New to Birth Control - Question!

[MissRebellious]

So, I finally asked my doctor about birth control. He prescribed me Ortho-cept, which is all fine and dandy. However, naturally I wanted to know more, so I did some research.

I have found a lot of negativity about Ortho-cept, and not that much positivity. There's a lot about it actually causing irregularity (which is what I am taking it for, to fix it, not cause it!) A lot of people say it also causes a lot of severe PMS symptops... i.e., cramping, bloating, headaches, mood swings, bad acne. This is all stuff I'm trying to fix. It's making me a bit scared to start taking it. I don't have to start taking it until Sunday, so I want some input. If it's going to cause more problems, I don't want to take it...

He gave it to me, without a pelvic exam, which I'm okay with, but I feel like it was a random prescription because there was no check-up for it. Granted it's supposed to be a low dosage (I haven't even picked it up from the pharmacy...) but I'm still a bit nervous about it. So please, someone, I just want some opinions or something. Is it good, bad, worth it, not worth it..?

The thing is, yeah, my periods are irregular now, they're super painful, I ended up in bed for two days because the cramps got so bad, I get extremely moody, my breasts get so sore that it is agonizing to just take my bra off, and I bleed so heavily that I'll bleed THROUGH a super tampon in about 30 minutes... My last period gave me about 5 days inbetween it and the one before it for a break. It's rough, but I can deal with it. If this birth control isn't worth it, I can deal with what I am now. So please, be honest with me!

[LuckyCharms]

Hi,

I reluctantly went on bcp's to help me with my extremely long cycles. Earlier this year, I lost so much blood that I ended up in the hospital and had to get a blood transfusion.
I only took the pills long enough to stop the bleeding. I had to take them again in Oct. For another never ceasing period. I took the whole pack(excluding placebos) and the withdrawal effect of stopping them has been horrific. I have been depressed, moody/mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and a host of other symptoms.

I will NEVER take another bcp.

[emmilynn]

I've never personally taken Ortho cept BCP but did Ortho Tri Cycle LO when I was in my early 20s and had very regular periods on it. I've been trying to read up on various pills being "good/bad" for PCOS but can't seem to find much consistent info. I was also on Yasmin for a few years and that worked well. I just started Loestrin 24 a few weeks ago and haven't noticed any negative side effects yet other than I spotted for a few days after AF left.

I've never heard of BCP causing an irregular cycle but I understand your concern over it. I would hope that your doctor would know to choose the best brand of BCP for you and PCOS. I think most BCPs on the market now have low hormonal mixes in them so logically speaking, it would seem like any of them would balance out PCOS irregularites but of course I'm sure there are a few that are better with weight control, acne, hair loss etc. Sorry I'm not more help but just wanted to offer some support and let you know I'm in the same boat with you :)

[MissRebellious]

Thank you for your input, both of you.

I decided to not take the pill, I just called in and cancelled the prescription at the pharmacy. While I was reading up on it, I came across a lot of women complaining about it causing some serious depression. I suffer from depression already, and anxiety, and I'm being medicated for it. I'm a bit confused as to why the doctor gave me a medication that is a depressant, knowing that I have depression.

This deeply concerns me.

Now, I have a theory. I didn't have a pelvic done, I didn't have to for this one. I think he chose the one that was a low dosage that didn't require a pelvic. Which happened to be this one. I don't trust it, and while I have two different reasons for wanting to take it, I suppose I can live with both things.

Having an irregular period is something I've been dealing with since I started for the first time, what, 5 years ago? And I suppose this is also a time where it becomes true, abstinence (I think I killed the spelling of that) is a good thing. I mean, it's not like my boyfriend isn't using protection, I just feel like the extra precaution would be nice. Oh well... I'll probably look into seeing a different doctor this summer when I come home again. I should probably look into seeing a gyno at some point, who will probably be able to help me more than the doctor I just saw. I'm scared though, I've never seen a gyno, and I have.. a bad past of abuse from my father.. that makes me a bit leery of seeing a gyno in the first place.

Baby steps...