterine device or IUD which is a long acting reversible hormonal contraceptive. You can find more information here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirena
It has worked well for me, and I found having it fitted was not a big deal even though I have't had children. It hurt for like a few seconds and that was all. It is not for everyone, and may not be right for you. Having it inserted is a bit invasive, bit like a full pelvic exam.
Although it lasts for five years it is completely reversible at any time. So as I understand it, should I decide to get pregnant I can pretty much have it removed straight away and start trying.
I don't even know the Mirena is there, I have no side-affects, have much less heavy periods and I even totally forget I have it... so far so good.
The only real downside with the Mirena is the large up front financial outlay - mainly for having it inserted. But it is cheaper in the longer term than the pill. There are risks to weigh up like with any other contraceptive method, and I did have a bit of cramping at first, but for me this is a really good option.

Friends and colleagues have had hormonal implants like Implanon, which is like a hormone impregnated stick which is inserted into your upper arm just under the skin. I have heard good and bad responses, and this may be something you and your doctor look at. My mother is a doctor and says it is a really minor procedure to have them inserted or removed, and very quick. There also used to be long acting hormone injections like Depo Provera, and hormone impregnated vaginal rings but I don't know much about them. Maybe these links are a good starting point?

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/contraception_choices_explained

http://www.whatcontraceptiveareyou.com.au/?gclid=COf5ia-Zj6oCFUVNpgodgHQ0wA

http://www.kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/Healthy-Living-Contraception--Finding-the-right-birth-control-for-you+3578+190+article.htm

The best advice that has worked for me is to find a really good doctor/gynecologist who knows your situation and is happy to explain everything. Keep in regular touch with them, especially if you are not happy - because there are lots of different options out there.
Good luck, and my best wishes to you,
Catherine

Okay ladies help me out, after reading a bunch of threads here and on the banding forum, im thinking i will probably need to go onto the pill, but I've never been on it before, and my surgeon said he thinks i have PCOS.

I have so much weight to lose so i really don't want to get pregnant for at least 18 months to 2 years after i get my sleeve, but i've heard that the the pill can really screw with your hormones and your fertility, so im at a loss?? what has your experience been?