I am so f'ing confused. :mad:

So, here's the deal. I had a doctor's appointment on the 3rd of this month, and basicly I was just asked a bunch of questions (how the birth control pills were affecting me, ect.) to make sure that she could perscribe me more.

She said that she thinks I don't have to take it anymore, though it's fine if I do take it.

She also said that because of my mom having it, I'm at moderate risk for PCOS. And the whole reason I started having to take BC is also one of the symptoms.

But I don't have it yet.

But if I stop taking the Pill, I may be at a higher risk of developing it.

So you'd think it'd be a good idea for me to stay on them for a little while, right? Well, I'm not sure. While I did go through some depression before starting the pill and first began having suicidal thoughts when I was 8 or 9, apparently BC can make it worse.
Mood changes
Some women may notice changes in their emotional status: depressed mood or emotional instability. If you have a history of depression, it is important to monitor your progress carefully when starting BCPs. If you notice changes in your mood after beginning BCPs, call your provider.
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/sexual_health/ssc/bcps.htm

But I'm not sure if it is making it worse, or if this is just the way I am. I want to believe that if I stopped taking the medicine that I'd immediatly turn into miss sunshine, but what if it doesn't help? What if I stop taking it, still feel like shit, AND am putting myself at risk for PCOS?

But what if the only reason I get so sad is because of the medicine? I want more than anything to make it all stop and to be happy more often. It would be such an amazing feeling. What if my fear of developing a disease that I may never get is holding me back from making the sadness stop?

Rawr. :bang:

Perhaps, Spaz, you could first ask your doctor if a lower dosage may be beneficial. Then you can gauge things from that point...

I don't think a brand exists with less hormones than the ones I got. :hmm:

The doctors purposely tried to get me the kind that has the least hormones.

And as far as I know, you can't take less than one a day, can you?

I have no idea Spaz, but you need to tell your doctor how desperate you feel about getting off of them . :hmm:

I can't. I just need to decide whether or not I want to stay on them on my own. To talk to my doctor, I'd have to talk to my mom, too, and there's no way I'm telling her. :hmm:

Why not Spaz, if you can't discuss it with your Mom, she can't help you. She'll understand your concerns.

Why not Spaz, if you can't discuss it with your Mom, she can't help you. She'll understand your concerns.
She'd totally understand my being concerned about PCOS. She probably knows that I'm worried. But the whole depression thing, the whole reason I want to stop....I just can't do it. I'm not proud of it, and I know she'd get upset with me. :(

If depression has been found to be a side effect of the medication, I'm sure she'd understand that too.

You should realize that your Mom doesn't want you to feel like you do. She doesn't want to risk losing you, ever. And I'm a Mom, so I know!!

If depression has been found to be a side effect of the medication, I'm sure she'd understand that too.

You should realize that your Mom doesn't want you to feel like you do. She doesn't want to risk losing you, ever. And I'm a Mom, so I know!!

You don't understand. You are right, she'd probably help me out if I told her all of it. BUT she'd also get really really mad at me, and I'm not sure it'd be worth it. She's yelled at me before for something I'd rather not post about, but it's related to being depressed.


I don't wanna go through that again. And it would be worse if she knew all of it. :(

If your taking the least know, why don't you take higher one's and gauge it from there.

You don't understand. You are right, she'd probably help me out if I told her all of it. BUT she'd also get really really mad at me, and I'm not sure it'd be worth it. She's yelled at me before for something I'd rather not post about, but it's related to being depressed.


I don't wanna go through that again. And it would be worse if she knew all of it. :(

Sorry, Spaz, I can't understand that... there definately must be something more to this than you want us to know...I would do anything to keep my daughter from feeling like I did when I was young. I'd hate to think that she'd feel so bad as to consider hurting herself.

If your taking the least know, why don't you take higher one's and gauge it from there.
Pills with more hormones would make it worse.

Sorry, Spaz, I can't understand that... there definately must be something more to this than you want us to know...I would do anything to keep my daughter from feeling like I did when I was young. I'd hate to think that she'd feel so bad as to consider hurting herself.
I know she doesn't want me to be sad. But it would make her mad to know that there's more than just the little bit that she found out. :(


I'd rather be like this than to have to go through her being mad, because that would be SO much worse. :(

It won't be a big deal if I tell her that I want to stop taking BC. She knows I don't want to take them really, since it's so important that I remember them. If I miss one pill, it screws up my entire system AND I throw up the next time I take one. :P

I don't understand why she would be mad at you, there's nothing about this you can control...

For informational purposes...


http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. Women with PCOS have these characteristics:


high levels of male hormones, also called androgens
an irregular or no menstrual cycle
may or may not have many small cysts in their ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.


PCOS is the most common hormonal reproductive problem in women of childbearing age.

How many women have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
An estimated five to 10 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS.

What causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS. But there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem. So researchers are looking at the relationship between PCOS and the body’s ability to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body’s use or for storage. Since some women with PCOS make too much insulin, it’s possible that the ovaries react by making too many male hormones, called androgens. This can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems.

Why do women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have trouble with their menstrual cycle?
The ovaries are two small organs, one on each side of a woman's uterus. A woman's ovaries have follicles, which are tiny sacs filled with liquid that hold the eggs. These sacs are also called cysts. Each month about 20 eggs start to mature, but usually only one becomes dominant. As the one egg grows, the follicle accumulates fluid in it. When that egg matures, the follicle breaks open to release the egg so it can travel through the fallopian tube for fertilization. When the single egg leaves the follicle, ovulation takes place.

In women with PCOS, the ovary doesn't make all of the hormones it needs for any of the eggs to fully mature. They may start to grow and accumulate fluid. But no one egg becomes large enough. Instead, some may remain as cysts. Since no egg matures or is released, ovulation does not occur and the hormone progesterone is not made. Without progesterone, a woman’s menstrual cycle is irregular or absent. Also, the cysts produce male hormones, which continue to prevent ovulation.

What are the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:


infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating
increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
acne, oily skin, or dandruff
pelvic pain
weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
type 2 diabetes
high cholesterol
high blood pressure
male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep


What tests are used to diagnose Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam—possibly including an ultrasound, check your hormone levels, and measure glucose, or sugar levels, in the blood. If you are producing too many male hormones, the doctor will make sure it’s from PCOS. At the physical exam the doctor will want to evaluate the areas of increased hair growth, so try to allow the natural hair growth for a few days before the visit. During a pelvic exam, the ovaries may be enlarged or swollen by the increased number of small cysts. This can be seen more easily by vaginal ultrasound, or screening, to examine the ovaries for cysts and the endometrium. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. The uterine lining may become thicker if there has not been a regular period.

How is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) treated?
Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Treatments are based on the symptoms each patient is having and whether she wants to conceive or needs contraception. Below are descriptions of treatments used for PCOS.

Birth control pills. For women who don’t want to become pregnant, birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help to clear acne. However, the birth control pill does not cure PCOS. The menstrual cycle will become abnormal again if the pill is stopped. Women may also think about taking a pill that only has progesterone, like Provera, to regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent endometrial problems. But progesterone alone does not help reduce acne and hair growth.

Diabetes Medications. The medicine, Metformin, also called Glucophage, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, also helps with PCOS symptoms. Metformin affects the way insulin regulates glucose and decreases the testosterone production. Abnormal hair growth will slow down and ovulation may return after a few months of use. These medications will not cause a person to become diabetic.

Fertility Medications. The main fertility problem for women with PCOS is the lack of ovulation. Even so, her husband’s sperm count should be checked and her tubes checked to make sure they are open before fertility medications are used. Clomiphene (pills) and Gonadotropins (shots) can be used to stimulate the ovary to ovulate. PCOS patients are at increased risk for multiple births when using these medications. In vitro Fertilization (IVF) is sometimes recommended to control the chance of having triplets or more. Metformin can be taken with fertility medications and helps to make PCOS women ovulate on lower doses of medication.

Medicine for increased hair growth or extra male hormones. If a woman is not trying to get pregnant there are some other medicines that may reduce hair growth. Spironolactone is a blood pressure medicine that has been shown to decrease the male hormone’s effect on hair. Propecia, a medicine taken by men for hair loss, is another medication that blocks this effect. Both of these medicines can affect the development of a male fetus and should not be taken if pregnancy is possible. Other non-medical treatments such as electrolysis or laser hair removal are effective at getting rid of hair. A woman with PCOS can also take hormonal treatment to keep new hair from growing.

Surgery. Although it is not recommended as the first course of treatment, surgery called ovarian drilling is available to induce ovulation. The doctor makes a very small incision above or below the navel, and inserts a small instrument that acts like a telescope into the abdomen. This is called laparoscopy. The doctor then punctures the ovary with a small needle carrying an electric current to destroy a small portion of the ovary. This procedure carries a risk of developing scar tissue on the ovary. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with ovulation. But these effects may only last a few months. This treatment doesn't help with increased hair growth and loss of scalp hair.

A healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way women can help manage PCOS. Since obesity is common with PCOS, a healthy diet and physical activity help maintain a healthy weight, which will help the body lower glucose levels, use insulin more efficiently, and may help restore a normal period. Even loss of 10% of her body weight can help make a woman's cycle more regular.

How does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affect a woman while pregnant?There appears to be a higher rate of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, and premature delivery in women with PCOS. Researchers are studying how the medicine, metformin, prevents or reduces the chances of having these problems while pregnant, in addition to looking at how the drug lowers male hormone levels and limits weight gain in women who are obese when they get pregnant.

No one yet knows if metformin is safe for pregnant women. Because the drug crosses the placenta, doctors are concerned that the baby could be affected by the drug. Research is ongoing.


Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) put women at risk for other conditions?
Women with PCOS can be at an increased risk for developing several other conditions. Irregular menstrual periods and the absence of ovulation cause women to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, which causes the endometrium to shed each month as a menstrual period, the endometrium becomes thick, which can cause heavy bleeding or irregular bleeding. Eventually, this can lead to endometrial hyperplasia or cancer. Women with PCOS are also at higher risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Getting the symptoms under control at an earlier age may help to reduce this risk.

Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) change at menopause?
Researchers are looking at how male hormone levels change as women with PCOS grow older. They think that as women reach menopause, ovarian function changes and the menstrual cycle may become more normal. But even with falling male hormone levels, excessive hair growth continues, and male pattern baldness or thinning hair gets worse after menopause.

Thanks, CCC. *hugs* :)

I don't understand why she would be mad at you, there's nothing about this you can control...
:shrug:

Okay, so I half-assed talked to my mom about it. She has no knowledge that my desire to stop taking BC has anything to do with my feeling crappy (though I did mention that taking them probably wasn't helping my moodyness--I already have my own hormones to deal with without pumping more into my system every day).

She says she thinks I should atleast stay on them until this fall, and then if I want to stop I can. So that's probably what I'll do.

I have talked to my doctor before about how the pills are all different -

They all have the same type of estrogen, 20 mcg is the lowest it comes in. Most pills have 30, some have up to 50.

The progestin is what is believed to worsen depression and there are LOTS of different types of progestins, so simply switching to a different low-estrogen pill that has a different progestin would probably make a difference.

PCOS is a painful condition, you don't want to get it. On the other hard taking birth control pills puts you at risk of clots.

PCOS is a painful condition, you don't want to get it. On the other hard taking birth control pills puts you at risk of clots.
I know....ugh. *shudders* :P

I have now scared the living shit out of myself by reading about all the things that BC puts me at risk for. :hmm:
I have talked to my doctor before about how the pills are all different -

They all have the same type of estrogen, 20 mcg is the lowest it comes in. Most pills have 30, some have up to 50.

The progestin is what is believed to worsen depression and there are LOTS of different types of progestins, so simply switching to a different low-estrogen pill that has a different progestin would probably make a difference.
I'm using Necon 0.5, right now. I can't really change what type I take, though, because
1. I'd have to make up some explination for my mom, and
2. I'm already perscribed to this stuff for the rest of this year, so I probably can't change it even if I did think up a good story to tell my mom.

Thanks for the info, though, miss prego. *hugs* :)



:|


Oh come on you knew I had to call you that atleast once! :D :D :D :D