Birth control pills really that bad for Crohns?

[Jer's Girl]

I have heard that they can cause blood clots, but my acne is out of control without them! I hate this! Anyone know of one that is okay for Crohns and helps clear up skin?

 

[xJillx]

I have been concerned about this, too. I take birth control. But my GI is aware that I do, and she hasn't said anything about it. I figured she would if she was concerned.

 

[Lydia]

You could take 200 IU of vitamin E each day. Its a natural blood thinner.

Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil also does the same thing.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

Hi, I found another article stating that people w/IBD are prone to clots. I'm speaking from experience as I had a stroke 6 yrs. ago (4 DVTs previously) and that is what 10 MDs told me. I should avoid the pill (hormone treatments altogether) at all costs. They've seen and treated many female CD pts. w/DVTS, PEs, and strokes in the ICU due to being on the pill.

knew about the dangers from my GI beforehand, so my husband and I use NFP to prevent a pregnancy b/c to serious health issues I have. It's safe, won't interfere w/my Crohn's medications, and very easy to learn. Another benefit with NFP, I can tell if I'm in a hormonal flare up of my Crohn's or if it's a true flare.-------------------------see article below--------

Inflammatory Bowel Disease More Than Doubles Potentially Fatal Blood Clot Risk
22 Feb 2011

Inflammatory bowel disease more than doubles the risk of a potentially fatal blood clot in the legs or lungs (VTE), reveals research published online in the journal Gut.

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term used to include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSST), affects around 2 in every 1000 people in developed countries annually.

The authors compared the number of new cases of VTE arising in just under 50,000 children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease and more than 477,000 members of the general public.

The study period spanned 1980 to 2007 and took account of known VTE risk factors, such as a broken bone, cancer, surgery and pregnancy.

The results showed that the risk of VTE was twice as high in those with inflammatory bowel disease as it was in the general public.

VTE is more common in older people, irrespective of whether they have inflammatory bowel disease or not, but the risk of VTE in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was highest in younger age groups, when compared with the general public.

In those aged 20 or younger, the likelihood of a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal, was low, but it was six times as common among those with inflammatory bowel disease as it was among the general public in this age group.

Even after taking account of concurrent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, the use of hormone replacement therapy or antipsychotic drugs, all of which are known to heighten the likelihood of VTE, the risk still remained up to 80% higher.

The findings suggest that inflammatory bowel disease may be an independent risk factor for clot formation, say the authors.

Source
British Medical Journal
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/217084.php

Main News Category: Crohn's / IBD

Also Appears In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology, Blood / Hematology,


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[Misty-Eyed]

Hmm no one's said anything to me about them either and I've been on it for 10 years now.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I was concerned about this right after my diagnosis. I had stopped taking my birth control at the time because they told me to when I was in the hospital. I was also worried about going back on the pill and it not being effectively absorbed, so I talked with my gyno about it and she decided the patch was the best option for me. I was even more nervous about starting this type of BC because it was known to increase the chance of blood clotting even more than regular pills. So, I delayed taking it until I spoke with my GI directly.

He said even with the increased risk of developing blood clots, it wasn't enough of a risk for him to be concerned. There are articles out there that say you are at an increased risk for developing blood clots, yes, but there are other articles that say the opposite too.

I take krill oil, which is an Omega 3, and like that it is a blood thinner for those specific reasons. I also make sure I am some what active. It's good to be informed, but I've found that it's also not good for you to be stressed out and paranoid about all the what-ifs. But you have to be comfortable with your decision, whichever that may be.

Nicole - if you are looking for alternatives to BC for treating acne, I would recommend looking into a holistic spa. In high school, before I was on BC, my acne was out of control. I got monthly facials targeting problem skin and my skin cleared up tremendously. In fact, my skin had never looked better. I got to the point where I was putting only minimal amounts of makeup on because it cleared up my complexion and evened out my skin tone so well. I like holistic because it emphasizes natural botanical-based products to treat skin rather than all that topical medication that dermatologists put you on that basically burns your face off, haha. I always felt cleansed and refreshed after going to the spa.

 

[dreamintwilight]

Oh...and my acne wasn't your run-of-the-mill teen acne. I had severe cystic acne. So, it definitely would be able to treat less severe forms of acne, in my opinion.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

When I was in the hospital w/my stroke, the doctors told me that when a pt. with IBD flares, the blood tends to become "sticky" due to the inflammation in the body thus that is what is causing the blood to clot and that is why we are at a higher risk to develop DVTS, PEs, and even a stroke. Mix that with a drug that causes clotting already, and that is asking for trouble. Their words, not mine.

As for vitamin E, too much of it can be very dangerous as it will thin out the blood to much. It's best to talk to your doctor, preferably a hematologist, a specialist in clotting disorders such as MTHFR clotting disorder, Factor V Leider, for example.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I understand what you are saying, GutlessWonder86. I think what ultimately changed my mind about it being okay with going back on birth control is that you have to think about how many women are actually on birth control right now that also have IBD. Not all of them get blood clots or have a blood clotting disorder. Yes, I'm sure it puts us at a greater risk for developing them because of the inflammation we have constantly in our bodies, but if it were that great of a risk, all doctors would be recommending to their female patients that they discontinue any form of birth control. There are doctors out there who are very conservative when it comes to eliminating all extra risks for people with IBD and others who are not. It's just something each person has to decide for themselves.

 

[Lydia]

Oh and I have really bad acne and I started using proactiv a few months ago. I wish I would have tried it a lot sooner, because my skin is so clear. Clearest its ever been since puberty.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I asked my GI about this today. He did say Crohn's increases the chance of blood clots, as do birth control pills, as does smoking. He told me to stop smoking (which I plan to do), but not to quit the birth control. I need it to control endometriosis.

 

[Lisa]

I was on the pill years ago - for many years - neither my GI nor my GYN said anything about concerns.....I DID get pregnant while on the pill though - but that could have had something to do with me having been in the hospital not long prior and the BC not working properly due to the drugs I had been on.......

 

[katiesue1506]

I'm on the Nuvaring and it gives a more steady, lower dose of the hormones... I've not had any issues with it (going on 5 years now).

I've had a couple gynos tell me that with Crohn's, the ring or the patch are the best because if you do have malabsorption problems in a certain part of your intestines, they could not uptake the BC hormones. I was told scar tissue can affect this also. I don't want any oopsies so I'm a Nuvaring lover.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I'm with Katie. I don't want any oopsies...nor would we be able to afford it if we accidentally got pregnant right now. I am a chronic worrier too and would have been more stressed out not being on birth control than being on it and having a slightly increased risk of developing blood clots.

 

[Jer's Girl]

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses! Each of you made some good points. I’m going to sit down with my husband tonight and have him read all of your responses so I can get his informed opinion too. I will try the vitamin E for now, and ask my Dr about the patch or the nuva ring. Thanks again! I really appreciate you all taking the time to answer me, and I’m sure others who read this will get a lot out of the discussion too!

 

[Jer's Girl]

I also don't wan't any oopsies as you two so cutely put it!

 

[melinda crawford]

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014/40839a-eng.php
what does anyone think about this?