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A Very Serious Question

Posted by anewphilosophy Posted on: 10/12/08

A Very Serious Question

So I have a question to ask the girls out there in cyberspace— and any medical professionals who might be hanging about. I'd ask my gyno, except that Adam and I BOTH need major oral surgery this month, and our insurance is kind of crappy and won't pay for all of it, so I don't really want to spring for the extra money for a trip to the gyno just to ask her a question I could have asked over the phone. And I can't just call on the phone because I don't really HAVE a gyno in Youngstown yet, and I can't just call up a random one and ask her to give me some free advice.

So.

I'm on birth control pills, as previously discussed in my anti-baby post. I was always told by my doctor at Vassar that you shouldn't, like, stop being on the pills and then go back to being on them, because that would mess with your hormones. She always said it was better just to stay on them, no matter what.

But then I was talking to my friend Margarita when she came in for the wedding, and she said that HER doctor told her that, after she's been taking the pills for a year or so, she should quit for a month or two so that the hormones can get flushed out of her system. She said that it prevents things like blood clots and a lowered sex drive and whatnot. I've never experienced either of those things, but I've been on the pill for three years now, without taking a break. And then Margarita told me that our friend Gaya's doctor told her the SAME THING.

So does anyone know if this is true or not? The first of my two written prescriptions runs out next month, so I was thinking about taking a break for a few months before I fill the next one. But I don't want to upset my already delicate hormones, if my old doctor was telling the truth.

I can't seem to find a lot of info about this online— it's all just FAQs involving how many pills you can miss and not get pregnant, what you should do if you miss a pill, what the side effects are, etc. I can't really find anyone to answer my question. Does anyone have any advice for a poor, gyno-less girl?

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Wow... yes, this is a question for a doctor.. but I'll throw in my 2 cents. Being on birth control pills AT ALL will throw your system out of whack, and there are (despite what the gynos say) some very serious side effects involved. That being said, if you are on them and are okay with continuing to be on them for the long haul (although I would seriously do some research on the long-term health effects) stopping would probably mess with your hormones BUT it would probably resolve itself as soon as you resumed taking them. I'm not sure that was much help... I'm sorry :).

By April Duke on October 13, 2008 00:26
I have no medical qualifications on this matter, only personal experience. However, I took a couple of months off this summer, and it was a very good idea for me. I was originally on a tri-phasic for something over a year. This was *not good* for my hormones, but it took me awhile to figure it out - it actually felt to me like there was a sort of cumulative effect, as my sex drive got lower and lower, and my PMS and cramps got worse. So then I switched to a lower dose biphasic, and did that for a couple months, and it seemed okay so I stocked up on that. But then I was home for the summer, and it just seemed like a good time to try taking a break. So I stopped for about three months, and found that my period was about as regular as it had been while I was on the pill, but my PMS and sex drive were better and, hokey as it sounds, I felt more in tune with my body, more relaxed. I started again after that, and the good effects have stayed.

By Olivia on October 13, 2008 00:35
P.S. In conclusion, I'd recommend it, though obviously it's a very personal choice and depends on your situation. But as far as I know, the worst case is that you stay off the pill for several months until your body settles into its natural cycle (which mine didn't *have* before I went on the pill, but seems to now, so that's nice). Also, if you've switched pills at any points (I think you have?) without taking a break, it just makes sense to me to let your hormones drop to their normal, non-medicated level for awhile. So there's my 3.5 cents

By Olivia on October 13, 2008 00:38
I can't really speak to the question itself -- I haven't taken bcp's in about 15 years, and I'm sure they've changed since then (I hope so, anyway!!). I did find one eventually that worked, but most of them made me (more) psycho, and I tended to gain weight. Two things -- I highly recommend Joni Canby. She was my OB with Max but she provides excellent gyn care, and they are great about calling back if I have ?'s. She used to be a backup doc for a midwife, which means she is not all high-tech/drugs all the time. You might even consider a midwife for your care -- they do everything for every stage, puberty to menopause, not just babies. I know of one in a practice (with docs too) in canfield. They tend to spend more time talking with you and answering q's where a busy ob/gyn might not be as able to. The other thing -- since you KNOW you want to wait until your 30's or so, maybe look into a Mirena (http://www.womens-health.co.uk/mirena.asp) or other IUD.

By Tani on October 13, 2008 01:08
I strongly suspect that the Vassar Women's Health Center would be happy to take your questions free of charge. I could be wrong, but... I just strongly suspect that they would be perfectly happy to answer your questions if you called them.
And if you think your alumna status would be weird... you could get a current student to ask? Sonia is probably the least awkward person ever and would probably do it?
If Sonia reads this later: HI I TOTALLY VOLUNTEERED YOU FOR THIS TASK.

By claire on October 13, 2008 02:18
I've thought about Depo Provera, but I'm under the impression that my insurance doesn't cover it. They make me pay $10 per pack for my pills, too, but that's another story/rant. I'd LOVE an IUD, but, well, I tried to get one at Vassar, and the Vassar doc told me she doesn't usually encourage women who haven't had children yet to get IUDs because of the risk of implantation. (Incidentally, she made me get the NuvaRing, which was a complete disaster.) Also, I don't think my insurance covers IUDs, either, so I'd be paying a hundred dollars or more. ACK!

By anewphilosophy on October 13, 2008 02:37
I've had similar questions lately--I'm glad you posted this. I have been on the pill for 7 or 8 years now, and a few years ago I went off it for several months after a relationship ended, because it seemed like a waste of $50/month. My period has always been regular, but when I went off the pill I didn't have one for four months, so they had to induce one and put me back on my prescription. I stopped for a few months last year because I simply forgot to refill my supply, but I'm not sure if the increased sex drive I experienced was because of the break in hormones or if it was the novelty of having a new relationship. Now, I'm on the pill regularly and struggling with poor libido, and wondering if there's a different method that doesn't have this particular side effect.

By Cody on October 13, 2008 14:29
Also, someone recently told me that ibuprofen interacts with bc like antibiotics do, which I've never heard. Scary thought. Any idea if it's true?

By Cody on October 13, 2008 14:31
I have heard awful things from all my Depo, I 've never taken it. But those friends of mine who were on it, have nothing but negatvie things to say. If you have a pretty basic medical question there are a lot of hospitals that have afree nurse line that you can call and ask questions to, even doctors office have this. Maybe look into that and save yoruself a buck if you can.

By B The Gossip Girl on October 13, 2008 16:06
Ok going on the pill did some weird things to me, but going off of it also did some weird things (namely turning my hair curly. I'm convinced that's what did it). But yes, after going off them, the next time I'm in need of long-term birth control, I will be looking to other methods because I just didn't like what the hormones were doing to me and I don't believe that they are good for you. I may admittedly be a bit of a hippyfreak when it comes to things like that, but it just doesn't strike me as a good idea to suppress your hormone cycle for an indefinite period of time.

By Maya on October 15, 2008 15:15

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